The 40th Anniversary of the Christmas Attic

This year The Christmas Attic is celebrating our 40th Anniversary. We always have customers and historians come into the shop and ask us about the build and the history be

hind the attic. We have decided to retrace the steps of the shop and the people who have made us great. Enjoy the first installment,

and check back as we will continue it throughout the

year...

As the calendar year turns over, we are beginning to think about the 40th anniversary of The Christmas Attic and all the people who helped to make it what it is today. The story of the Attic begins with Henry Hobbs, the perpetual entrepreneur. In 1971, Henry and his partner Ken Schuppin found an empty tobacco warehouse building at 125 South Union Street leasing for $200 a month for a year, then going up $200 every year until it reached $1,000. "We were crazy enough to take it,"Henry says.

When Henry and Ken found the building, it was in less-than-pristine condition. More accurately, it was close to being a ruin. The building had no water, no heating or air conditioning, a hand-operated elevator, dirt floors, boards over the windows, and one light-bulb on each level. The men did most of the renovations themselves. The brick was all original salmon brick, known to be very crumbly. Henry remembers he would walk into the store to start the day’s work and find a large section of the brick wall had collapsed into a heap of rubble in the middle of the floor. They had to point-up the wall, which means putting concrete in between the bricks to make it more stable.They also poured and leveled a concrete floor on the first level, put plywood down on the second level, built the back staircase, ran pipes from outside into the building for water, and replaced all the missing glass in the first-floor windows. Henry refers to Ken as “the handy man” and himself as “the grunt labor,” but in hindsight neither one would have been considered as a host of This Old House. Still, they made up for a lack of technical skill with hard work, and they did hire an electrician and a heating and air conditioning specialist when needed.

One of the last things they did was call a locksmith to open a large 4 foot wide by 4 foot tall metal safe that was near the entrance.

They had all speculated about what might or might not have been in it. When they got the safe open, they found their prize: a 1940 nickel. That’s what Henry calls “putting your money away.”

When the shop opened, the sign read “The Picture Place.” It was a gallery and custom framing shop. The first floor was the gallery with fine art prints, the second a workshop.

Old Town at the time was nothing like what we see today, now that it has become a historic neighborhood and tourist destination with scores of shops and restaurants. The Old Town Boutique District was not even a glimmer in anyone’s eye. In fact, when The Christmas Attic opened, hardly any retailers or restaurants were anywhere nearby. Across the street was Dockside, a direct importer, and next door was a restaurant called Kings Landing where, rumor has it, Frank Sinatra once grabbed lunch. A few of Old Town’s favorite restaurants like The Fish Market and Landini Brothers moved in shortly after The Picture Place opened, but Alexandria was still a pretty sleepy place.

Around Town -- things to do as you finish your last minute shopping

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go," as one of my favorite Christmas songs says. It's true. Wherever you look, you can find signs of -- and reasons for -- holiday cheer. Here are some fun things to do around town to help you feel festive.

The National Christmas Tree is a must for any Washingtonian, or out-of-town visitor for that matter. With the weather as cold as it is, bundling up is essential. The tree is displayed with a large train track around the bottom. Christmas music plays, the holiday yule log glows, and the air is cold and crisp.

Go to the Warner Theatre now through December 26th to The Nutcracker, a great way to celebrate the season. I remember going to see it as a child with my grandmother year after year. When my husband surprised me with tickets last year, all the warm holiday memories and feelings came rushing back. This is something I mentioned a few blogs ago, but it is such a holiday classic it is hard to pass up.

Stay in and celebrate with friends. An impromptu dinner party, cocktail hour, or dessert get together is a wonderful way to enjoy the spirit of the season. Casual entertaining makes having guests over fun without all the hassle. Get a great bottle of wine, pull out the games, and enjoy the company.

If you feel like you don't have enough time to do everything on your list of holiday preparations, invite friends over for a tree-trimming party. Decorating the tree makes for a memorable and festive evening, and turns preparation into celebration. One nice touch is to choose ornaments for your guests that you think reflect them in some way, and then invite them to hang the ornaments on your tree. That way they become an ongoing part of your Christmas decor.

Of course, whether you invite your friends to join in or keep it a family tradition, decorating the christmas tree is a highlight of any Christmas season. Our advice is to think of it as an occasion in itself. Mull some cider for the kids and wine for the adults, play a mix of Christmas music old and new, and enjoy being together.

For tips on decorating your house for the holidays watch Christmas Attic owner Fay Carter on Let's Talk Live December 14th.

To finish your holiday shopping, come to Old Town Alexandria. You can find something for everyone on your list in the shops in Old Town. The Boutique District has clothing, shoes, and gifts for any special someone on your list. The new Spice and Tea Exchange on King Street is a great place to shop for the foodie in your life. Strolling around Old Town with a warm drink and a loved one is another great way to spend a holiday evening.

And finally, while you are having fun around town, remember to stop by the shop for a great selection of last minute gifts, wine for your dinner party, and collectible items to add to your collection. And if you happen to have discovered among your Christmas, decorations a pesky set of lights that just won't cooperate, don't worry -- we've got you covered there, too.

Fay's Favorite Things for December

The Christmas Attic's owner Fay Carter has a new set of favorite items for the holidays.

1. Santa Clock

Santa Claus is making his list and checking it twice to see who has been naughty and nice. This mini-clock is a great way for the kids to see when it strikes midnight on the 25th. The alarm bells on the top of the clock are a retro touch.

2. German Pyramid

Handmade wooden German pyramids have been a traditional way to decorate for hundreds of years. They are available with one sigle tier as well as up to three or four. The heat of the lit candles at the base cause the blades at the top to spin and all sides of the inside design can be seen. They make beautiful centerpieces for the holiday season. We used one to decorate the coffee table for the set of Lets Talk Live last week.

3. Wendt and Kuhn Snowflake Angels

These tiny treasure are handmade in Germany and decorated to be as sweet as can be. Notice the ring of daisies around their heads and the holiday items they are holding. Wendt and Kuhn also makes an orchestra full of these small angels each holding different instruments. These are cute enough to even have out everyday.

4. Santons

These hand-painted, terra cotta Nativity figurines are produced in the Provence region of Southeastern France. The woman harvesting Lavendar evokes the beauty of this region. Santons de Provence make a unique nativity set.

5. Wedding Ornament Set

There is an old German tradition that the christmas tree of the newlywed couple should include these 12 special ornaments to insure blessings and happiness for their lives together. This set of ornaments comes in a beautiful white box and includes a certificate that describes the meaning behind each ornament. It includes a teapot ornament for hope and faith, a flower basket for happiness and joy, and others. This is a wonderful gift for a wedding present or as a bridal shower gift.

Holiday Decorating Tricks

The time to decorate for Christmas has come! With the first of December comes cold weather and holiday decor. You can decorate any space in a variety of ways. Even if you would not consider yourself to be a decorating expert, here are some fun and easy ways to jazz up your house this holiday season.

Themed trees are always a great way to add a little sparkle. Collect food themed ornaments to put on a mini-tree in your kitchen. To give the children a little decor in their own rooms, use small table top trees for which they can make ornaments to decorate. It gives them a project to work on throughout the month.

The coolest way to decorate a small room is to get a flat tree. These trees come pre-lit, which elevates the hassle of putting lights on the tree. (If you do put on your own lights, here is a decorators tip: stand back from the tree and squint. That is the best way to see if there are any holes in the lighting.) The wall trees come in decorative urns so there is no need to mess with any tree stands. The best part of the tree is that it is decieveing. It looks full and beautiful, yet it fits in a small space against the wall. These are popular this year.

The first decoration I put up at my house is the wreath on the front door. A wreath sets a festive mood, and is also about the easiest way to bring some holiday cheer to the house to hold you over until the rest of the decorations are up.

Everyone has extra colored glass christmas balls around the house. Put them in a large bowl, glass vase, or even a holiday plate charger to make an easy and glittery centerpiece. To add some shimmer, place mercury glass candle holders around the bowl of ornaments.

The best holiday tree decorating tip to keep in mind is that the last touch when you put up your tree should be a handful of bows. Find a new ribbon each year, and you can make your tree look fun and different every time without breaking the bank.

Of course, one of the best things about decorating your house is the the decorating itself. To me, the best way to decorate involves mulled wine or cider in a favorite mug, a fire in the fireplace, and christmas music on the stereo.

A friend sent me a video that reminded me of how fun the holiday season can be. If only I were at the mall when this happened. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/user/AlphabetPhotography

Holiday Travels

With Thanksgiving only days away, the season of holiday travels is upon us. I hope that your holiday travels are smoother than Steve Martin and John Candy's in the classic Thanksgiving movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. (For fans of the movie, I'd like to pointout that the ChristmasAttic does carry pillows. "Pillows? Those aren't pillows!" Yes, fortunately, they are.) Holiday travel is always a little hectic, but usually worth the result. If it's not, perhaps a Christmas cruise is in order next year?

If you are lucky enough to be where you are going to stay for the holiday, then maybe you could include some foreign destinations in your home decorations:

Italy -- Nativities

Germany -- Handmade wooden angels

The United States -- Nutcrackers handmade in Virginia

Poland -- Blown-glass, hand-painted ornaments

Zimbabwe -- hand-painted tin ornaments

If you have the travel bug, collecting ornaments that represent all the exotic places you have been helps give your tree a personal touch. They also make fun conversation pieces for your holiday parties or dinners. When I was a child, some of theornaments on our family tree I liked most were those we found while traveling. My favorite were clothes-pins painted with bathing suits and snorkeling tubes commemorating our December trip to Jamaica one year.

Travel ornaments are a great way to incorporate places you have lived in your décor. I lived in Paris for a time, as anyone who sees my tree can tell.

I know that visiting Paris is not always feasible -- not that that stops me from bringing it up weekly to my husband -- but moving within the U.S. is common. Glasses, pillows, and dish towels are all inexpensive ways to keep your prior homes and all the memories you have of them part of the present day.

Just as you can bring the places you've traveled home and keep the past part of the present, you can send your friends and family around the country ornaments specific to Washington D.C. to remind them that they are in your thoughts. The most popular is the Official White House Historical Association 201o christmas ornament. Each year the ornament represents a different presidency, and this year it is McKinley's. (Okay, he's not one of the top 10, or 20, but it's still a pretty ornament.) You might also attach a holiday D.C. notecard to a gift you send this year, or tie this Santa-and-Rudolph-on-the-Capitol ornament onto your package's ribbon.

All Things Nutcracker

Nutcrackers have been a holiday favorite all over the world for hundreds of years. According to German folklore, the gift of a nutcracker brings luck to your family and protects your home. They are the "Watchmen" of a house. These days, nutcrackers appear in many forms. Santas, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, Ebenezer Scrooge, and even Shakespeare now appear in nutcracker form.

Making nutcrackers has long been an old world art, and collecting nutcrackers a holiday tradition. Nutcrackers also make wonderful symbolic gifts.

Nutcracker collections traditionally begin with a king. He must be displayed in a prominent location so that he can watch over his kingdom. The next piece to add should be a soldier, with a sword, lance, or pistol to protect the king. The third piece should represent good luck: in Europe traditionally a chimney-sweep is a standard lucky charm. Then comes a drummer or a prince. The drummer will drum out the good news of the kingdom, while a prince allows for the king to have an heir. Those who serve the king follow, including more soldiers to protect the king, a baker or a butcher to feed him, and some musicians to entertain him. From there your collection can grow simply as pieces inspire you. Enjoy collecting!

Germany is home to a long line of nutcrackers. Steinbach is one of the largest and oldest German nutcracker makers, and still operated by the Steinbach family. But nutcrackers also come from Virginia, where "The Nutcracker Man" Glenn Crider makes them by hand. We are happy to welcome Mr. Crider to the shop on November 14th, where he will be signing his creations.

Giving nutcrackers and adding to your own collection can be an annual holiday tradition. And if you like the nutcracker theme, a nutcracker ornament can be another way to take part in it. Christopher Radko and David Strand make blown-glass nutcracker ornaments,while the German pewter company Wilhelm Schweizer has translated the German nutcracker tradition into a hand-painted pewter ornament.

All of this talk of nutcrackers makes the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy song play in my head. If a performance of Tchaikovsky’s ballet is what you are looking for, you have a few local performances to choose from this season. The Kennedy Center's production takes place November 24-28. The Warner Theatre offers a wider array of show times for the Washington Ballet's production, December 2-26. Tickets can be purchased online. As a memento for a child seeing The Nutcracker for the first time, we offer ornaments of the four main characters: Clara, the Nutcracker, Drosselmeyer, and the Mouse-King. The ballet is one of my favorite holiday traditions, as it is for many people. Looking around the shop at all of the nutcrackers, I think I understand what made Tchaikovsky choose to make one the hero of his story. There really is something magical about them.

Fay's Favorite Things for November

The Christmas Attic owner Fay Carter has a few favorite things as we approach the holidays:

1. The Happy Couple

This winter wedding scene is made of hand-painted German pewter. This piece is a perfect wedding present for those winter weddings.

2. Kiwi Blown Glass Ornament

With Thanksgiving approaching we begin to think of the harvest. Fruit and Vegetable ornaments are a fun and festive way to decorate your house.

The kitchen is the perfect place for a small food tree. Let's face it -- even if you try to keep everyone out of the kitchen at the holidays, it never works. The kitchen is the center of everything so your guests will feel welcome. (And if they feel welcome in your kitchen, maybe they will help you cook the feast)

3. Cherry Blossom Lantern

Ornament designer Eric Cortina makes this beautiful hand-painted, Japanese-inspired lantern. The bright pink stands out beautifully on the opulent gold background. In Washington D.C. we pride ourselves on our spring Cherry blossoms; we always look forward to seeing their beautiful colors. But why wait until the spring? By decorating your holiday tree with one of these ornaments you will be reminded of the Cherry Blossom Festival in December.

4. Santa Stamp Ornament

Considering this is our Christmas Attic exclusive and Fay had a hand in designing it, we are glad this is on her favorite's list. In this unique piece, Santa is surrounded by an assortment of vintage Washington-themed postage stamps. Each piece is unique with a different assortment of stamps. On the back of Santa's cloak is written Washington, D.C., which makes this a great Christmas gift for relatives and friends scattered around the globe. The proceeds for this ornament go to providing free parenting resources through the Learning Community.

5. German Paper Advent Calendars

So many fancy advent calendars are available these days (we even carry a few styles) but the classic inexpensive paper advent calendars are still a favorite. Fay still buys them for her adult children to open every year. The countdown to Christmas is ready to begin.

Industrial Farmhouse

I recently spent a fall weekend in Philadelphia. The weather was crisp and cool, and the air smelled of apples and pumpkins. All over the city, in restaurants, shops, and hotels, were signs of the hottest trend in decorating right now: Industrial Farmhouse.

The hallmark of Industrial Farmhouse -- and yes, it's a comical name -- is the reuse of antique woods that have either been refurbished or are left in their weathered state. I learned that one company has even bought old water-towers and such just to sell the antique wood.

But you don't need to buy a water-tower or tear down a barn to make Industrial Farmhouse part of your decor. Any re-purposed wood is a great place to start. For example, I visited Pumpkin, a restaurant, market, and café that incorporates antique, distressed window panes to their modern, minimalist decor. (If you visit Philadelphia, Pumpkin is a must-visit with only seasonal, local ingredients on their menu.)

A place that I had hoped to go visit but ran out of time to see was Terrain. I have been looking at their website religiously -- not only because as a web master I hope to get some ideas, but because I want almost everything in their store. They seem to have mastered the industrial farmhouse trend effortlessly. Check them out.

French Market is also popular again (which makes me especially happy, considering I adore all things French), and we are starting to see it combined with elements of Industrial Farmhouse such as antique wood. The two work well together, and one sign of a successful trend is when people begin to incorporate elements of it into existing styles. Alternatively, to make your Industrial Farmhouse look a little fancier, you can juxtapose the repurposed wood with the opulence of velvet (again a hot item), or add sparkle by wary of mercury or chandelier glass, as described in my last blog entry.

Returning to the shop after my weekend away, I realized that we have been using the Industrial Farmhouse technique for over 30 years -- we are in an old tobacco warehouse, after all. It's always amusing when you discover that you are on the cutting edge of a trend, when you haven't made any changes. As we all know in the decorating game, everything old ends up new again at some point, which should reassure all of us that the best approach is to take what we like of the latest trends and make it part of our own personal style. Industrial farmhouse or pastoral penthouse, what matters it that it's comfortably your house.

Holiday Hues of the Season

Is it time to give your décor a seasonal make-over? Here are a few trends that will get you started for fall and also carry you into the holidays. The must-have is anything with deep rich colors, and the fabric to covet is velvet. Incorporate these elements into your décor with a mahogany candle or a velvet pumpkin.

To integrate a little sparkle with your rich colors, add a hint of shiny antique silver. Mercury glass is an elegant but affordable way to get a little shimmer. It is a double-walled blown silvered glass that has a mirrored sheen to it. With a few candles near by, it produces a warm glow. Or for a more antique look, choose chandelier glass instead, which will give you a similar effect.

These tips will carry you into the holiday season as well, so with just a few new fun pieces you can decorate for two seasons. When it comes time to get your home ready for Christmas family trees are always special. Adding a set of ornaments in a rich color such as burgundy will give your favorite tree a new look even with all your favorite family ornaments still hanging in their usual places. Mercury glass again makes a wonderful addition, reflecting your lights and making the whole tree glow. Pull it all together with bows you have made from a richly colored velvet ribbon.

As always when decorating, a small change can give a room a fresh, new look. Allow yourself to be inspired by anything you see.

"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness"

August gives way to September, and while summer doesn’t officially end until the 22^nd and the weather hasn’t begun to change yet, Labor Day weekend always feels like the end of the season to us. We’ve had a great summer here at the Attic, and between Christmas in July and Halloween in August, we’ve had a lot of fun trying to make a hot and humid summer our own. Still, I think we are all ready for the cooler days and crisper nights of autumn.

Hopefully you’ve completed your back-to-school shopping, so why not take the opportunity to give your house a fall make-over? In a few short weeks, the baskets of summer flowers and garden tomatoes and cucumbers will be gone. Maybe your house needs some new decorative touches, like a ceramic bowl with a gorgeous autumn leaf motif you can use for bread or an arrangement of seasonal vegetables, a luxurious velvet pumpkin or two to symbolize the abundance of the harvest season, or some candles in fall colors by Root. These are the highest quality soy-based, dripless candles, made by a family-owned Ohio company that has been making candles since 1869. We love them, and are thrilled to carry them in an era when some of the famous brand candle companies have been bought up by large corporations that have sadly not maintained the quality that made them our grandmothers’ favorites. (Some of those more famous candles have a distinct chemical smell these days, unfortunately.)

Speaking of pumpkins, as the days and nights turn cooler the idea of drinking a pumpkin spice latte in an oversized mug while reading a good book sounds to me like a wonderful idea. If it sounds good to you, too, we’ve got you covered: we have a delicious pumpkin spice latte mix, the mugs, and even the books. Or if lattes aren’t, so to speak, your cup of tea, come in to see the latest wines. My own policy? Lattes in the morning, wine in the evening, and I’m a happy woman.

Finally, to put us all in the spirit of the season, here are the first few lines of John Keats’ wonderful ode, “To Autumn”:

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;

To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core

Santa's Off-Season

People ask us what a Christmas store does in the summer. Of course, we do carry merchandise that is appropriate to the summer season. Alexandria sees a large number of tourists when the weather is hot, and they are happy to see a bunch of red, white, and blue when they come in the door. But meanwhile, Christmas is never far from our minds, and we spend a lot of our time looking out for new holiday products and placing orders so that the shop is full and magical when the season comes around. You’d be surprised how early we need to place orders in order to guarantee we will have our pick of all of people’s favorite lines and designers.

Most of all, we love getting people thinking about Christmas all year round. To that end, we celebrate Christmas in July. For us, Christmas is a state of mind, not a date on the calendar. We love it, and we like to pass the cheer on to those around us. The way we see it, holiday festivities should not be limited to just when there is snow on the ground; the warmth and joy of the holidays are never out of season. Besides, seeing Santa in a bathing suit always makes people smile.

Introducing the Christmas Attic Wine Club

Recently we have started carrying wine. We think of it as a way to keep the holiday spirit going year round. Come by the store and get your free Wine Club card. With the card, for every five bottles of wine you buy, you get the sixth for half-price. It’s as easy as getting a stamp.

These are some of the wines we are featuring this month:

Viognier Sainte Fleur from the Rhone Valley — This is a great wine for a Francophile on a budget. Viognier is one of the most famous grapes of France's Rhone Valley. It is an extremely aromatic variety redolent of ripe peaches and wild flowers. Many labels use it to add aromatic complexity to blended wines, but on its own it delivers a rich, soft wine with deep flavors of honey, peach, apricot, and tangerine.

Gruner Vietliner — This is a white Austrian wine for a night you want to splurge. The dominant citrus and peach flavors are accented by spicy notes of pepper, a combination that pairs exceptionally well with food. It’s a great choice for your next dinner party.

Bon! Bon! 2008 Shiraz Rosé — Rosés were out of fashion for too long. Now they are hot, and we say it’s about time. This delicious, medium-bodied offering is loaded with character. The striking bottle makes it a fantastic choice as a gift to the girly girl in your life.

Mommy's Time Out Pinot Grigio — For the stressed out and overworked Mom (and aren’t they all?), this is a delicate and fruity wine with notes of pear and citrus, plus a hint of almond.

Ladybug White table wine — A great choice for the gardener in your life: a perfect summer wine with subtle flavors of pear, apple, and honeysuckle.

Bitch Bubbly South Australian Sparkling Wine — The name might raise a few eyebrows, but this is an excellent wine to celebrate a night out with the girls or even a bachelorette party. It is also available in a mini-bottle.

Terra Andina Carménère— The Carménère grape, grown almost exclusively in Chile, is known as the lost grape of Bordeaux. Centuries ago, it was one of the six classic Bordeaux grapes. In France, it is sometimes called Grande Vidure. This is a classic Carménère, with a deep red color, medium body, and a flavor a little softer than a cabernet sauvignon. It also is ready to drink sooner, which is good news because you won’t want to wait.

A reminder: our license does not allow us to ship wine, so you have to come into the store to buy it.

And so it begins . . .

Hi Christmas Attic fans!

Here goes -- we are finally joining the blogging world. It’s about time, of course. We’ve gotten a tip that Santa even has an iPad these days, and as one of the Big Guy’s most loyal affiliates we need to keep up. You may have noticed that the website has undergone a face-lift recently. This blog is part of our continued effort to make the Christmas Attic website the best place to turn when you are making your holiday and decorating plans.

Our plan is that this blog will be a way to post updates of events that are happening at the shop, information about new items from the designers we know and love, and announcements about entirely new product lines we will be carrying. We also plan to offer decorating ideas and gift-giving guides. Occasionally, we may even use it to share some of what goes on while running a family business day-to-day.

Of course, a blog is only as good as its readers, so we encourage your feedback and replies to the posts we have written, suggestions about what you would like to see us doing, and topics you would like us to explore.

Thanks for reading, and let us know what you would like to see.