Discount Coupon Code On Christmas Shopping With Vintage Vic

CLICK HERE TO GO CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AT VINTAGE VIC'S

DON'T FORGET YOUR 10% DISCOUNT CODE!

NEW ITEMS ADDED MOST DAYS.

ALSO LOTS OF VINTAGE CHRISTMAS ITEMS ON EBAY

NEW ITEMS ADDED MOST DAYS.

CLICK HERE TO GO CHRISTMAS SHOPPING WITH VINTAGE VIC ON EBAY

CHECK OUT LOTS OF CHRISTMAS FUN AND CHATTER ON VINTAGE VIC'S  FACE BOOK

CLICK HERE FOR VINTAGE VIC'S FACEBOOK

Set of 6 Winkie vintage fairy story books available now!

Prepare For Christmas, With Vintage Vic...

(Angel candle holders available at www.vintagevic.etsy.com)

Have you started your Christmas preparations yet? I have, but only just. There is always such a lot to do in the run up to the big day. This year, let's do it together and hopefully we will avoid last minute panic!

As I write this, it is the 19th November. So, what should we be doing by now? Well, writing lists, if you're anything like me. I write lists for everything, often losing them and having to write them again! A few years ago, I started filling in a Christmas preparations note book for the next year, just after the end of each Christmas. This means that everything is still fresh in your mind.

 I include pages on decorations. Where they have been stored, where the Christmas tree stand is.

(Handmade Christmas card available at www.vintagevic.etsy.com)

I write a list of 'special' cards to prepare for people such as my husband, children, parents, brother and his family etc. Next I write a list of all the people that we, as a family received cards from that year, so that we don't forget anyone next time around. Then I write a list of all the people I wish to buy gifts for and leave a gap for notes. During the next 11 months, any ideas I have for great presents, I jot down for later use.

(Handmade card available at www.vintagevic.etsy.com)

Then I write a to do list. This is mine for this year,

1.   Book pantomime tickets

2.   Find out last posting dates

3.   Buy stamps

4.   Stock up logs/ coal for fire

5.   Get tree, candles, crackers, holly wreaths, tv guide, wrapping paper, sticky tape, ribbons, gift tags etc

6.   Wash and press Christmas table cloth, napkins etc

7.    Get Christmas crockery out of storage, wash and pack away other crockery.

8.    Clear storage space in cupboards, fridge and freezer for food

9.     Make time plan for cooking Christmas lunch

10.   Do baking and make any handmade gifts

11.   Make table centrepiece

12.   Check when rubbish and re-cycling collections are

13.   Prepare everyone's outfits for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day.

14.   Prepare thank you stationary

I'm sure I shall have to add to it as I go along, but it gives a general plan to work to.

(Vintage story cards available from www.vintagevic.etsy.com)

Next I write out my menus and from those my shopping lists for food and drink, throughout the festive season. 

The rest of my notebook I leave blank, so that I may make notes as I work through the tasks.

So, now that we are over half way through November, what should we be doing?

Well, obviously, if you are celebrating Thanksgiving then this takes priority right now. I am in England, where sadly, we do not follow this lovely tradition. So, here is my advice for things to get done now.

1.   Buy or make advent calendar.

2.   Check address book is up to date.

3.   Decide when to make or buy Christmas pudding and Christmas cake.

4.   Start buying or making Christmas cards. 

5.   Begin looking for gifts for people.

Advent Calendar

I am a huge fan of the on-line shopping community of Etsy and not just because my shop is on there!!

Take a look at some of these as an alternative to high street shops...

Make your own, by using a downloaded ten-plate purchased on-line from Scotland based Etsy shop Happythought,

CLICK HERE FOR Happythought...

Keep a countdown with this cute ceramic tile and marker, from Etsy. Maryland USA based ShadyLaneCeramics

Click here for ShadyLaneCeramics

I love this advent calender from London's '2d Scrumptious', who are based on Not On The High Street online shopping community...

CLICK HERE FOR 2d Scrumptious

There are of course lots of very nice chocolate filled versions in all of the High Street shops if that is what you prefer, including this one from Thornton's

CLICK HERE FOR THORNTON'S

Suggestions for Christmas cake decoration

(Taken from Your Home Magazine 2010)

CLICK HERE TO SEE MY PINTEREST BOARD OF CHRISTMAS CAKES, FOR MANY MORE SUGGESTIONS.

Christmas Cards

Obviously, your first stop should be my shop, Vintage Vic's! There you will find a large number of unique cards, handmade from the artwork of vintage cards and illustrations. (Not reproductions.) Also, unused vintage Christmas cards, vintage wrapping paper, decorations and gifts.

CLICK HERE FOR VINTAGE VIC'S ON ETSY

Take a look on Etsy for lots of 'make your own' Christmas card sets, such as this one from allsfairyvintage 

CLICK HERE FOR allsfairyvintage

Or try Not On The High Street On-Line shopping

CLICK HERE FOR BEAUTIFUL DAY SHOP ON NOT ON THE HIGH STREET

Once you have ticked that little list off, you will have made a good start. Put your feet up and have a nice cup of tea!

(Print available from marymillerveazie on Etsy  Click on link below)

CLICK HERE FOR MARYMILLERVEAZIE

If you have enjoyed this post, please join my site, by clicking the button on the left, further up the page. You will then be notified when my next post is added! Please feel free to leave a (polite!) message.

We've All Gone Deer Crazy This Christmas!

(Picture available from www.vintagevic.etsy.com)

This Christmas, (2012) everyone seems to have gone deer crazy! Reindeer that is. Every where you look there are deer. In particular, vintage deer, or vintage style at the very least. This makes Vintage Vic very happy. I love deer and always have. They just seem so gentle and are so very pretty. Their association to Christmas, based upon the deer that lead Santa's sleigh, gives them a special, almost magical quality. 

(Christmas card available from www.vintagevic.etsy.com)

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder (or Donna) and Blitzen are the names of the reindeer believed to pull Santa's sleigh. These names are based upon the 1823 poem, 'A Visit From St Nicholas' also known as 'The Night Before Christmas' believed to be by Clement Clarke Moore.

(Vintage card previously sold by Vintage Vic)

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

You notice there is no mention of Rudolph. 

Rudolph's story was originally written in verse by Robert L May for the Montgomery Ward chain of department stores in 1939, and published as a book to be given to children in the store at Christmas time.

Rudolph however, is probably the most famous reindeer. He is featured in books,

(Found on Etsy, in 1950s HouseWife shop)

Songs,

(Taken from You Tube. The Dapper Dans at Disney World.)

And lots of T.V. and films made for Christmas...

1948

(Taken from You Tube.)

1964

(Taken from You Tube)

This Christmas, Rudolph and all the reindeer are featuring greatly in celebrations.

Cath Kidston stores are featuring vintage style deer in their collection this year...

Click Here For Cath Kidston's Christmas shop

They are available in many other places too. I purchased this fabulous wreath from , KittyKatDance shop on Etsy.

Click Here For KittyKatDance Shop

I also purchased these wonderful Christmas gift tags, from MyCardCupboard on Etsy.

I am a keen user of Pinterest and have found some lovely pictures of vintage deer on their. Some of these are featured on my Boards. Take a look by clicking below...

Click Here To See My 'Vintage Vic Loves Christmas' Board

or

Click Here To See Vintage Vic's 'Vintage Deer (Not Just Bambi) board.

There are also deer popping up on Ebay in various forms. I spotted this sweet ornament a while ago.  I think it has since sold.

Not to be left behind, here at Vintage Vic's, I too am featuring reindeer in my Christmas Stock, but then I do every year. Christmas just isn't Christmas, in my vintage loving world, without Reindeer a plenty!

Click here for details of this ready to frame vintage picture, available from Vintage Vic's.

Click here for details of these and many other, handmade from vintage illustrations, greetings cards. Available from Vintage Vic's.

If you have enjoyed this post, please click to follow Vintage Vic's blog. For lots more vintage/handmade themed posts, amongst other things. Just click the link at the left of this page.