"Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest."
~ Henry Van Dyke

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

My Nutcracker Suite!

This is going to be a picture heavy and long post so pour yourself a cup of your favorite tea of coffee, perhaps even a cup of hot cocoa and put on your speakers to enjoy some music. We are off to the land of Sweets at Marzipan Castle...


My love affair with The Nutcracker began when I was a young teenager. I watched The Nutcracker ballet each holiday season often on PBS. When I was sixteen and got my driver's license, I went to see the ballet for the first time in person. What a thrill! It became a tradition for me each December.

I dreamed of owning a real nutcracker but knew they were very costly. But the year after the wall fell in former East Germany, we drove to a little village deep in the Ezgebirge which is the birthplace of the nutcracker. I was in heaven...this village celebrates Christmas every day of the year! We visited the nutcracker factories and I started my collection...

Over the years, I have found nutcracker ballet ornaments here and there. These hang proudly in my Victorian tree each year.


I collected two kinds of nutcrackers. These are from a series of natural look nutcrackers...

They stand on my table in my quilt studio. To keep with the natural look, I placed pine branches and walnuts around the nutcrackers.

But I also have a collection of traditional and brightly painted nutcrackers. These stand guard in my entrance.

In my quilt studio stands my nutcracker tree which I keep out year round. This little pink feather tree holds tiny handmade wool felt sweets which I made myself. You can see them in more detail and read about it here on my handwork blog.

A Dickens Victorian couple sing carols...

And the Nutcracker King holds court each year to ensure that we keep Christmas well...

It is easy to keep Christmas well when there is a winter wonderland outside your window. We woke up to 20 cm of snow this past Sunday morning. There is more snow predicted this week. I am dreaming of snowflakes in the air on Christmas Day!

I really love snow! This does bring problems for driving or walking but as long as we all are careful, we can enjoy the season. Please be careful and stay safe as you go about your shopping and visiting this week...

Take a moment to watch the video that goes with The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy on my playlist in the sidebar. It is from Fantasia Fairies in 1940 and so beautifully made.

Christmas Eve is fast approaching and my Christmas village will come to life again this year. I hope you will return then and visit Christmas Village with me...

14 comments:

Elizabethd said...

Heidi, what interesting collections you have...nutcrackers, opera glasses...! I had no idea that so many different nutcrackers were made.

Roberta said...

Merry Christmas Heidi, your 'Nutcrackers' and related ornaments are lovely. DS, Jeremy has performed in many productions of this story.

Love your snow!! We are not predicted to have any!!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas

Anna said...

what a wonderful collection!!!
happy days for you and yours!

Nancy said...

Sorry to tell you, the music didn't play while I read your blog. I like all of your decorations, but I especially like the candy you made yourself for your little pink tree.
You certainly did get alot of snow for Holland. Right now, we don't have anything but flakes coming down, but the snow is still on the ground. Thank heaven, not on the roads right now. That is a blessing. Thanks to you, I also visited the nutcracker village.
Take care and have a wonderful Christmas with Jos and Dagi.
Love you, Mom

The Mama said...

Your blog is one of my most favorites that I follow through my google reader. This one was especially beautiful... I do love seeing Holland, my parents homeland, through your eyes, and enjoy your beautiful and interesting posts such as this one. This one contains the feeling of Christmas! Thank you for posting such a wonderful blog! AND thank you for posting in English as I can only pick out some words or phrases in dutch. Computer "Translators" don't do such a good job when translating!

Anonymous said...

Hoi Wijfie.

Wat ziet je blog er weer fantastisch uit, ik ben gelukkig in de positie alles bij jullie thuis met eigen ogen te mogen zien, en laat een ieder die het maar wil horen weten dat ze naar jouw blog en dat van Saskia moeten gaan.
Super gezellig!!!!!!!!

Liefs en hugs Bep.

Leslie said...

It isn't Christmas without The Nutcracker and some snow. Very beautiful, Heidi.

Jackie's Stitches said...

What a lovely collection! I particularly love the ballerinas. You've beautifully decorated your home with special things. A happy and safe holiday!

Reginas Cottage said...

dear heidi,
your decorations is wonderful.i love your nutcracker-collection.
i wish you and josh a wonderful christmas and a happy new year!!!
hugs,regina

Willy said...

Een sprookjesachtige verzameling en een mooi verhaal erbij over je verzameling.
Fijne witte kerst,
groetjes

hazel c UK said...

Your nutcrackers are lovely Heidi and so pleased you have them out in your new home. I had forgotten that you had decorated your pink tree, I must admit I have not done anything with mine this year, seemed to have gone of the idea of a pink tree but now seeing yours has made me think again.

Have a lovely Christmas and hope the snow stays over there with you and goes from here quickly.

Love Hazel

Jeanne said...

Love your nutcracker collections Heidi. Have a wonderful Christmas and new year. I envy your snow but not the cold. :)

hugs, Jeanne

Ragged Roses said...

I love this post. Such beautiful photos. Wishing you and your family a wonderful, wonderful Christmas,
Kimx

Anne said...

Your nutcracker ornaments are my favourite!! Since I was a little girl I had always dreamed of being Clara and waking up to a magical night!