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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Christmas Collector's Alley- Santa Collection!

Today I am joining Denise Marie over at Christ is the Heart of Christmas
for Christmas Collector's Alley!

I would like to share with you my collection of Old World and Character Santa's.

These are the ones that I have on display in my Living Room.
When Sam's Club first came to our area about 10 years ago, they had beautiful Christmas decorations at really great prices!
Now is not the case ,unfortunately.

This is a Sam's Club Santa that was only $12.00!


I love the ones I bought from Sam's Club because they have so many other things attached to them....

Here is another one....


This is one I bought at Target on clearance for 75% off- $5.00
He called out to me because he is going down the chimney!


Another one from Sam's Club...
Look at the doll he is holding....


And another one from Target...


These are in my Dining Room....

A small Santa on a shelf...


A paper mache one that I bought 2 years ago at Salvation Army for $4.00!!


This one is a handmade one that I bought at a local Craft Fair about 10 years ago. It sold for triple what I paid but the woman was elderly and was getting out of the business and selling off all of her Santa's. I paid a mere $40.00!!
Look at the roses embossed on the velvet fabric. He is fully dressed underneath too!


This is a Santa Sitter who is sitting on a shelf....


A yard sale find for $2.00....


This one is in my Craft room and was a gift from a friend....


In my Guest Room....


This is another one from Sam's Club that I have showcased in my Den.....


Another one from Target...


A Small Santa on a Shelf...


My Kitchen Santa....
I bought him at J. C. Penney's several years ago...


And a smaller Kitchen Santa from Cracker Barrel' s gift shop...


Well, that is my collection of Santa's.

Do you have any Christmas Collections that you would like to share????
We would love to see them!!
Please join us over at Christ is the Heart of Christmas for Christmas Collector's Alley!!

Also linking this post up to :

Show and Tell Friday

Deck the Halls Friday

Merry and Brite

Seasonal Sundays

Thanks for stopping by today and everyday that you take the time to visit me!

Hugs,
Debbie

Monday, November 29, 2010

The THRILL and PRIVLEGE of a life time!

I mentioned in my last post that I was invited by my friend, Lisa Lewis, Victoriana Lady, to help decorate the Stegmaier Mansion for Christmas along with other members of our Victorian Group.

I always dreamed of being one of the volunteer's that help to decorate the White House for Christmas but let me tell you, THIS WAS BETTER!!

The Stegmaier Mansion has been featured in 2 issues of Victorian Homes magazine this year.
It is currently undergoing construction for the addition of a front porch which will return it to it's original architecture when it was first built.

And what a magnificent porch it is......


That is owner , Joe Matteo, in the background!
Can you see the details on those grates!!


Yes, those are Lion's Heads. The Stegmaier's founded the Stegmaier Brewing Company and Lion's Head Beer was the most famous .
Lion's Brewery is still in operation here.



Look at those medalions.....


The porch will eventually be painted to match the rest of the mansion...


The inside of the porch... still what attention to detail!!



When I arrived, Joe Matteo had all the tubs of florals up from the basement and we started to decorate.
The mansion is very busy over the Holiday season , booked solid for many Christmas parties with the first one to be held on Wednesday, Dec. 1.
That is why Joe needed help...

Other years, Joe put up a huge floor to ceiling tree but with 40-60 people for a Christmas party, it took up too much space.

So this year, he is going with just this single tree.


It is a true Victorian tree which was originally just table top trees in Queen Victoria's age.
This is in the Ladies Parlor.

I tend to jump around with my pics and I wanted to post this before I have to go to work tonight so please bear with me....

This is in the Library...


Also in the Library...


Looking into the Gentlemen's Parlor....


From the foyer looking into the Gentleman's Parlor....


Can you tell that I thought this was so beautiful!!


Also in the Gentlemen's Parlor...


This is the window in one of the downstairs bathrooms....


The Dining Room....
Joe will decorate the Chandy later ...
I helped decorate this mantle!!


More of the Dining Room....



Look at this table!!
The nutcrackers are from the Dollar Store!!





I have this same ornament from Target!


We did three floors of this garland......
all the way to the top!!


In the Ladies Parlor...



Yep, here I am decorating in the Library!!



Did I tell you how much I love this scene!!


Here is Joe Matteo on a ladder with Lisa Lewis assisting and her sweetie, John, looking on!


Not high enough.... we decided to use some phone books...


Yep, much better!

This mantle in the Ladies Parlor...


Joe Matteo had some pink garland that he wasn't going to use so I asked him if I could add it to the mantle. When he said, "Deb, do what you want", my heart skipped a beat!!

Here it is with the pink garland added to the top and added to the white garland draping in front..



Amy, caught up in the decorating....


Again, did I tell you how much I love this???


Finishing the tree...


On top of the Baby Grand...



Another mantle in the Library....


Another bathroom downstairs....


In the Gentlemen's Parlor....


Looking into the Dining Room...


What a window!!


3 stories of garland....


The tree almost finished...


Santa on top....
with a Stegmaier product!

Well, I had the time of my life!! I just want to tell you that all of the greenery and florals used were bought at the Dollar Store, Michael's and A.C.Moore's!!
I think the place looks like a Million Bucks!!!

What do you think????

Joe Matteo was very grateful for the help and will be having a party over New Year's weekend and we are all invited!!
Can't wait!!

It was a thrill and a PRIVLEGE to take part in helping get the Mansion ready for Christmas!!

To see more about the Stegmaier Mansion and read the 2 issues of Victorian Homes in which it was featured, please click HERE

For more photos of the decorating of the mansion, please click HERE
to visit the Mansion Facebook page!

For me, it was a dream come true.......

I am linking this post to:

Tabletop Tuesday

Merry & Brite Blog Party

Rednesday

Deck the Halls Friday

Thanks for stopping by today and every day that you take the time to visit me!!

Hugs,
Debbie