Ornament Collectibles

Garden Ornaments

Pretty up the outdoors.

Not all ornaments grace the inside of our homes. Being an inveterate gardener, many of my favorite pieces can be found outside. I have collections that grace garden beds, those that are more of the lawn ornaments variety and a selection of pretties for my deck and patio.

My children love frogs and dragonflies, so we have collected a variety of planter picks and stakes featuring these creatures. I prefer the more artsy twisted metal and glass types while the kids prefer the more realistic resin sculpted types. These little picks are primarily in our outdoor pots, but a few special specimens have made their way into the indoor houseplant containers over the years.

I also prefer understated lawn ornaments – no gnomes or flamingos for me! Most of ornamental plantings have an Asian flare so we have quite a view stone lanterns, Buddhas and Hoteis tucked between the plants. These are lovely because they require no special care and I can leave them out year-round, unlike the picks which can be destroyed by winter weather.

I lean toward hanging ornaments in seating areas, since I don't want to eat up valuable entertaining space. Wind chimes are a given, but I only want a few otherwise they are just loud and jarring instead of tinkling and relaxing. A variety of wind spinners have also been added, with one or two new ones each summer. Sun catchers are a nice addition on the porch, while hammered tin ornaments grace the wall along the side of the deck.

Create a St. Patty's Tree

Displaying small ornaments.

I am a sucker for miniature ornaments. I have a collection for all the major holidays and most of the minor ones. I pick them up at craft stores, fairs, online and from specialty ornament and holiday stores. My favorites are hand painted wooden ones, but I also have several glass and ceramic ornaments.

My St. Patrick's day collection includes blown glass shamrocks, some painted wooden leprechauns, and a few carved pieces of Celtic know work I picked up in Ireland and Scotland. For years I just set them out on the mantle. Due to their small size, they weren't easily seen and tended to just collect dust during the month of March.

I took a cue from the Easter trees that are popular and made a display tree just for St. Patricks day. I began with a small black plastic cauldron I had left over from Halloween. I placed a piece of floral foam inside to provide the base.

I then found an attractive but sturdy branch. I spray painted mine light green, but you can use the color of your choice or leave it natural. I then stuck it into the foam. I covered the foam up with a handful or two of fake cold coins.

If found these lovely hammered copper shamrocks at a craft store. I glued these to the branch ends to simulate leaves. I now hang my small ornaments from the tree. It has a place of honor as my St. Patrick's Day centerpiece on my dining table.

Felt Love

Simple ornaments by hand.

I love felt. Not that polyester stuff you pick up at the craft store, even though it is now coming in better colors. No. I love true wool felt. It's thick and soft, and comes in more natural colors that make it perfect for ornament making.

Wool sheets are available from specialty craft stores. Like the old school polyester stuff, it doesn't fray so you can cut it to whatever shape you desire without the need for hems. I like to make simple ornaments by cutting out a shape then gluing or appliqueing a design onto the front. For Easter we make felt egg shapes and decorate a white painted branch with them, creating our own Easter tree ornament.

Felting allows you to create three dimensional ornaments with the help of wool roving. You simply wet the the roving and shape it as desired. You only need the basic shape of the piece at this point. Then you pierce the roving repeatedly with felting needles to finish shaping.

Felting works because wool fibers have the unique ability to lock into place. Each fiber is covered in microscopic scales that lift and latch together during the wetting and needling process. This in effect allows you to sculpt the wool roving into any shape desired.

Wet felting is a similar process that doesn't require needles. For example, you can wrap a wooden egg form with roving and wet it. Roll it around a bit so the roving felts securely around the egg and let it dry. Once dried, you slit open the felt egg to remove the wooden one. You now have an all natural felted egg ornament that you can hide a small surprise inside of.

Ornamental Candle Lanterns

DIY Lighting

The soft glow of candles adds warmth to the home in winter, can light a romantic dinner, or provide just enough light on a summer night so you can still view the stars. We like to create our own lanterns and candle holders to match our mood, décor and the season.

The simplest type of ornamental lantern requires nothing more than a clean tin can. You can use small cans for votives or make large lanterns from bigger cans. Fill the can with water and freeze. Once the water is frozen, punch holes through the can with nail. Create any design you desire. I've found symmetrical designs look best. Thaw out the ice block and drain the can. You can even add a hanger to the top.

Paper lanterns are another favorite. We use translucent scrapbooking sheets for our lanterns. Cut out 11 same-size hexagons from the paper. Fold in the corners then glue the hexagons together in two chains of five each, overlapping the corners. Attach the two chains together so you have one chain with two rows of hexagons. Bend the ends around and glue, then attach the final hexagon to the bottom. The hexagons overlap to create a star pattern when a candle is placed inside. I use LED candles with these so the paper doesn't catch fire.

Finally, a standard mason jar works wonderfully on its own or decorated. Use a glass etching kit to add frosted designs. Glass paint can give the appearance of stained glass. For an even simpler stained glass effect, glue scraps of colorful tissue to the jar.

A Love For Bunting

Dressing up a bare home.

The first three months of the year are bare of hardcore decorations. Christmas is packed away and there is months to go before my spring ornaments make their appearance. Fresh flowers are even a rare occurrence. The house looks bare and stark when contrasted with the lush decorations of just a month before. To combat this, the children and I have our own handmade ornament we hang up to add a bit of pizazz and color.

Buntings, they brightly colored streamers featuring little flags or pennants, aren't just for birthday parties and store grand opening celebrations. You can create your own heirloom bunting to reflect your décor or the seasons. We settled on a no-sew version but you can create yours from fabric or quilted materials if you like.

We began by knitting a long I-cord, but ribbon would work just as well. I have a large picture window in my living room and we wanted the bunting to hang in front of the window, so we needed a cord 1 ½ times the length of the window so it would drape correctly. For our bunting we cut rectangles from wool felt. The wonderful thing about felt is you don't have to sew or hem the edges because it doesn't unravel.

Our winter bunting features flags with a star, pine needle sprig or snowflake on each. These are also made of felt. I would have appliqued them on but the children decided to take the easier course and use fabric glue. We attached the flags to the I-Cord with miniature clothespins, but you can also sew them on. Since we used clothespins, though, we can easily remove the flags on the spring equinox and replace them with our springtime flags without having to hang a new cord.

Dusty Ornaments

Keeping your collection clean.

I have a beautiful collection of Japanese maneki neko cats on my china cabinet. I've collected these little cats from all over, and most of the time I enjoy looking at them. The other day, though, an errant ray of sunshine caught the shelf and I was shocked by how tacky they suddenly looked. Not because they are tacky, but because of the deep layer of winter dust that had accumulated on top each one.

Regardless of the type of ornaments you have, dust is a constant enemy. With my nekos I am lucky since each is made of ceramic. I can simply wash them in warm water without any fear of damage. Not all ornaments can survive this treatment.

Dust ornaments that contain fabric, feathers or silk flowers with a plastic bag and a small handful of rice. Place the ornament in the bag, hold it closed, and shake it around. The rise knocks the dust right off. Use your best judgment when determining if your ornaments can survive this treatment.

If you are afraid to get the ornament wet, especially if the paint can wash off, use a soft bristled small tipped paint brush to dust out the details. A lint-free buffing cloth can help dislodge deeper layer of dust without water or soap.

Finally, if you don't display the ornaments all the time keep them under wraps so they don't get dusty in storage. Place them in a box or carefully wrap them in paper, cloth or plastic. Dusting those on display frequently will also prevent a heavier, harder to remove buildup.

Starting a Collection for Someone Else

Think twice before you buy.

I still remember my first collection. At some point when I was still quite young, someone gave me a collectible teddy bear. My mother grouped it with a couple of other teddy bears on a shelf. Relatives saw this shelf when they visited, so they sent more teddy bears and bear figurines as gifts. The shelf grew, and my mother began telling people I collected teddy bears, which resulted in even more bears sent my way. As a preteen I packed away all the bears in a box, relieved to finally be rid of them. Everyone was confused as to why I stopped collecting.

The truth is, I never did collect teddies, everyone just assumed I did. I was never fond of them as a child and definitely not as young lady. When giving gifts, a collectible ornament item, whether its a spoon, a shot glass or a ceramic frog, seems an easy choice. These ornaments are a great choice if the person has a real interest in the collection or the item.

The danger is when you start a collection for someone else in your gift giving. If you enjoy travel it can be tempting to start buying your children or relatives a souvenir thimbles at every attraction, but what if your relatives don't want thimbles? A better option is to ask first. They may have no interest in the thimble but they may want a postcard of each stop. This allows you to still give the gifts while ensuring they are appreciated.

Seasonal collections usually go over well since the recipient doesn't have to display them year-round. If you really want to get someone started on a collection, consider giving an annual Christmas ornament or a piece to a winter village scene. Just keep in mind, what some of us see as collectibles, others see as clutter!

Traditional Valentines

Collect, decorate or give these romantic beauties.

Although the origins of St. Valentine have little to do with love, modern changes to the tale of the Christian Priest have him performing secret marriages in Roman times, when emperor Claudius supposedly banned young men from marrying so he could build his armies. While this likely isn't factual, Valentine's day has persisted as a day for lovers.

Fancy Victorian Era Valentine's card replicas are beautiful to behold, especially if made by an artist or craftsman. These cards feature delicate paper or fabric lace, intricate paper cutting, and satin ribbons. You can hang them from a mantle or as bunting, or give them to someone special.

The first factory produced Valentines, made in England in the 1800s, feature hand painted black and white imagery on rather plain backgrounds. Reproductions of these designs work well for making ornaments or your own more ornate cards.

In the early 1900s German card producers began making fold out three dimensional cards. Replicas of these add a romantic touch when opened for display on a mantel.

My favorite Valentine, best used as an ornament, is the Sailor's Valentine. The traditional versions, still sometimes found in antique stores near coastal areas, consist of small octagonal boxes with intricate designs made entirely of sea shells. Sailors worked lovingly on these beautiful pieces of art for their sweethearts while they wiled away the many months out at sea. Modern versions are available, but I love the old ones that were actually made by sailors since I know each one was imbued with the love and longing of the man who crafted it.

Personalize Your Collection

Ornaments bring back memories.

As a girl, my mother presented us with one new Christmas ornament each year. Sometimes these were Hallmark collectibles of the year, other times they were something she had made. One thing was a constant, she put more thought into this one little gift than anything else we unwrapped that morning. She carefully selected ornaments that reflected our ever evolving interests or something special from the previous year. When I moved out on my own, she presented me with a shoebox filled with these 18 small ornaments – something to start my own tree with.

I still have the shoebox filled with the ornaments and have carried on the tradition with my own boys. These ornaments are special, a living history of my life. I still receive one annually from mom. Opening the box each December takes me on a journey through the last 35 years of my life. There was the year I received a handcrafted wooden maple leaf to mark my move up north. A small rocket ship reminds me of my 8-year-old self's desire to be an astronaut, while a small mouse with a quill pen reflects my teenage dream of one day becoming a writer.

My boys have few ornaments at their young age, but they still open their own shoeboxes reverently each year. They take out the ornaments one by one, asking for the story about each one and delighting in their own history. We then go through my shoebox as I recount my life in years back to the boys as they carefully examine each ornament.

There are many reasons to collect, but I do it for the memories. Such a simple tradition has helped my family weave a colorful tapestry of our personal histories.