I collect very specific, very kitschy christmas accoutrements. My favorite items by era include pretty much anything ancient up to mid-century, sometimes stretching into early seventies but with the majority of my collection grounded in the 40s - 60s.
This weekend, I went thrifting with my brother and brother in law-ish and, although they did not buy a thing, I found a ton of nonsense (a skill that is both blessing and curse). My xmas discoveries included a 16 inch white tinsel tree, a strange creche candle featuring an infant jesus, a glass Incredible Hulk ornament, and an amazing stackable christmas tree lighter and individual ashtrays. Although I am not a smoker, it was too cool to not have. In future posts, I'll include pictures of new finds.
Xmas thrifting is one of my favorite things that I engage in covertly throughout the year but can, in this season, fully and openly indulge. My favorite finds are ornaments (preferably glass shiney brites); tinsel trees (in all sizes); xmas handkerchiefs; linens; vintage figure candles(those featured below, I do not currently own but would like to!);
odd/silly mugs/glasses/plates/dishes; strange plastic creations (holly balls, plastic fir branches, pinecones, bells, etc.); any handmade felt-based item; ceramic trees (the one below is mine!);
And of course, the grail of all xmas vintage grails: 1940s japanese cardboard houses. In my collection I have about five that my grandmother was kind enough to give me but aquiring any others by accident at a thriftstore is pretty much unheard of. These little houses define the look of christmas to me and have deeply influenced the way I need christmas in my house to look - the village was always set on my grandmother's mantle and now I get to feature it in my own home. Unwrapping all my treasures and decorating the house in a magical, nonsensical way is truly more fun to me than unwrapping a christmas present.
