VINTAGE NATIVITY~~A TREASURED KEEPSAKE!

Each and every year that I decorate our home for Christmas, the one treasure that has a special and prominent spot, is my vintage nativity set handmade by my mother nearly 30 years ago. As a very accomplished ceramist, these nativity pieces started as green ware, then neatly cleaned and fired to become bisque. At that point the hand painting was done with antiquing for an aged and vintage look in the beginning. Now of course they are vintage and well loved, admired for their special meaning as well as the treasured keepsakes they are.

When my mother passed away this set was passed to me and we enjoy it every year placed on what was also hers, an antique low hutch. Even the manger is ceramic and quit large when all is placed together. I am thrilled to share this treasure with you and I hope it will reflect for you the true meaning of Christmas and the birth of the Christ Child. Thank you for stopping by this holiday and I wish for you a very Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year! As always, your comments are so welcomed!

This antique hutch is in our living room and has the original beveled mirror in the top portion plus leaded glass doors original to the piece. Included is a long flat drawer for linens and side compartments for silver. The lower area was for dishes and large serving pieces. The finish is original to the piece as well. We have kept this keepsake intact and enjoy it as an entertainment center to house speakers, CD player and music. It is perfect to showcase mom's nativity set. In the off season I showcase vintage treasures on the buffet top and family pictures.Year's end is a time for thank yous and appreciation. With that being said, I just want to thank you for visiting my studio blog the past few months since I have begun to post. In this time, I have enjoyed sharing a bit of my life and so enjoyed visiting yours. I have made many wonderful and interesting friends and look forward to meeting those who are only a click away. I am grateful and feel welcomed in the community of blogger's, and I thank each and everyone of you who have taken the time to visit me here for that. I have great plans for 2008 Lord Willing, and I hope to share more designs, treasures and heartfelt friendship with you when you return. Blessings and Blue Skies to you always! Celestina Marie~~ La Rea Rose!

CHRISTMAS VISIT TO ~ "WINTER VILLAGE"

Many years ago I started to collect my winter village buildings. Each year I was excited to include another addition and was given a cottage or two from my sweet hubby for a gift. As we collected the village, through the years I have displayed this set in many places around our home, but now it seems to look best displayed in a curio cabinet I have in our entry way. From the church to the court house, each piece is designed with snow and character only these special buildings can have. As I gaze at this small curio city, I try and imagine the people bustling around to and fro, shopping and playing in the winter snow. I have even found an art studio with an artist and his dog painting out front. When I daydream, I become a part of this winter scene, just for awhile. Living in the simply world surrounded by the quaintness and comfort of a small town. Join me now as we tour this sweet winter town and meet the people in a place that is forever winter and forever Christmas!
Thank you for coming to visit Christmas in my Winter Village! I hope for a little while you enjoyed your time in the snow with these sweet town characters. Best wishes for the happiest of holidays!

GREETINGS FROM MY HOLIDAY HOME!

WELCOME, PLEASE COME IN!
This year our family tree is a faux Douglas Fir, 7 1/2' tall with my Norwegian Star making it nearly 8 feet high. I'll explain more about the star later. We have this tree displayed in our dining room window facing the front of the house. First, starting at the bottom I have a tree skirt in shades of copper with lots of bling sewn on between satin and roping to form a design. All the colors on the tree of reds, whites, sage, pinks, copper, silver and gold, seem to go so well with this skirt. Our ornaments are an assortment of vintage antiques passed down from my parents, collectibles from our travels, some handmade ornies, lots of ornament gifts, my 2 from the White House invitations, and finished with bead garland, handmade snowflakes and copper icicles made by my husband last year! Lastly, topped with my gorgeous Norwegian Star given to us from our dear friend Randi, of, in my mothers name. Click on her blog to the right below to see her wonderful hand knitted and felted designs on her blog and her etsy shop! She explained, that in Norway, people hang these stars in the windows with a light in them. We had to change the light due to the differences in electricity, so it then became a tree topper for us, and we love it. Thanks once again Randi for this star, it is a Christmas favorite!I also have some close up pictures of some of my very favorite ornaments collected through the years. As a family, we just love hanging each and everyone each year. It brings back wonderful memories of times we found or received them.

I really was not able to get good pictures of our tree with the light on or off and the ornaments, so this is the best I could do for now, along with the close ups of some of my favorites!

These last two ornaments are from 1998 and 2004 in Washington D.C. Those years I was invited to hand paint ornaments for the White House Blue Room Christmas Tree. I brought these back as a remembrance of my invitation to the White House!

SHABBY BLUE GUEST ROOM TREASURES!

The snowman tangled in his skis was made by Randi. Karen and Ele, do you see your tags on this sweet berry wreath? Also the pearl snowflakes are made by my mother on the vintage plate and also a few displayed by the frosted white trees! The white coat Santa is sitting on the bed staying cozy as he greets visitors! The children dragging home the tree is a painted plate from the year our son was born! The blue coat snowman is ringing in the season!

Later this week I will share pictures of my winter village buildings and the gorgeous manger scene made by my mother, 30 years ago. I invite you back to join me then. Merry Christmas!