Tuesday 13 December 2016

Advent Calendar Blog Hop 2016

Jo of Serendipitous Stitching organizes again this year an Advent Calendar Blog Hop and she was very nice to include me in it,too.
I am today, Tuesday the 13th, but that's not an unlucky day for me or for Greece!
So what I had to do was to show you a Christmas stitched piece as well as answer the following question.
"Decorations - do you have a favourite decoration you must have on display every year, maybe an heirloom, one the children made or something with a special story behind it?"
Ok. I haven't got many big Christmas stitched pieces. So here is the one I always put up at Christmas and put away the rest of the year.I had stitched this back in 2009 and it was a kit sent to me by my friend Cathy if I remember well.
As for the ornaments!Difficult!
What to show and what to leave out? I have a huge cupboard filled with Christmas decorations, vintage, handmade and new.All kinds.And I always put them up on my tree.
A couple of years ago I donated our tree to my school as it was rather big for our small flat.
Here is my tree and how it looked in December 2006.It was the time when I loved ballerina ornaments.And you can also see some vintage ones on it too.
 Then in December 2007 I decorated it with all the ornaments I bought from our trip to Finland.
 Last year we didn't decorate a tree but this year I decided I had to have  a tree to put my ornaments up. So we bought a small natural fir tree.
and here it is all decorated with my cross stitched ornaments.
Some were sent to me by my dear friend in the States Marabeth who had found the kits at a thrift store and I managed to stitch them all.

 Others were freebies from cross stitch magazines and I stitched them over the years.
I have also stitched some of my own.
I also added a couple of crocheted snowflakes, some are store bought and some were sent to me by another friend in the States Gara.But this one is a very special one I had bought from Prague in 2004.
This is the stocking I have stitched for my son years ago in 1997. So much detail, golden thread and beads. I had found the pattern in a cross stitch magazine.
The nativity set I put under the tree every year is one I bought the year I gave birth to my son and I always put it under the tree. It is ceramic and I really love it.
There is Virgin Mary, Baby Jesus, a shepherd, an angel, a sheep and a camel.
There are some other decorations I want to show you as well.
These two ornaments are my favourite ones.The first, Santa on the tricyscle, I had bought for my son's first Christmas. For some reason I don't know where it is any more. I think someone had stolen it years ago. The one next to it is a music box my friend Gia gave to me!
This is a bookish Christmas tree I tried to make for the #bookxams challenge of
So little sleeping and so much reading. Thecaroler at the bottom of the tree was sent to me by my dear Marabeth too and it belonged to her collection. She is with me now. The dish at the bottom was recently given to me by  my primary school classmate Nelly. It is decoupaged. Nelly and I met after many many years. She is a volunteer at the children with special needs association for whom we performed last Sunday. The glass top on the tree is one of my brother's gifts.
 I have a big collection of glass trees most of which were gifted to me by my brother and I love them but haven't put them up this year; not yet anyway!
That's how that collection started with my own trees.
And here are some more my brother has given me.
I also have this seven candle light I put up every year. I had bought it in Finland when we had travelled there back in 2006-07. I had admired those lamps in all house windows in Finland and wanted my own. Thank God my friend Johanna sent me little replacement lamps and I can have it lit all year long. Yes I do have it around the house all year long.
This is a blown glass ball ornament my friend Marabeth has also sent me from the States. It is made by the renowned glass artist Jeffrey P'an.
Finally an advent calendar wooden chest I bought this year at the Melissa orphanage bazaar and I really love it!
Well I hope I haven't tired you too much with all the things I have shown you!
Thank you Jo for the chance to take part in the blog hop.

20 comments:

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Thanks for taking part in the Advent Calendar Blog Hop this year. Lovely stitched picture and a gorgeous selection of decorations. I love the bookish tree and your entire forest of glass trees! Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

This is the book tree in our local library:
https://www.facebook.com/lowestoftlibrary/photos/a.1435077296734590.1073741827.1433712813537705/1844397182469264/?type=3&theater

Linda said...

Oh I love all of your decorations Ariadne. We have cats so most of your decorations would not survive in our house.

Linda

Ο κόσμος της Ράνιας said...

Πολύ όμορφα όλα και πολύ ωραία ατμόσφαιρα !!! Μ αρέσει και η συλλογή σου από δέντρα !!!! Να είσαι καλά και του χρόνου, να χαίρεσαι την οικογένειά σου και να περάσετε χαρούμενες γιορτές και κάθε καλό για το νέο έτος !!!! Φιλιά !!!

Barb said...

You have shared so many beautiful things with us. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Bea said...

What a wonderful array of beautiful ornaments! So unique and beautiful.

Elfie said...

I have very much enjoyed my visit to your blog today. Thank you for sharing your lovely Christmas tree pics and your Christmas stories. Merry Christmas.

Christine said...

What a wonderful collection of fabulous ornaments

Mii Stitch said...

So many lovely trees over the year!
I love this year as it's a real one and it is all small & simply lovely :)

Astrids dragon said...

I love your stitched piece, it looks so lovely!
All of your ornaments and treasures are wonderful too.
Happy Christmas!

Melinda Forbes said...

You have so many beautiful things - but I will mention a few - The stocking you stitched for your son is so perfect - I love the Nativity you have also had since the birth of your son. In the picture of your little tree (this is the size of my tree too) I have to mention the marionettes -- I think there must be a wonderful story about them. Thank you for sharing all of your Christmas things!

Justine said...

So many lovely ornaments! I love your real tree this year and the special memories from your other ornaments. Merry Christmas!

FlashinScissors said...

A great stitched piece!
What a wonderful collection of decorations! I enjoyed seeing, and reading about them all!
Happy Christmas to you and your family, Ariadne!
Hugs, Barbara xx

Julie said...

Such a lot of lovely ornaments and trees have filled your post for the blog hop, all so beautiful.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

The natural fir tree is gorgeous and perfect for your home. I love the pretty cross stitch ornaments you've made and that sweet stocking. You really make everything look festive! Happy holidays sweet friend. Hugs, Diane

Lillie said...

What a lovely eye catching collecting you have, Ariadne.
You have displayed them beautifully
Merry Christmas to you and family !

Rhona said...

So many wonderful Christmas treasures!

Merry Christmas!

gracie said...

Beautiful stitching and lovely tree...

Tiffstitch said...

Wow! You have so many beautiful Xmas decorations, lovely! And so nice you can leave the "candles" out all year.

Brigitte said...

So much fun to see all the trees from different years and how different they look. That bookish tree is so very original, very special. A great blog hop post.