The Holiday Season Is Upon Us

Thanksgiving has come and gone! 

 Christmas and Chanukkah are fast approaching.  It is a favorite time of year for me.  I love the lights, the decorations, the traditions and history. 

I said traditions.  I think these Holidays are really the some of the last Holidays, in this country, where we uphold traditions today.  Whether it be by bringing out old treasured Christmas ornaments and putting them out for all to enjoy, using the same stockings every year, favorite recipes or in the observance of religious ceremonies.

Anyway, not trying to be too serious.  It also means that Rick and Dan decorate their business for the Holiday Season.  It is a challenge every year to make it fresh and interesting.  In all honesty Rick comes up with ideas and poor Dan does most the work.  Okay...I admit it.  Dan is really good at putting stuff together.  I can see it in my mind but can't always execute it.  

This year many of you will recall we did the Adolphson Estate Sale.  Tom and Marge owned Parlor Bears here in Lincoln City.  In that Sale we sold a small sled and two reindeer decorations.  Those decorations recently came back into our lives and we were delighted!  They now grace our front window.

They are so beautiful to me and the reindeer in particular I find stunning.

The Gladys Boalt ornaments grace the tree in the background but it is the sled and reindeer that catch my eye.  I have to state again that I am glad these objects found their way back into our lives.  I think Tom and Marge would be so happy that they were out for people to enjoy again.

One of our Dealers also brought in a huge Steiff Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  It apparently came out of a restaurant years ago.  We had to put it in the window, too!  Not such a good shot but you get the idea.

All in all we are ready at the Mall for the Holidays.  The decorating is done.

I haven't included any menorahs in this.  I am hoping our friend Beverly Cohen will let me photograph some of her incredible collection to share here.  We enjoy Chanukkah Season also.  Frankly, any menorahs we find we gift to Beverly so I don't have any of my own.  I need to rectify that...don't tell Beverly though.

Happy Holidays to all of you...no matter how you chose to celebrate them

And since I love this Season I will most probably blog more about it.  LOL!

Gladys Boalt Ornaments

Virginia Mitchell was a legend in the antiques business.  Virginia owned "herselfs" antiques shop here in Lincoln City.  She was well known and was featured in the Maine Antique Digest more then once during her career.  Dan and I called her the "Queen" because Virginia had the most beautiful shop and collection of early americana and primitives.  She truly offered only the very best.  Virginia became a close dear friend and we shared me laughs about operating a small shop.  I won't share them here but ask me someday.  

Virginia was the exclusive outlet of Gladys Boalt handmade ornaments.  These soft sculpture Christmas  ornaments are works of art and hard to find.  All of the Boalt ornaments are either historical figures, from fairy tales or Christmas stories.  They have been unavailable in our area for a number of years until now.

Virginia's daughter, Julie a close friend, has decided to let go of her collection.  You may see the ornaments in our front window of our Mall.

Here is the King of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland.

The Wicked Step Mother from Cinderella.

And one of my favorites the Fairy Godmother from Cinderella.

The detail on the Boalt ornaments is incredible.  The faces are painted.  The clothing hand sewn.

So for those of you looking for something different check out the Gladys Boalt ornaments in our front window.  Julie has many more to bring in so you aren't seeing them all.

Virginia passed away 14 years ago.  We miss her.  Yet she lives on through her beloved family and through us...those of us who knew her and loved her.

Wishing you all happiness as we enter the Holiday Season!

I have no excuse for not blogging in so long.  I guess I just haven't felt creative lately.  I do go through those periods as I think most people do.

Dan and I have been busy getting ready for our 14th Anniversary Sale.  It is so hard to believe it has been 14 years since we opened our Mall.  So much has transpired and yet so much remains the same.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am looking forward to Christmas.  I hope you are, too.

I will try to be better at our blog!

Promise!