Show Me Christmas

Rooster Minstrel

The domestic chicken has a long history in the United States.  Chickens provided meat and eggs for the settlers, and they are still a big business for many farmers.  It is no wonder these fine-feathered friends are depicted and collected in many forms.  Roosters are more colorful than chickens and there are many species to choose from.  Bantam roosters are probably the most popular type of bird, primarily because their long plumage is very colorful and attractive.

The origin of Kauai’s chickens come from the original Polynesian settlers, who brought them as a food source.  1992’s Hurricane Iniki caused the roosters to be dispersed throughout the island.  Kauai is now home to thousand of wild chickens.  Wild roosters have often been known to disturb at very early hours with their crowing and are often seen just walking down the road.  A very unique experience to the islands of  Hawaii.

The American designer and artist, Abigail Pfeffer designed a colorfully dressed rooster strumming a musical instrument.  It is a hand blown glass ornament beautifully hand painted and created in Poland.  A truly unique ornament for the rooster collector!

The Beekeeper

Many have collected bears of all sorts for many years.  The teddy bear is a uniquely Amerian gift tht is over 100 years old.  The name “teddy” bear dates back to president Theodore Roosevelt.  A toy shop owner made a small stuffed bear and put it in her store window.  She sent one to Roosevelt and requested permission to call them “teddy’s bears”.  Roosevelt was delighted with the toy, and agreed to allow the name to be used.

In the next few years bears became something of a craze in American.  In 1906 Roosevelt even used the teddy bear as a moscot in his bid for re-election.  And the rest as they say is history!

Today, there are all kinds of uses for bears:  Romantic gifts, children’s toys and of course, Christmas ornaments.  Abigail Pfeffer, the American designer and artist has designed an unique beekeeper bear ornament.  It was hand blown and hand painted in Poland.  This mouth blown glass ornament is an unusually unique, beautifully detailed and truly elegant ornament.  Children and adults will love this ornament.  If you are a collector of bears, this is the ornament for you!

Puss-in-Boots

“Puss-in-Boots is a French fairy tale about a cat who uses trickery and deceit to gain power, wealth, and the hand of a princess in marriage for his penniless and low-born master.  “Puss-in-Boots has provided inspiration for composers, choreographers and other artists over the centuries.

It has also inspired Abigail Pfeffer an American designer and artist, who designs the most stunning and unusual Christmas ornaments. Abigail has developed an extraordinary collection of glass hand blown Christmas ornaments.   Her design of Puss-in-Boots was hand blown and exquisitly hand painted in Poland.  It is a most unusual collectible!

Rainbow Heart

Rainbows can be observed whenever there are water drops in the air and sunlight shining from behind a person on the ground.  The most spectacular rainbow displays happen when half of the sky is still dark with raining clouds and the observer is at a spot with clear sky in the direction of the sun. 

Rainbows can be caused by other forms of water than rain, including mist, spray and dew.  The mist from a waterfall may also result in a rainbow.  Rainbows may also form in the spray created by waves.  That’s why Hawaii with its many waterfalls and waves is often called the rainbow state.

I think it is fun at this time of the year, when I am often missing the glorious days by the beach or in the sun, to create a themed Christmas tree.  I love all things that remind me of the sun, sea and beach.  All of the rainbow ornaments that are so colorful and cheerful are perfect for that seaside themed Christmas tree.  You can also add shell, fish and sea animal ornaments as well.  Anything that reminds you of summer fun or vacation fun by the beach. 

A perfect addition to this tree is the rainbow heart ornament from the Abigail Collection.  It is a hand blown and hand painted glass ornament imported from Poland.  This colorful ornament is so cheerful it is sure to light up the holidays!

Alice

Alice in Wonderland is a novel written by Lewis Carroll.  It is the story of a bored little girl named Alice who goes looking for an adventure and falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of peculiar creatures.  The book was written in 1865 and has been so popular with children as well as adults to the point that it has never been out of print. 

In 2010 a movie starring Johnny Depp will return a 19-year old Alice  to the magical world from her childhood adventures.

This Christmas it might be fun to have an ‘Alice in Wonderland’  themed Christmas tree.  A mouth blown glass ornament of Alice from the Abigail Collection would be the perfect beginning to a wonderful collection.  This ornament is hand blown and hand painted in Poland.  The children in your family as well as the adults would love this tree.

Santa's Steed

As an avid Santa collector for many years, I find it difficult to find a truly different and unusual Santa to add each year to my collection.  This year I found an exceptional one.

You don’t see many star studded Santas riding a large white polar bear.  This Santa is hand blown glass from the American designer and artist Abigail Pfeffer.  Hand blown and hand painted in Poland.

This ornament is perfect for the young or young at heart!

Have you ever had the sensation of purchasing a great gift, and wanting to give it to the person right away instead of waiting for Christmas?  Well, sometimes you may be right in wanting to do so.  When it comes to Christmas gifts, there are several which are perfect for giving out a little early. Generally gifts which have a holiday or Christmas theme, such as handblown Christmas ornaments, will only be used one time a year, so it’s not right to wait until December 25th to give these out and then see them packed away a couple days later.

This theory also applies to clothing with a holiday or Christmas theme. Feel good about giving an early gift or two every year, it will make the person you’re awarding it to feel great, and also perhaps you’ll have a few holiday themed surprises waiting for you next year.

When Pigs Fly

A flying pig is a figure of speech.  The popular saying that something will happen “when pigs fly” means that the thing is an impossibility.  But for children, during this magical time of the year pigs might just fly. 

Chances are that pigs will never fly, but I do know that this is the most beautiful “when pigs fly” ornament.  It is from Abigail’s Collection and hand blown and hand painted imported from Poland.  I am positive that children will find this delightful on their Christmas tree.

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