In The Christmas Heirloom novella collection, all four of the stories are linked by an heirloom “Luckenbooth” brooch (a traditional Scottish love token) that’s passed from mother to daughter through the generations. In the novellas, we also describe an embroidered brooch bag, stitched with a bouquet of lavender on one side and the names of the women who owned the brooch on the other. Kristi Ann Hunter’s mom brought the brooch bag to life for us!
Because of The Christmas Heirloom collection, I recently asked readers if they owned any Christmas heirlooms. They did! I’m delighted to share their pictures and stories in today’s post.
I’ll begin with my own Christmas heirloom. When I was small, my mom made a felt Christmas calendar. Each day, we took turns sticking the festive designs onto our calendar. Of all the Christmas decorations in our home, I remember that calendar the most fondly.
A few years ago, my mom sat down and made three more felt calendars — all replicas of the first — one for each of her daughters. Below is a picture of my calendar. I cherish it because it’s so nostalgic! Each piece reminds me of my childhood.
Now on to your heirlooms!
The brooch on this badge was gifted to me this Christmas season! My husband’s aunt sent it to me. It belonged to his late grandmother and she wanted me to have it since we were married eight years ago on her birthday (Dec. 11th). I put it on my work badge for the Christmas season and love it! It’s been a great talking point with the little ones I help take care of, and they’re always excited to see it and make the little bell jingle.
Bekah Koch
I never met my great-grandmother, but I’m named after her, and I tend to love anything connected to her. So, a few years ago, when my grandma was going through a few things (she’s not very sentimental) she gave us a box of Christmas decorations my great-grandma had hand painted. One of which was a nativity. I never knew she was artistic or crafty, but it seems to me that all the women in that line have a creative bent… her, my grandma, my mom, myself. I love it.
Emily Rose Bergstrom
Cross stitch stocking my mother made…a treasure!
Gina McRae
My grandma made this and had it hanging in her house for years. When she passed away, I got it and now I hang it in my house.
Janet Gangwer
I don’t have any heirlooms handed down but I have created the tradition in my own family. I make the Christmas ornaments myself from fabric and we all have our own personalized ornament (or in some cases, several) for the tree. I add to them as our family grows. I do for my siblings and their families, too. I also include ones for our loved ones no longer with us. I have been doing this for many years and I have a huge range of ornaments that I make. These in the picture are from my Peter Rabbit keepsake collection.
Liz Couper
The oldest ornament on my tree is the one I made when I was in kindergarten. My mom kept it and give it to me after I got married.
Theresa Kitchen
Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway associated with this post. The two winners of The Christmas Heirloom are: Vivian Furbay and Sarah Evankovich. Congratulations!
December Notes
- The ebook of my recent novel, Falling for You, is on sale during the month of December for $2.99! It’s usually priced around $9.00.
- I’m now offering autographed copies of my books via my web site shop — in case you’d like to give one as a gift or add one to your book shelf.
- Looking for an audio book to listen to while traveling over Christmas break? Then Came You is two and a half hours long, you’ll fall in love with Garner Bradford’s voice (that voice!), and there’s no need to use a full Audible credit for it, because it’s priced at just $5.95.
- Finally, The Proposal, my romantic Christmas short story, is available free on Amazon until Monday!
Merry Christmas, everyone!
I’d love to hear about the Christmas heirlooms in your family!
Becky Wade
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I used to have this gorgeous Christmas tree that my Grandma brought out every Christmas, unfortunately it broke one year and I haven’t found one that I like yet to replace it. It’s just not the same without the original one.
Sorry about your tree, Abby! Here’s hoping you’ll find one you love at some point to replace it.
Loved seeing all these heirlooms, Becky! One of my favorites is a pretty postcard my great grandparents received at Christmas. It’s postmarked 1913! I have several other postcards they and my grandmother got in the mail near the turn of the century…the 20th century…not this one! 🙂
Your keepsake postcards sound fabulous, Deb! Those make wonderful heirlooms because they’re so personal to your family and fun to display.
When I was much younger, my mom made a heart shaped pillow and the material was candy canes on a red background. I have it in my own home now and my youngest daughter loves it! When I see it, I think of Christmas as a child. It was special back then and is special to me now, but in two different ways.
It’s wonderful to have something that brings back fond memories of Christmas as a child!
When I was a teen, my mother made a Christmas stocking for me out of red flannel and appliqued colorful Christmas shapes and fabric figurines representing my interests and activities as well as symbols of the season. Some of those shapes are a ballerina, an angel, a dog carrying in his mouth a bouquet of balloons on which the letters f-r-a-n-c-a-i-s (French) are spelled, a star, a wreath, a Christmas tree, etc. To this day, I still hang that stocking for myself at Christmas time. I’ll pass that one on to my daughter eventually.
I can completely understand why that stocking is special to you!
I loved all the comments about the heirlooms. So glad you asked for them!
I have a few small Christmas ornaments that belonged to my grandmother. Tiny treasures!
I have a few ornaments that my mom used on her trees over the years and when I bring them out the bring a smile. Years ago I cross stitched ornaments that I hope my kids will cherish.
I loved seeing all these pictures! My husband’s grandma has always crocheted ornaments so I have been collecting them from her since I married him. She is in her 90’s and still makes me a few every year. My kids love seeing them and can’t wait for me to share them when they get married and move out.
I think it’s wonderful that your husband’s grandmother is still busily crocheting ornaments for her family. What a labor of love!
I have an ornament that was hung on my grandparents tree and one that belonged on my parents tree. And to show how ancient I am, I have two ornaments I bought with my own money at a dime store! All precious to me! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I loved reading these heirloom/keepsake stories! It’s the memories that matter, not the pricey gifts! Thank you for sharing this moving post, Becky! (And I wouldn’t mind if you ask the same question & for shared stories like this next Christmas!)
It truly is the memories that matter. And — yes — I might just make this an annual post!
This year my husband and I were given a Christmas villiage that belonged to his Grandmother. His Aunt also gave us a string of plastic (very real looking) popcorn, for our tree, that she has had for over 40 years. It feels special when family decided to had down precious memories. I also have all of my ornaments that I made or was given as a child. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
All of the children in my family have special ornaments. Given to us by friends and family, I cherish all of them! Not really an heirloom, but I love the idea of it! 😁😁Thank you for the give away! Merry Christmas! 🥰
Merry Christmas, Lissy!
I have a small orange and white bell ornament made from yarn. My siblings and I used to love hanging it on the tree. I don’t know who made it, but I love that simple little ornament! It’s mine now so I get to see it every year and think back fondly on my childhood Christmases.
Such a fun and interesting post. Kristi’s mom did a wonderful job on the brooch bag!!! Love Fleeta’s initials.
I have the angel tree topper that we used to put on our tree when I was a little girl. We lived next door to an elderly couple (the Birds) and I used to go over and visit her and we played “Miss Lady” together. I would call her Mrs. Bird and she called me Miss Lady. She had an angel that I would always talk about and admire so one day she gave it to me. We had it on our tree for years, but the light inside her was too hot for an artificial tree so we packed her away. One day after I was married my mom gave me the angel that “Iss Bird” had given me all those years ago. I treasure that memory of a lady who took time to make memories with me.
What a beautiful story, Melissa! Her generosity in giving you something that she knew you loved is inspiring.
I have a Chrisrmas angel that plays music when you wind its base. It was my grandma’s when I was growing up, and I loved it. I always think of being at my grandma’s house when I bring it out at each year. It’s now in my home for my own grand children to enjoy at Christmas time. Our 1 year-old grand daughter begs for me to wind it up each day. I hope that it will continue to be passed on through our family for future generations to enjo, and remember their grand mother’s home.
My grandma knitted us Christmas stockings when we were very young. I cherish mine, and I wish I’d learned how to knit better before she passed away.
I have a box of felt ornaments that one of my mother’s friends stitched for me. I wasn’t very impressed at the time, but now I love it.
This is such a wonderful post, evoking memories and ideas for heirlooms. I’m very interested in the beautiful fabric ornaments Liz creates – love Peter Rabbit!
I made felt stockinsg for my son and daughter, at least 40 years ago now. My son’s stocking has a boy and a dog on it, and my daughter’s stocking has a girl and a kitten. Ironically, my son has a daughter, and my daughter has a son. Several years ago I asked them if they wanted to trade their stockings for their children – daughter was willing, son was not. I also made a large felt Santa with pockets for Christmas cards that I hang each year. Another Christmas decoration is the 18 inch ceramic tree I glazed 40 years ago.
I already have The Christmas Heirloom novella collection and am looking forward to reading it. The brooch and bag above are lovely. I also have your first two Bradford sisters books, but wold love to order an autographed copy of the next in the series. Thanks for the information. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Betty! The hand-made decorations are always the most special.
I have a lot of antique and handmade Christmas decorations! But my most precious of all are the antique German nativity set and the fence one of my great-uncles made sometime during the 1940’s. The set goes under the tree with the fence around the tree skirt. (Hmmm…there’s no way I can attach a picture of it here!)
This is a wonderful post. I loved seeing others Christmas heirlooms. I dont really have any physical Christmas heirlooms. But the love my mom always put into Christmas will always be a part of who I am and what I remember. The bag is lovely. She did such a fabulous job.
“the love my mom always put into Christmas will always be a part of who I am and what I remember” Yes! Ditto. I hope my kids will feel the same about me when they look back.
I have a porcelain train engine that I bought as one of my first Christmas decorations after we were married. The kids through the years always make sure it gets set out.
My dearest friend lives far away and she is an Amish Christian Fiction author. This year she sent me a beautiful Amish nativity scene. It brings her so close to me during this Christmas season. I will cherish it always.
What a fabulous gift! I adore nativity sets.
I have a miniature wooden sled that my grandmother made. Using an old photograph, she then painted a scene on the sled of herself and one brother building a snowman. I love it so much!
I have a German made paper mâché Santa Claus candy dish which appears to be just a Santa figure but the top half opens and my mother always had christmas chocolate drops in it when I was a child. As an adult just looking at it brings me back to the feeling of my childhood christmases spent in a little house in the forest of northern MN with only a wood burning stove for heat and the smell of a REAL tree freshly cut from our forest.
Oh, wow! What wonderful memories. 🙂
My grandparents gave me all their antique children’s Christmas books – love looking at the pictures and reading them to my daughter!
I loved seeing all the heirlooms. It’s so wonderful to have a piece of days gone by from family, it’s like having a little piece of them with us.
IT means SO much to me that the felt calendar I made means so much to you! I always look forward to getting out my original one every December 1st! Love, Mom
Beautiful post! I love the heirlooms and stories behind them. I’m living in an RV for a bit, and all of our decorations are in storage. I miss them most this time of year! Especially the stockings I made for us as newlyweds, which we’ve used every year (except one year they were MIA) and these few in the RV. Merry Christmas to all!
Merry Christmas, Angie!
Wonderful post! My family doesn’t have any heirlooms, but it would great we had something to pass down and remember the people and history behind it. Thanks for the giveaway! And Merry Christmas!
I have a few I made in school that I consider heirlooms @ I also have a few from I got as gifts thanks for the chance I would love to read this book
I have a beautiful nativity set that had belonged to my grandmother. She passed away over four years ago so it’s wonderful to get it out and reminisce.
Christmas traditions are always fun to read about. Thanks for the fun post!
If so fun to hear about past Christmas’s and heirlooms. We do have lots of old ornaments from when we were little.. So fun to remember 🙂
Our family Christmas tradition is that every year my Grandma gives each of her family a Christmas ornament.
My mom died very unexpectedly four springs ago. I knew the first Christmas would be brutal; her birthday is December 18, so the whole season would remind me of her. My aunt invited our family over to her house (not typical–she’s very shy and not a hostess) about a week before Christmas, and she gave me a bag of small gifts. I asked her if it would be okay to open them on Christmas morning, and she was fine with that. I had no idea that inside would be a little Santa ornament from when I was a baby–I didn’t recognize it. Somehow it had ended up in my uncle’s storage shed, and she never found it until that year. Just having an ornament from when I was a baby brought a flood of memories back about my mom–happy memories. I know the Lord orchestrated the whole thing!
“Just having an ornament from when I was a baby brought a flood of memories back about my mom–happy memories. I know the Lord orchestrated the whole thing!” There’s not a doubt in my mind that the Lord did just that for you, Andrea.
I don’t think I have any Christmas heirlooms from my family, but I do have some old wooden Christmas ornaments that a dear friend gave me 40 years ago, at a very low point in my life, when my children and I were nearly destitute and didn’t have anything for decorating a Christmas tree. They mean a lot to me, along with the ornaments I have saved that my two children made when they were in school, many many years ago. We have bought to, and added, ornaments all through the years, and even though my children are middle-aged adults, and we are not destitue anymore, we still treasure all of our ornaments. They all have a story.
They all have a story! I feel the same way about the ornaments I’ve collected over time and can imagine why the wooden ornaments your friend gave you are so important to you.
Our Christmas stockings are ones made by our mother when we were children.
Many ornaments have special meaning for me, and I have a nativity that has been in the family for years. We also have a manger made from popsicle sticks, filled with straw that my sons could put in there for each good or kind deed they did during the Advent season. This has been a tradition for 35 years. It warms my heart.
What a sweet tradition!
It’s not an heirloom, but quite a few years ago, the sister next in age to me gave me a thimble set. It is the nativity on them. I collect thimbles and have about 200. One is made of olive wood and is from the Holy Land.
My special treasures are not exactly heirlooms, but they feel like heirlooms to me. When I was in kindergarten my teacher gave me a little nativity set. Our class had done a little play based on the birth of Jesus. I was asked to sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and my mom made me a little white choir robe with a big red bow. I still have both the choir robe and the nativity set along with very vivid and cherished memories surrounding those events.
I love Christmas items so closely tied to memories. 🙂
I have a little bird ornament that is one of three that I remember hanging on my parents’ Christmas tree since I was a child. Two of my siblings now have the other two. I also have ornaments my mom crocheted, including a set of snowflakes, which are more precious to me now that my mom is no longer with us. I also have some hand embroidered ornaments my late sister made that I also cherish. My favorite ornaments are the ones with a story.
I have an antique train of my dad’s sitting under my Christmas tree.
Love all the heirlooms!
I have a heart shaped ornament that my sister in law made out of my wedding dress material. She embroidered our wedding date on it. Love it!
Creating an ornament out of wedding dress fabric! What a great idea.
Most of my Christmas heirlooms are from with in my lifetime… In the third grade, I made stuffed gingerbread ornaments that I gave to my mom & dad as a Christmas gift. They loved them, & they quickly became favorites. My daughters made me replicas when they were little so I could have some on my tree too! I also have the nativity scene that my daughter got her first Christmas, 23 years ago!
I enjoyed seeing the ornaments you have and would like to win a copy of your book. Thanks for the giveaway!
I loved reading about all the Christmas heirlooms/traditions. Another handmade decoration on my tree is the angel tree topper crocheted by my mom! Back in the 60’s my grandpa worked at a little produce stand. Every Christmas he sold Christmas trees there. He always brought us a live tree. He died of cancer right after Christmas of 68. He was in the hospital the last few weeks of that year and was talking “out if his head.” He was saying things like “this one is a beauty” and “here’s a tall one” and “I think you’ll like this one.” One of the nurses asked my mom what was he talking about and she replied, “He’s selling Christmas trees.” Every year when I decorate my tree, I am reminded of him.
Thanks so much for sharing memories of your grandpa, Theresa.
My main Christmas tree is loaded with memory ornaments!
When I was a little girl, we had a strand of garland on our tree that was a strand of plastic candy and popcorn. As a toddler, my sister unwrapped pieces of the candy thinking it was real. After my mom passed away, I received all of her Christmas decorations, so I have many that I cherish. My favorite is that same garland that my sister thought was real. What makes it even more special is that most of her four children have done the exact same thing. Even though there is only a short piece of the garland left, I cherish it, and it is placed on my tree every Christmas, always bringing fond memories.
The comments on this post have been so heartwarming because they’ve affirmed over and over again that we cherish most the heirlooms that carry our memories.
Enjoyed others heirlooms. Don’t really have any of my own presently. Thanks for the post and giveaway.
I have a couple of ornaments that I’ve had since I was a child. Each year it goes on our Christmas tree. I also have a very old Nativity set that belonged to my mother. I don’t use it anymore, because it is so fragile. But I remember it being displayed in our home.
Becky thank you for this beautiful post. My favorite ornaments are of the nativity.
Have a blessed Christmas.
Thank you for the giveaway. My family has a tradition where we get a new ornament each year. It is so fun to look at all the ornaments we have, ranging from Barbie to football players.