Alabama Stone Cottage Christmas

An updated look at Allison’s personal collection of new and cherished Christmas décor.

Since building our lakeside cottage I’ve made a conscious effort to bring a touch of the outdoors inside. Christmastime is no exception.  By chance, I recently ran across a holiday collection of Christmas decor in Lowe’s featuring oversized champagne-color pinecone tree ornaments with a mercury glass look, perfect for our home in the woods.

Mr. Shops loves the way the six-inch tall pinecones “light up,” almost from within, highlighting the softly glittered edges.  Drop-shaped ornaments in champagne, gold, chocolate and copper hang along side laser-cut wood snowflakes.  The new ornaments are all shatterproof, ideal with our small herd of pets and young grandchildren.

Here is a photograph of our tree a few years ago.  I decided to skip the copper color ribbon, but continued using the French script fabric tree skirt and large metal angel votive for the tree topper.  Our Christmas mantel was featured after I purchased vintage sock stretchers from etsy shops to use in in lieu of traditional stockings.  I love their whimsical touch.

Santas from the Lynn Haney Collection have been a holiday tradition for almost twenty years. Artisans hand paint faces cast from original clay molds. Wigs and beards are made with natural fibers, wool and mohair. Detailed costuming in velvet, silk, wool and brocades are finished with European braids, fur and trim. Exquisitely detailed accessories including decorated trees, baskets and toys give each Santa a personality.  I have collected three. Santa of White Woods was my first purchase and is by far my favorite. The detailing of his off-white felt coat, woven baskets, paper star and sweet face always bring smiles to our holiday guests.  A birch bark and feather tree adds to the snowy scene.

Our grandson’s favorite is Candy Cane Santa, holding a puppy and kitten along with holiday books and a small decorated tree.  I love the soft curls of his beard.  He keeps watch from the kitchen island, beneath a leaning Charlie Brown-style Christmas tree bearing painted wooden ornaments that decorated our trees when our children were young.

The tree branches also hold a collection of papier mâché and handmade ornaments that were given to us as a wedding present — Mr. Shops and I were married on the day after Christmas.

Let It Snow Santa resides in the breakfast room next to a green feather tree.  His quilted coat features snowmen against a dark blue sky with falling snow.  Santa holds a soft needle pine tree with a small red bird in one arm, a snowman and sled in the other, and a burlap bag of toys tossed over his shoulder.

My only venture into the crazy world known as Black Friday was two decades ago, to specifically purchase this nativity.  It is a cherished Christmas decor tradition.  Our grandson was delighted when he recently discovered the manger not only has a “horse” but also plays music.  Old and new favorites to share with our loved ones this holiday season and beyond, creating fond Christmas décor memories for everyone.

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