Choices

Christmas, that time of year when everyone scurries and gets into a tither and when it finally makes it appearance many of us are totally fatigued!
My reason for the Christmas reminders in this blog for the past several days is to provide motivation to get your shopping done, your gifts wrapped and hidden (*don't forget to remember or write down where your great hiding place is this year*) and when the BIG day does arrive your not as worn out and frazzled from all the hustle and bustle, you'll be ready, you've prepared and your relaxed, ready to enjoy the big day!

Having said that, there are only 78 days left until Christmas morning!

TODAY lets take a look at what the "HOUSE" needs are!  This is the mood setter, the thing that makes your statement in welcoming the holiday!

Why not choose a themed Christmas this year?  How about Victorian?  There are so many wonderful Vintage Decorations out there in Etsy land that this could really be possible and not difficult to achieve!

This wonderful Vintage Lace and Battenburg Tree Skirt from the SassandWiggleVintage shop is simply beautiful and will accentuate the colorful tree ornaments as well as all of the beautifully wrapped gifts under and around the tree...

Or this one from YesterdaysDesigns made from Organic Burlap, talk about your Shabby Chic Victorian Style!

See how the colors of the tree and colored decorations look against this particular tree skirt? 

Once you laid the ground work with just the right tree skirt, it's time to think decorations and what better way to follow your Victorian themed Christmas but with a book which instructions on just how to achieve that look!  It is called the "Victorian Christmas Jewel Tree" instruction booklet and from the looks of it, you'll find great ideas hidden between it's pretty cover!

Believe it or not I actually found this gem at the Selleyville shop how simply cool is that?  Look at the cover alone, it is spectacular 52 pages of amazing information written by Diane M. Smoler in celebration of the General Federation of Women's Clubs Centennial from 1890 to 1990 and a decorated tree version depicting the Christmas era of 1890!  In my case choosing a Victorian theme for my Christmas decorating it really is fantastic to find yourself such a special instruction book filled with everything you'll need to carry out your plans. 

Book in hand your guide will help you choose just the right Victorian type of tree decorations, mantel dressings, table pieces, sideboard decorations, etc.  Knowing the period you want to use makes it more authentic.  How about some vintage Victorian era ornaments?
Like this Victorian Embroidered Nativity Scene ornaments from the Flying Figs shop? 

How absolutely delicate and lovely these are and what a find!  You could build on the Nativity scene within the tree or go Father Christmas with this 

Paper Ephemera ornament.  Just look at those children excited at seeing Father Christmas!  This ornament is available through RetroMarketplace or this one

from SusansBitsofYore shop or these beautiful little girl die cut ornaments from the trunksale shop so cute!

I have only scratched the surface of what is available in the Victorian era items to be found at Etsy shops.  Independent small business owners who know good things when they see it and making it available for people like me who want them. 

There are hundreds of themes to choose from, be it an era from the 1800's to modern day 21st century.   You have only to choose what theme you want and you are sure to find it in shops at Etsy, you don't have to leave home to get it, saving yourself the aggravation of  trudging through snow and ice or muddied snow, over crowded parking lots, mall shops and loud mall music which repeats over and over every hour on the hour!  With the number of days left before Christmas morning, this leaves ample time to shop online and for its delivery to your door.

I'll pop in a few more Victorian items as I continue my Christmas countdown and save myself much stress and straining by shopping online at Etsy shops, 
as I work away everyday doing what people do when they have families, jobs and social obligations. 

ONLY TWO days remain before the winners in the Martha Stewart Small Business contest are chosen and presented, so, if you would like to take part in helping a small business win a prestigious contest and which could use a vote from the public at large, then, please head on over to Martha Stewarts site here and vote for NewMorningGlass, a small independently owned business here at Etsy and in their local.  Winning would be vindication of their hard work and dedication not only to their craft but to their local economy!


****The choice of items I choose to write about is my own, I am not affiliated with any crafting community, sellers or store owners and no individual or company pays for my blogging about any article or item contained within this blog. I do not know nor am I affiliated with any person or shop I write about in any whatsoever*****