Argh! Pirate Ornaments

Each year I buy a new ornament or two for the Christmas tree. This year I found these adorable pirate ornaments at a local beach antiques/gift shop called Scavengers. My Aunt was visiting here from Missouri and we stayed busy visiting antique/gift shops. I couldn't resist these cute ornaments. They are made with bells. How clever. My tree is FULL of variety.

Christmas Decorating

I love decorating for Christmas. The other day as I was putting up the tree and decorating, I took this picture of my Patriotic Santa. Why is he riding on a sheep? I don't know. I just thought he was neat looking so I got him. Plus he was on clearance 2 years ago at my favorite store in Jacksonville, The Olde Green Cupboard. I miss that store. One stroll through there and I ran home and decorated something! Very inspiring store. Click on their name and visit their website. They have some really pretty pictures of the displays and decor in their store. They are also a quilt shop.

I love decorating the Christmas tree. Each one of my ornaments brings back memories. Some are new, I usually add a few new ones each year, but some are old.

I have some cute little felt stockings with goodies stuffed inside that my friend Sadie in England made me. She also made me an adorable praying angel with a clothespin body. She's embellished with gold trim and brown embroidery floss hair.

I made this oval glass ornament which has a poem behind the glass in memory of my mom who passed away many years ago. The poem is titled "Merry Christmas from Heaven" -by John William Monney, Jr.. Here's a link to the story behind the poem and the words: http://www.merrychristmasfromheaven.com/

I have a little Santa moon face ornament dated 1992 from a very sweet friend, Melinda. I love hanging that one and remembering our friendship and realizing how blessed I am to have her as my friend all these years. We don't get to talk often. She and her husband are busy with 4 kids and preparing for the Mission Field with JAARS. But she'll always be my friend.

Then there's these wooden puzzle ornaments my mom made long ago. She cut them out with her scroll saw, painted and drilled a hole down the top center to string them together as an ornament. The string can be removed and taken apart as a puzzle.

There are some that I handmade when I used to make dolls and crafts. I'll share pictures of one of the many gingerbread men tucked in the branches and Joseph & Mary with baby Jesus.

Thanks for looking at my tree with me today.

Be Inspired! -Karol

Christmas Ornaments

This picture is a closeup of some of the ornaments on my Christmas tree I put up in my kitchen each year. For several years now I have been collecting cute kitchen gadget ornaments to adorn this tree. I fill in blank spots with artificial fruit. Each year I see something new to add to my tree. There's a few cute glass blown coffee ornaments at Bed Bath & Beyond I've been eyeing this year.

I have our family tree, which is loaded with all kinds of ornaments, sentimental ones, whimsical ones, delicate ones, glass blown, resin, wooden, cloth, etc.

I have a small tree for my daughter's room that has pretty, frilly, shabby chic ornaments and girly things.

And, I have a small tree for my son's room that has football ornaments, fishing lures, camping stuff, and boy-type ornaments.

For this post I wanted to share a few of my favorite places to find unusual ornaments....

1) Target -Every year Target seems to add something new to their huge and categorized assortments of ornaments. I have purchased quite a few ornaments from Target the past few years. Above you'll see a cute Telephone Cabin and Police Officer ornament set available online only from Target. I just realized they have WAY more ornaments online as they do in the store!

2) World Market -This is a great place for all kinds of unusual glass blown ornaments, as well as other types of ornaments. The picture above is of the Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower, cute!

3) Home Goods -Although Home Goods doesn't really show much on their website, they have lots of great finds in their stores! I miss having a Home Goods close by. (boo hoo) But, Home Goods website does have something called "Open House Blog" where bloggers contribute what they find at Home Goods. Above is a picture from a blogger that found ornaments. Click on picture to go to this story and more pics from this blogger plus many other contributors.

4) Hobby Lobby -Hobby Lobby has at least 5 aisles of Christmas Ornaments. All separate in to categories and styles. I love looking at ornaments there. They have unusual ones you won't see anywhere else. Unfortunately their website doesn't show what they have to offer in stores, you'll just have to go see for yourself. Their website has a store finder if you're not sure if you have one near you. -Don't forget to wait until they are on sale! This week all tree decor is 50%! Sign up for their weekly email and they send you the weekly specials by email (along with coupon to use).

5) eBay -Let's not forget eBay. If you're looking for an ornament that maybe you had as a child, or a tree topper just like your parents used to put on top of the tree each year, you might just be able to find it on eBay. You can even find retired Disney, Dept. 56, Hallmark and others on eBay, too. There's literally thousands of items listed for ornaments right now!

Be Inspired and go decorate your Christmas tree(s)! -Karol :0)