Thursday, January 6, 2011

Disintegrating Ornaments

What could be a better day for starting a new Christmas project (thinking ahead!) than this 12th and last Day of Christmas? The Day of the Kings. Epiphany. Yesterday I visited my favorite local thrift store to happily discover that all of their Christmas items were FREE for the taking! They have limited storage so did not want to have to keep anything for next year (because there will always be more donated!) So, I grabbed 3 boxes of shiny ball ornaments because I knew I had some disintegrating to do...

I also nabbed a tabletop tree, but that will be another post. ha!





Within two months, weather cooperating, they should look like this (above). My friend Liz discovered the process by accident. She had set out a bunch of these ball ornaments in a large crock full of pine branches as decor outside her antiques shop. Two months later, when she put away her seasonal displays, she discovered her "ruined" ornaments. Aren't they fabulous?! I'm so glad she did not throw them out!

So today I stopped by her shop (Keaton's Refinishing & Antiques, in Higginsville, MO) and after some coffee and animated chat, we ceremoniously set my ornaments out in the same crock, minus the branches, to let the weather do its magic. It's supposed to snow here next Monday! Woo hoo! Bring it on!

You will, of course, get an update on the results!

7 comments:

Joanna said...

Oh wow! I must go and get mine out the loft and ruin mine too! Lucky you getting them for free.

x

Margaret said...

Super cool, I was wondering what to do with the ones I'd removed the metal tops from! (Don't they crack in the cold??

Unknown said...

I love that! That is an epiphany in and of itself I would say!

Linda Jo said...

Love it! And if they do break...you have glitter!

~*~Patty S said...

oh you and I was trying to stay away from the thrift store...I am SO excited about your 'ruined' Christmas balls...just fabulous!!!
oxo

femminismo said...

Oh, gosh! I had forgotten I wanted to do another "Disintegration" project. Thanks for reminding me. What gorgeous ornaments. I'm sure you will have fun with these. (I just about cried when our neighbor told us he had smashed all the ornaments his wife no longer wanted!! Terrible waste!)

Jeanie said...

Hi, Nathalie, it's good to catch up after far too long away. And now, I am going to the basement, find the ornaments I buy and hoard (yes, I hoard) and put them outside in the snowy pot by the door. I'll show you in the spring!