a thrifty Christmas

 Every day, a little more of Christmas comes together at our house. 

This year, I declared it to be a "Thrifty Christmas" & everyone enthusiastically agreed. This means our gifts will be thrifted, re-purposed, refurbished, or hand-made. I'm certain there will be few exceptions to this self-imposed declaration ( somebody say "gift cards!") -but we are all looking for ways to be creative. It's going to be a fun challenge!

As a matter of fact, as I was uploading these pics just now, I was only a tad surprised that each photo has something in it which fits our Thrifty Christmas description! Allow me to illumine you.

The two shutters (above) which grace our front porch this year were found  a few years ago in one of our barns. Hubby attempted to chuck them into the truck headed for the dump, but I rescued them valiantly.

"These will be really good for something, somewhere. Someday." I said. I was so right.

Here, on the "Tibetan armoirrrrrrre" ( Joe, I hear you groaning) , we have two vintage Christmas cards that I bought at an auction. They are from Japan, circa 1920. I love that they depict the birth of Jesus with Japanese features. They cost me a few cents each and they are in inexpensive frames.

The stacked wooden boxes are from local thrift shops, as is the copper tin, which I filled with fresh greens.

The old coffee grinder lamp was my grandmother's.

 On Black Friday, my guys staked out Lowes & Home Depot for contractor bargains. They thoughtfully scooped up assorted poinsettias because they were 99 cents each -and also because they love me.

My sweet niece potted this one for me in a chipped china pot which I got in a box-lot at an auction. Total cost: less than $2.

We already know all about my crazy owl lamp. Just wanted everyone to know that it joined the Christmas decor. too! The pine cone candles were a gift from a dear friend who knows how I roll. The brass candlestick was a thrift-shop find.

 Last summer, I picked up an old milk pan for cheap at an antique shop. It is now the centerpiece for the dining room table. I'll bet the farmer's wife who used it every morning in the milk-house never imagined someone would want it on their Christmas table someday!

The iron stars are salvaged architectural end-pieces to old buildings. I've had 'em for years & years!

This final photo is of my lovely antique hutch, which was a gift from my mom -who inherited it from my aunt. Most of the things in it were gifts over the years -or bargain-bin finds! When I put the final touches of the season in it, I will share another photo of it. It certainly is a fun place to "play" as the seasons change!