♫ ♪ O Kitschmas tree! O Kitschmas tree!

Today officially felt festive, transported back in time to being a kid with "The Never Ending Story" on ITV and pretty much glued to the films that followed, preparations for Sunday giving the living room a blitz, tidying crafty goodies and such. Even time to nibble a festive biccy or two and edit snaps of our Christmas tree.

To say we didn't love kitsch and vintage decorations would be a fib. Collected throughout the years and the introduction of new goodies the tree seems to take on a life of it's own, full of characters and creatures. I didn't realise just how many snowmen and angels guarded the tree. 

I think this year I bought one of the kitschest decorations I've bought in a long time, in memory of our Yorkshire Terriers to. Fluff and beaded detailing for the dress I couldn't resist the glass Yorkie decoration from Fenwicks, I really loved a juke box decoration to, but was finally tempted by a glass toadstool. I was surprised the Yorkie was about £3.95 - £4.95 I think, later discovering it was £6.95 in Paperchase.

Discovered last year: Two part Russian doll dec's from Accessorize, along with house dec from B&Q & gingerbread man from Pound Stretcher.

One of our oldest decorations from when I was a child, the angel I believe is meant to hold a candle, can't quite believe candles were used to decorate trees in Victorian times - match anyone?. 

Glass baubles: remind me of Christmases gone by to, although the amount of our vintage glass baubles have dwindled over the years, adore the vibrant colours and shapes.

Snuck Hello Kitty chocolate baubles on the tree to - they have all been counted and their will be daily investigations of said baubles for anyone tempted for a nibble - you know who you are! ;)

Each year I love to create decorations for the shop, but always forget to keep a few for our tree, this year this little owl flew into our collection. 

A reindeer and his hoodie, thankfully without a ban from shopping centres. And it wouldn't be Christmas without the nativity.

Another oldie from my childhood, now we know what Santa does after Christmas day - Play tennis, I bet Rudolf cheats ;)

Gingerbread folk always tempt me, I don't know why, maybe it's the total sweetness both nibbled and decorative :) the gingerbread house was a lovely edition from a dear friend, I thought it would look cute paired up. 

A close favourite of the festive season has to be "The Snowman" I have to confess I have been know to fly the mini snowman around the room whilst singing "Walking in the air"...and moving on lol. The larger snowman I rescued from a car boot, in need for some TLC of the bath variety he came up practically like new for a bargain of 50 pence I think it was.

You'll have to excuse the mess, quick snap the other night when the tree was finally up. Decided to fiddle with the camera settings, I think the second pic looks more like viewing the tree after a tipple.

These pic's I have called contemporary Christmas tree aka more camera fiddling trickery.

Throughout the bay I have found treats for the family, but just in case they are spying, other treats discovered recently further a field are two lovely tins discovered in TKMaxx. The temptation of the gingerbread striked again - snapped up for £5.99 with chocolate chip cookies inside. 

The stocking I discovered at Boundary Mills, although it was a pound our two cheaper in Fenwicks, but I had already bought it. The two sweet houses were a charity shop discovery, the pair for £1.50. I had hoped to use them for the shop as display, but they have came in useful for decoration at home. 

What is your Christmas tree theme this year? maybe a different colour scheme each year, or treasurer of decorations collected over the years to. We love hearing your festive traditions.

If you didn't know already we have entered The Best Dressed Window competition as part of a North Tyneside project for local businesses.
That's not only, their is also a chance to WIN a pair of tickets for one lucky winner for a performance of your choice at the Whitley Bay Playhouse. 

I thoroughly enjoyed creating the displays for the Christmas window, I think my favourite is Daisy the mouse, she was such fun to create along with Gingerbread Elvis and his fans.

If you would like to have a peek at our window pics - take a peek here. Any votes are truly appreciated - good luck & thank you.
It's lovely to see Whitley Bay decorated, shop windows and street decorations, I especially love the trees decorated of St. Paul's, I keep meaning to take photos each year, but I never get the chance. 
Well just in case this is our last blog post of the festive season - we would like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year.

Thank you for your custom in 2011 - here's to 2012.

H

x

{Inspired - Christmas} New blog post

For the past few months I have been moon lighting as an elf, burning the midnight oil creating Christmas decorations for the shop and leaving trails of glitter and painty finger prints - oops ;). 
Theirs nothing we love more then vintage & kitschy Christmas decorations and graphics, notably a big influence upon our Christmas range. I really do hope you will love it, I'm still undecided about a batch of felt birds I have created, very kitschy - maybe I can post and you can tell me what you think?. 
Rustled up the above montage, proving hard not to get carried away with so many wonderfully influencing, inspirational and generally adored vintage and kitschy ideas whirling around. 


Which is your favourite inspiration for Christmas? Shabby chic, vintage, kitsch, retro, traditional or contemporary? 


I was hoping to introduce our Christmas goodies this week, but realistically it will be next week pinkies crossed - shall keep you posted.


H
x

~:Friday Finds:~ Yeah baby yeah! retro blog post.

Friday seems to have sneaked up again hasn't it?, i'm going to keep track of time using a new discovery. Winding this clock up, I've been transported back to the 1960's.

I just happened to spot this on the way home via the side window of the NTDF (North Tyneside Disability Forum) Charity shop, Mam came to the rescue and bought it the next day for the bargain of a pound, but to be honest I had totally forgotten, i'm glad she remembered. 

A funky late 60's alarm clock. I was drawn to the colour, my favourite, turquoise blue, and it's super groovy to boot lol, with a yellow marbled patternation within the plastic casing. Still working, but I think I shall pass on using it as an alarm clock, imagine wrestling with that at the crack of dawn :D. It reminds me of the circular TV's, would love to have one to.

 Sticking with the retro vibe I wanted to share this advert for Miners make-up, it was actually the girls top that caught my eye though. Forget waking up with panda eyes, what about a panda top?

The above advert is from Mirabelle magazine June 20th 1970.

I really like the dress they have chosen for the model for the front cover.

It's interesting to reflect back with these magazines, one article I'll post on another day is how, from the 1970's they thought the year 2000 would be like. It's hilarious, we had a good chuckle. And being a fan of all illustration, the illustrated stories are fantastic to.

Which are your favourite decades? 

Friday Finds - Hello Sailor!

Hello everyone

I can't believe this is our first blog post of the new year, January is full steam ahead already, I had planned to post pics of Christmas etc. Not only is Friday a day for following on twitter (you can follow us to - Jamboreetweetie) but, hopefully a day to share a love of vintage in the form of Friday finds, sharing a love of collecting and inspiration.

I found this sailor money box over the summer at a carboot, officially he is the first guy in my clan of girly figures, or Knick Knack gals as I call them, if he could speak, I don't think he would be complaining though.

It's hard to put a date to him, he as a feeling of 50's-60's, but  he could be 80's made I think. If you have one, or any info I'd love to know more :D

I just happened to be on Etsy and spotted the same sailor boy, and thanks to Marion, creator of lovely outfits for Blythe dolls and Ddung dolls (etsy shop - My little doll outfits  a new area of collecting for myself - Blythe dolls etc, but thats whole other story) for information of her sailor boy, which turned out to be an egg cup, also in the collection, a poiliceman design to. It's got me thinking how many objects this design evolved into. I'm now on a mission to find more.

How cute is this outfit, made by Marion for a Ddung doll? perfect for Whitley Bay :)

If you would like to join us for Friday finds, we would love to have your images join the collection. Whether it be a fab find, a treasured part of your collection, be it vintage or modern send us a tweet, or drop us a line to Jamboreebay@yahoo.co.uk.

Have a great weekend, and if you out looking for finds, have a rummage for us. Pinkies crossed for an excellent find for your collection.

Jamboree

x

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - New blog post

Today had to be one of the coldest days, thank goodness for hot chocolate, but it is another drink that comes to mind for the festive period - Coke. Once that advert is on TV - 1..2...3 Holiday's are coming! (Saw it last night) you know that Christmas is on it's way, Mrs Claus has brought out Santa's red classic coat, and I hope Mrs Claus doesn't mind me saying, but we have Coke to possibly thank for that to. Or do we? An article from December 2008 shed's more light onto the subject.

        It is a commonly believed myth that Santa Claus wears red and white because of a Coca-Cola ad campaign. This is only partially true, however. The character had been portrayed in his distinctive colours since well before the end of the 19th century, most famously by the Harper's Weekly cartoonist Thomas Nast. Other depictions of Father Christmas had portrayed him in other colours, but by the 20s, the red-and-white version had become the accepted version. But this is not to underplay the importance of the iconic Coca-Cola Christmas campaigns. At the beginning of the 30s, the company was looking to boost its sales in the slow winter months, and turned to the illustrator Haddon Sundblom. He created a series of memorable caricatures, which associated a ruddy-cheeked, portly, red-and-white Santa with the soft drink. The campaign helped establish Santa Claus as a ubiquitous seasonal figure at a time when the festival was starting to turn into the commercial celebration it has become. Although Coke did not invent him, in a world before TV, it was Haddon’s illustrations that helped Santa to become one of the most famous men in the world. 

For more classic Coke adverts check out this link. (Image source)

One of my favourite Christmas design books is by Taschan, I enjoy looking at it every Christmas and being inspired. A lovely collection of American vintage Christmas graphics, from adverts to greetings cards - travelling through Christmas from the late 1800's to the early 1960's.

Couldn't resist posting some vintage greetings I've spotted.

Source: Christmas files  which have a great selection of Vintage greeting card images.

That's one cheeky Gingerbread man! (source)

After Gingerbread people, cute vintage snowmen have to be another favourite.

Do you love vintage, kitsch, traditional or contemporary Christmas?