Thanksgiving 2016

  Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American friends!  

Thanksgiving has come and gone in Canada. We celebrate it on the second Monday of October, this year it was on October 10.

Here are pictures of this year's Thanksgiving display.

This photo shows the entire display. I don't own a lot of Thanksgiving items so I have stretched the collection by adding in anything autumnal.

All of the background material goes up first and this year I wanted to have an easy transition into the Hallowe'en display so the needs for Hallowe'en were also being considered. A mix of various faux autumn leaves went up and over the mantle mirror. In with the faux leaves were added some bare branches that I had made several years ago. The colours of the trees in and around Victoria were my inspiration for the abundance of faux foliage that were used.

Here is a close-up of the left side of the mantle. The turkeys, pheasants, and roosters, are almost hidden in the foliage.

This scarecrow was made about 30 years ago for our oldest boys scarecrow birthday party, two place card holders from the party are on the scarecrows left beside the dill pickle horn that he is holding. The crepe paper zinnias are vintage, possibly 1950's. Gurley candles stand beside turkey, grouse, and chicken salt and pepper shakers.

The rest of the mantle is filled with more turkeys, chickens, pheasants, ducks, squirrels, I love squirrels, and acorn related items, I love oak trees.

Here is a look at the display below the mantle. The vintage stools add interesting height variations to the display.

The large stool features a wood carving by a French Canadian sculptor that my parents bought in the 1970s I believe. That large ceramic turkey is also among my favourite Thanksgiving items. A large plaster plaque with a horn of plenty and a raised inscription saying, "GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD", is in behind the farmer and his turkey.

Salt and pepper shakers, turkey florist vases, and a turkey cookie cutter are on the small green stool.

My collection of Thanksgiving postcards are in a large plastic fruit dish made in England. The dish is a large oak leaf with acorns that mimics a hand carved wooden dish, it is quite beautiful.

These earlier blog posts here, here, here, and here, show most of the antique Thanksgiving postcards.

On the mantle ledge in behind the wooden carving of the farmer with his scythe are some nut cups, two Gurley candles, and two squirrel nodders. The small squirrel nodder is an early plastic while the larger squirrel is composition made in Japan. He has a rabbit fur tale that is a little tatty, but he is delightful none the less.

This last picture shows a group of squirrels on top of the tall green florist vase. On top of the fireplace screen and in front of it are various paper table cloths, seals, and other paper items.

Don't forget, everything in my Etsy shop from November 24 - 28 is 50% off. Spend a minimum of $25 and get 50% off of your purchase at checkout, shipping is not included in the discount.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

It's Christmas Eve, all of your shopping is finished...

I hope you have your turkey out and thawed if it was frozen...

Santa is on his way, check his journey here...

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!

This years Thanksgiving display

Here is my Thanksgiving display as promised. I didn't have very much time to put it up this year so it is a bare bones display. Trish said that next year it should go up mid September so that we can enjoy it longer; I agree.

I take a very broad approach to Thanksgiving collectables. We do not get the wonderful turkey candy containers and the other old items here in Victoria. Thanksgiving is a celebration of the bounty of the harvest and thanking God for His provision so I include farm related items, squirrels because I like them, autumn leaves, antique and vintage jugs and bowls in seasonal colours, old stools for risers, nuts such as acorns and walnuts.

My display for Thanksgiving harkens back to an earlier time of working on the farm and working in the kitchen. It is a backdrop to remind us that times haven't changed at all, the process to harvest may be different but it is still harvesting the food and preparing it in the kitchen.

Most of these items were bought 10 to 15 years ago. I don't see much of the old stuff at the Sally Ann any more. Enjoy having a look at this bare bones display... next year will be bigger and better!

 I enjoy this view from the armchair.

This Year's Front Door Urn and Thanksgiving Mantle

Here we are again almost at the end of another year. I know it seems early to say this but just watch how fast the year will go ripping by! It doesn't seem all that long ago that I was at last year's Hallowe'en and Vine show and that has come and gone already.

Here is what I have done to decorate the house for this year's Thanksgiving. Yep, Thanksgiving comes early in Canada, two weeks or so before Hallowe'en. I will be putting up some Hallowe'en decorations this next week.

I love decorating the urn by our front door. I do an autumn arrangement that does double duty for Thanksgiving and Hallowe'en. I leave it up until the middle of November and then do a winter/Christmas arrangement.

As the days go by we add any squash and pumpkins that we buy. We also take out squash to eat as well so it is always looking slightly different. I have already added two more squash since photographing this the other day.

Here is a full picture of the mantle. We don't have a lot of space to display things so it is cheek to jowl tight for everything on the mantle.

Click on the images for a closer look at the items on display.

I decided to drape an old embroidered rayon bedspread on the mantle, swag it back with some 8 inch green bullion fringe and some 2 inch bullion fringe. The corn husk garland swoops down and in behind the folds of fabric. The rest of the fabric hangs down at the back in behind the hen on the ledge.

I added an old wooden stool on the side to create more display space but also to visually add another level to link the hearth to the ledge above.

The scarecrow was made for our oldest boy's 10th? birthday, it was part of the table decoration. By his left arm just above the ceramic turkey wearing a Pilgrim hat you can see two small scarecrows that are tipped over, these were some of the place card holders that I made. The scarecrow was inspired by a scarecrow in the Rupert Children's Annuals, his name was Oddmedod.

I love Autumn, it is possibly my favourite time of the year. I love Thanksgiving as well, I suppose it sums up the season in one holiday.

My computer is telling me "Autumn", unless the context is poetic consider 'autumn' instead of 'Autumn'. I cannot help it I like Autumn with a capitol "A" I do feel very poetic about this time of year. It influences the colour and style of the Hallowe'en items that I create as well but that is another post for another day.

I picked up that large ceramic turkey 10 or more years ago for $25.00, he is a beauty.

I added the lights because it is so dark at night along the mantle. I also tuck small tea lights in behind the display to add a bit more light.

I love that large wood carving of a farmer, my parents bought it many years ago in Quebec I believe. The little pig going to market with a basket in each arm and the farmer Peter Pumpkin I felt were appropriate as well even though they are not exactly Thanksgiving.

The green pickle on the white ledge is a working party horn. The silver item beside it is an ice cream mould in the shape of a pumpkin.

I couldn't find my Thanksgiving postcards this year, they are tucked away somewhere to be discovered next year.

Check out these links to see a few of the postcards I have here, here, here, here, and here.

We don't get a lot of composition holiday items on the West Coast of BC so I collected salt and pepper shakers with a veggie theme, squirrels of any sort (I like squirrels), acorns and oak items (I like oak trees), and poultry of various sorts. It all comes together and looks very seasonal and Thanksgiving-ish.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

Happy (American) Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is celebrated in Canada on the second Monday in October and the U.S. celebrates it on the third Thursday in November. Here are a group of Thanksgiving postcards that were specifically meant for the American market.

This turkey's tail becomes the frame for a painting of the landing of the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock.

A cute Pilgrim boy and girl carry baskets laden with the bounty of field and garden.

Nothing symbolizes Thanksgiving more than a pilgrim boy and a turkey.

The turkey on this postcard is surrounded by God's bounty that also includes bananas and watermelon.

A turkey, apples, plums, corn, a chrysanthemum all symbols of the harvest.

This card shows the tom turkey with his mate surrounded by more seasonal produce.

I love the liberties that designers take. This turkey is perched on the bunting without the least bit of sag in the fabric.

Another image of the turkey in a field surrounded by seasonal produce. A pineapple, the symbol for hospitality is also pictured with the produce.

A very straight forward patriotic Thanksgiving postcard, just a turkey and the flag.

I love the panoramic autumn view of the farm with the corn standing in field. All of this is viewed from beneath a tree in beautiful autumn foliage.

The image on these two postcards is the same. The old image at the top has been reworked and updated to produce the more modern version below.

 Happy Thanksgiving 

 to all of my American friends. 

 Enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner. 

Baby Phoenix

Things are a little topsy-turvy around here, so here is a very quick update. We are now grand parents!

Baby Phoenix Lara Bentham arrived yesterday morning. There is nothing like a baby to change the direction of whatever is going on. I was going to post the new candy container ornaments yesterday and that became unimportant. I will do that tomorrow, hopefully.

Here is another sneak peek.