Happy Xmas and Prosperous 2014

Wishing all my blog followers a Happy Xmas 2013 and Prosperity in 2014

A few Aircraft related festive photos:

SANITY FAIR DECORATES FOR CHRISTMAS

This year I was determined - DETERMINED! - to have a Christmas tree. But if you live in a thimble, you have to have magical properties, and mine happens to be finding tiny little fir trees that fit in thimbles. Or at any rate, three-foot-fir trees that fit in a ginger jar. Here's a little tour of my decorating. Hope you enjoy!

I love Chinoiserie, and I have a burgeoning little collection of asian-inspired ornaments (along with greek key ribbon from - wait for it - Walmart!).

I have a particular mania for glass-blown ornaments, like this darling little kimono.

A little Chinese girl carries a lantern.

What's your fortune?

A glamorous pagoda sparkles in several tiers.

A geisha, parasol at the ready, promenades the branches.

Darling panda!

An unfurled fan makes a tree topper.

A little glass fan.

Take-out!

Sushi (non-edible).

White poinsettias (badly in need of a decorative ribbon) adorn a garden stool.

Paperwhites and pagodas (apologies for the terrible photos - iPhone is my only resource right now!).

And I couldn't resist slipping a spare branch and a Chinese knot onto a picture or two.

/All images/my own/

CHRISTMAS LANTERNS

I've been traveling quite a bit lately, but I'm glad to be stopping for a brief respite to decorate for Christmas with my Mom! At my parents' home, Christmas has always had a bit of an Asian flair. They lived in the East for years, and collected some truly beautiful decorations, like these exquisite golden lanterns.

These are also lovely - dozens of painted little paper lanterns with dancing tassels.

In the dining room, a set of golden pagoda lights delight some kabuki dolls.

I love these lantern lights so much that I would love some of my own. Unfortunately, they're rather impossible to find, but here are some options available in less ornate styles.

/Collapsable lantern lights/ bronze pagodas /bamboo box lights/ lattice work lights /large round lanterns/ box lights/ pagoda ornament/ homemade lights via Flickr (for a how-to, click HERE)/

The lanterns we decorated with are Japanese, but of course, the Chinese do beautiful lantern art as well. Here are some gorgeous examples from an exhibit a few years ago at Taipei 101 (photos by Theresa). Beautiful!