Christmas Decorating

I was inspired by this old postcard when I went to put up a tree 2 years ago. I heard my Mom telling a story about how she had walked in the snow to find a tree. That means they just went out and took whatever was growing , however it was growing, no trimming for years to give it that nice shape. So I decided that`s what I wanted to try. I went out and walked until I found one I thought would work and the trunk is very small compared to the ones you buy at a lot . I put it in this old bucket with a plastic bucket inside to prevent leakage, placed stones for support and wired it to the wall. I made folded paper stars and strung popcorn and cranberries. Baked gingerbread cookies and cut out shapes with my old cookie cutters. Clipped on candles ,but never lit them, and added white lights. A carved angel on top that was made by my friend. Added some dolls and animals from my collection and was very happy with the results. I`d love to see your early style trees too, send me a link .

Primitive Christmas Decorating

This basket looks like an upsidedown Christmas tree made from twigs. Cone shaped. Fill with greens and hang from a nice hanger. Again, having this wonderful doorway helps most colonial decorating look nice.





I love decorating with natural ,simple things. A candle in the window, a bough outside the window and of course having a great window in the 1st place helps too. This restored log house looks great on it`s own.

Moravian Stars

Love these moravian stars for holiday decorating. I found mine, one Summer, at an auction out in the country. I really enjoy it.

Christkindle Market Mifflinburg,Pa.2008

This is a Christmas pyramid. A giant version of the ones many people had in their homes. The small ones had candles and the heat from the candles would turn the propellers on top. This one is placed in an intersection on the street where they hold the Christkindle market each year. It turns by electricity.

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Old Tin Chandelier on Ebay

Auction link

Old Sconces for sale on Ebay

Sconces on Ebay




Old Sconces for sale on Ebay.

Christmas at Primitive America Shoppe

The recent Christmas open house at Primitive America in Pennsdale ,Pa. was filled with wonderful primitives and early antiques and there were great ideas for decorating for Christmas.This shop is open on Fridays 10-5 , but on the open house weekends she`s open Friday and Sat. 514 Quaker Church Rd.Pennsdale,Pa.17756 570-546-6220.

Happy Thanksgiving from Melanee

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. I`m truly thankful for the abundance I have. Once I understood I have just what I need, right now , at this point in my life, if I could just see it, I then understand it`s enough. Health , wealth and abundance to you all! And may you love and be loved. Thank you for reading my blog. Melanee



A needlepunched mat I made, my own design. 2008




The larger paper mache turkey I found early one morning at a flea market a few years ago before they were so popular. The one on the left could be a repro..



Turkey Red embroidery floss box

Decorating Ideas from Primitive America

A simple ironstone cup, the red against the pale white, gives the "early" feel of Christmas.




The old blue of the metal .Pinecones with a touch of white paint and a bit of glitter. This is an inexpensive simple way to decorate.



Pinecones in old primitive containers,baskets,measures,wooden buckets.



Faux plum puddings with aged cheesecloth.



Candles inside old tin graters, in a box of greens.



Candle on a hogscraper.

Thoughts about Creating- Letting It Just Be

I listen to an acoustic guitar player, he plays the same instrument as the next guitar player, but why do I listen to him more than others? How can I paint an angel my way? 10 songs on an album, can I paint 10 angels and change them enough to be their own song? The guitar player writes his own songs, from his soul, but then maybe some are filler to get it finished, who knows? Why am I attracted to certain songs more than others? An energy .......a vibration ....higher vibrating, my level of vibration....? What is the attraction? Their energy being great when they create? My energy being joy , fun, enthusiasm. If I paint something and it comes out like I want, that definition being ,I can`t find anything else on the piece that looks like it needs something done to it, and something I would want if I could keep everything in the world? Many times I do want it and I don`t want to let it go. Maybe I`ll never be in a place to make that again, is my thinking , or is that my inner critic being sneaky, keeping me down, holding me back? Would that be me writing a song that only I get to hear and a few around me? What is my intention when I sit down to work? To listen, to be open to what comes, to get out of the way.......to accept what comes , and not judge or criticize , but let it be.

Blue Popcorn

I go to a farmer`s market every week, I like to support local farmer`s and as Bill Nye says on "Stuff Happens" on the the green channel, I want to keep down my "food miles". Last week I found this blue popcorn. I haven`t eaten it yet to say if it`s good, but I`m taking it off the husk now. I figured if it`s not edible, I`d see if the birds will eat it. Maybe you`ve seen it before, but this is a first for me. It`s a great muted blue color.


After many hours and very sore fingers , this is what I ended up with. A large jar of beautiful blue popcorn that should last me until next season and a huge bowl of corn husks. Now what to do with the husks..... dolls are what comes to mind 1st. Native Americans made them for their children. How about stuffing a pillow or hand made mattress? That would be the inner filling and something softer like cotton batting on the outside. A wreath? not sure what it will end up becoming. My compost pile as a last resort.

New Blog

I created a new blog about early Make-do`s and pincushions. If you have information I could use please send it along for my consideration. Thanks, Melanee