My collection of vintage beaded and sequin ornaments started about twenty years ago when I was newly married and finally had a tree of my own to decorate. Around that time, I had also started frequenting antique shops because I was furnishing a new home on a budget. To my joy, when I started realizing you could BUY old ornaments, I was ecstatic. Ever since then, I look forward to the time of year when antique shops start adding Christmas goods to their mix so I can hunt for more. They have become a bit of an obsession for me.
My collection started off with a couple of precious family ornaments from my childhood that were gloriously beaded and sequined. One of them was shaped like a chandelier and the other I made in kindergarten with a Styrofoam ball, some glitter and beads. I adored these ornaments and they always got prime real estate on the tree (they still do!).
Beautiful Craftsmanship
As a gal that loves the history of old things, ornaments are no different. The biggest reason I love the beaded ornaments more than other vintage bulbs is because of their hand-crafted nature. They have the most beautiful detail – from simple to ornate – that people took the time to make. I’ve heard stories of ladies getting together for ornament making parties in the 50’s and 60’s to make these, and other tales of people making them as gifts each year for family and friends. So, when I come across them at estate sales, flea markets and in antique shops, I think about the ladies that made them with so much love. They were meant to be passed down for generations. When I scoop them up, I feel like I am giving them new life to be passed on…that I’m a part of their journey in a way.
Carrying on the Tradition
In my family, we love making things. Ok, so my brother-in-law might not love it…but he does it anyway. Lol. We have a tradition of drawing names each year to make a special gift for one person. A few years back, I took inspiration from my Kindergarten ornament and made my sister a similar piece as her make gift. I bought a half circle piece of Styrofoam from Michael’s and covered it in glitter. Then I placed a photo of her sweet puppy, Penny, in the center. Once everything was set and dry, I surrounded the photo in sequins. To create the top, I took a beaded top off of a vintage ornament that was broken and placed it on the new ornament – creating a vintage look. That ornament is precious to my sister so the time it took to make it was very well spent.
While I didn’t use a kit for my sister’s ornament, there are a lot of sellers on Etsy that sell kits (vintage and new) so you can make your own vintage inspired beaded ornaments. I love the idea of continuing this tradition and have been thinking of having an ornament making party myself. Sounds like a plan for 2023! Here are a couple of Etsy sellers to check out that sell beaded ornament kits.
Etsy Sellers:
Hands down, my favorite part of the holiday season is trimming the tree with these beautiful ornaments. I love pulling them out of their careful storage, unwrapping them and delighting at each one as I place them in just the right spot on the tree. It’s important to have traditions as you decorate your tree each year, doing it with excitement and reflection of cherished years past. Do I have any other vintage beaded ornament fans out there? I’d love to see some of your favorites.
~ Beckie