Welcome to a little Christmas tour at my home this holiday season.
The magic of Christmas really got me this year, and I was deeply inspired to pull out all of my old collectibles.
If you have not seen me in a while, that is why.
I searched through every workshop, shed and closet at both homes to bring all my Christmas treasures out this season.
In the interim, I did a lot of organizing and have pretty much been busy every day since a couple weeks before Thanksgiving.
I thought it was time to pull everything together, and as I did, my Christmas heart just expanded more and more.
Memories of childhood and all the dreams of Toyland flooded me with nostalgia.
I decided to fill the bottom of my tree with many of my Christmas collectibles that I have been collecting for a lifetime.
I am normally all about a pink Christmas, however, this year I felt a calling to times gone by and I craved hints of red satin and velvet.
As you know, I love my smaller tree (6ft.) that I flocked myself in 2009 I think.
It has a special place in my heart, so I still use it to this day.
I have loved every second of my carousel turning round and round under the tree...
And all my cuties sandwiched together.
I never want to take this down now.
I feel like I'm living in an elf's workshop.
I can't wait to share some other surprises I have for you in a couple of days.
I ribboned everything this year.
From horses to tree branches, to candelabras.
Everyone got a ribbon.
I just sink into a cozy spot and warm up by the fire.
I cannot begin to describe the feeling I have in my soul.
It's almost like I'm living out my childhood dreams.
I even took a bunch of my old dollhouses out of our workshop at the country house.
I already have a handful set-up that I keep forgetting to share, but I brought out others that were calling my name.
I light candles and stay up until the wee hours, just moving tiny things around my dioramas and dollhouses.
I promise to share a bunch more in the coming days.
I meant to be here 2 weeks ago, but with the amount of organizing and digging I've been doing, then setting up everything pretty in the time for my birthday last week, time is the one thing I have not had much of.
Although, now it is time to enjoy.
The next 10 days will be all about enjoying and sharing.
And then on the 25th begins the actual 12 days of Christmas.
I was so tickled when I found my very heavy cast iron train, which was covered in dust, inside one of the dollhouses I have not yet taken out of the workshop.
You see, I have 2 large dollhouses and one 10 ft. long dollhouse set-up all the time at house 2, but there were half a dozen others in storage at the country house.
My whole family has dollhouses and renovates them.
I can't wait to share my mom's dollhouses with you in a couple of weeks.
Anywho, I digress...
What I was saying is that, I have greatly enjoyed uncovering and rediscovering my treasures.
I have had fun mixing old and newer treasures together.
I think from now on all my Christmases will be about Toyland and nostalgia.
I realize that time is of the essence, and if I want to enjoy all these silly wonderful things, now is the time.
And so, all the Santa's and rocking horses and elves have come together...
With favorite ornaments and all manner of characters.
And fairy tales and storybooks a plenty in the evenings.
The red velvet ribbons really make things feel Christmasy.
The funniest story is that, for years I have had some rolls of thick red silk ribbon hanging around, as seen on the tree bow below.
They are always in my way, because I had sort of banished red from my life.
But when I decided to add red this year, I went hunting for them, and where I had about 10, I could only find 3.
So now, I am keeping my eyes open for the others.
That's why it's a good idea to be organized and not get rid of things that are useful.
The banished red ribbon has now taken center stage.
Funny how that happens.
Every morsel of this tree speaks to little Vanessa.
I truly am completely tickled by it.
Funny enough, I found a photo of myself the other day at 5 years old, playing with a bundle of toys.
I thought to myself, this Christmas is for you little Vanessa.
She'd be sooooo delighted to see all of this.
I remember standing outside the window of Geppetto's toy store as a child and just marveling and wishing to live in the entire vignette.
I suppose that explains a lot about who I am today, haha!
Lover of whimsy and collector of memories.
My child heart is still burning bright as ever.
Still believing and dreaming...
I never really outgrew that, but I think it is also partly hereditary.
My mom and sister both keep the love of dollhouses and whimsical collectibles burning bright.
And even my dad delights in the magic of it all and helps with my mom's dollhouse renovations.
They were just here for my birthday party (December 11th), that I also dubbed as a family Christmas party.
Both my mom and my dad walked around peeking at little details and swooning.
I love that about them.
When I was decorating, I did it a bit for them as well, because I knew they would marvel at it with their fanciful hearts.
I even found my sweet Mother Goose in an old suitcase.
I swooned and hugged her tight because I had been looking for her forever.
So, this is where you will find me, playing under the Christmas tree with...
Mister Theodore Laurence, who waits for packages at the front door.
My dear Teddy, how I love thee.
The most rambunctious loveable boy ever.
Plays with toys all day long and destroyed his BarkBox delivery yesterday, whilst I spent 14 hours editing these photos to share with you :-)
So, choose a seat and cozy up.
Stay a little while for fairy tales and any hot drink you desire.
It's a child's old world Christmas ambience this year, that's for certain.
I want to play with toys and tiny things all day long.
I have a big Ferris wheel too, but I couldn't fit it under the tree.
Although, I think I will find a space for it after all.
I hope you have enjoyed your visit to A Fanciful Twist...
Through the Secret Keyhole, at Christmas.
I have many more delights to share with you over the next few days.
I cannot wait to photograph and share the next post with you.
I hope to return in two days.
I really am deep in the spirit of Christmas this year.
I loved setting up my antique nativity and hanging ribbons everywhere.
This weekend I will bake gingerbread for certain.
The weather is chilly, the fire is warm.
There are still pumpkins growing in the garden, but the vines are starting to dry.
The leaves have finally turned yellow and crimson on certain trees.
I stay up late wrapping little gifts and writing heartfelt notes.
All the while, listening to the carousel go round and round under the tree.
I do hope you are well in your neck of the woods, and that my virtual letter and photos find you well.
I cannot wait to meet up with you again here in a couple of days.
See you very soon!
Love,
Vanessa
