Main Tree
TaDa!! Here is my living room tree…this one is the favorite because every ornament has a special mean to our family. However, as we were decorating this tree this year, we realized that even though we KNOW there is history behind each ornament, our memory takes a bit longer to recall the connection! For instance, there is a tiny llama on the tree, which I was trying to connect to a good friend in Australia (Hi, Kristeen!) who has llamas on her farm…but then I didn’t actually remember getting this particular llama from her which confused me. Several days later, it hit me…when my oldest son was in preschool he went to a local petting zoo where he stuck his finger in the llama cage and was bitten very slightly but we had to take him to the doctor’s for a tetanus shot…THAT was the llama story!
To provide some semblance of order, some of the branches have themes. The top 12″ of the tree is filled with angels who represent our daughter in law who lost her life way too early.
There is a branch of needlework ornaments that dear friends have made me; there’s a branch dedicated to the beer served at my son’s wild party when we first left him on his own for a weekend (20 years later, I am still learning some of the goings-on!); one branch holds German ornaments when represent the 5 years our family spent there while John was in the Army; another branch holds beautiful glass ornaments of sweets (does that need further explanation?)
That Smokey the Bear reminds us of when John caught on fire while buring leaves–a few minor scars but more to his ego than his body. The green and red silk balls are just two of many that I made while John spent our first year of marriage in Viet Nam.
So these are my trees. I hope you enjoyed the tour. A lot of you have commented asking how I get it all done…after I get through the holiday, I will post a blurb about how it all happens! I hope you and your families have a wonderful Christmas holiday!
Posted on December 24th, 2009 by Sue
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This is more of a “boy’s room” than the girly guestroom downstairs. The tree here is decorated with a group of teddy bears that used to be a serious collection. We had a German exchange student many years ago and many of the teddy bears were sitting in a wagon wearing Halloween costumes that I made for each one. It seemed like that was the only serious memory she took back home…I am sure she is still telling people about the crazy American lady who dresses her bears for Halloween! Anyway, I put all the smaller bears on this tree, plus some tin tea sets, and I found some really cute little handmade Raggedy Anns and Andys many years ago at yet another craft show. The base of the tree is filled with old children’s toys and books. 
The bed has a number of Christmas needlepoint pillows–no, I did not stitch them, most were given to me by my sister and she didn’t stitch them either! 
This tree is in the family room in the area where we watch tv. I have always been drawn to arks…I love old toys and animals! And over the years, I have had a lot of arks…some of which were played with too hard and so the animals ended up on this tree. Those two birds at the top are from folk artist Nancy Thomas of Yorktown…I found some of her work at a local craft shop before Nancy was famous and her prices were affordable. There are also a group of painted paper ornaments (see the lion) that are just beautiful in their shading and facial expressions also from early craft shows. 
I really have to work to squeeze this tree into my kitchen…which is small but efficient.
The entry hall tree is a twiggy gardening theme…with an accent on the birds! I don’t really set out to “collect” but I end up with collections of things…right now I seem to be attracted to birdhouses…I just like their simplicity, and their whimsy…so this tree is “for the birds”. 