Holiday ornaments from Mom

Here are all my Christmas ornaments, tucked away in the drawer of a solid wood dresser I found in the trash.

I haven't yet put up a Christmas tree - in fact I haven't put up a tree of my own since I've been in Toronto as I've always gone home for Christmas.

This year I'm probably not going home for the first time ever (wah), but on a happy note, I have someone dear coming to me - which means that I finally get to buy a tree and dress it for the holidays!

These ornaments comprise the collection I've amassed since I was about 19, thanks to my dear Mom, who has established the sweetest of holiday traditions by giving each of her daughters (and now her grandchildren) a holiday ornament every year.

More often than not they're purchased at craft shows and are handmade.

I'm so looking forward to putting up a tree and making it look nice! Isn't dressing a tree with ornaments almost like dressing up in a fab outfit and accessorizing with all the right pieces, btw? Actually I once had the idea of dressing a mini tree with 1980s earrings - wouldn't that be fun?