Paper-Doily Wreath & More From Martha Stewart

A delicate-looking wreath that creates the magical effect of candles flickering in the snow is easy to make and surprisingly sturdy. Wreath frames are strung with twinkling lights that are nestled in frothy, doilylike paper bouquet holders known as "Biedermeiermanschetten."

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Paper-Doily Wreath - Martha Stewart Crafts

With their motion frozen in clear glass glitter, coniferous trees and reindeer encircle hurricane lamps lighted from within by tall, rose-hued candles. Here, the candleholders are elevated on glass cake stands, then faux snow is dusted around them.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Glittered Candleholders - Martha Stewart Crafts

Transform old magazines into glittered tabletop trees with this easy -- as well as kid-friendly -- step-by-step process.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Easy Christmas Crafts, Homemade Gifts, Gift-Wrapping Ideas - Martha Stewart

Magazine Christmas Trees

Create cute snowman greeting cards or gift tags with extra buttons and a bit of thread.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Easy Christmas Crafts, Homemade Gifts, Gift-Wrapping Ideas - Martha Stewart

Button Snowman Cards

Rickrack -- wavy cotton trim -- is easily manipulated into seasonal symbols. Glue rickrack designs to blank cards, and use them as holiday greetings.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Easy Christmas Crafts, Homemade Gifts, Gift-Wrapping Ideas - Martha Stewart

Rickrack Cards

Enjoy being creative!

 

Santa Ads

It's been a hectic time, so I regret not posting more frequently.   I was thinking about something we are constantly bombared with every day: ads.  The guy in the red suit has been used to sell many things of the years and I wanted to highlight a few of them.

First, the most recognized Santa is the one created by the Coca-Cola company in the 1930s.

Starting in 1931, magazine ads for Coca-Cola featured St. Nick as a kind, jolly man in a red suit. Because magazines were so widely viewed, and because this image of Santa appeared for more than three decades, the image of Santa most people have today is largely based on our advertising.

Before the 1931 introduction of the Coca-Cola Santa Claus created by artist Haddon Sundblom, the image of Santa ranged from big to small and fat to tall. Santa even appeared as an elf and looked a bit spooky.

The Coca-Cola Company began its Christmas advertising in the 1920s with shopping-related ads in magazines like The Saturday Evening Post. The first Santa ads used a strict-looking Claus, in the vein of Thomas Nast.


At this time, many people thought of Coca-Cola as a drink only for warm weather. The Coca-Cola Company began a campaign to remind people that Coca-Cola was a great choice in any month. This began with the 1922 slogan "Thirst Knows No Season," and continued with a campaign connecting a true icon of winter -- Santa Claus -- with the beverage.

Later on tobacco companies loved to use Santa in their holiday advertising. Usually showing an illustration of Santa Claus and the Christmas packaging of their products for that season. This picture shows the 1943 Chesterfield products.

Eventually with all that work Santa needs some time to clean up.  So I found an ad in which Santa is selling some towels.

The World's Largest Christmas Store

In my search for all things Christmas, I found out that Bronner's Christmas Wonderland is the world's largest Christmas store. It's located in Frankenmuth, Michigan. It was started by Wallace Bronner in 1945.

Wally Bronner & Santa

All images are from Google Images

You can read more on the history of how he started his business Here.

 They also have an online website you can order anything imaginable for Christmas! OH MY, I would love to visit there for a whole day, but since it's to far away, the next best thing is to order from their website! I love to exchange ornaments for Christmas gifts and they have a big selection of those...woohoo! Here is the link to their online store, Bronner's Christmas Wonderland.

There's also a 68 page E-Catalog to browse through which you can find HERE.

They have quite a selection of Christmas goodies from personalized ornaments and gifts, to collectibles, trees & accessories, garlands & wreaths, Nativity Scenes, lights, advent calendars, Santa suits & hats, and much more.

You can view an Interactive Virtual Tour of Bronner's Christmas Wonderland HERE.

Penguins...I love penguins...:)

Half-mile long Christmas Lane lined with
 lights attracting millions each year.

 Bronner's Christmas Wonderland is visited annually by over two million people, with the weekend after Thanksgiving being the busiest of the year with over 50,000 visitors. Its inventory exceeds 50,000 trims and gifts, including Christmas ornaments, artificial Christmas trees, Christmas lights, Nativity scenes, Christmas decorations, collectibles, and similar goods. Each year, approximately 600,000 glass ornaments, 530,000 feet (161,000 m) of garland, 150,000 postcards and 86,000 light sets (nearly 530 miles (850 km) of light cords) are sold. Bronner's has the exclusive right to sell Precious Moments Christmas-themed figurines. With the government of Austria's permission and in keeping with the German theme of Frankenmuth itself, Bronner's built a replica of the Oberndorf, Austria, Silent Night Memorial Chapel in 1992 as a tribute to the Christmas hymn "Silent Night"
Read about Bronner's Silent Night Memorial Chapel Here.

Wallace "Wally" Bronner died April 1, 2008 at age 81.

Image from: http://www.stillenacht.info/en/silent-night/chapel.asp

Wow! My inner child would definitely come out visiting this store! LOL! Hope you enjoy visiting all of the links above.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronner%27s_CHRISTmas_Wonderland

Easter Tree

I've decided to post pic's of my Easter tree even though it's on my Christmas blog. I don't do very much in the way of Easter decorations, but I'm going to try and add a few things each year. I do have an Easter wreath on my front and back doors. Christmas is always my big decorating event.

I left out my Jim Shore seasonal cat collection.

Easter Bunny $3.50 from The Dollar General Store

More from The Dollar General Store

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Inspiring Ideas from Houzz

Traditional dining room design

I love the gift centerpiece and the beautiful traditional Christmas colors.

Traditional dining room design by kansas city media and blogs Michelle Edwards

Beautiful centerpiece! Loving the candy canes around the candles and the ribbon! Great idea!

Eclectic family room design

Here's a nice way to display any kind of Christmas blocks you may have by putting them on candlesticks surrounded by garland. Looks very nice instead of just sitting them across the top of the mantel. Adding height makes a big difference!

Contemporary living room design by other metros media and blogs Restyled Home

Very simple and very charming. Love the wintry colors.

Traditional entry design by new york showroom Hydrangea Home

Just plain gorgeous!

Traditional kitchen design by other metros interior designer Tobi Fairley

I'm loving the slipcovers on the chairs! So cozy!

You can see more decorating ideas at http://www.houzz.com

The Largest Santa

This Santa stands at 51 ft. tall and weighs 2 1/2 tons.  You can read about him and ten other Christmas  Guinness World Records Here.  Image from Google.

World's Largest Santa Claus Collection

Jean-Guy Laquerre from Canada is 74 yrs. old and holds the world's largest Santa Claus Collection title given by the Guinness World Record. He started his Santa collection in 1988 and has collected everything from Santa books, napkins, dolls, record albums, cards, candy, a miniature workshop and Santa ads. You can see his collection here on You Tube. Embedding was disabled, so I was unable to put it on my blog. Unbelievable what he has collected through the years!

Images from Google

Giant Chocolate Christmas Tree

This is amazing!  From Nov. 27,  2010,  found on The Telegraph, you can view the video here and see the giant chocolate tree.

Patrick Roger's creation will be used to raise funds for a television charity event to support research into neuromuscular diseases.

The tree, which is currently towering inside the chocolatier's factory in Sceaux, weighs four tons and according to Mr Roger's is a piece of "architecture".

He said: "To achieve this kind of architecture – because this really is a piece of architecture – we used a sort of cavity inside to make the chocolate solid enough, because there is very strong vertical pressure."

The chocolate Christmas tree will be shown on France's Telethon, a nationwide charity appeal show, and viewers will receive part of the sugary sculpture in exchange for a donation.

Mr Roger's laboratory also features a wide range of other chocolate sculptures, including small Santas, reindeers and other figurines.

Meet Me In St. Louis

This film was made in 1944 and  tells the story of an American family living in St. Louis at the time of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World's Fair in 1904.

It stars Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer, Tom Drake, Leon Ames, Marjorie Main, June Lockhart, and Joan Carroll, and was released by MGM.

"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, 1944, performed by Judy Garland, became a big hit after the film was released. The film was directed by Vincente Minnelli, who met his future wife, Judy Garland, on the set.

Hugh Martin, the composer and lyricist who wrote "The Trolley Song" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" which were both sung by Judy Garland, died on March 11, 2011. He was 96 years old.

One of my favorites, here is the scene in which she sings one of the most beautiful Christmas songs ever.






http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meet_Me_in_St._Louis

Related articles

• Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) (thefilmexperience.net)

Lawrence Welk Christmas Show opening with Jingle Bells

Yes, I used to watch the Lawrence Welk Christmas shows in my younger days! I enjoyed the entertainment and the Christmas songs. Those were the good old days! This is from 1972.

Image from http://welkmusicalfamily.blogspot.com

Themed Table Settings and Accessories

I love the country themed decorating ideas. At the The Country Porch, they offer  lovely country themed table settings and home accessories for Christmas and all year round.  This is just a sampling of the placemat settings and matching accessories.

Christmas Joys

Red Holiday Cheer

Let It Snow

Whipstitch Snowman