Christmas Ornaments

Well now that it's November, we're several weeks into the Christmas Season. Christmas means Christmas trees and Christmas trees mean ornaments. I find Christmas ornaments to be an intensely personal set of objects, even the choice to buy whatever bulk assortments of plastic balls Walmart or Target may be offering in a given year, the option of such generic, mass produced ornamentation is an interesting personal choice in and of its self.

To me, Christmas ornaments have the same heirloom potential as a piece of jewelry. Most of us made ornaments in elementary school, which our parents dutifully hung on the tree. Many of you have probably repeated that tradition with your own children. My mom, along with other relatives, gave my brother and I ornaments annually, since we were kids. (I think she may have finally ended this tradition, now that we're both well into adulthood, and also since she realized neither of us is in a hurry to get our tubs of ornaments out of her house.) My dad was an avid train fanatic, and over the years, was gifted enough train themed ornaments to fill their own decent sized tree. Out of all his train memorabilia, these ornaments are one of the main things we're unwilling to part with.

So what makes a good ornament? Particularly what makes a good handmade ornament? In undergrad, we held contests with prizes every year to challenge people to make ornaments, and always struggled with an idea. I don't think I ever participated. Since then, my ideas have run to the easily produced, and marketable. I can't say I'm proud of my North Carolina state ornaments, but I can say that I have bills to pay.

Being in need of two wedding gifts this month (surprise, they're getting handmade ornaments), as well as preparing for a local holiday sale has got me thinking more and more about Christmas ornaments. Again, what makes them "good"? What makes them heirloom material? And mostly, what makes them sellable? Sarah Westermark has created some ornaments that I absolutely love in the way I wish the design was my own. They're relatively simple, elegant, and definitely festive. It's got me curious about other SNAG member's approach to ornaments. Production? One of a kind? Labor intensive, or stamped out? Or do you even bother at all? Do you dedicate ANY of your holiday inventory to ornaments? Is this an object you struggle with, like myself?So how 'bout it folks? Who's making ornaments? Who hates making ornaments? What's the best design you've ever seen? What's you best advice for those of us trying to make a few extra dollars off ornaments? Would love to hear your thoughts!