Where Do You Keep It All?

I suppose it is about time to tour the decorations at my house.  When I decorate for Christmas, I take every single thing out of the living room except for the furniture.  And, actually, some of the furniture goes too.  I cover every single square inch of the living room with all of my Christmas decor.  In fact, I don't decorate any other room in the house - just the living room.  And since I have so much vintage Christmas, it ends up looking like the Christmas Store at the Mall.  Albeit, the Vintage Mall.  But, still.  I love it like this - all or nothing - Go Big or Go home and and all that stuff.  When you walk into my living room, there is no denying that it is Christmas.

Ready?

Are you sure?

Here is the bay window area.  I warned you.  There's a lot!  A new addition this year include the Sock Monkey Santa, which I could not resist.  I love the giant Rubber faced Santa in the window on the left.  I bought him for $2.00 in a backyard sale years ago.  He is big and bulky and kind of a pain to store, but I adore him. 

The Dime Store Decor Area.  Lots and lots of vintage packaging, vintage items and general Kitsch.  If it was for sale at Woolsworth or Ben Franklin, it's for me!  This is my favorite collection because I can always add to it and try to find something unique to squeeeeze in there.  I got that Mica Snow in there, didn't I?

The Annalee area.  I know that some people don't like Annalee dolls.  But, I think they are super cute.  Having said that, I only like them with my holiday decor - I don't have any that stay out year round.  I've been lucky to find most of these at the thrift store and my sweet friend sends them to me from time to time too.

This little boy should be holding a candle, I think.  But, I put a glass ornament in his hand.  He looks right at home in the wreath I made last year.

The Nutcrackers.  Oh, my Lord.  The damn Nutcrackers.  Three short years ago The Bean found a Nutcracker at the thrift and decided he liked it.  Then he found another and another and another.  And, he found them after the holidays and at yard sales and on and on.  The Nutcrackers are not my favorite (and I did not display them) but he loves them.  This will be his collection to share with his own family someday.  (Excuse me a second.  Boo Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoo.)  Okay, I am back.  Darn Nutcrackers anyway!

On to the Santa's.  There's a lot of them too.  I didn't even put them all out this year.  Santa's were my first Christmas collection, so even though some of them don't fit into my vintage collection  - I still am attached to them.  So, I had to keep them.

I warned you!  Lots of Santa's.

The Woodland Santa's.  I got that tree this year for $1.00 and it really fits in perfectly.

Santa's!  Most of them are either vintage or vintage inspired.  I got that Santa Mouse in the back when I was six years old.  So, he actually is vintage!  ha  There are a few newer one that give me a chuckle, like the Outhouse that opens to find Santa, well, you know.  There's nesting dolls and glassware and rubber faced Santas and Santa cups and, and, and....

 More and more Santas.  If I see one I like and I can afford it (read, CHEAP), I buy it.  Now that I know more about things, I see that I actually own a few German smokers and some other ones that I know what they are now.  (Yes, that is a crab painted to look like a Santa  Yes, I know it is slightly tacky.  I have a collection within the Santa Collection - things painted like Santa - an acorn, a walnut, a Coke bottle, a crab, a stick, a cinnamon stick, a gourd, a fishing bobber, a rock, an okra pod, a thimble...you get the drift).

Even more Santas!  And tablecloths.  I swore off Christmas tablecloths last year.  But, I accidentally bought one a week or so ago.  I just love them all stacked up like that.  My Egg Nog punchbowl set is sort of buried under all those Santa face mugs.  I bought it for $1.00 at a yard sale about ten years ago, thinking I would sell it.  One day it occurred to me that it was completely awesome and it only cost one dollar, so I needed to keep it! 

I guess that is enough for tonight.  Wouldn't want to overdo it.  Not me!  I'll save the village, the vintage tree, the actual tree, the kneehuggers, the pink area, the cute stuff, the things that make me happy, the things I made, the Christmas tins and the miscellaneous for another day.  Whew!

*The answer to the title is in the garage.  Neatly packed in tubs.  Lots of tubs.