A Christmas Star & A Christmas Book Recommendation

If you're looking for a few stars to add to your tree this year, check out these beautiful stained glass stars. 

An Ornament_DianasStainedGlass
Today's Ornament comes from DianasStainedGlass on Etsy, a 5 point beveled glass ornament. Wouldn't that look beautiful with the lights flickering and bouncing off the points. 
 
DianasStainedGlass

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ABrightChristmas
Also, a book recommendation for  friends. (affiliate link) Bright Christmas An Angel Remembers by author Andrew Clements. I read this last night all bundled up and cozy with my family, it brought tears and smiles to our faces.     

The Beautiful Nativity

Luke2  4-20 (KJV)

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

This is the reason for Christmas, there is no Christmas, without Christ. Help me celebrate Him this week, adorning our homes with creations celebrating Him. 

 

 

Wooden Nativity Christmas

Beautiful olive wood, hand painted nativity from Orit Dotan

 

Stained Glass Nativity

An heriloom quality handmade stained glass nativity set from wearetheedge

17 piece Nativity Peg Doll Set -- (2")

Hand  Painted Peg Nativity from issymissy

 


Show & Tell Christmas Trees - Show us your tree!

Good morning to you! I hope you're feeling rested after the Thanksgiving break. I know many of you have traditions of putting your tree up the day after Thanksgiving. We are headed out sometime soon to pick a perfect tree. 

The Countdown to Christmas Day is coming up, and we're kicking it off with a show & tell kind of week. Today, I would like to invite our readers to show off their Christmas Trees, indoor, outdoor or wherever you put your tree. Either way, we would love to see it!

All you need to do is send me an email stating your first name last initial and your State/City. That's it! I'll be sharing them throughout the day/week. 

 

JessaMaePhoto
This isn't my tree, but a vintage Christmas Tree Photo by JessaMaePhoto. It reminds me of the little ceramic tree my mamaw had on her credenza growing up.  

 

If you'd like a head start on tomorrow's show & tell, we'll be showing off some of our favorite vintage ornaments

 

Merry Christmas to you!

xoxo Gabreial  


SproutSouth: Add a little green to your life.

 

Sproutsouth logoThis past winter was the worst winter I can ever remember. It waned for ever and ever and all I could think about was summer and sunshine. When Sproutsouth sent me one of their adorable terrariums, (dubbed "turtle" by my baby girl), it was that little something in my windowsill that made me smile. 

Yes, I'm a big baby and yes, winter is my least favorite season of all, but especially this year. 

 

Lookbook 5

Besides being a big fan of houseplants, I'm an even bigger fan of the tiniest of plants like those in these terrariums. Ours is like the first one on the left. It is sitting snugly in our kitchen window as we speak. Upon arrival, we gave turtle a good soak and then returned him to his home so that he could continue to grow. 

Wouldn't you know it, our little turtle sprouted a beautiful flower. I'm not sure what kind, but it was delicate like an orchid inside the tiny home. Each of my children have visited it over time, given it a sprinkle of water and I'm happy to say, besides a couple of succulents this is probably the longest lived plant I've ever kept alive. 

 

Lookbook 1

I'm no green thumb, if you couldn't tell but this gave me a hope for the winter. I think I need a collection of these in each of the windows this winter. 

Lookbook 10

If you've been wanting an opportunity to teach your child responsibility, I think one of these terrariums from sproutsouth would be a great gift. Of course the terrariums are glass, and they are delicate, but it would be a great opportunity to teach gentleness and caring for a living thing. Ya know, so they can take care of your plants when they're grown and house sitting for you. 

  Lookbook 8

Thanks so much to Sproutsouth for giving this family a little green during our dreary winter. We appreciated it! 

Visit Sproutsouth  and add a little green to your life today :) 

 

 

Disclosure: Sproutsouth provided the terrarium for our review. We were not paid for any wording of our review. 


Pinned It! Deck the Halls 2013: Christmas Breakfast & Brunch

Are you looking forward to Christmas morning? I know I am. We have a family tradition going on three years now, where my husband and I make about 6 dozen cinnamon rolls. We like gifting these in the morning so that family and friends don't have to think about cooking, first thing Christmas morning.

After that though, it is time for brunch! I've put together a Christmas Breakfast board with some delicious ideas for your Christmas Brunch. 

 

 

Follow Vintage Indie Mag's board Vintage Indie: Christmas Breakfast Ideas on Pinterest.

 

What about you? Do you have any Christmas food traditions?


Deck the Halls 2013: Advent Kits

 

ArtfulTeaF

Tea Advent Calendar from ArtfulTea

 

MooreMagnetsF

Magnetic Advent Count Down. How adorable are these! They would work perfect on your refrigerator. Purchase this set from MooreMagnets

 

VintagemodernmixFVintage Style Advent Calendar from vintagemodernmix

 

PopseyFI love the colors in this Advent Calendar from Popsey


Deck the Halls 2013: Stationery & Wrap

Ahh, papery. My true love, how I've missed thee. With children abound, I've cut back on my stationery hording, collecting. However, tis' the season, to be jolly and stationery makes me jolly! Here are a few fantastic indie businesses who deserve some attention for their gorgeous offerings. 

 

StationeryboutiquefA Chic Christmas from stationeryboutique

ThurstonPostF

Mini Gift Wrap Kit from ThurstonPost

 

PaperandparcelFGingerbread and Candy Cane Gift Wrapping Kits from paperandparcel

3girlsandagoatFGold & Glitter from 3girlsandagoat


Deck the Halls 2013: Indie Shop Elm Tree Studio

 

I love this time of year! Have I mentioned that? Small businesses shine and work "magic" with their creations, their passion for providing you something special. Customer service is usually top notch and I can't help but feel all warm and fuzzy inside. 

 

Today, I'd like to share with you Elm Tree Studio. 

Elmtreetextiles

Stockings 

Elmtreetextiles2

Christmas Tree Bunting & Sweetie Cones 

Shop Elmtreetextiles

 

Do you have a favorite stocking? 

 


Deck the Halls 2013: Vintage Christmas Ornaments from Be Quirksy

Tis' the season! My favorite time of year. I love spreading good cheer. Let's kick off our 2013 Deck the Halls feature with these gorgeous vintage finds from Be Quirksy. 

Bequirksy
Shop these vintage ornament finds and more via bequirksy

 

What about you? What are your favorite ornaments to bring out each year?




Last Minute Thanksgiving Decor: Printable Party Decorations

 

OK, so now you have your artwork and your invitations. What about the party decorations? Check out these printable parties and you're almost ready for the big day! 

Pinkpeppermintprints

Thanksgiving Printable Party Collection from pinkpeppermintprints

Postscripts

postscripts

 

HelloMySweet

HelloMySweet

  ABlissfulNestShop

ABlissfulNestShop

 


Deck the Halls 2012: The Beautiful Nativity - Reader Collection

Vintage Indie reader Kathy P, of  Galveston, Texas writes, 

 I started my collection in about 1995.  It all started while visiting my sister-in-law in Chicago.  She took me to, the now closed, Roman, Inc. Outlet Store.  The store was filled with items from their distribution center.  Items ranged from picture frames, to Easter decor, to Halloween, and more. 

Most were not-quite-perfect, overstocks, and retired items.  I had never heard of Fontaini.  When I spotted a clear bag filled with the basic nativity pieces (baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Angel, and three Kings) for $9.99, I snapped it up.  I thought they were so beautiful in detail and color.  Each time I would visit her, Roman, Inc. was the #1 shopping spot on my list.  They didn't always have figurines, buildings, or accessories in stock, but when they did, I bought them.  My collection grew rapidly. 
The store closed about 3 years ago.  I think my husband is happy about that!  In past years, I have taken over his office and our dining room with my display.  This year, I tried to condense the space, so they aren't as spaced out as I would like.  Very few of my pieces are new and/or perfect.  I love to open my home to share my display with family, friends, and friends of friends. 
 
Gabreial - What is your favorite piece from your collection?   I love the intricate details of each and every piece.  My favorite, and most important part of my collection, would have to be those first eight pieces I purchased 17 years ago:  The Holy Family, the Three Wise Men, and the Angel. 

2012 Display

Click here to view these pictures larger

 

2008 Display

Click here to view these pictures larger

 

Thank you so much Kathy for sharing your collection with us!

If you would like to share your nativity or Christmas collections with us, please email me Gabreial. We'd also love to see your tree this year! 

 


Deck the Halls 2012: Chalkboard Art

Everyone that reads Vintage Indie on a regular basis knows that I love Christmas. The Deck the Halls category here at VI is one of my most favorite. I'm thrilled to be sharing some of my favorite picks with you for this year's Christmas decor! 

 

Today's Deck the Halls feature are these fabulous handmade chalkboard art pieces from Lily & Val.

From the shop "My designs are first hand drawn in chalk then meticulously painted over using a technique that preserves the realistic look of chalk with the durability of acrylic paint. Since I draw and paint free hand, no two boards are exactly the same. You are guaranteed to receive a truly original piece of art." 

 

LilyandVal_1
LilyandVal_2
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Deck the Halls 2012: Stocking Stuffers that Smell Good

Instead of giving kids sugary candy and cheapy toys in their stocking, why not give some "toiletries" that are fun. Special soaps, a new fancy toothbrush, maybe a new razor (for teens of course). Me, I love handmade the best and handmade soaps are my favorite! Not to mention they're so beautiful. Here are a few of my favorites. 

Mosaic316e418e2e79be3fe185b1553ef9abae99b5ed57
Sampler from: Blushie

Mosaic55b091fe16f89a3380c8db918877f9e098a89ce8
Floral Soaps from DeShawnMarie

Mosaice94d58d2319a7c2d95a767b5224d59429782bb60
Christmas Soaps from LippincottSoapCo

 


Deck the Halls 2011: The Joy of Snowflakes

I don't know about where you are, but here in Kentucky the weather has been unseasonably warm. Not nearly cold enough for even one snowflake.  I thought for today's Deck the Halls, we'd go the non traditional route for snowflakes! 

 

Mosaic2594c25fece7e32c78c8dbb87f3c17ac3250198cWooden Snowflakes from Elisabeth White

 

Mosaic73fca1955f9975845fe93dfc4fde8f7d501da4a9Porcelain Snowflakes by LaNiqueHOME

Mosaic13696661c5926fbd4b005a0c157cbac9d37d5750
Gingerbread Snowflakes by SeasonsOfJoy

 

What about you? Any accumulation in your part of the world?