Today is our final installment of Ornament Thursday….It’s been such a fun thing these past few weeks. I’ve done a fair amount of thinking about ornaments over this time too. I think I’ve made more this year than ever before! Each Christmas, I add a few more to the tree and pack a few more into the box after the holiday is long gone. The next year I carefully unwrap them, surprised at how many I forgot about. That’s the best part, isn’t it? The forgetting and remembering. Our tree is filled with ornaments from our trips, from my grandma’s store, things I’ve made, ornaments from swaps and gifts. Some evoke a certain period in our lives like a song can—good times and bad. Over the years, I’ve hung them on supermarket tree lot trees, fresh cut from the farm trees, vintage silver tinsel trees, tall trees, trees in a pot, one year we got the tree, but never had time to trim it (that was sad), bamboo stalks tree, and this year a $10 fake—which compared to previous years here feels like a million bucks! Oh, I do a lot of reminiscing and reflecting when I put up the ol’ family tree. You probably do too. My sister just sent me a cute email about growing up in the 70’s. I was looking at our tree and this Polaroid picture ornament caught my eye. I’m pretty sure my mom made it and I had to share. I just got up to check the date on the back and it says, "Christmas 1993," in mom’s fancy writing. I laughed out loud. Sorry mom. This must have been from 83,’ because in 93′ I was a freshmen in high school and if that isn’t enough proof for you, look at my older sis’s outfit. Nothing screams 80’s like a pink and white checked bandanna around your neck! That was also during my Little Orphan Annie wannabe days-note saddle shoes and red sweater.
Ah, see the memories! That’s what Christmas ornaments are. There are some I look at and think, Lord, I’m glad those days are over! Others, I laugh about or I wonder how that person is doing. A Christmas tree no matter how scrawny or brawny celebrates Your life and memories. Thank you to everyone who has jumped in and shared their ornaments at our virtual craft night. Seeing what you’re making definitely made me not feel so far away from home. Have a very merry Christmas and we’ll see you next year! Or hopefully sooner!
Ring in the New Year – Kriss Cramer http://www.art-interrupted.blogspot.com/
Shaving cream & chipboard ornament – Michelle McGee http://fromichelle.blogspot.com/
Easy needle-felted orb – Katie Hacker http://www.katiehacker.com/index.htm
Hi, Iām Candie. I design jewelry and crafts, author books, teach classes and host television programs. I thrive on simple ideas that anyone can achieve. I also love projects made from unexpected materials that stand the test of time. Join me as I lead a creative life! 
Very pretty! I love looking through my ornaments each year. They are from childhood, both bought and handmade, through all the years. Merry Christmas!
Oh those are nice memories. I don’t really have my own Christmas tree tradition, but I do still enjoy my parent’s. My mom takes pride in her Christmas trees.
A few years ago, she decided she wanted to do a new small tree in addition to the traditional big tree. My mom collects peacocks and it is her personal symbol, so her new tree is all peacock colors and feathers and birds and butterflies! And its all new ornaments, we get her new ones each year.
She eventually stopped putting up the old traditional tree and now just does the peacock one. And it makes her happy, so I am happy, but one of these years I am going to make her get out the boxes of old ornaments, at least so we can go through them and remember the good ole days…
This year, I only put up ornaments that meant something to me (and not all of those even, because the tree got full, except in the corner where I couldn’t reach). It’s all about the memories for me too. So I love the picture ornament!
Thanks Candie. Have a lovely Christmas. I’ll be thinking of you!
LOVE the ornament AND what a thoughtful (and thought-provoking) Christmas essay. SO SWEET! THANKS! š H.
P.S. Nothing says Christmas like a beer-swilling Santa! š
What a special ornament! The plaid frame brings back memories! Nicely done!
What a special ornament! The plaid frame brings back memories! Nicely done!
What a nice story – that type of ornament is definitely the best. (My mother has one that reminds me why I’ll never wear bell bottoms again…) Thanks so much for Ornament Thursday – it’s been so much fun to participate! Merry Christmas!
Candie… thanks for sharing this!