Merry Christmas!

I know I didn't make many posts this year. I've been really busy with other Christmas related activities. The result is a slow HolidayTrees blog during the holiday season.

If your tree was said to be featured this year and wasn't, it will be next year. I have them all saved and ready to use so be sure to stick around for Christmas 2013.

Here's a little Christmas cheer for this lovely Christmas Eve:

Photo By: Ozmafan from Flickr.com (Seattle, WA)

Hopefully your Christmas tree is as stuffed full of presents as this one.

Merry Christmas to all!

White House Christmas Tree Infographic

This is a lovely brief historic infographic on the history of White House Christmas trees.

It was sent to me by a Jaclyn from eLocal.com.

Since I didn't have time to do an article on a Christmas tree from the White House this year I thought this would be a good replacement.

Poster by Jaclyn (elocal.com)

My 2012 Christmas Tree

It's time to share my own Christmas tree. I finally got it decorated.

I actually didn't have a chance to unpack all my Christmas items this year, so the tree is missing a few of my favorite ornaments. But it's no matter. This is the first real tree I've had in a while so I'm beyond thrilled.

The ornaments are a combination of vintage Shiny Brites, Noell, Pyramids and a few other lesser known vintage ornament brands.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Whether your Thanksgiving is small and fancy...

Photo by: Karindalziel - Nebraska (flickr)

...traditional and classy...

Photo by: ilovebutter - Texas (flickr)

...or large and plentiful.

Photo by: Philms (flickr)

Just be sure to enjoy it!

2012 Christmas Trees of the Day

This is the fourth official Christmas Tree of the Day Thread (CTOTD - Click Here for the 2011 one). From December 1st thru December 31st you will be getting a picture of a very special Christmas tree daily. See the tiny picture of the tree to the right? Click on that to see this 2012 CTOTD. Be sure to come here every day to get your Christmas tree fix!

A Christmas Miracle

Photographer: cocokelley (blogspot.com)

Place: Seattle, WA (USA)

CTOTD: 11/18/12

This lovely Christmas tree came from a fellow blogspotter, cocokelley.

She decorated it with gold, silver and black ornaments, snowflakes, icicles and even black feathers.

It makes a lovely scene but believe it or not, it wasn't entirely planned out by her.

 

"We were surprised with a huge Christmas tree as a gift!" says CocoKelley.

"The 'tree skirt' is actually a tablecloth I've had for years and the gold wrapping paper used for the first present is something I had before I even knew about the tree. 

Don't you just love when things come together like that? Must be a Christmas miracle".

I completely agree.

Bent Wrist Syndrome

Photographer: steve p2008 (flickr.com)

Place: United Kingdom

CTOTD: 11/13/12

Please, don't comment on the sidewayness of this photo. 

The photographer suffers from Bent Wrist Syndrome. 

It's a serious problem so please don't laugh.

Starter Christmas Tree

Photographer: wolfsavard (flickr.com)

Place: Manchester, CT (USA)

CTOTD: 11/12/12

 'Tis the starter Christmas tree to my CTOTD thread.

If you want your photo featured on this thread,

email me at HolidayTrees@gmail.com!

Come Join Me for the Holiday Season!

Every November through December, I post photos of Christmas trees and discuss them. 

This year will be no different. It's that time of the year when we can all gather around the computer moniter and look at pretty pictures of Christmas scenes.

Photo by: Erik Abderhalden (Naperville, IL)

Now let's all gather around and bask in the warm glowing warming glow.

 

Autumn Wedding Cakes w/ Flowers

Flowers that are on the warm side of the color spectrum can be a lovely way to enhance your wedding cake during the fall season. These wedding cakes that do just that.

Ivory and Orange Wedding Cake w/ Scroll Pattern

 Cake by: Graceful Cake Creations (Mesa, AZ USA)

Autumnal Gerbera and Rose Wedding Cake

  Cake by: Graceful Cake Creations (Mesa, AZ USA)

Cascade of Rose Petals

  Cake by: Sherene Venter (Pretoria, South Africa)

The Nightmare Before Christmas Wedding Cakes!

Tim Burton styled wedding cakes have become more and more popular among gothic brides. Some of them make very unique cakes. Here are some examples:

 Photographer & Baker: Karen Hedge (Tennessee USA)

Something about black icing always turned me off. I guess it's the idea of trying to eat it and get it all over your gums so that you look scary for the rest of the night. But 'tis something we will have to accept for the these types of cakes.

Anyways, I love the topper:

 Photographer & Baker: Karen Hedge (Tennessee USA) 

The stitches on the dress and the tiny flowers are especially detailed.

Here is another Nightmare wedding cake:

Photographer & Baker: Graceful Cake Creations (flickr)

In this wedding cake, the cake toppers kind of looks like the Play-Doh version of Jack Skellington and Sally. But it's cute nonetheless and the cake itself is especially adorable.

For this next cake I cheated a little...

  Photographer & Baker: Angel Cakes (Rutland UK)

...it's not exactly a wedding cake.

It's a birthday cake for a boy that was turning nine years old. 

But that's all a technicality. In reality this design would work wonderfully for a wedding cake and so deserves a spot on the HolidayTrees website.

Plus, look at that Zero! Have you ever seen a better one?

Grab the Rake! - Fall Foliage Wedding Cakes

I came across lots of leafy wedding cakes during my search for fall wedding cakes.

While many autumnal wedding cakes have a leaf or two, these cakes went all out with their fall foliage. The effect can be rather lovely on some of the more high-end ones.

Here is one of my favorites:

Baker: Amanda Robinson from Sweetfix (Virginia, USA) 

I love the sense of movement on this wedding cake. It looks as though the leaves have been blown around the cake.

Here is another beautiful leafy wedding cake:

 Photographer: Katina Rogers 

Am I the only one that just wants to pluck a leaf off these cakes and eat one? 

They look so crispy and yummy and sugary!

Instead of going the painstaking (and more expensive) route of having handmade leaves on their wedding cake, the owners of this cake opted to use fake leaves and place them around the cake.

 Photographer: Dave Walker (Michigan USA)

Not a bad idea if you're having a wedding in October and need to give off a "crisp fall day" feel in a pinch.

Have a wedding cake you want to share?

Email it to me at HolidayTrees@gmail.com

Lily Wedding Cake with an Autumnish Feel

Well now that I've had one Halloween themed wedding cake, let's add a fall one. 

 Photo & Cake by: CAKE Chester (Chester, UK)

The creator, Cake Chester, describes this cake with these words: 

"rustic calla lilies with bronze metalwork". 

I'm not sure if this lovely cake was intended by the artist to look so autumny. 

But with the colors and leaves, it definitely has that appeal. 

Skeleton Bride & Groom Wedding Cake!

This is my first Halloween themed wedding cake I have ever had on this blog. It features a white base with roses, a large spider web and topped off with a skeleton cake topper.

Photographer: Andrew Vicars (Phoenix AZ)

While I love the spider web I have to say that the skeleton groom carrying the skeleton bride over the threshold is nothing short of adorable.

The photographer says, "The cake topper is of two skeleton is love..."

Photographer: Andrew Vicars (Phoenix AZ)  

"...which is absolutely perfect for the Halloween themed wedding!"
Tis perfect.

More beautifully shot Halloween and fall wedding cakes to come!

Fall Equinox Has Come!

Do you know what September 22nd was? Well if not, it's a little thing called fall equinox. This is when the warm air turns cool. When the sticky humidity gives way for crisp air. Soon to follow will be the beautiful crisp leaves.

Ah fall equinox, a truly glorious time of the year.

Photo by: pipnstuff (flickr)

Just look at that collage of photos above. 

Fall is truly a time of lore, mystery and the beginning of the end for the present year.

I simply love everything about it. 

So to express my love for it, I am looking for some Halloween photos. Theses can be of anything: pumpkins, Halloween decorations, people in costumes, Halloween candy, spooky images...anything!

And for the first time on HolidayTrees, I will also be requesting Halloween cakes and pastries. I haven't done an article on that and I would like to. If you have any photos you would like to share, let me see them!
                                                                 
                                                              Send them to:

 All photos will be used! Guaranteed!

Thanks for visiting and I hope the upcoming fall is a relaxed and comfortable one for you.

"Wedding Day" Makeover Coming Soon...

Ever since Christmas ended I've been pretty business with life. I haven't had a chance to give attention to the recent holidays. However, that's all going to change with the HolidayTrees.us "bridal" makeover and the usual attention given to wedding cakes starting in spring.

Photographer: pengrin (flickr.com)

So as usual, get ready for more wedding cake photos!

I also have a surprise with the upcoming wedding photos. 

But you'll have to see my next post to see what that surprise is!
Stay tuned...

Victorian Christmas Scene on Christmas Day

Here it is!

The day we've all been waiting for!

CHRISTMAS DAY!

Take a gander at this gorgeous Victorian Christmas scene:

Photo by Dorothy Nomad (NWUSA)



MERRY CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY TREE LOVERS!

Here's to awesome vintage Christmas goodies!

I know, I know. I really blew it. I haven't posted an article for over a week in the middle of December no less! This is the most important holiday time of them all! But I do have some good news.

What? You won't even begin to listen to me until you see some kind of beautiful Christmas tree? Sigh, I understand. Take a gander at this then:

Photo: Horsesitch at flickr

Pretty damn gorgeous eh? Doesn't this just put you in the Christmas spirit of forgiveness? Purdy please?

Thank you!

Now, let me explain my absence. You see, I never get tired of writing about Christmas trees. They fascinate me to no end. Quite frankly, writer's block on this wonderful subject is quite impossible. But there has been something that's been keeping me away from this glorious website.

And that something is my sellers account on Ebay. During holidays, I try and focus on selling holiday related items. That would make December's stock Christmas items, vintage Christmas items to be exact. These items have been flying off the shelves due to awesome customers who have an appreciation for fine Christmas goods. In case you are interested, my sellers name is HolidayTrees. Most of Christmas items I have for sale are 20 years or older. Here have a look:

Click Here to view and bid on my auctions!

So you see? I have been celebrating by shipping Christmas joy to people's houses via vintage decorations. Can't you appreciate that for what it is?

But I'm finding a way to juggle both my website AND my awesome Christmas goods. In the end, I don't want to skimp on anything and manage to write about Christmas trees while selling items for Christmas trees at the same time.

Are we all made up now?

Oh an don't forget to visit My "Christmas Tree of the Day" thread. I have added more to that as well.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Blast to the Past - 1944 McCall's Christmas Tree

I am going to start a tradition here on www.HolidayTrees.us. Every year I am going to post a photo of a Christmas tree that is 25 years or older. I think it's a fun idea to see how society of years yore used to decorate their Christmas trees. Times have changed and with it our sense of style. I think we owe it to humanity as a whole to appreciate the way Christmas trees have changed as well.

*BLAST TO THE PAST*

Year 1944
Where: McCall's Magazine Cover

Photographer: Nikolas Muray

This very vintage Christmas tree was featured on the cover of a magazine issue titled McCall's. In case you aren't aware, McCall's was an American women's magazine that was started in the late 1800s and grew in popularity through the 20th Century. From the 1930s to the 1950s, the magazine was divided up into three sections: News & Fiction, Homemaking and Style & Beauty. (There was also a fourth section titled "Guns & Fashion" but it was proven to be not as popular with the readers and so was dropped).

But this being a website on holidays, I really just want to focus on the Christmas tree that McCall's put on it's cover for the December 1944 issue. Let's take a look at it.

What I find most telling on when this photo was taken is the shape of the tree. It doesn't have the perfect triangle shape many tree buyers look for does it? Almost like they got it straight out of a forest rather than a Christmas tree farm. The other telling thing is the garland which is put on in a dramatic sweeping style. People nowadays tend to put them in more of a swirling fashion. (Click here and go down to the third photo to see what I mean).

Also, the colors are very subdued. Lots of earth greens and reds. Most of the sparkly look comes from the excessive use of vintage tinsel.

Speaking of tinsel, did you know that it used to include lead because it made the strands heavier and thus easier to work with? For some STUPID reason they stopped adding this very important element and now we are left with the sticky and fickle tinsel that we know today.

Anyways, back to the Christmas tree. Despite my critical take on the decorations, I actually love this 1944 photo. We can look back and laugh at the tree that is not quite as sophisticated by today's standards but really, you should judge the tree in the context of it's time period. By doing so you will see that it is a lovely photo highlighting what a Christmas scene in a middle class home would look like in the forties. A quick glance over the wooden toys is a testament to the simplicity of a child's playtime and even life in general. It's enough to make anyone want to gather their family and go open presents around the 1944 McCall's Christmas tree.





Got a Christmas tree photo you want to share?
Send it to HolidayTrees@gmail.com

White Christmas Trees in Technicolor!

I used to not be a fan of white Christmas trees. Now this was a while ago when I was a child in the early 90s. I associated white Christmas trees with snobby I'm-too-rich-to-use-anything-with-color-during-Christmas people. These are the same people that use nothing but white Christmas lights all over their house. What is up with that? OK kids, lets go outside and let daddy turn the lights on for us! *click* ooohhhhhh...ahhhhh...It looks just like every other day except the house is illuminated with a bunch of tiny clear lights that are basically regular light bulbs that we see everyday on lamps shrunk down to a mini size.

Get some imagination! If there is one thing I've learned over the years, it's that Christmas is about color, color and more color! Luckily for me (and let's face it, for society as a whole) it looks like people are starting to decorate their white Christmas trees using lots of colorful ornaments and lights.

Lets take a moment to celebrate these pioneers of Christmas fashion. Every Christmas tree below is white with a different color scheme (no, clear is not a color so it will not be featured). Now on to the colorful white Christmas trees.

Tickled Pink

Photo: Nicole W. (CA, USA)
"I'm pretty darn proud of mine," Nicole the tree owner says.
"It was difficult finding ornaments that fit my pink color scheme. So instead, I made all the bows myself and a few of the ornaments as well. The result was quite lovely."

Purple Sparkle

Photo: xcode from flickr.com
Another sparkly white Christmas tree full of monochromatic wonder!
You wouldn't know it from this photo, but this purplish Christmas tree is located in a mall in Singapore. A country which just happens to have some of the most breathtaking Christmas trees in the world.
(Click here to see my article on Singapore Christmas trees.)

Blue Bliss

Photo: Gina Arnone (Portland, OR USA)
This primarily blue Christmas tree was located at Queen Anne Victorian Mansion. It's a shining example on how white Christmas trees can have color but still be quite elegant.

Red Mingle,
Green Jingle

Photo: Gina Arnone (Portland OR USA)
I know this doesn't exactly fit with the other white Christmas trees that stuck with shades of one color. But the traditional red and green theme is rarely seen on a white Christmas tree for some reason. So lets all take a moment and appreciate this wonderful, cozy and traditional Christmas scene.
*Made possible by a white Christmas tree.*

HopeKids Christmas Trees at Minnesota State Fair

Did you know, that the Minnesota State Fair is the largest state fair in America? Pretty interesting eh? Well that's all for now. See ya later.

Just kidding. There's more...

Every year the Minnesota State Fair has a Christmas tree decorating contest. Recently I was sent photos of the 2009 and the 2011 blue ribbon winners of the decorated tree section. They both happened to be "HopeKids" themed. In case you are not familiar, HopeKids is a organization dedicated to giving hope and compassion to children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. (To find out more information on HopeKids, click here.)

The decorator for both the HopeKids trees is Sherry S. (Apple Valley, MN). Her 2009 HopeKids Christmas tree was especially an accomplishment as she hand braided the garland and had the children of HopeKids send her their individual handmade ornaments.

Unfortunately, not all the HopeKids children were able to participate so Sherry had the foresight to also print out a paper chain with each link containing the name, age & illness of each HopeKids child.

Photo: 2009 Blue Ribbon Winner of Minnesota State Fair (decorated tree category)

It's not hard to see why this tree was chosen for first place. It has a wonderful crafty feel to it and the use of mostly primary colors is a wonderful choice for this subject. Below is an explanation on why it was selected as the winner in the decorated tree category.

Photo: Judges special recognition for 2009 (click on photo to enlarge).

The HopeKids Christmas tree of 2011 is a little different as it's theme is "Pictures of Hope". It still has the same idea of having each of the Minnesota HopeKids children donate a personal handmade ornament. But this time, the tree has a more uniformed look with the framed photos.

Photo: 2011 Blue Ribbon Winner of Minnesota State Fair (decorated tree category).

Sherry says, "Unfortunately our Minnesota chapter has grown in the last two years to over 700 kids and families. All of them are in picture frames. Keep in mind this donated tree was only 6.5 ft tall but it was still able to hold all the photos".


Thank you to Sherry S. for your contribution and to HopeKids for spreading awareness on childhood illnesses.


All trees decorated and photographed by Sherry S. of Apple Valley, MN.

2011 Christmas Tree of the Day - CTOTD

This is the third official Christmas Tree of the Day Thread (CTOTD - Click Here for the 2010 one). From December 1st thru December 31st you will be getting a picture of a very special Christmas tree daily. See the tiny picture of the tree to the right? Click on that to see this 2011 CTOTD. Be sure to come here every day to get your Christmas tree fix!

25th Anniversary Embassy Festival of Trees

Photographer: cliff1066 from flickr.com

Place: Fort Wayne, TX (USA)

CTOTD: 12/25/11

A Christmas tree from the 25th Anniversary Embassy Festival of Christmas trees.
It was sponsored by the Embassy Theatre Foundation and decorated by Diane Miller.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

The Christmas Tree at Night (Part 2)

Photographer: Killbox from flickr.com

Place: Albuquerque, NM (USA)

CTOTD: 12/22/11

Another beautiful Christmas tree that was photographed in the shadows of nightfall.

Angel from London

Photographer: Cristina Valente

Place: Portugal

CTOTD: 12/21/11

A uniquely decorated Christmas tree featuring lots of silvery icicles and froths of white.

But what is Cristina's favorite part of her Christmas tree?

The tree angel.
Who represents her real life angel whose flying in from London...
...her daughter!
Dwahhh! Isn't real life angels what the holidays are all about?

The Christmas Tree at Night

Photographer: Paul Sturgess

Place: England (UK)

CTOTD: 12/09/11

The magic of the Christmas tree is fully realized at night while it's lit up.

Christmas Tree Village

Photographer: cole24_ (flickr.com)

Place: Pittsburgh, PA (USA)

CTOTD: 12/08/11

A village that was built around the base of a Christmas tree.

A Bit of Everything

Photographer: Gina Arnone

Place: Portland OR (USA)

CTOTD: 12/07/11

Here's a riddle for ya: "What has giant balls, golden angels, archangels, sparkly lights and pheasant feathers tucked into a bow?"
Answer: The above Christmas tree.

Twig Star

Tree owners: Filipa Sousa & Tiago Ferreira

Place: London, UK

CTOTD: 12/06/11

"My boyfriend and I just love decorating for Christmas time" says Filipa.
"We find most of our decorations from charity shops or online for under a pound."
Their best find thus far?
The twig star.

Tall & Skinny

Photographer: Gina Arnone

Place: Portland OR (USA)

CTOTD: 12/05/11

A Christmas tree with a very unique tall and skinny shape.

Spruced-up Spruce Tree

Photographer: Ed Bierman

Place: CA (USA)

CTOTD: 12/02/11

A classically decorated spruce tree at the photographer's workplace.
It's so well decorated that you could say it's all spruced-up with no where to go.
Hahaha!!!
Wait...don't go. I'm done. I promise.

Humble Glow

Photographer: Thomas Cowart

Place: Durham, NC (USA)

CTOTD: 12/01/11

This tiny tree may not be full of glitz and glamor but it's humble glow captures the essence of Christmas.



Got a Christmas tree photo you want to share?
Send it to HolidayTrees@gmail.com
All photos & stories will be posted!