Folk Art
Christmas Folk Art: Vintage Christmas Decorations With Warmth, Natural Beauty, and Elegant Simplicity
If warmth, natural beauty, and elegant simplicity are your idea of the perfect holiday decor, vintage Christmas decorations based on Christmas folk art are for you.
Made by hand and cherished for generations, these ornaments are as sturdy, uncomplicated, and enduring as the people who created them. Sometimes referred to as “naive art” or “working class art”, folk art is produced by everyday people rather than artists or artisans. Though many excellent reproductions of vintage folk ornaments are now available, the originals were generally handmade by a member of the family and used to decorate the family home.
Classic American folk art features simple shapes that are cut, carved, molded or sewn from ordinary inexpensive materials such as wood, paper, clay, tin, and cloth and then embellished, usually with paint or embroidery. In many cases the ornaments were utilitarian as well as decorative, such as woven baskets, painted boxes, and candle holders.
The simple shapes and “touchability” of this style of vintage decoration makes it a great choice for homes with young children. But these classic forms also pair beautifully with clean, sleek modern decor and they even make a surprisingly sophisticated addition to trendy industrial style design.
Here are some tips for giving your holiday decorations a vintage folk art flair:
Think simplicity and restraint
Unlike the “more is better”, over-the-top profusion typical of Victorian holiday decoration, naive art is very much a “less is more” proposition.
- Rather than arranging a dozen items on the mantel, choose just two or three that have some real meaning to you.
- Don’t be afraid of some empty space between your decorations; it’s ok if every surface isn’t sporting some bit of holiday finery.
- Forget the glitz. Forgo bright, super-shiny surfaces and anything that’s glaringly artificial. Anything that’s too perfect is totally wrong for this style, which is the epitome of warm and homey.
Natural materials and warm, soft colors
Decorations made of wood, fabric, paper, clay, tin, and other everyday materials are the classics of this style. Paired with simple arrangements of greenery, fruit, and candles they create a calm, creative, and welcoming holiday atmosphere.
- Try making unexpected combinations. Arrange birch branches, boughs of fir, and dried flowers in a big earthenware jug or galvanized pail, or put a pair of fat candles in the middle of a wooden serving tray and surround them with lemons and magnolia leaves or sprigs of pine.
- Homespun fabrics (or fabrics that look homespun) are a great way to add Christmas color. Make a super-simple table runner of a yard or two of muted red and green plaid fabric, or cut strips of fabric to make bows to put in arrangements or on the tree.
Highlight your heritage and your handiwork
One of the best things about folk art is its that its not only created by every culture everywhere, it’s constantly being created. “Everyday art” that is characteristic of your heritage is an excellent addition to this type of decoration, and it doesn’t even have to be specifically holiday-themed. Creating simple ornaments yourself is also an excellent way to create some lasting traditions in your own family.
About the Author
Folk art not your style? How about a lush and lavish Victorian Christmas Decorations theme? Find out how to give your holiday decor a vintage flair at Vintage Christmas Decorations!
How to use FolkArt® Enamels™ Paint with Donna Dewberry
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China old jade carved flappy*horse*Statue pendant Art $0.90 |
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Fenton 5 1/2″ 2002 Folk Art Rooster Handpainted w/Dots $69.50 |
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Huichol Bracelet Eagle Original Mexican Folk Art $16.00 |
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Huichol Bracelet Colors Mexican Wixarika Folk Art $10.00 |
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Huichol Bracelet Deer Mexican Wixarika Folk Art $14.00 |
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Huichol Bracelet Eagle Mexican Wixarika Folk Art $26.00 |
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HUICHOL HAIRPINS FLOWER MULTICOLOR MEXICO FOLK ART BEADS HANDMADE $14.00 |
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HUICHOL EARRING BEADS MEXICO FOLK ART FLOWER $10.00 |
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HUICHOL BRACELET BEADED ORIGINAL MEXICAN FOLK ART PEYOTE BRAWN $16.00 |
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SET HUICHOL CHOKER NECKLACE EARRING GREEN FLOWER MEXICAN FOLK ART BEADS $24.00 |
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HUICHOL EARRING YELLOW HEART MEXICO FOLK ART BEADS $9.00 |
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Huichol Bracelet FlowerPeyote Mexican Wixarika Folk Art $19.00 |
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HUICHOL HAIRPINS FLOWER MULTICOLOR MEXICO FOLK ART BEADS HANDMADE $20.00 |
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HUICHOL EARRING BEADS MEXICO FOLK ART TULIP FLOWER $12.00 |
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Huichol Bracelet Scorpion Mexican Wixarika Folk Art $16.00 |
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HUICHOL EARRING FLOWERS MULTICOLOR MEXICO FOLK ART $9.00 |
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Huichol Bracelet Colors Mexican Wixarika Folk Art $26.00 |
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HUICHOL BRACELET BEADED ORIGINAL MEXICAN FOLK ART PEYOTE RED $26.00 |
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Huichol Bracelet Deer Mexican Wixarika Folk Art $28.00 |
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Huichol Bracelet Rhombic Original Mexican Folk Art $13.00 |
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HUICHOL EARRING BEADS MEXICO FOLK ART EYE OF GOD THREAD $16.00 |
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Folk Art #2 Victor Coil Spring Trap Clock $19.99 |
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FOLK ART DONNA WILDER QULT PATCHWORK & APPLIQUE 2000 $5.50 |
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vintage hand stitched woolen crazy quilt,patchwork,great condition,folk art wool $69.00 |
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Japanese Calligraphy Scroll*Bushido Samurai 7 Vitues* $8.99 |
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Original Folk Art Wood Carved Diorama Old Mill Artist Signed Fooks Woodworks yqz $10.50 |
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Folk Art Signed Audrey Safford Mass Galloper Ornate Carousel Horse Oil Painting $29.99 |
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ORIGINAL OUTSIDER FOLK ART STRANGE DEVOTIONAL MIXED MEDIA ON BOARD $20.00 |
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ORIGINAL OUTSIDER FOLK ART STRANGE DEVOTIONAL MIXED MEDIA ON BOARD $20.00 |
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ORIGINAL OUTSIDER FOLK ART STRANGE DEVOTIONAL MIXED MEDIA ON BOARD $20.00 |
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Antique Spools from Scranton Lace Factory DECORATIVE FOLK ART Pieces Primitive $5.00 |
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Antique Spools from Scranton Lace Factory DECORATIVE FOLK ART Pieces Primitive $3.00 |
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Antique Spools from Scranton Lace Factory DECORATIVE FOLK ART Pieces Primitive $2.00 |
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Original Folk Art Painting, Decorative country western landscape $35.00 |
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ANTIQUE 1910′S CORONA CIGARS WOODEN FOLK ART CIGAR CHUTE ADVERTISEMENT $29.95 |
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Wilton Fondant and Gum Paste Silicone Mold Baroque $5.91 There’s no better way to add color, dimension and excitement to a cake than with fondant or gum paste accents. With this mold, it’s easy to create detailed shapes in exciting Baroque designs ready to place on your cake!… |
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Wilton Fondant and Gum Paste Silicone Mold, Folk $8.92 WILTON-Fondant and Gum Paste Mold. There’s no better way to add color; dimension; and excitement to a cake that with fondant or gum paste accents. Silicone molds make it easy to create detailed shapes in exciting designs that are ready to place on your cake and they are available in a wide variety of themes to fit any and every occasion. This package contains one mold in the Folk theme. Fondant an… |
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Penny Rug Table Mat $24.00 The Penny Rug Table Mat is created in a folk art style dating from the mid 19th century, to conserve fabric and to add much needed color to the home. With layered circles of color and blanket stitch embroidery it will add a simple but primitive charm to your home…. |
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Brush Lettering with Ken Brown / Folk Art / Plaid Enterprises $4.21 Ken Brown Teaches Brush Lettering using Paints and Brushes. 1 Hr instructional video. Learn brush lettering in an easy step-by-step format. Add beautiful brush lettering to your decorative painting designs! Includes supply list and paint color list on back cover…. |
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Introduction to Cajun Dancing [VHS] $9.78 Total running time: 60 minutes VHS… |
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Advanced Cajun Dancing [VHS] $20.97 Total running time: 75 minutes VHS… |
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White Nights $7.74 Sometimes movies are built around a great idea begging for a story, in this case pairing ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov with tap great Gregory Hines. The resulting storm of dance in White Nights, as one would expect, is great, but the story is a little forced. Baryshnikov plays (in parallel to his own life) a Russian defector to the U.S. who ends up a prisoner in the motherland after his plane … |
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Melody Time (Disney Gold Classic Collection) $9.96 In the grand tradition of Disney’s greatest musical classics such as FANTASIA, MELODY TIME features seven classic stories, each enhanced with high-spirited music and unforgettable characters! Donald Duck — an all-time Disney favorite — puts on a display of jazzy antics as the star of “Blame It On The Samba.” Music becomes a real adventure for a busy bumble bee in “Bumble Boogie.” From the mischi… |
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Down from the Mountain (The O Brother, Where Art Thou? Concert) $6.94 Capturing one of the most extraordinary concerts in the history of traditional American music Down from the Mountain goes onstage and backstage with the acclaimed soundtrack artists of the Coen Brothers’ hit film O Brother Where Art Thou? Filmed by the Academy Award nominated creators of The War Room this fascinating documentary features behind-the-scenes encounters and dazzling performances from… |
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Tear Drop Oil Warmer – Style 12774 $5.99 Folk art fanatics, here’s a treat for you! A moss-green ceramic teardrop holds a generous dollop of scented oil; with a candle’s warmth, a long-lasting fragrance fills the air. Weight 0.5 lb. Porcelain with metal stand. Oil and tealight candle not included. 4″ diameter x 7 5/8″ high…. |