Welcome to the second annual AOVCOA&S Awards!

Oh, how I wish you could be here! The Academy of Vintage Christmas Ornament Arts and Sciences Awards ceremony is not televised (yet), so I will try to convey with words alone the excitement surrounding the awards. Beams of light are sweeping across the tree, illuminating many of this year's nominees, and elfin choirs are entertaining the increasingly restless crowd with songs of the season. I'm hearing a cheer and the jingling of bells - I'm trying to see what's going on - oh! Representatives of Price Waterhouse are taking their seats, signaling that all of the votes have been tabulated and certified, and with that, let the ceremony begin!

Outstanding Performance by an Unsilvered Ornament

 
Tradition dictates that the first award goes to the unsilvered ornament of the year, and from the reaction of the crowd, it's clear that this true-pink ball with its simple white stenciled trim is a real favorite.

Best Figural Ornament

 
The aqua teapot with the raised pink rose. (From the judge's notes: "Year after year, we are astonished that any of these teapot ornaments survived, much less with their handles and spouts intact.")

People's Choice Category #1: Best Snowman

 
Suggested by Linda at A La Carte, the first-ever Snowman Ornament award goes to the stenciled pink Shiny Brite that depicts a snowman on skis. (The crowd is murmuring. Some people are whispering that it looks like a big year for pink. Others are concerned that people unsettled by images of snowmen with legs might stage a walk-out. Nobody seems to be leaving, but there's another envelope being opened.)

People's Choice Category #2: Best Shiny Brite

 
Whoa! A first in the history of the AOVCOA&S Awards: a double award winner! Ruthann suggested an award for the Best Shiny Brite, and the snowman is (no pun intended) walking off with it. (From the judge: "Our intention is to make the AOVCOA&S Awards a force for social good. Let it be said on this day, with these  awards, snowmen with legs are to be considered just as worthy as the more traditional ball-bottom snowmen.")

I don't know about you guys, but this startling development kind of reminds me of the 1973 Academy Awards when Marlon Brando declined the Best Actor Award. I think we're going to move forward and hand out some of the more traditional awards with, I hope, less controversy.

Best Santa

 
A little worn, but unmelted, the wax Santa is a classic.

Best Indent

 
No surprises here: This tiny ornament, with its astonishingly deep indent, features not only an all-glitter body but a handpainted poinsettia motif. (Here to present the award is last year's Indent of the Year, the large West German ball with the church, at right.)

At this point in our ceremonies, I'd like to acknowledge everyone who suggested an ornament award category. A few awards could not be included this year because I did not have a suitable nominee, but it is the Academy's hope that they can be included next year. My apologies, therefore, to Jennifer, of Maine, who asked for the Best Deer ornament. Shockingly, I do not have a deer ornament, or at least one worthy of an award, and I am indebted to her for bringing this to my attention.

My lovely friend Tina suggested "the grandest Christmas ornament," and in her honor, I am adding the Best New Ornament of the Year category, although I can't promise it will be grand. Her daughter, Caroline, suggested a category titled: "How is this related to Christmas, again?" I know exactly what she means. And it will be a lot of fun looking for the perfect ornament to answer that question. Along the same lines, Jenny G. suggested "the best ornament too odd to pass up." I saw just such an ornament a week or so ago. In fact, it was so odd I did pass it up, but on my next visit to this store, I intend to spend the 50 cents required to bring it home. There is pretty much no chance in the world that anyone else will buy it in the meantime. It's that odd.

People's Choice Category #3: Best Patina

 
The judge was absolutely thrilled with Karina's suggestion that an award be given for the ornament with the best patina. This lovely ornament from Poland is old and worn but fairly glows of its own accord, and that's what patina is all about.

Best Bird

 
This year's winner is a butterscotch-colored bird with a spun-glass tail. (From the judge's notes: "And can you believe it is made of plastic? Maybe celluloid? Gorgeous!")

People's Choice Category #4: Best Foreign Ornament

 
Suggested by dear Amy of Into Vintage, the winner of the first Best Foreign Ornament award is a tiny Putz sheep. Use it on a tree, in a Putz scene or at the manger, this is just the sweetest sheep around - and it has its country of origin, Germany, stamped on its fragile paper collar.

People's Choice Award #5a: The What Were Those Japanese Thinking? award

 
As Suzy of georgiapeachez and many others know, some of our most regrettable ornaments were produced in Japan, particularly during the 1960s. For Suzy, I will show the back of this ornament. For People's Choice Award #5b, I will show the front of this ornament, but first, a confession.

As a child, I owned a knee-hugging elf. As an adult, I have collected many a knee-hugging elf. Some of the nicest people I know, like sweet Diane, are knee-hugging elf fans.

But I have sold pretty much every knee-hugging elf I ever owned because I do not like them very much.

Okay, so that's out there. I'm anti-knee-hugging elf. They are definitely not as creepy as clowns, or creepy Santas. But they're disturbing. Those pointy cheeks? And that perpetually gleeful expression? They seem overmedicated to me. I do not have them on my tree. Or readily accessible. But I did seem to remember a few of them hanging around in the attic, and thus I present:

People's Choice Award #5b: Knee-Hugging, Alternative-Lifestyle, Tacky, Expressive Elf

 
This elf does not even have the decency to wear felt. He's wearing lame. (That's lah-may. As in shiny, cheap fabric. Not lame, rhymes with shame, although when you think about it...) He's not even wearing gold lah-may, he's wearing red lah-may. This knee-hugging elf is for you, Carol at Old Glory Cottage, Celeste and Joy. It's for you, Linda, who asked for tacky. And yes, it's for you, MaryKayAndrews , who requested the "Best Alternative-Lifestyle Oriented Elf with Bendy Legs." Because if a red shiny jumpsuit doesn't suggest alternative lifestyle, I don't want to see what does.

That concludes the People's Choice portion of our awards, and not a moment too soon, if you ask me.

Best Merry Christmas ornament

 
It doesn't just say Christmas. And it doesn't say Merry at all...

 
it says Joyous, and that kind of says it all.

Best New Ornament of the Year

 
It's tiny. It's glittery. It has a spun-head figure on a sleigh with a package.

 
And she has just a slightly frazzled look on her face, which seems ever so appropriate for the season.

And before we conclude our ceremony, just a word of advice. There are lots of after-parties to attend and cookies to eat, but take it easy on the hot chocolate. There is nothing worse than a hot chocolate hangover. At least that's what the members of the elfin choirs are telling me.

Comments

[Gina]

Love the awards ceremony! So many deserving winners! And the elves scare me silly (that's why there are so many listed in my Etsy shop).

[Lisa W.]

Bravo !! What star studded extravaganza !!! I stayed up late just to see it . It is ( by far ) the best awards ceremony of the year !!

[LiLi M.]

Even time difference doesn't take me of watching the AOVCOA&S awards ceremony. What an excitement, the judges did excellent work. Looking forward to next ceremony already!
A joyous Christmas to all of you who are enjoying this wonderful event.

[Tina]

Congratulations to this year's winners! The judges made excellent choices as usual.

[Karina]

is it sad that I am here at the office and instead of doing my job I rush to see the winners? Thank you for eye candy! You find the best ornaments. I concur about the knee hugging elves. But I do love scary Santas :)Thanks for the chuckles.

[Sarsaparilla]

I haven't had this much fun with vintage Christmas ornaments in a long time! Thank you for the crazy and wonderful awards ceremony...

I'm going to have to take another look at my own vintage ornaments and see if any are award-worthy. I definitely have plenty that can fit into the "What Were Those Japanese Thinking?" category.

Merry Christmas to you!

[Sarah]

I think I have a deer ornie on the tree this year, will try and remember to hunt for it this afternoon.

My grandma always had a gold elf on her tree. I loved that little guy. mY crazy ass uncle threw them all away when she died and he INSISTED on cleaning out the basement at my grandparents house. I am perpetually hunting the gold lame elf. Le sigh.

[Lavender Dreams]

What fun! And my sweet little elves...which I cal pixies...made it to the top choices! I love everything and I even posted a few of my little thrift store finds this morning! I LOVE vintage...I am SO addicted, thanks in part to YOU! Have a wonderful "MERRY" week, sweet friend! ♥♥♥

[Lavender Dreams]

PS I mentioned you on my blog this morning! Like minds...heeheehee! ♥♥♥

[Annette Mantooth]

I jjust found you. I too am a vintage Christmas fanatic. I live in a small town: Wewoka. OK

[CJ Woodring]

This is so great! Thanx for the fun and a whole new way of viewing our vintage ornaments. (As if there's any other kind!)

Merry Christmas and blessings of the New Year to you and yours.

cj

[Shara @ monkeybox]

Whew. what a show. I can kick off my heels now and unzip my dress and get comfy. Loved the winners this year. I have a Shiny Brite with a deer on it - I may need to put it on my blog.

[Into Vintage]

Another amazing year and everyone looks so fabulous, especially some of the older nominees -- I wonder what their secret is? I can see why the Shiny Brite snowman is a crowd pleaser. And that aqua teapot - she looks so gorgeous, it's really her time to shine.

Someday when VCTV* is up and running, this award show will be the crown jewel of the network.

(*vintage Christmas television)

[Linda @ A La Carte]

BRAVO! Congrats to the winners this year. I must say the stunning PINK snowman was deservedly a double award winner this year. I also think the lah-may elf was was just the right winner for those many categories. I do love this awards ceremony and look forward to it each year.

[jen duncan]

OH I am so glad I followed Nanette's link over here to your blog. What a WONDERFUL ornaments award show! LOVED it!!!

[Retromamaramblings.blogspot.com]

I LOVE this awards ceremony!!!! Thanks for sharing :)

[Mary Ellen]

I completely enjoyed the award ceremony this year. A hearty congratulations to each of the winners.

[Carol @ Old Glory Cottage]

There was something for everyone at this year's awards ceremony, but I'm so glad to take off my control top pantyhose and let it all hang out again! I applaud all of the winners, but I was a little shocked to learn that you don't like kneehuggers. Then I realized that some of them do look a little creepy, and I guess that's why I keep all of mine trapped in a jar!

[Mary Kay Andrews]

Sorry to be so late for the party. Guess I had one too many pfefferkuchens. Is that a real cookie--or did I just make it up? Anyhow, Bravo! Bravo! So glad to see that the foreign ornaments were fairly represented this year. And that Don't Ask Don't Tell may be extended to elf-dom. Because really, you don't have to ask. Most of the time you just know.

[Joy]

I must admit the red lame knee-hugging elf in your pic is kind of creepy. He looks like a creepy Rice Krispies cereal elf. LOL. My Japanese elves are actually sitting on red and green plastic clothespins with their legs and feet in the air. They are cute, but odd.

Too bad the snow globe Santas aren't ornaments because they would have gotten my vote for best Santa.

Love, love the indent West German ornaments. I remember those from my childhood. Sadly, my Mom didn't take very good care of her ornaments and they all broke.