Back when we lived in the Gothic Mansion, decorating for Christmas was a very big deal, especially when the offspring were younger and still living at home. It literally took two weeks to do the whole house, and roughly the same amount of time to pack everything away again. These days, decorating feels like more of a chore than a delight, and nobody seems to care as long as there's plenty of food available to take their minds off the lack of seasonal decor.
Should you wish to see photos of how things were back in the “Olden Days”, here are a few links - which may or may not include some rather vague instructions on how to make some of the decorations you'll see in this post:
Theme Post: Gothidays 2012 Day One
Theme Post: Gothidays 2012 Day Seven
'Twas the Night (almost) Before Christmas
Many ornaments were taken to Goodwill when we packed up the Gothic Mansion two Christmases ago, and even more sold at a Christmas Market the insomniac was a vendor at in November. As this too was a handmade/vintage market, she created a number of ornaments to go with the vintage Christmas items from her personal collection and, as expected, none of them sold. Actually, there might have been one that sold. No, wait - that one was given away. Seriously, she could write a very large tome on “How to Make Things That Won't Sell at a Market” and have no difficulties whatsoever filling it up with her brilliant ideas. Probably enough ideas to make it a three volume set.
The holiday colours for the cottage seem to have evolved into predominantly black, ivory and crimson, with a whole lot of tarnished silver thrown in. Because when dropping your old Christmas ornaments off at the Goodwill donation centre, you'll probably decide to take a little peek inside the Goodwill store and will inevitably find more tarnished silver to add to your already extensive collection.
And that's how the tarnished vase in this next picture was found, jazzed up with a few rhinestones, displayed with turkey feathers and taken to market. Where it didn't sell. There was, however, a tremendous amount of interest in the feathers ...
Customers: Oooh, what kind of feathers are those?
Insomniac: Wild turkey, I think.
Customers: I really like those. I collect feathers, smudge with them, etc. etc. etc.
Insomniac: Oh jeez, just take one.
Customers: Really? Thank you so much!
The ivory decorations seem to work well against the dark furniture, dark walls and the dark stones on the fireplace. One has definitely noticed she's reluctant to display any brightly coloured things in the cottage, and there's only a handful of those types of ornaments left. Plus the ivory complements the skulls on the mantel nicely.
Lengths of fabric formerly used for covering tables at markets are now being used to cover the dining room table. The buffet always gets decorated, because at least people notice those decorations on their way to and from the kitchen to fill their plates with more turkey and stuffing.
The table isn't generally covered in antlers, and is not part of the holiday decorating scheme. The insomniac has discovered a good way to get things done in a relatively timely manner is to stack them someplace where, eventually, they'll be in the way. As Christmas dinner will be on the 24th this year, the antlers will need to be photographed and put on the website within the next ten days. This clever tip, plus many more, to be revealed in her upcoming tome.
After Christmas, the insomniac plans to unpack the box of crystal underneath the buffet and put all that on the dining room table. Then maybe the shelves in the clock case meant to hold all the crystal will get built before Easter.
The blackened and gold-leaf tipped antlers didn't sell either. But that's okay - a set went to one of the insomniac's helpers at the market and the other set will now live here with us.
As always, the taxidermy loves to get dressed up for the holidays, as does Odin. Or Thor. Whoever that guy on the piano is.
Thrifted frame, adorable little picture of an angel and deer. Didn't sell. Luckily, the insomniac has gotten a lot smarter about markets, and is now making things she likes herself instead of things other people might like. All covered in Chapter 2 of the book. Look for it soon ... like in about twenty years.
Set of three votives that didn't sell. The spouse says it's because everyone fears the glitter.
Decoupaged papers on the backs of crystals. Didn't sell. Not even a little sad about that.
The very last of the brightly coloured ornaments. It hurts the eyes, doesn't it? If they weren't really old and possibly worth something, they'd already be gone.
And that's pretty much it for the downstairs decorations. No Christmas tree again this year, as we now have a forest full of trees that have the decency to drop their needles all over the forest floor instead of all over ours.
Upstairs is totally barren of Christmas decor, other than a skull and the remains of some very special flowers that probably aren't going to make it through many more holidays. Oh, and a cherub table cover that didn't sell. Almost forgot about that.
And now it's time for the important part of the post - the giveaways!
Firstly, a Krampus pillow - the perfect gift for any child on your Christmas list. And what child wouldn't want to be tucked into their bed Christmas Eve with this beauty in sight? It's practically guaranteed to produce visions of things other than sugarplums dancing in their heads. All. Night. Long.
Because the giveaway is open world wide, this lovely pillow will be sent to you without the actual pillow to save on shipping charges. But it takes a standard 18" pillow form, which can be purchased almost anywhere.
Secondly, a set of holiday tags with twelve different woodland animals, a package of antique gold tinsel garland, and an amethyst snowflake with an olive green bow. Whaaaaat? Amethyst and olive green are so Christmas colours! No? Oh, maybe that's why it didn't sell.
And thirdly, a package of crimson tinsel garland which says tissue paper on the label but it's bright and shiny so just ignore that, along with a lovely crystal ornament embellished with black snowflakes and crimson ribbon. Whaaaaat? Snowflakes aren't supposed to be black? Probably why it didn't sell either.
To enter, simply comment as to which of these prizes you're interested in. Or ask to be entered in all the draws and increase your chances! Winners will be announced Monday, December 14th as an addendum to this post. Both this and the previous contest end this evening, Sunday, December 13th, at midnight.
As always, a big thank-you to The Curious Professor Z for hosting this holiday extravaganza! It's been wonderful reading about the other participant's holiday rituals, and one hopes to see you all again next year. Although please don't expect anything new in the way of decorating ideas here at the Little Gothic Cottage - if anything, it might be even sparser than this year.
However, one does hope you understood that although the insomniac claimed in her previous Gothidays post to be on a mission to reduce the amount of Christmas baking consumed in this household, she wasn't actually serious. We're right back up to fourteen different varieties of cookies in the freezer, two or three kinds of spiced nuts and at least five types of candy. Some holiday rituals should not be tampered with. So sayeth the family.
Until next time, the insomniac wishes you nights of blissful sleep filled with pleasant dreams. Goodnight, my pretties.
IA
4:19 p.m. Monday, December 14th, 2015
Thanks to everyone who commented and entered! Commenters were assigned a number in the order in which their comment was received and winners chosen by the Random Generator.
Please email lynne@insomniacsattic.com with your mailing address so your prize can be sent to you the next time the insomniac drives into the city!
Skull Apron Winner - Lesley UK
Here are your random numbers:
11
Timestamp: 2015-12-14 23:09:30 UTC
Gothic Stars Winner - Bobbi
Here are your random numbers:
8
Timestamp: 2015-12-14 23:10:14 UTC
Krampus Pillowcase Winner - Natalie
Here are your random numbers:
7
Timestamp: 2015-12-14 23:10:57 UTC
Gold Tinsel, Woodland Tags and Amethyst Snowflake Winner - Debi
Here are your random numbers:
5
Timestamp: 2015-12-14 23:11:30 UTC
Red Tinsel and Crystal Ornament Winner - Stella Caughell
Here are your random numbers:
9
Timestamp: 2015-12-14 23:11:54 UTC