Christmas Tree Jewelry - A Decorative Way to Celebrate the Season

It's that festive time of the year. As I get older, it seems that the holiday season comes around more quickly each year. This is the time of the year when there doesn't seem to be enough hours in a day, and so many extra tasks to accomplish..

Out come the decorations, holiday cook books, and numerous trips to the store for Christmas shopping. It's also the perfect time of the year to bring out your seasonal jewelry from past years, or to shop for a new item to add to your collection.

Anyone who collects vintage jewelry probably has a few Christmas pins - particularly Christmas tree pins, which seem to attract favor with most collectors. There is a whole collecting field in vintage jewelry devoted to it, and many books have been written as reference points for collectors. Two of my favorite books about holiday jewelry are Christmas Jewelry by Mary Morrison, and Christmas Pins, past and present by Jill Gallina. They have a fabulous amount of information and numerous pictures of many of the popular Christmas jewelry favorites.

Many of the popular vintage jewelry designers had at least a few pins in their range of jewelry. Some seem to really celebrate the holiday with new designs coming out with each new season. Some of the most popular vintage jewelry designers who put out quite a number of Christmas pins are Gerry's, Tancer, Mylu, Weiss, Hollycraft, and of course Eisenberg of the famous Eisenberg Ice Christmas tree pins

The number of ways that a Christmas tree can be fashioned into a jewelry item seems to be limitless. The trend continues through today's designers with Kenneth Lane, Ron, and Christopher Radko being some notable designers of more recent Christmas tree pins.

Do you have a favorite vintage design that is out of your price range to try and buy? Never worry - many of the older designs seem to find their way into today's jewelry. Collector's often note, with either great delight or disdain, depending on one's point of view, that the older pieces have been refashioned into new designs, often with a smaller price tag.

Here are a few designs to get you in the spirit. I also have many more in my Ruby Lane shop. Just use the word Christmas as a search to see the full range.

Carol Speake
Ruby Lane Shop: Finishing Touch Vintage Jewelry