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Now that Thanksgiving is over, Christmas is everywhere. It seems the season moves rapidly forward with little time for Advent or waiting.
But so much depends on the holiday season, from Black Friday business promotions, to family gatherings, travel, work and school schedules, that it's easy to see how the holidays take over.
I just started my decorating this weekend. Like most antique enthusiasts, I have vintage Santas, antique trees, special ornaments for the tree and other treasures that I enjoy.
Do you have a favorite ornament on your Christmas tree? There are so many choices, plus ornaments make a sweet gift as a house warming or thank you for your favorite hostess.
Hallmark is definitely one of the most popular names in collectible ornaments today since this card company creates an endless assortment of ornaments designed in categories like movies and TV, heroes and villains, electronics and gaming, along with classic themes. I found a total of 511 examples on their website today when I checked (Hallmark.com).
Vintage ornaments dating to the mid-20th century are popular now and you can find these at antique shops, second-hand stores or in an attic if you're lucky! Other collectors seek genuine antique ornaments and look for Victorian treasures or German examples from the early 1900s.
But there are new glass ornaments that are just as lovely.
One of the big names that collectors enjoy today is Old World Christmas ornaments. I noticed these a while back and have purchased several myself since these blown glass treasures remind me of antiques. But Old World also creates pop themes like an ornament featuring Bernie Sanders and his famous mitten meme (visit oldworldchristmas.com).
A few years back, I was even fortunate enough to find a shiny gold star tree topper made by Old World at Boscov's, reduced after the holidays! It's blown glass so it's fragile but so pretty. Boscov's always seems to showcase these showy classics.
Old World Christmas is actually a "premier brand of Christmas ornaments in the country," according to its website, oldworldchristmas.com. The founders, Tim and Beth Merck, a couple who shared a special love for Christmas, are credited with revitalizing the art of mouth-blown fine glass ornaments as a result of their reintroducing figurative designs to the United States in 1979.
Today, Old World Christmas offers many ornaments to choose from with over 1,400 designs in styles ranging from traditional to whimsical.
Each figurative glass ornament produced by Old World Christmas is hand crafted in age-old tradition using the same techniques that originated in the 1800s. Molten glass is mouth-blown into finely carved molds made exclusively for Old World Christmas, before a hot solution of liquid silver is poured inside.
The ornaments are then hand-painted and glittered in a series of labor-intensive steps to achieve the beautiful creations. Each includes a tiny metal tag attached at the ornament holder as its official mark.
I find the Old World designs charming and priced well. The glitter makes them look like sugar coated glass. The first one of these I bought was the delightful little Baby New Year ornament. I hang him at the top of my Christmas tree every year. His chubby little face peers down to promise a new start.
I also found a sparkly little birthday cake ornament that I purchased as a gift, perfect for my family members with Christmas birthdays.
This company has glass ornaments for everyone. You can find NFL and college sports, along with ornaments that depict pets, nature, fairy tales, occupations, travel and more.
I find that I'm now looking forward to buying the perfect addition to my collection this year to add to my tree. That's exactly what collectibles do to you -- keep you coming back for more.
Ornaments are one of those treasures that create nostalgia, especially when you see one that takes you back to childhood.
As Christmas Day approaches, enjoy a collectible ornament, old or new and share your happy memories of the past with your family and friends.