One of my favorite places to decorate is also the hardest to photograph.
The landing on the stairs.
Don't think I haven't considered building some kind of temporary platform for a better angle. I have. The fact that I haven't followed through on it shows I've maintained at least a tenative grip on sanity.
Old and new, wax and wood, they all seem to get along well.
There are plans to decorate the shelves with a little garland or trim, and the snowmen might want to say that there's no time like the present to finish up the decorating. But they have something even more important to announce.
Yes, the date of the 2012 Academy of Vintage Christmas Ornament Arts and Sciences Awards.
As long-time followers of the AOVCOA&S Awards - and by long-time, I mean since 2009 - are well aware, the Awards always are held the Monday before Christmas, unless that is inconvenient for the founder of the Academy. (Italics added for emphasis; you can read the bylaws in the founding document here.) The traditional time this year, however, coincides with Christmas Eve. This seems less than ideal to the founder, who suggests moving the time forward a mere 24 hours to Sunday, Dec. 23.
Please feel free to reserve your seat by leaving a comment, along with any suggestions you may have for this year's ceremonies. Should you like to relive the excitement and grandeur of previous years, you may do so here:
I have to tell you that I have enjoyed your blog immensely. I won't tell you how many hours it took but I have read your blog from beginning through today. I appreciate the fact that you don't talk about the news of today, it's light and easy and enjoyable. It's like sitting down to drink coffee with a friend. I have oohed and awwwed over items that I wish I had of known about so that I could have purchased them and I have felt a little blue because I didn't know about ornaments or those blue mason jars. Thank you for your blog and all the gorgeous things that you take the time to share. Oh and I love your dog, he is beautiful. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I look forward to more reading.
Posted by: Patti | December 19, 2012 at 10:37 AM
OHHHHHH!! Went back to look at your snowmen one more time...........I collect them you see........We have the same one, the one in the green sweater. I also have his "mother". lol have a great day.
Posted by: Patti | December 19, 2012 at 10:39 AM
I would like to reserve my seat for the awards ceremony. Thanks for all of the work you do to put on the ceremony, and for presenting your delightful blog all year long. As for awards ceremony suggestions, well, I just tipped over my little tree while doing housework, and broke a couple of ornaments. Perhaps an award for the broken ornament that caused the most heartbreak, or, an award for the ornament you broke but were able to repair?
Posted by: JKaye | December 19, 2012 at 11:15 AM
I am so looking forward to your awards event. I'm even considering making some pressed cookies from your recipe to eat during the ceremony.
Posted by: Patty | December 19, 2012 at 11:21 AM
Your snowmen look adorable and your platform comment made me laugh ( out loud ! ) Thanks for that - I needed visions of adorable snowmen and a laugh today. I now have the AOVCOA&S Awards to look forward to ... how very festive !
Posted by: Lisa W. | December 19, 2012 at 04:12 PM
Leave the platform photography to my crazy husband who balances on a 20 foot ladder on the stairs to get better pictures or his flying witch at Halloween. Your snowman collection is darling. You did a great job sharing your precious collection.
Posted by: Kim Kenward | December 19, 2012 at 04:36 PM
Love your adorable snowman collection! They must make you smile every time you walk by this cute display!!
Posted by: Michelle | December 19, 2012 at 04:47 PM
I want a seat up front! I look forward to this all Christmas! Today I walked into the Thrift store and headed for the Christmas and saw a lady with 2 boxes of Shiny Bright balls. I had to say something to her and be nice...I almost walked right out without looking, I was so sorry to have missed them.
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | December 19, 2012 at 08:37 PM
Great post and I am sooo looking forward to seeing the winners! How about a Best Tinsel Inside ornament? I know they have a name, I just can't remember what they are called - they're clear with tinsel inside and I have several and love them all! Thanks - maybe next year you could have a contest with your readers who could submit and vote on some! Fun!
thanks!
Patti
Posted by: Patricia | December 19, 2012 at 08:59 PM
Well you know how me and the bears feel about this - and don't stick us in the Peanut Gallery like last time - bears (and their owner) are really not good with heights LOL. And thank you for changing this year's date - some years you just need to be flexible - hoping the end of the world is not going to spoil it for us.Especially looking forward to the red carpet. Off to find my best gown and tiara...:>
Posted by: Jewels | December 19, 2012 at 09:26 PM
It's such a relief to know I won't have to camp out days in advance with my lawn chair and sleeping bag to get a decent seat for the AOVCOA&S Awards. It's going to feel like forever until Sunday comes!
Posted by: Into Vintage | December 19, 2012 at 11:30 PM
Perhaps a special ornament should come with the attendees, as a sort of ticket to the festivities. Mine would likely be a not very valuable small pink and red one, carefully marked by my mother for her six month old first born child - me - in 1958. It was the first of many, both ornaments and children. I've been giving my own children's ornament collections to them when they marry and am wondering if that was wise. (Do they really comprehend the investment?) Perhaps an expert could weigh in on this during the education part of the awards. And will the event be suitable for children? I'd like to bring my grandsons. They could use some cultural experiences. They are little but well behaved. I hope the snowmen continue to have a special part in the ceremony. I teach 3 year olds and I don't even talk snowmen until after Christmas break. Really love the snowmen, and happy to stretch the season through January.
Posted by: Brenda (Western New Yorker) | December 20, 2012 at 01:49 AM
Oh yes, I remember the snowmen! And I should mention how handy it is to have a little shelf like yours to contain such a collection. I'm always on the lookout for those shelves for this very reason!
Posted by: Mitzi Curi | December 20, 2012 at 06:04 AM
I saw the most adorable shelf the other day and thought of your Santa collections. It was a corner unit, painted white and adorned with red paint here and there, as if someone was outlining it like pictures in a coloring book are outlined.
Your snowmen are gorgeous, but the chair back has me green with envy!
How about a "most sentimental" category. An ornament that makes you think of hot chocolate with homemade whipped cream, tinsel, and the old crooners like Bing.
Posted by: whit | December 20, 2012 at 07:07 AM
Oh...I am so excited. Ballot cast already. Please save me a front seat as my height is challenged. Happy Holidays...Renee
Posted by: Renee | December 20, 2012 at 09:51 AM
The snowman look very happy in their cozy spot on the landing -- I'd say that's a prime location.
My vote for a new category this year would be best old family ornament. I have several that have been passed down to us, and they mean a lot to me.
Thank you for one more year of keeping me smiling. I always look forward to your posts, and the AOVCOA&S Awards are a special treat.
Posted by: Martha | December 20, 2012 at 04:45 PM
Whatever works for the founder is OK by me! I'm thinking that some people won't be aware of the fact that it will be a day earlier, so I might get a better seat this time, not like last year when you made me sit in the back row, and kept shh-shing me when I would get a little over-excited by a particularly lovely indent.....
Posted by: Carol @ Old Glory Cottage | December 20, 2012 at 05:43 PM
As much as I love ornaments, and I do! I also love putz houses, so maybe you could have a most awesome putz house in the awards categories.
Then again, I love Gurley candles too so most awesome Gurley candle would be appreciated too!
As far as ornaments, I'd like to see the vintage ornament with the most sparkle.
Posted by: Ruthann | December 20, 2012 at 07:33 PM
I just looked at last year's ornaments and thoroughly enjoyed them. I have a box of indents that I came to love through sites like this. I recently rediscovered "River" when I heard it playing in the background in the movie "almost Famous". It is a song that haunts you for years. If you want to hear another version there is one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5qCcROvlVk&feature=related
by a band called Travis -8. Thank you for a lovely blog. It is always enjoyable.
Posted by: Robin Carr | December 20, 2012 at 11:31 PM
What a great idea to display all your Snow People in one great place. Or, do you have more of them delightfully appearing around the house? They must put a smile on your face everytime you pass them on the stairs. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas, and blessings to both you and your family for the upcoming New Year.
Maureen
Posted by: Maureen | December 22, 2012 at 02:48 PM