Eat Eat

Well, we made it! Thanks to everyone for your wonderful comments and insights during this holiday brooch special. I had great fun doing it. I hope you have a lovely holiday, or day off if it isn't your thing. I plan to spend the day sleeping. Merry Christmas Everybody

I have owned the Donald Duck on skis since I was a small child. While not strictly a Christmas brooch, that was when I received it. Santa was purchased a few years ago at Goodwill.   This snowflake is very delicate made of a thin, tin-like metal. As it bends easily, I tend to wear it on hats, or places where it is unlikely to get bumped by a shoulderbag or coat.

 I have a few brooches today as time is running out before Christmas.  This tree sat in my repair pile for two years until I finally glued the red bead back on. I have this identical reindeer in white. We are in the home stretch now. I need to do a final photo with all of the brooches, which might prove challenging.

Lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with flu  you. I love all the details on this brooch from the hats on the riders to the holly on the sleigh. No markings, but it looks suspiciously like the sort of thing I'd buy at Woolworths in the 70's. I miss Woolworths at Christmas the most. I don't remember where this dove came from. And it wouldn't be Christmas without a few bows to wrap presents. See you tomorrow.

Today's brooch proves wrong the rule against wearing silver and gold together. No markings on this little tree.

 Today I have a cluster of trees. Large tree in the centre is Tancer, tree on the right bottom is Gerry's. My favourite of the group is the small tree on the upper right.

Vintage, Unsigned, No idea when it is from. It has a 60's feel to me, but that's not based on anything other than gut-feeling. Great colour on this one-I do love green.

For me? Oh, you shouldn't  have. Vintage, no markings. Heavy little brooch with nice details.

Can't do a feature on Christmas brooches without a poinsettia. This enamel one isn't terribly old, as evidenced by the near-perfect condition. I remember buying it retail but I am at a loss for when or where. 80's? 90s? All one blur I'm afraid. I have matching earrings somewhere but haven't been able to lay my hands on them (of course I can't find them-they will turn up in June!) but I suppose that's typical. No markings on this one.

A cheerful little Modernist-looking tree. No markings. I love how the top is tilted just a bit-gives it a whimsical look. That was deliberate as far as I can tell as the brooch does not appear bent. I bought the fish for Christmas eve today (frozen). As it is difficult making seven different fish dishes I cheat a bit and make a paella with fish and fava beans (and if I'm feeling fancy, some veggie sausages). I make my own sofrito and this year I have tomatoes from my garden roasted and frozen for it. I buy seven different small-portion frozen fish and we'll still have leftovers for a few days (I don't eat it). As I only make this once a year (don't want to splash out on expensive rice everyday) it is typically enjoyed (I've never actually ruined it, but I've come close to charring the bottom beyond repair). Anyway, as I was purchasing my fish I realised just how close Christmas is, and that Danny's Birthday is Wednesday. Yikes! I think it might make sense to...

Today I have another Tancer II brooch from the 70's. It is a fairly recent purchase, and I haven't had an opportunity to wear it yet. I think it would look nice on a high-collared blouse. 

A trio of cheerful reindeer (too much eggnog?) to brighten an outfit. Almost feel obligated to wear them with a gaudy holiday sweater. Signed "JJ" Almost reminds me of Alvin and the Chimpmunks.

I must say, I've enjoyed looking at the beautiful snowy scenes from the American south and across the Atlantic in Europe. I don't exactly envy it, as I know we'll have our own soon enough, but I can't help thinking these outfit posts would look better with a bit of snow. We've been warm, we've been cold...sort of like me since the onset of menopause??. Outfit Particulars: Vintage polyester dress-Thrift World (I think) Brooches-both Goodwill Earrings-Can't remember-at least 20 years old) Headband-K Mart Boots-K Mart Tights-Walgreen's Handbag-Sequels Apologies for the phone-camera photos. I need to get more comfortable with the new camera before I use it for blog photos. Meantime, enjoy my blurry face-I know I do (wrinkles show less)!  I know for a fact this outfit would look better with snow, but there wasn't any. Instead, we went to the semi-abandoned mall in Council Bluffs, Iowa to use their shitty decorations as backdrops. I say, "Shitty Decor...

 A pair of Christmas trees. Unsigned, no idea when they are from though they scream late 80's/early 90's to me-but that's just a guess. I was complaining on Instagram that I don't have a Chanukah sweater or any brooches. Radostin  came up with an idea, and inspired,  I grabbed one of Danny's dreidels and made my own brooch. Thanks, Radostin! Tonight is the first night of Chanukah. I baked some kichels  (puffy egg biscuits/cookies) and I'll fry potato pancakes because if I didn't, there would be two very disappointed fellas. I can't stand them (the potatoes. The fellas are still more or less tolerable??), or the smell of frying fat, but once a year I'll get out the heavy cast iron pan and fry a batch. I have a not-so-secret ingredient in mine-a grated carrot. Sometimes I use half an apple as well. Anyway, a happy Chanukah to those that celebrate.

A traditional looking rhinestone Christmas tree. Unsigned, probably 70's or 80's. Can't remember (give me a break, I'm old ??). Omigosh, we're getting closer! I'll need to start posting in multiples if we're going to make it by Christmas.

Looking a bit worse for wear this two part brooch is clearly ready to be repaired or retired. I will get around to fixing it someday. Probably. No markings, 1970's.

I used to know the story with this one but I've forgotten and Google isn't being helpful. It is a replica of something in the V&A. No idea what . Anyway, not specifically a Christmas brooch, but this is the time of year I wear it.

Vintage rhinestone tree. Probably 60's. No markings. Larger size at 7 cm.

And a partridge in a pear tree.  This was a recent acquisition. Vintage, made by Tancer II. These sell for a fair penny online. I paid $3.99 without knowing much about it. I'm always drawn to brooches with dangling or moving parts-and how cute is that pear?

I don't remember buying this wreath brooch, but I've had it so long I don't remember ever not  having it. 60's? 70's? Ah hell, I can't remember. No markings to offer clues either.