A Red, White and Gold Vintage Christmas: The Tree

The halls are mostly decked here at the Delerson household. Fairly minimally decked, but I’m pretty pleased with the way everything turned out!

I was determined not to spend much money on holiday decorating this year, and so far, my only expense was my extra-faux white Christmas tree! Most of my decorations are previous years’ Goodwill purchases or family hand-me-downs. (Why yes, I did raid my parent’s Christmas supplies for ALL their vintage glass ornaments.)

When I first got it into my head that I needed wanted a white Christmas tree, I had a mental image of decorating it in bright candy rainbow colors. I wanted something really retro, but I think the more restrained color palette I ended up going with actually accomplishes that better. Especially without the tree skirt (and the rub-n-buff gilded stand). It feels a little mid-century to me… Like Charlie Brown should walk by and lament the commercialism of it all.

Except I was really frugal. (Did I already mention that?)

And now, without further ado, please enjoy part 1 of my Christmas decorations – my red, white & gold vintage themed Christmas tree!

Okay, further ado: Christmas is my very favorite time of year. This Christmas tree is my very favorite Christmas tree ever. If you know me at all, you know that I’m just a “very favorite” kind of person. So I hope you’ll excuse my oozy enthusiasm and refrain from pointing out that I can’t have three different “very favorite ornaments”. Because I can. It’s just the way I am…

 

I took way too many photos of my Christmas tree. I’ve pared them down considerably. I just wanted to share so many different pretty ornaments, I couldn’t resist!

Do you spy Rudolph?

I stitched him out of felt a few years ago, and he’s one of my favorite Christmas decorations.

My mother gave us the copper/gold musical instrument ornaments. They are crazy detailed, and perfect for us! (Bryan and I both teach music – guitar & piano respectively.)

These ultra-fragile glass and glitter ornaments are some of my favorites! I found them in their original vintage packaging at Goodwill. There was a matching, shattered, aqua one in the box – it’s the prettiest of all and I can’t bring myself to throw it away!

I love reflections in ornaments! And shiny red ornaments are my favorite. I think it really does have a very deep-seated connection to A Charlie Brown Christmas.

I love these iridescent glass icicle drops, although they’re difficult to capture in a photograph!

More vintage iridescent glass:

I made these decoupaged book page ornaments our first Christmas together (and the hipster inside of me feels compelled to add that this was before everyone was mod-podging book pages to everything). I do like my added touch of washing watered-down gold paint over the finished ornament.

Fun fact: anytime I use book pages on a project, they all come from the same old book: Frankenstein. Fitting, no?

And I love my Christmas tree with the leopard rug. Just love.

I’m such a sucker for old glass ornaments. Especially when they get cloudy, crazed, or spotted with age. Is that weird? I like the pearl finish on these!

This little brass wire bicycle was another thrift-store find. I move it around the house constantly, but I love using it on the Christmas tree best!

Well, that’s all for today! Did you make it through all the photographs? I hope you enjoyed a closer look at my tree! 

UPDATE: Here is Part 2 of A Red, White & Gold Vintage Christmas!