My great aunt passed away earlier this year at the age of 96. She had lived her entire life next door to my grandmother who passed away just before her 99th birthday last year. It was only fitting that they went so close together.
While going through her estate recently, we pulled out all of her Christmas decorations. Can you believe there were 3 huge boxes of Shiny Brite vintage ornaments and no one wanted them except for me!
They wanted to toss them!
So of course I ran with my stash before they all caught on!
Normally I do a gold and silver tree; but I was so happy this year to be able to have a part of my aunt with me and use her colorful ornaments.
So this year my theme is vintage
( except for the unbreakable plastic Target ornaments on the bottom, I do have a 2 year old after all.).
To go with the look is a vintage book page garland, cut in the shape of doves.
And photo-copied vintage postcards strung on my favorite multipurpose twine.
The suitcase was also my aunt's. I felt it went perfectly in the room.
All for a very vintage Christmas.
Grab your reindeer and sleigh and fly on over to the Inspired Room for more holiday inspiration,
Rhoda's home for the holidays,
Julia at Hooked on houses holiday tour,
And Funky Junk Interiors for a Christmas tree link up party.
Jen
Very pretty Jen!! I have some of those ornaments too - I love them!
ReplyDeleteLove, how you didnt even need to fight for those beauties!!!
ReplyDeleteThe suitcase fits perfectly!
Oh and also lve the story!
I love that you used your aunts ornaments...That's so cool that you were able to get them...and the memories!
ReplyDeleteSo often when I find things at flea markets and junk stores...I have no idea about who owned them before.
Have a wonderful week!
...donna
Oh jen I love your vintage tree! Not only is it stunning but how special to have your aunts ornaments! It made me smile, it's beautiful,
ReplyDeletexo,
LuLu
I wish this was my living room...all decorated and ready for celebrations...It is simply beautiful:)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to get your family heirloom ornaments. They mean so much more than if you just bought them new or even at an antique store.
ReplyDeleteI love the bird garland!! What a great idea that is. I created some snowflakes from a vintage frech book my parents brought me back from their trip to Paris. They bought it at an open air market which makes me love it even more. I posted them on my blog. I love your Shiny Brites, too!
ReplyDeleteOh how very pretty!!! What a treasure!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
Beautiful! That garland is divine.
ReplyDeleteI inherited some vintage ornaments this year too. I added them to my grandmother's ornaments that I've put up since I inherited those.
ReplyDeleteMy tree is only little though. I also have a bunch of those clip-on birds. Come over and visit and see.
I've been collecting Shiny Brites for almost 15 years. Love the way they look on a sprakly Christmas tree...and your dove garland really sets them off wonderfully. And now you can think of your aunt whenever you look at your tree, which makes it even more special! :-)
ReplyDeleteI love it Jen! I also love to see your whole living room...it is looking Sooooo pretty.
ReplyDeleteLove everything about this post...the sentiment, the ornaments, the suitcases...your tree! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteTake care, Laura
Jen! Absolutely breathtaking - your touches are so sweet, and to have a tree full of memories! It works so well in your room.
ReplyDeleteDon't you just LOVE Shiny Brite's?! I'm slightly obsessed. (husband would think I'm QUITE obsessed....)
Your photos are going in my inspiration folder!
xoxo
What a beautiful tree and with such a special meaning.
ReplyDeletethe garland is so very beautiful...and the shiny brites are always wonderful. especially when they are a family treasure:) it looks great! (and i just love the clock faces on the wall, too)
ReplyDeletemary
You are one smart girl...one day they will see what you saw now! Your Aunt would be soooo happy that you wanted her treasures. Hope you have a FUN week!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Linda
Gorgeous. gorgeous. gorgeous. A tree full of memories, is there anything better?
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely! Love the simplicity. The ornaments are gorgeous and you really got that vintage look. (reminds me of the xmas trees my mom used to decorate long ago...) Your pictures brought some really good memories back... thanks! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteSo cute Jen! I love the garland!
ReplyDeleteManuela
Really pretty, Jen! So glad someone saved them from the trash!
ReplyDeleteOh so wonderful.. I love your decor and all the more so because you have treasured heirlooms tucked in with your creative garland and postcards....just so lovely and cozy.
ReplyDeleteJen,
ReplyDeleteYour tree is the my favorite, I have seen. You have to tell us how you made the dove garland.
Junk Mammas-Kim
LOVE IT!! Such a sweet, cozy room. Great work!
ReplyDeleteIt looks darling. I love the dove garland, so unique and different! I can't believe nobody else wanted those ornaments, are they CRAZY???? Lucky for you tho!
ReplyDeleteI love your tree! The ornaments are beautiful. What a great keepsake to have.
ReplyDelete-FringeGirl
I found your site through another blog whilst snooping around all day and I HEART IT SO FAR!
ReplyDeleteSassily Yours...
Oh so pretty and meaningful! Just gorgeous-ness all over your house :)
ReplyDeleteI love the suitcase. Just lovely.
ReplyDeleteI love vintage ornaments. The colors and chippyness are to die for!
ReplyDeleteI saw mentioned in the blogher newsletter that you were featured in Country Living. I was so excited for you, I had to pop over and say congrats. Your blog looks lovely and I am so happy for your growing success!
Ashley :)
The living room looks terrific! I have a lot of those vintage ornaments from my grandmother's estate and in addition to putting them on the tree, I like to put them in hurricanes and into bowls. They are so pretty and remind me of my childhood at her house.
ReplyDeleteThis is Christmas for me - family history and tradition combined with a celebration of the Greatest Love.
ReplyDeleteSweet treasures- love your tree.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas
I love it! The vintage ornaments are lovely.
ReplyDeleteI love your Christmas collection. The suitcases add a warm touch. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty and such a lovely sentiment. I've been keeping an eye out at garage sales, and found one shiny bright box this year with six ornaments.
ReplyDeleteHey Jen~
ReplyDeleteSince I am loving all things vintage even more this year, I simply love your tree. So simple, and filled with the feeling Heart. Vintage ornaments are beautiful and even more so when they are from family.
Donna
How could no one want the Shiny Brites?!? And that suitcase...I'm in love.
ReplyDeleteYou must come from incredibly good stock...96 and 99! How lucky you were to have had them in your life for as long as you did (and vice versa). I have a feeling your aunt would be very excited to know the Shiny Brites wound up in the right hands. :-)
Hi Jen :)
ReplyDeleteI think you have my very favorite tree this year. Thank goodness you saved those sweet things from your aunt!
xoxo,
rue
Awww, Jen, I just love those vintage ornaments! You can bet if I ever run across a bunch of them, I will be doing a tree up in those pretty things. I love, love it!! Thanks for joining the party. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeletejen....its beautiful! and so meaningful! :)
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I also use ornaments from our loved ones who have passed. We have her Great Grandmothers, my Mothers, and some that we have collected through the 32 years of marriage. But each year we bring out the "family ornaments", and for that brief moment as we hang those we are again reminded of that special person who was in our life. It is those memories that keep family traditions alive. Our daughter in law had not yet reached the point where she appreciates the old, somewhat worn items. But in time we pray that she see through the tarnish and gets what each thing represents to our family. Your tree is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and yours the very Merriest of Christmases
Curtis & Sherrie
I love the Shiny Brites! I thought about buying some off Amazon this year, but didn't do it in time. Maybe next year.
ReplyDeleteSo is this room yellow or a yellowy beige or what? I am still thinking about wall colors.
ReplyDelete