Thursday 11 December 2008

Vintage Christmas Thingies (11)

The time flies in December. Thursday again and time to show our vintage thingies with Coloradolady Suzanne. There are many others participating this week, go and find the links to all blogs here. I have been showing my oldest things here and many of them are rather antique than vintage. Then I noticed that I'm old enought to have made some vintage things myself. Take these crocheted hearts for example: they are from the seventies. Last century. I crocheted these for my very first own Christmas tree in 1973, together with some white snowflakes.





These birds called Karjalan käki, cuckoo of Carelia, are not that old, but the pattern is traditional. My parents made one of these to each of their children and grandchildren in 1990. They are all a little different, but my mother has written the names on all the birds so these three belong to the three of us still living here. I'm making a box for both of my elder children who now have their own homes, and in these boxes I will put their own Christmas ornaments they have been given since they were babies.



This is one of them, an angel my daughter Kaija got from my mother when she was 6. My mother had it from a school friend in the 20's. It used to be on the Christmas tree in our family when I was young. The angel is about 15 cm or 6 inches high.




This last item is a true treasure. I have been taking care of it for 24 years now, an it is time to hand it over to Kaija, who will be celebrating Christmas at her own home for the first time. She received this glass bulb from my mother at her first Christmas in 1984. It came in this box, padded with two lace-edged handkerchiefs from my great-aunt S, and a letter telling little Baby Kaija that the bulb is one of the original bulbs from my mother's childhood Christmas trees. It means the bulb is at least 92 years old this Christmas. It has always been my priviledge and duty to hang the cherished ornament in the tree; with shaky hands and careful not to break the fragile glass.


16 comments:

  1. What a beautiful treasure for your families Christmas tree - a special heirloom. So delicate....

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  2. Gorgeous treasures...i'm amazed that ornament is nearly 100 years old, what an heirloom :)

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  3. What a lovely family tradition and beautiful family treasures and heirlooms.

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  4. Oh what precious treasures. And that letter to go along with the heirloom bulb is priceless. I know what you mean about haniging it and being afraid it will break. I think that is why I like fabric so much! But these old bulbs hold a true facsination for me as well. Kaija will treasure it I am sure.

    Ya.. we're vintage!

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  5. I loved seeing your vintage Christmas items, especially the ornament and the memories that go with it.

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  6. Oh Ulla, now that's special! How wonderful! I was just saying on Eileen's blog how the broken glass bulbs would jingle as they came down from the loft when I was little. It is wonderful that you have so many saved family treasures and their history. Things like that are beyond price and value, they give a sense of who you are in the bigger picture of things. I'm sure your children will treasure the hearts you made when it is their time to have them. They are beautiful.

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  7. What a lovely tradition you have and what a truly special ornament for your daughter.

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  8. Nothing sweeter than family heirlooms. They touch the heart and become a piece of history.

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  9. What a sweet story of a family treasure. The ornament is beautiful, but the story priceless. You can not put a price on something as special as that. I loved this story and post.

    I like your idea of making a box and putting all the ornaments for one person in that box and labeling it. I may have to copy that one! Have a great week.

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  10. Such a lovely treasure. It's just beautiful, I know I would be afraid to touch it. Happy VTT and have a wonderful day.

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  11. Very beautiful tradition is passed over to your daughter!
    Take care and stay happy ...

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  12. What a lovely idea of giving an
    heirloom with a heirloom ornament!
    Fun seeing an ornament that old!

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  13. Your glass ornament is beautiful, lovely to pass it through the family. But I love your red crocheted hearts. Today my 9yo daughter learnt to blanket stitch and made her own felt ornament - I hope she still has it as an adult like you have your hearts!

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  14. Hi again Ulla, I have a little something for you on my blog.

    best wishes,
    Melanie

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  15. Your vintage things are lovely. The glass ornament is priceless. What a lovely photo of it!

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  16. You have such treasures to pass on to your daughter! It is a wonderful tradition! It is the first time I hear about Christmas ornaments that you give to babies, the idea is such a nice one! I love the cuckoos of Carelia! And the glass bulb, it is simply the most wonderful present Kaija could ever receive!

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