Retro Christmas crafting and decorating stories have been a staple of this blog and our community for 10+ years. And, as with all things midcentury, the mass market has been following along, a bit more every year. But this year — 2018 — mass market Kitschmas seems to be here bigger than ever. Leading me to hereby declare: The U.S.A. may now be at “Peak Retro” when it comes Christmas decorations being created for the mainstream market. Above: A shot from inside the Bethany Lowe wholesale 2018 Christmas catalog, which is chock full of retro.
Update, readers asked where to get these retail. I found them on Amazon via the links (affiliate links) below:
- Bethany Lowe ornaments — https://amzn.to/2PJKjz4
- Bethany Lowe buildings — https://amzn.to/2PLajd9
- Bethany Lowe figurines — https://amzn.to/2PL4Lzj
And more if you click the particular category!
Bethany Lowe ornaments — https://amzn.to/2PJKjz4
Bethany Lowe buildings — https://amzn.to/2PLajd9
Bethany Lowe figurines — https://amzn.to/2PL4Lzj
I went out for a few hours last week to scan local places for itsy ornaments for wreaths and putz houses, and golly, Retro surely must be the #1 theme this year.
What I’m seeing in stores:
Much of the retro Christmas decor that I saw in stores or am seeing online appears to be either (1) licensed reproductions like the lovely Kurt Adler* and Christopher Radko Shiny Brite* reproductions (*affiliate link), (2) similar-such facsimiles aka knock-offs taken straight from the past, or (3) manufactured items inspired by the work of crafters and artists who have been innovating with lovely ideas to upcycle and showcase authentic ephemera and ornaments in new and pleasing ways.
Want to create your own upcycled creations — using vintage and/or new ornaments? It’s SO FUN to create your own heirloom! We have several detailed tutorials to help you on your way:
Make a wreath from vintage ornaments — many stories here, including original instructions from Georgia Peachez who, as far as I know, invented or at least popularized this craft including giving me instructions to post and share on the blog.- Make dioramas using empty ornament boxes — kudos also to Georgia Peachez.
- And of course, we have our own twist on putz houses — see all our designs and get to our free downloadable patterns in one place.
Amarissa D Parker says
Thank you for posting the catalog. Such cute ideas! Michaels Craft stores have some retro Christmas kitsch, this year, featuring Santa, snow people, and cute reindeer!
Wendellyn Plummer says
How great is that catalog? I was disappointed that there were no prices. I am going to look on her web site. So excited!!
tammyCA says
Are you familiar with the SoCal store called “traditions”? They have online catalog too..chock full of retro inspired holidays decorations..Cody foster big glitter houses, Bethany Lowe..it’s a wonderland.
Donna from SC says
I will say that RetroRenovation got me started doing vintage Christmas crafting (wreaths, ornie boxes, and vintage pitchers/mugs/etc. containing a little Christmas scene). I now live for estate sales and Friday/Saturday yard sales to see what treasures I can pick up. It is SOOOOO much fun, and it is very relaxing for me to do. I have made things for family gifts and donations for charity auctions, but this year I am going to sell them. One can have only so many ornie wreaths hanging in the house!
Pam Kueber says
🙂
Kim says
I just wanted to share -Walmart does not seem to carrying the garland to make wreaths with this year!!
Pam Kueber says
Hi Kim, I popped into Big Lots in my “survey” last week, and they seemed to have a lot. Remember: DO NOT use the plastic garland.
Laura says
Hmmm. Our family putz houses (going back to the 50s) are inhabited by little cast metal Barclay figures. Is that not so for everyone? The skaters, of course, go on a hand mirror. Those Kurt Adler things look wrong to me.
Pam Kueber says
I now need to go research Barclay figurines! I know I have some *somewhere* in my stash. Re the Kurt Adlers: They do see to be accurate reproductions. Note, one of the same design — and authentic vintage — is in my diorama.
Laura says
For example, our Barclay bride and groom (like this–I don’t have the Christmas stuff out yet!)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-1930s-BARCLAY-Lead-Dimestore-Figures-Wedding-Party-w-Bride-Groom-Minister/352500632258?
always go in front of the putz house church. The skiiers always go on the fake hill I make with that fake cottony snow, and skaters always skate along a round mirror from a hand mirror. And my grandfather’s electric train circled it all.
You can see it a little bit here. The baby girl is me, Christmas 1965. There’s also my cousin, a month younger, and my great grandmother interrupting the baby slapfight.
http://tinypic.com/r/mwyuza/9
monica says
hi!
I usually just lurk, but I wanted to share a few links from the Cavender Diary. James there also collects Shiny Brite ornaments and makes a ginormous wreath every year with them. He also collects and displays a lot of vintage Christmas things, including Putz houses! Cheers!
Julia says
OMG! Thank you for the blog tip. I just started reading it and their house is fabulous. Looks like I know what I’m going to do this afternoon. Fortunately there’s only 8 years worth of posts to read…
Joan S. says
May I suggest these min-ceramic Christmas trees, like the vintage big one. I bought a set last year in white and love them!
https://www.qvc.com/Mr.-Christmas-S4-Mini-Nostalgic-Tree-Ornaments.product.H211624.html?upsh=1&sc=H211624-CSWB
Joan S. says
Thank you, Miss Pam, for these crucial updates! Yippee for Retro Christmas!!!! xoxo
Cleveland, OH
Elizabeth says
It’s just too much work to browse a catalog without prices. Uggghhh!
Pam Kueber says
It is a wholesale catalog – not a retail catalog. I posted it for info only.
Jessica says
This post inspired me to do a deep Google dive about retro Christmas decor, and I found this site that sells Bethany Lowe decor: https://theholidaybarn.com/collections/bethany-lowe-christmas . Looks like she has stuff for other holidays, too.