I can't believe how long it's been since I participated in a Friday Show and Tell!
But before I have to jump into this final weekend of my girls' Christmas performances, I wanted to post once more and join in!
And though I have some beautiful and ornate ornaments that I have collected through the years, I thought that this time I would show two little ornaments that are not so ornate! But they hold a special place for sentimental reasons...
The year I was sixteen, my mom had the idea to make wooden soldiers out of old style clothespins...so together, she and made about 10 or 15 of these little guys...
(Sorry about the lighting!)I have several of them to put up for my tree every year -and so still does my mom.
On the back of their heads is the year- '79- painted on them by us... (yep, giving away my age!) but it's nice to know exactly when we created these gentle little toy soldiers.
I'm hoping that they will continue to hold up even longer - so that some day my girls can each hang some of these originals on their own Christmas trees!
Also...not nearly as cute and oh so simple...one of the tin foil bells my mom also made together. I'm not sure how old I was when we made these, but it was most likely even before the year of the soldiers. One remains in my possession...and although it is just plain foil bell, it's amazing to me that it has survived somewhere around thirty years of packing and unpacking!
Now that I have two little girls of my own..and my own mom is now 81...these simple little ornaments remind me of our special mother\daughter times...moments to look back on and treasure.And if you think making simple home made ornaments with your children won't really amount to much in the long run, let this be proof that not only might the actual ornaments survive for years to come...but the memories that you make together will, too!
For more Show and Tells, visit Kelli at There is No Place Like Home.
And although it is going to be a bit of a challenge after our final five concerts, I hope to show more our little place all decorated on Monday during Boomama's Tour of Christmas Homes! See you then!
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31 comments:
The handmade kids ornaments are the most precious of all.
I too am planning to take part in BooMama's Christmas Tour - I loved it last year.
I love to see other people's Christmas goodies. Thanks for sharing yours.
I am blogging daily until Christmas Eve about my decor, traditions and food here in Northern Ireland.
These are the precious memories that truly count. Not buying some fancy ornament. Love this post of simplicity, family and values that count, Tammy.
Susan
I just love things from our childhood that we bring out every year. What memories they hold.
What a family treasure...I simply love the idea of toy soldiers from clothespins.
My show n tell this week is a holiday story...come by if you can find some time, won't you? Happy weekend.
What special ornaments! Although my mom wasn't into crafts, I remember making bells like those-probably at school or something I read in a magazine. Somewhere there is a slide of me holding those bells, standing in front of the aluminum Christmas tree....I think we're about the same age ;-)
We must have a couple more things in common as my mom is also elderly (86) and I'm a homeschooling mom as well.
Christmas blessings to you.
Good morning dear Tammy:-)
Such precious handmade ornaments...those have to be the best kind of ornaments there is!! I wish my mom would have kept some of the ornaments I had made as a child but unfortunately they got all thrown out due to various moves. I do have ornaments we made together, though, when I was newly married:-) xoxo
I LOVE the old ornaments that I made, my son made as a child and now my grandchildren are making. Some of them are pretty worn but I don't care, I love having them on my tree to remind me of those special times!
The ornaments made by hand and with love are the best! I've ornaments made by my eldest girl that get hung on the tree every year.
Thanks for sharing and have a great day!
I love the little soldiers and that you use them every year! Such great memories attached to them:)
Linda C
Hi Tammy,
I left you a comment on the post below too, but I wanted to tell you that I love the tree you all picked! We've never gone, picked one out, and chopped one down. I bet that's fun. The first year we were married we had a real one (after growing up with an artificial). For a year, I picked needles out of my carpet! Anyway, since then we've always done an artificial. One day, we might just have to do that for one of our trees! It sounds like fun!
You're right about the ornaments. Those that are homemade are the most treasured. We love remembering them all when we get them out!
And I like the coat you have on guarding the tree! (I read your leather one was stolen)!
Okay, have a great weekend! I wish you all well on all the performances! I think that's so special and I bet your girls have angelic voices!
Hugs,
Tammy
I love stories behind the older ornaments. Thanks for sharing yours!
Aawww...how sweet! I have handmade ornaments from when I was a child and I am 50 now!! I'll be showing them between now and Christmas. Blessings to you,Becky
I too have one surviving each of the soldier & one bell. I was thinking that it might make a good project for you & the girls to make some of the little soldiere. I think I still have some of the clothespins, & I'm not sure about the pipe cleanesrs, but you would have to get some more of the paint. I would love more of them.
Me again, I also have some ornaments that the girls have made & given me which are also on the tree.
I love the wooden soldiers! They are so pretty, as well as your little silver bell.
Your post made me think about this - I have an old Christmas piece that my mom and dad always brought out and set at out Christmas. I must have made it around a Christmas-time. It was a little pecan - full shell - and I had added little beads for the eyes and a nose. I cut green rubber bands (remember when all rubber bands were green?) into short pieces and glued them on for whiskers. Then I glued some black string on for a tail. That thing has to be 45 years old, or there-abouts. I still have it shut away in an old box. I think I will dig it out and show my kids :O). Thanks for the idea!
Precious, precious, precious!!! What love went in to those special ornaments--that is how they lasted:)
Julieann
Love the handmade ornaments the most! Thanks for sharing!
Tammy,
I love the wooden soldier ornament made with the clothes pegs. I have hung clothes on the line many times with these. I have tried to find them but I don't think they are made today. This is a treasure, as is the little tinfoil bell.
I have an ornament that Brandon made me when he was in kindergarten. It is a walnut and they put tiny beads and a ribbon on it. That and the tinfoil stars the boys made me one year are my favorite ornaments out of all I've collected. Some day I will pass them on to them.
Enjoyed my visit, as always. Have a great weekend.
Blessings,
Mary
Those soldiers are so cute! I have so many ornaments that my daughter and I made and I hope they last as long as yours. Those memories are precious!
Manuela
They are so special! It is amazing that the little bell has survived.
I am not doing the tour officially because of this goofy private blog business, but I did a tour of sorts for my wonderful readers.
Are you kids still excited, or are they getting tired?
So glad you decided to join the S & T today, with your sweet handmade ornaments. I really like the clothespin soldier. Great idea. Thanks for allowing us to see and to share in your memories.
I am absolutely of the opinion that an object's worth is not measured in material worth but in the precious memories it holds (and the loving hands that made it).
I love your ornaments.
I love handmade ornaments from people's childhoods. I have angels I made from clothespins.
I hope you stop by my blog, I'm having a giveaaway that ends Monday.
Precious ornaments, Tammy! And the making of the memories is the most precious thing of all.
I think your keepsake ornaments are so precious. I hope all goes well with the girl's recital.
Merry Christmas.
Lisa
What sweet ornaments and memories! I too have some from my childhood that my mom made...they are so special to me!
I finally came back to see the girls show below:). Wow that looks like a wonderful show! What a neat opportunity for them to be a part of.
I plan to show Corinn and Kiera later today too:).
Have a great weekend.
I love handmade ornaments that provide so many memories, complete with a hand-me-down legacy. Yours are precious... thanks for sharing and good luck on the performance.
Have a great weekend!
I love homemade ornaments and Christmas decorations too. Did you see the little cinnamon stick Santas my Mom and I made? I did a post about it on Thursday.
I hope you're enjoying the Holidays.
Hugs!
Kat
I love handmade ornaments the best....what a wonderful collection you have!
~Kelli
I have tagged you for a little meme - check it out!
Love the soldier your mom made from a clothes pin.
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