Christopher Radko Brunch in Tarrytown, NY

LYNDHURST TO HOST “BRUNCH WITH SANTA” WITH SPECIAL GUEST

CHRISTOPHER RADKO

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14TH IN TARRYTOWN, NY

The Public Is Invited to This Charming and Fun Family Event

TARRYTOWN, NY (November 17, 2008) –Lyndhurst, a museum property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation is pleased to present “Brunch with Santa,” a delightful event for families, to be held on Sunday, December 14th in the Carriage House of this magnificent Hudson River estate.  Christopher Radko, considered a holiday icon by ornament collectors around the world will be the special guest at brunch and will also meet and greet visitors during the Fairy Tale Holiday evening hours on the 14th.

Mr. Radko will join Mr. Claus in welcoming guests of all ages for a delicious holiday brunch in the carriage house, a chance to see the magic of the fairy tales in the mansion and a special opportunity to have a photo taken with Santa.  This event is a wonderful addition to the continuing tradition of Lyndhurst’s fantasy holiday spectacular with eighteen of the period rooms of the stunning Gothic Revival mansion decorated in a different fairy tale theme.

“There is no other historic home in the entire country that celebrates Christmas with such lavish yet whimsical joy as Lyndhurst,” said Mr. Radko, designer of brilliantly colored hand-made ornaments and decorations that are prized by collectors and are part of the holiday festivities throughout Lyndhurst and a tradition in homes throughout the world. Mr. Radko sold his ornament design company in 2005 and remains a best-selling author and top consultant on home décor and style.  He is the author of Christopher Radko’s Ornaments (Clarkson Potter), Christopher Radko’s Heart of Christmas (Random House) and several other books.

“Brunch with Santa” will be served in the Carriage House at 11 AM.  Mr. Radko will be on hand all afternoon as well as for the Fairy Tale Holiday evening hours of 3-6pm.  Tickets to the brunch event are $45 for adults and $35 for children age 4-14 and are available by advance reservation.  The children’s ticket price includes one 5” x 7” color photo with Santa taken by a professional photographer.

Built in 1838, Lyndhurst was once the country estate of financier and tycoon Jay Gould, as well as New York City mayor William Paulding and entrepreneur George Merritt.  Situated on 67 acres overlooking the Hudson River, the estate was privately owned for more than 120 years until Mr. Gould’s youngest daughter gave it to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1961.

Lyndhurst is located 1/2 mile south of the Tappan Zee Bridge on Route 9 (Broadway) in Tarrytown, NY.   Open for Fairy Tale evenings in December; Saturdays, 4-7 PM and Sundays 3-6 PM.  Admission is $15 adults, $6 children 3-12, children under 3 are free.  Historic guided tours are available on weekends and Holiday Mondays Nov.1 – mid-April 10 AM-3 PM. Admission is $12 adults, $11 seniors, $6 children 6-16, children under 5 are free with a paying adult.  For more information, visit www.lyndhurst.org or call (914) 631-4481.

2008 Soffieria De Carlini Exclusive Ornaments

News just in from Italy … Celebrate the Holidays with De Carlini Ladies

Each holiday season, the De Carlini Workshop creates a set of very special ornaments to celebrate the holiday season.  This year’s exclusives are six free blown Italian “ladies” costumed for holidays throughout the year.

Miss Valentine’s Day
Miss Mardi Gras
Miss St. Patrick’s Day
Miss Independence Day
Miss Halloween
Miss Christmas

Each style is limited to 200 pieces and each is signed and numbered.

$51 + Shipping from Italy

Available only from Soffieria De Carlini

Friends in Christmas Folk Art Show, Martinsburg WV

Looking for a fun getaway this weekend?  Folk artist Paul Gordon is hosting a Christmas folk art show at his Martinsburg, WV studio November 15, , 2008 from 9 AM to 2 PM.

Friends in Christmas

204 South Queen Street, Martinsburg, WV 25401

Participating artists include:

Kitty Babendrier
Stacey Bear
Lori Ann Corelis
Allen Cunningham
Dara DiMagno
Paul Gordon
Nichol Sayre
Scott Smith
Roberta Taylor

See the links at the right for more information about these talented artists and their work.

Free Blown Italian Ornaments … the Magic of Soffieria De Carlini

Flamboyant, whimsical, abstract and timeless; these are the words that describe the mouth-blown character glass ornaments of Soffieria De Carlini. Treasured around the world, the De Carlini workshop near Milan has been producing unique and fanciful creations since 1947.

Indicators of the De Carlini commitment to excellence abound, such as their 10-year dominance as the principal manufacturer of Italian glass ornaments over the huge American market. The talented family was “discovered” in the early 1980s by Wally Bronner, of Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan. One of America’s largest Christmas retailers, Bronner was captivated by the intricate hand painting of De Carlini’s unique pear shaped ornaments, and he shrewdly decided to import them. An immediate success, the De Carlini reputation was about to grow quickly.

Always a family affair, the De Carlini business has maintained a strong artistic presence since the beginning. Using feathers, lace, ribbons, maribou and glitter to elaborately decorate their mouth-blown characters, they became famous for a unique look in a crowded ornament industry.

Doesn't this finial capture the true spirit of Christmas?
Italian Finial

Today, Rosa De Carlini, her husband Guilio Terruzzi and son Luca run the family workshop.  The trio, as well as staff artisans, creates the fanciful figurals using traditional manufacturing techniques while also embracing 21st century technology. One of the best examples of this is their charming web site, designed to showcase their talents and offer exclusive styles directly to collectors.  Each design is limited to 200 pieces, is hand numbered and personally signed by Rosa De Carlini.

Highly collectible, the De Carlini ornaments produced over 55 years ago are as timeless as today’s styles. The infamous Coco Chanel once said, “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”  I think collectors everywhere would agree the De Carlini designs fit this to a tee!

— Susan McCann

The Celebrate365 online store offers a wide selection of free blown Italian ornaments from the De Carlini workshop.  Add at bit of whimsy to your Christmas tree!

Celebrate365 Recommends the EZ Rotating Christmas Tree Stand

EZ Rotating Christmas Tree Stand
EZ Rotating Christmas Tree Stand

Each year as collectors begin decorating for Christmas, Celebrate365 subscribers share tips and recommendations. Since our subscribers are serious about about displaying glass ornaments to their best advantage, we will be sharing their tricks and tips for creating dazzling holiday trees and displays.

First up for discussion —

  • Why would I want a rotating tree stand?
  • What is the best stand?
  • Where can I buy it?

Why would I want a rotating tree stand?

If you love ornaments, it does not take long for you to collect more that you can possibly fit onto one tree. Not everyone has the space or the energy to decorate multiple trees. A rotating stand allows you to make the most of the tree that you have. It allows you to decorating every inch of the tree!

A Magical Display

Besides being a practical solution to using your space to its best advantage, placing your tree in a rotating stand creates a magical display in your home. Remember those animated department store windows that mesmorized you as a child? A rotating stand allows you to bring that sense of enchantment into your own home. Visitors to your home might just pull up a chair in front of the tree and watch the ornaments as the slowing pass by!

What is the best stand?

Celebrate365 readers and Glass Links discussion group members overwhelming recommend the EZ Rotating tree stand. I personally own three of them that have been in operation for at least ten years. I have never had a problem and I’m sure that I exceed the manufacturer recommendation as far as “weight” is concerned. Readers share similar stories. H M S MFG currently produces the EZ Rotating stand.

Home Logic Rotating 8′ Artificial Christmas Tree Stand

Product Description

The base is made of a heavy, durable plastic that can securely rotate up to 150 lbs. of artificial Christmas tree. The base also has two outlets to keep lights from getting tangled. It also is perfect for stringing lights or garland. Just stand in one place, turn on the rotating stand and let the Rotating Tree Stand do the work!

  • Holds trees up to 8.5′ tall with maximum weight of 150 lbs
  • Separate On/Off Switch for lights & rotation
  • Rotates 360 degrees
  • Light sets & plugs never tangle
  • Use up to 2,000 mini lights
  • Patented collar design automatically centers tree
  • Holds tree poles up to 1.25″ Diameter
  • 23.25″ base prevents tipping for ultra-stability
  • Two sets of precision bearings support the weight of both the tree and decorations
  • Bidirectional clutch protects the motor mechanism if tree is obstructed or forced either forward or backward
  • If rotation is obstructed, a warning click sounds
  • Two electrical receptacles turn with stand, so lights turn, too — light strings never tangle
  • Circuit breaker, just push to reset
  • Rated for 8 Amps/120 Volts/960 Watts

Manufacturer: H M S MFG
Other products by H M S
Model number: 111
UPC Code: 025947010110
ID/SKU: 0072838

Available at:

Read more about Rotating Stands at About.com with Barbara Crews

And, a picture is worth 1,000 words! Watch the manufacturer video on You Tube.