Stocking up

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. 

kicking it off

 I am a committed celebrator but, as I do with most aspects of my life, I must personalize. Therefore, I  began being crazy two full months before the holiday season. And by being crazy, I mean I'm auditing my christmas music stations on pandora so they're fully prepped for the season. I am actually deriving very little pleasure from this work- it really just feels analytical. Its just preparation. So, in this spirit of pre-holiday research, I share my list of vaguely holidayish, definitely seasonal songs that I have run across over the past year. These songs are all good and all by good artists. Enjoy!

Winter Songs:
Ruth: 87 Sundays
Claudine Longet: Snow
Nat King Cole: I wish you love
Mazzy Star: Flowers in December
Michael Cashmore: The Snow Abides
Animal Collective: Winter's Love
Mi & L'au: Christmas Soul
Bonnie Prince Billy: The Way
Zee Avi: No Christmas For Me
Peter Paul and Mary: Christmas Dinner
Chet Baker: Grey December
Bob Dylan: Girl of the North Country
Gordon Lightfoot: Song for a Winter's Night
Rolling Stones: Winter
The Dodos: Winter
Nico: Frozen Warnings
Simon and Garfunkel: Hazy Shade of Winter
Tori Amos: Winter
Elvis Presley: Snowbird
Leonard Cohen: Winter Lady
Buffy St. Marie: Winter Boy
Elliott Smith: Angel in the Snow
Nick Drake: Milk and Honey
Paul Simon; I am a Rock
Murder City Devils: 364 Days