If you are looking for handmade stained glass ornaments and Christmas decorations that you can keep for years, now is actually the best time to do it.
Personally, I have always liked Christmas decorations that come with a little story.
Maybe you found one at a Christmas market. Maybe someone gave it to you many years ago. Maybe it reminds you of a particular home, a particular Christmas, or someone who is no longer there to celebrate with you.
Those are the decorations we keep.
They come out of the box every year, and somehow they feel just as familiar as the Christmas tree itself.
This is what we hope our stained glass ornaments can become.
Not something you use once and forget about, but a little piece of your Christmas collection that you will be happy to see again next year.
a christmas village made of stained glass
One of the pieces I am especially excited about this year is our Christmas Village House Stained Glass Candle Holder.
It is one of those decorations that immediately makes you think of a little house somewhere in a snowy village, with warm light glowing through the windows.
And that is exactly what we wanted it to feel like.
Place a small candle inside and the house comes alive. The light shines through the stained glass and creates that cozy winter feeling that we all start looking for once the days get shorter.
It is a stained glass Christmas village in one piece.
This design is very limited and isn't available all the time.
We make it in small quantities, so if you happen to see it in the collection, I wouldn't put it on a “maybe I'll come back to it later” list.
Christmas has a way of making that list much longer than expected.
And by December, it may already be gone.
why start your christmas shopping early?
I don't think anyone needs to start decorating their Christmas tree in August.
Please don't.
But starting your Christmas shopping early is a completely different thing.
There is something lovely about choosing gifts when you are not rushing.
You can think about the person, choose something that actually suits them, and put it aside until Christmas.
This is especially true with handmade pieces.
We don't have an endless number of each design sitting on a warehouse shelf. Some pieces take time to make, and some are produced only in small batches.
So if you already know that your mother would love the little Christmas village, or your friend collects birds, or your sister has a thing for angels, there is no real advantage to waiting.
Except perhaps giving yourself the stress of finding it later.
stained glass ornaments for the tree and windows
Not every Christmas decoration needs to go on the tree.
Our stained glass ornaments and hangings can find their place all around the home.
A window is an especially beautiful spot for stained glass because natural light can pass through the glass during the day.
A Christmas tree can also become a little collection of memories, with handmade ornaments joining the decorations you've collected over the years.
And some pieces are simply too beautiful to hide among the branches.
Here are a few of the Christmas designs from our collection that I would keep an eye on.
Christmas Star
The Christmas Star Stained Glass Suncatcher is a simple Christmas shape, but the stained glass gives it a completely different feeling.
Hang it in a window and let the winter light come through.
I especially like pieces like this because they don't have to disappear once Christmas is over. A star can stay in a window through the winter without looking out of place.
It is festive, but not overly seasonal.
Christmas Bell
There is something about a Christmas bell that instantly takes me back to childhood.
Our Christmas Bell Stained Glass Holiday Decoration is a piece with a very familiar shape, made to become part of your Christmas traditions.
It can hang on the tree, in a window, or anywhere you would like to add another little festive detail.
And because it is made from stained glass, it is something you can bring out every year.
That is the part I like most about Christmas decorations.
The ones you keep eventually become connected to your own memories.
angels that stay with you
Angels have always been part of Christmas.
Our Stained Glass Angels are made as small handmade decorations that can become part of your Christmas display year after year.
They also make thoughtful gifts.
If you have someone in your family who keeps every Christmas ornament because each one has a story, an angel is the kind of gift that fits right into that tradition.
It doesn't need to be the biggest present under the tree.
Sometimes a small handmade piece is the one that stays with someone the longest.
a little mistletoe for the holidays
Mistletoe has a rather lovely job at Christmas.
It brings romance, tradition, and a little bit of mischief into the room.
Our Mistletoe Stained Glass Ornament takes that familiar symbol and turns it into something you can bring back every year.
The green leaves and white berries make it easy to combine with other Christmas decorations, whether your home is full of traditional reds and greens or you prefer a more natural winter palette.
And unlike real mistletoe, this one won't dry out and end up on the floor.
Always a bonus.
for the bird lover in your family
If you have someone who gets excited every time a robin appears in the garden, I already know what they might like.
Our Robin Holly Bow Stained Glass Ornament combines one of the most recognizable winter birds with holly and a festive bow.
It is a lovely choice for a window, especially when you want your Christmas decorations to feel connected to nature.
And it is a little different from the usual baubles and tinsel.
Sometimes that is exactly what we want.
another little winter house
If the Christmas Village House catches your eye but you miss it, there is another option.
Our Stained Glass Cottage Candle Holder has a similar cozy feeling and is available more regularly.
It is another little stained glass house designed to glow when you place a candle inside.
I think candle holders are especially nice during the darker months. The glass already has its own character, but once you add a warm candlelight, the whole piece changes.
It feels less like a decoration and more like a tiny scene.
and then there are the bells
If you prefer something a little more traditional, our Golden Bell Stained Glass Holiday Decoration brings a warm golden tone to the collection.
It is easy to imagine it among classic Christmas decorations, but the handmade stained glass makes it feel much more personal than a mass-produced ornament.
And that is really what I love about handmade Christmas decorations.
They don't all have to match.
In fact, I think Christmas trees and homes are much more interesting when they don't.
One decoration comes from your childhood. Another was a gift. Another was bought on a trip. And another simply caught your eye one December.
Eventually, they become your Christmas.
choose them before December chooses for you
We have many more stained glass Christmas decorations in our collection, including ornaments and seasonal designs that haven't made it into this article.
Some are classic.
Some are inspired by nature.
Some are made to hang in the window, while others can become part of your Christmas tree or festive table.
And some, like our Christmas Village House, are made in such limited quantities that you may not see them again for a while.
So no, I am not telling you to start playing Christmas music in August.
I'm simply saying that if you see the piece you've been looking for, it might be worth getting it before the Christmas rush begins.
Because by the time December arrives, we would much rather see you enjoying your favorite decoration than telling us:
“I saw it in August and thought I'd come back later.”
We know how that story ends.
a little early christmas treat from us
If you like to plan ahead, you can also subscribe to our emails.
We sometimes share early discounts, special offers, and little bonuses with our subscribers before everyone else gets to see them.
It is our way of saying thank you for being part of the Avalglass family.
And now, if you'll excuse me, I have a few more Christmas pieces to finish.
It may still be summer outside.
But in our workshop, Christmas has already started.
Sincerely,
Anna Avgul and the Avalglass team
