The shop Christmas window for 2009 features a wonderful folk art train from Kirkwood, Mo.   Kirkwood is a part of the greater St. L0uis area and has some wonderful historic  homes and a railroad that goes through the center of town.  The folk art train is hand-painted and embellished with “Kirkwood Railroad” on the sides.  Click on images to enlarge.

The cut paper trees were easy to do and would also be fun used in house windows.

The Santa I used in the train is one of those wacky 1940s clay face Santas riding high on a mound of packages. The train engine is open car full of decorated trees.  Vintage brush trees provided a nice forest backdrop for Santa’s train.  Tin stars hang from the sky lighting the way for Santa and his deliveries.

Santa waves hello to all those who pass by.   Christmas seems the perfect holiday for using antique and vintage objects to decorate our houses with.   The ornaments could be grandmother’s treasured blown glass pieces or a funky 1960′s elf made of felt.  If you do not have family treasures then it’s time to start your own collection to pass onto family and friends.   The shop has many vintage Christmas pieces this year as do many other antique shops in the area.   If you are in Southwest Missouri my Mother and Sister have a wonderful shop in Ozark called Ozark Market Basket.  Their shop has many vintage holiday ornaments and decorations.  You can check out their website here.   Support small local business whenever you can and especially this time of year.  Remember when you are buying vintage you are recycling wonderful cheery reminders of Christmas past and not contributing to the mass produced excesses of our time.   Christmas doesn’t have to be about Black Friday or Cyber Monday.  The staff and I at R. Ege Antiques would like to wish a Merry Christmas to all.  Please click on images to enlarge.