Bubble bauble

This clear glass ball looks as delicate as a soap bubble and it features an unusual design. The bottom is pushed up to form a small dome inside. The scene is painted in reverse so it looks like it’s in the ornament.

Indented glass ball with two painted penguins and igloo

Acquired: September 23, 2011, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, Frankenmuth, Mich.

Number: 0943

Size:4 inches in diameter

Price: $11.99

Eggsellent

I don’t expect these ornaments to last very long. I didn’t even think they would make it home intact, but the shop where I bought them each packed in two segments of an egg carton that had been cut into individual cups. I have the ornaments carefully stored, each one in its own soft tissue nest. Keep your fingers crossed until next Christmas and we'll see how they do. I've photographed each from two sides, but the big one in the middle with the two pictures below it are three views of one egg.

Four painted eggshells, made in Autstria, with various winter scenes

Acquired: October 30, 2010, Gregory Guzzi Gifts, Annapolis, Md.

Number: 0834 0835 0836 0837

Size: 2.25 inches

Price: $14.99 each

Getting ready for Christmas

The penguins have taken over another igloo and are decorating it for Christmas. You can see the other igloo ornaments I’ve posted so far by clicking on the label below. Meanwhile two of their friends are busy building a snowman on a toboggan. You can also search for more snowman ornaments below. I think all the igloos are online now, but I’ve got more snowmen to come.

It's all penguins, mostly Christmas tree ornaments

It’s beginning to look a lot like penguins at my house. Today my friends Charlie, Marge and Jenny Babaz came over to help me sort through my ornaments and separate the ones we’ll use on our Festival of Trees entry. This meant getting a dozen or so tubs out of storage and then unwrapping hundreds of ornaments, one by one. The Babazes were a huge help, though there’s still quite a way to go, and they even brought spaghetti for dinner.

My dining room table before (above) and after (below)

Meanwhile, I’ve caught up on cataloging the new ornaments I’ve acquired since summer. We’re up to 843 now. That’s 74 new penguins this year . . . and counting.

Three penguins decorating a sparkly igloo

Acquired: August 21, 2008, Christmas Cottage, New York City

Number: 0491

Size: 3.25 inches tall

Price: $9.95

Two penguins building snowman on a toboggan

Acquired: August 21, 2008, Christmas Cottage, New York City

Number: 0492

Size: 3.5 inches tall

Price: $9.95

Deck the igloo

Here’s another igloo and it’s a really good one worth zooming in for the details. My favorite part is the wreath over the door, but I need a closer look at the ornament itself to see if that's another wreath on the ground. It might be extra garland. Either way it’s a nice touch on a sweet little penguin ornament. Here’s another nice touch: flick a switch on the bottom to hear “Let It Snow.” Thanks, Nikki.

Ceramic musical igloo that plays “Let It Snow”

Acquired: around 2000, gift from my niece Nikki Brown

Number: 0157

Size: 2.5 inches tall

Welcome to our igloo

You won’t find penguins from the southern hemisphere in an igloo in the Arctic north, unless you’re looking at a penguin Christmas tree ornament.

This is a good example of the old European style in Christopher Radko ornaments. Click on the picture to make it large and you can see the details on the penguins, the Christmas tree through the front door and the coating of snow and ice that hangs over the window in back. This was another gift from my friend Anne Cronin.

Acquired: 2000 or before

Number: 0145

Price: gift

Size: about 3 inches tall 

Looks like more winter

Is this a penguin peeking out of its igloo to see if six weeks' more of winter are in store? Well, if a groundhog can do it, why not a penguin? And why not a penguin who lives in an igloo? Looks like more winter with all that snow around and on top of the igloo. Or maybe it just a game of penguin hide-and-seek with his friend hidden out back. Another excellent ornament from Christopher Radko that I found at a store just down the road from where I live.

Christopher Radko "Penny's Palace" glass ornament
Acquired: June 7, 2009, Switzerland Old World Gifts, Tannersville, Pa.
Number: 625
Price: $70
Size: 3.75 inches tall, 4 inches wide