Gayle’s View: Christmas–Early American Style

The occasion: A holiday luncheon hosted by Dianne Muyskens and Carol Kelly

The setting: The home of Carol and Jack Kelly

“I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year long.” –Tiny Tim, A Christmas Carol by Dickens

The quote from Tiny Tim is one of my favorites. I bought a rubber stamp years ago to stamp the saying on the envelopes of my holiday cards.

My heartstrings were tugged when I saw the small early primitive crutch tilted against Carol Kelly’s inviting front door. “Oh,” I thought, “Tiny Tim is here.”

Carol and Dianne are known for their gourmet cooking and creative entertaining……

On the left, Dianne, then Carol….

Carol has been a longtime collector (and at one time an antique dealer in partnership with Darwin Otto in their shop called ETC. on Sellwood Row) and her interest is in early Americana and folk art. Put this decor together with Christmas greens and it is most welcoming.

On the mantel are pewter candlesticks and a footed pewter dish containing berries, greens, pomegranates, cranberries and apples below a framed print of old-time Santas.

A mixture of antique Christmas ornaments and sentimental objects fill the tree……

Evidence of early American antiques are all over Carol’s house:

An early primitive portrait of three young girls…

A wall of antique mirrors…

A hooked rug of a deer created by Carol in the early manner…

A bottlebrush tree by early deer figures…

A tiny tree in a window with collectible ornaments…

Carol’s antiques have been purchased over a period of time. Some resources are: Stars Antiques Malls, Palmer/Wirfs Antique Shows, Brimfield Antique Market, Maine Antique Digest, Ebay and reputable antique shops all over the country.

Signing off and thanking Carol and Dianne for a lovely December afternoon.

–Gayle
Stars Antiques

Photos courtesy of Dianne Muyskens