Happy New Year .... Bonne Anne'e!

Here's to you, my Face Book Friends and Blog Followers.....

Happy New Year!  May 2012 be prosperous, with good health, much love and joyous times with family and friends ....... and lots of vintage finds!

Simple words to reflect on as we head into a new year.

and a sweet little voice from the past to bid you an Auld Lang Syne 

A 1905 Illustrated Copy of "A Christmas Carol" (as an added bonus, a 1951 movie trailer of the film version)

A 1905 copy of "A Christmas Carol"

 8 Color illustrations and 10 drawings, this little copy packs lots of Charm

I purchased this copy of "A Christmas Carol" at the world famous bookshop, "Shakespeare and Company" on the Left Bank in Paris.  It was my first of many trips to The City of Lights and my first to this book shop which is literally stacked to the ceiling with new and used books, of all different genres and all different languages.  It was so overwhelming, I couldn't move.  Then my eyes were captivated by a book binding with beautiful Old English font, in gold on a hunter green cover.  When I realized it was a copy of my favorite Christmas story, I was smitten.  

If you ask, the Shakespeare and Company cashier will stamp the inside of your new purchase with their logo.

So, to my Face Book Friends and Blog Followers, here is my Christmas gift to you.  A quick journey with Mr. Scrooge and his four ghostly visitors by way of color illustrations from this treasured Christmas story and my copy of "A Christmas Carol".

"I have endearvoured  in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season or with me.  May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no wish to lay it.  Their faithful Friend and Servant, Charles Dickens"

"Are there no prisons"? asked Scrooge

"You don't believe in me" observed the ghost

The curtains of his bed were drawn aside

Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig

Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his head before the Spirit

He had been Tim's blood horse all the way from church

Scrooge crept towards it, trembling as he went

They were looking at the table which was spread out in a great array

"He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.  May that be truly said of us, and all of us!  And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless us, Every One!"

Christmas Tree Toppers

"On one branch there hung little nets cut out of colored paper, and each net was filled with sugarplums; and among the other boughs gilded apples and walnuts were suspended, looking as though they had grown there, and little blue and white tapers were placed among the leaves. Dolls that looked for all the world like men—the Tree had never beheld such before—were seen among the foliage, and at the very top a large star of gold tinsel was fixed"....."The Fir Tree" by 
Hans Christian Andersen


    This may be the busiest holiday week, the countdown to Christmas  Day.  Chances are, you do not want to sit down at your computer reading a blog on the history of "Christmas Tree Toppers".  You'd rather be shopping, baking sugar cookies, wrapping gifts or getting out that last Christmas card.....no?  Then, grab a cup of joe, tea or hot toddy.  This blog is short and very sweet.  It may bring back some childhood memories.....

Busy Christmas!

Tree toppers!  I don't know about you but tree toppers have always fascinated me, more so than the ornaments.  Maybe it's because what you top your tree with, says how you feel about Christmas.

This vintage Santa tree topper is from the 1940's  (for sale at Sammie Davies Vintage Online)

Another 1940's Santa Tree Topper for sale @ www.hydroponics.com

I adore this Santa topper.  This little gem would make me switch from a star to a Santa in a flash,

     People who top their trees with Santa seem to have a "jollier" ho,ho, ho attitude about Christmas.  They have the magical, gift giving, razzle dazzle attitude about Christmas.

Rather Majestic, wouldn't you say?

Illuminated tree toppers became popular in the United States after WWll.  This one is by Noma.

The Bette Milder Angel

People who top their trees with angels love the warmth, the comfort, the sweetness and purity of Christmas.

This Christmas Star is an oldie!  My grandparents had one similar.  For sale at www.hydroponics.com

Also sold at hydroponics, this is a sixties version of the Christmas Star.  Whirling and twirling like the color wheel for the aluminum Christmas tree.

An elongated hand blown glass star.  This is the type of star that adorned our tree when I was a child.  Sold at sevenbc Etsy store.



As a child, I always thought of the Christmas star as being this huge neon arrow high in the sky pointing the way to the new baby Jesus.

Attention Wise Men!

So maybe people who prefer the star as a Christmas tree topper,  think of Christmas as hope.  They like the ideal of being shown the way.... "hey, over here".... yet sometimes in uncertainty, walk by faith.  The Christmas Star, the symbol of "Peace on Earth, Goodwill Towards Men".

"O' Holy Night"

Let's end this blog with a little fun.  Did any of you have an aluminum Christmas tree?  We borrowed one from neighbors.  Yes, borrowed.  Our neighbors were going away for the Christmas season and thought we might like to use their aluminum tree.  It didn't smell, it looked strange and the novelty only lasted one evening.  The next Christmas, we were gleefully back at the tree farm in Oceano, the shiny tree a distant memory.

A New Year's Drawing

December's Calendar Picture

Are you familiar with Papaya .... their note cards, calendars, stickers, journals and bags?  If you are not, go visit their online store at www.papayaart.com.  You will be smitten!  Especially if you like vintage images, birds, flowers, Asian themes, glitter, sparkle and muted colors.  Each year I buy one of their calendars to hang in my bathroom.  I keep track of my appointments, travels, birthdays, weight or whatever I feel like remembering.  To me, it's not just a calendar, it's art.

My favorite stationary store on Maui is called, Paper Garden.  Every time I need a card or a small special gift, this is the store I head to. And, every Christmas season, several weeks before the BIG DAY, I travel to the mall in Kahului to purchase my Papaya calendar at Paper Garden. This year the store has devoted a whole section for Papaya products: note cards and calendars, lunch bags and yoga totes, journals and address books.  And also this year, Papaya has added shells to it's design .... oh happy day!  So, I purchased a few "shell" design items and one of them is for a lucky Face Book friend or Blog Follower.

This beautiful 5"x7" journal could be YOURS!

Pretty vintage conchology drawings 

All the fine details about the journal.

Yes, it's a journal.  And, it could be yours ..... here is what you have to do...... just ONE of the following.....

1.  If you haven't done so, go to Ooh La La, Maui on Face Book and "like" the page.  OR

2.  If you haven't done so, become a Blog Follower to this blog, Ooh La La, Maui!

3.  There are a few of you who have done both.  Thank you so much for your support!  But, I want you to have a chance at the prize so please contact me at ladedamaui@aol.com for instructions.

The contest started today (no worries Gina, you are in) and ends Dec. 26th, 12 noon, Hawaiian Time.  I will draw the name  and announce the winner on Face Book and Ooh La La Maui Shop Blog the same day.  The journal will be mailed out quickly to the lucky winner so he/she will have it before the New Year.

You go Girl!

Joyeux Noel ~ with a message from Linus

Joyeux Noel, Mele Kalikimaka and A Merry Christmas to You.  I have spent this first week (going into the second) of advent, decorating the house and tree, mopping up water from a leaking tree stand (oh, my hardwood floors) and vacuuming up creamy white dog fur from our new family member, Ricki, the Yellow Lab.  This is also the busiest week on my calendar ~ celebration wise.  There are two parties to attend for my husband's work (Police Union and Police Department party ... whoo hoo!!! Cops know how to party!).  Saturday night....dinner and a show with the girlfriends.  We will be seeing a local production of "A Christmas Carol" at the Iao Theatre.  Sunday, more girl time .... a Christmas women's event at my church in the afternoon.  Not to mention vacuuming up Ricki's fur .... oh, wait!  I did mention that.  

So, here is a short posting with lots of pictures and a glimpse of a weary women and the cutest dog ever.  Yes, it's me trying to sneak a hot bath in my claw foot tub.  Move over, Ricki .....

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" is a family favorite.  I purchased this first 1965 printing at the Alameda Point Antique Faire in Northern California

My husband bought me this Charlie Brown Christmas tree from Home Depot.  It's so adorable, how could anyone resist?

Christmas ornaments once belonging to my grandmother

I love the silver and red combination ... so festive, so jolly!

These Martha Stewart sparkling branches are dazzling for a Christmas display

I've really made good use of this vintage trophy

Time to display the vintage cranberry red King's Crown goblets on a vintage silver tray

I wanted to sell these at Ooh La La, Maui but I can't part with them....wonderful for the holidays and Valentine's  Day, too!  King's Crown comes in lots of color but the cranberry red is the original.

A bowl full of vintage cookie Christmas cutters.  All for sale at Ooh La La, Maui!  They are going faster than I thought!  Lots of cookies being baked out there......




  Reluctant to buy more ornaments?  Me, too.  I have so many, I have to balance my tree with ornaments to keep it from tipping over ... just kidding.  Browsing through Ross Department Store one day, I came across these tropical beauties.  I couldn't resist......soft muted colors and glitter and the fact they are shaped like shells?  Can you blame me?

"more precious than gold" ....

"Silver and Gold have I none" ....

"A star will come out of Jacob".....

                                    

 When buying holiday greenery, I am always torn between traditional ruby red poinsettias or these beautiful tri-colored ones.  So, I buy both.

Soft muted pinks in this poinsettia .... very shabby chic

This is what a weary Christmas decorator looks like trying to sneak a warm bath ......

and this is what she encounters....

Ricki, the Shabby Chic dog!

In all of our holiday busyness, let's not forget the real reason for the season.  Take it away, Linus........