The Christmas Times^TM, the Official E-Mail Newsletter of Family Christmas Online^TM and Affiliated Sites

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In This Issue

But we have to get "back on track" somewhere, and if there is enough interest, we hope to do better in the coming year.

And to be honest, every year after I get things set up and set out, lights strung, etc., I think of something I should have done or at least ought to consider next year. So each year's outdoor Christmas displays and decorations (the ones I'm responsible for) are almost a sort of rehearsal for next years'. Maybe we'll give you some ideas you can use in the future regardless.

In the meantime, much has changed since I set up my first Christmas sites in 2006. We plan to have useful holiday content going forward, but part of this newsletter will be used to is going to discuss changes you will see.

Site Changes - Site work we have to do that doesn't really have anything to do with Christmas (sorry), but which you may notice, includes:

• HTML Updates - Newer browsers don't like all of our code. We're trying to adjust for that, including things like making links easier to read.

• Legal Issues - On most pages, we now have to include announcements about things like paid advertising and "tracking cookies" (which we don't actually use unless you sign up for a discussion forum). We apologize for the clutter, but we run the risk of heavy fines if we don't.

• Advertiser Changes - Because of changing vendor policies, we've had to remove Hawthorne Village as an advertiser. Unfortunately, that means removing many embedded links, many of which we haven't got to, yet. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Changes in Crafting Overall - In addition, the world of crafting has changed dramatically since we started these pages.

• Abundant Resources - The number of craft resources has exploded; it seems like whenever we think up or come across any clever little thing, an internet search brings up dozens of nearly identical projects.

• Flood of Asian Imports - In addition, anything that is remotely trendy turns up at places like Home Depot and Hobby Lobby before we get a chance to buy the materials and make it ourselves.

• Advances in Technology - Improvements in craftcutters (like Cricut and Silhouette) allow crafters to quickly turn out many kinds of crafts that used to demand a lot of manual cutting, etc. Not to mention that the falling costs of laser wood cutters and 3D printers is making even more automated options available.

Consequently, any new craft projects we feature in the future will be things that we're pretty sure no one else has thought of that are still worth doing (a pretty short list these days).

Craftcutter Updates

Speaking of Craftcutters, I spent some time recently testing out both older and newer Cricuts and Cameos. In the process, I also learned that the Internet has a lot of misinformation about these machines, especially about the older ones, which are still quite useful for most purposes. (Sounds like an expired grocery store item, doesn't it?)

So my new site for hobbyists using craftcutters, includes a lot of "Frequently Asked Questions" type articles, to get folks who haven't already sorted through all this "up to speed." (I'm still working on most of the hobby-specific articles.)

If you're wondering about issues like the usefulness of an old machine, linking your cartridge collection to your Cricut account, or whether a Cricut or Cameo will serve your needs better, you may find helpful answers on that site.

Articles you might find helpful include:

• Cricut (r) Frequently Asked Questions.

• Legacy Cricut (r) Frequently Asked Questions

And don't worry about this part not having a direct Christmas connection. Once you download ONE free Christmas pattern, you'll be inundated with free and $1 holiday patterns the rest of your life.

Putz House Growth

• Our sister site, CardboardChristmas.com, contains instructions and tips for the beginner, intermediate, and advanced putz house hobbyists.

• The CardboardChristmas.com Discussion Forums allow you to interact with dozens of the country's best putz house experts and builders. Plus accessing hundreds of tips, examples, and even plans. The forum was so popular I had to start a $1 a month membership to keep it down to people who were really interested in participating, and it's still growing.

• For the most complete line of authentic replacement putz house parts, check out my friend Pete Oehman's CardboardPutzHouses.com site.

• For a continuous stream of fresh new, downloadable putz house and Christmas ornament projects, check out my friend Lucy's PaperGlitterGlue pages. A fun craft she just added, based on another friend's design, is a collection of vintage-style cardboard Christmas ornaments you can cut out by hand or with a craftcutter. Lucy also has some books of putz house patterns and related crafts you may find helpful, or to give as gifts to the crafter in your life.

Christmas Train Set Update

This year while I was sorting out which trains to run, I made a list of "Large Scale" (G gauge) Christmas-themed trains produced by Bachmann. Most are discontinued, but frequently available on eBay or elsewhere. They look great running around my railroad outside, but they are positively jaw-dropping around your Christmas tree.

If this sort of thing interests you, my article on Bachmann's Large Scale Christmas Trains will give you some direction if you ever start looking for them.

We know it's too late to think about adding a train to your display or tree this Christmas. But we'll try to keep you updated on new offerings that will be available next year.

It's Still a Privilege to Share

This year two stories will apparently be featured in "The Penn Pal," the newsletter of Palatines to America German Genealogy Society:

• Our article: " Don't Try This At Home (Anymore) - Dangerous Decorations People Used To Use," and

• The late "Papa" Ted's story about the cat sleeping in the train tunnel from this page (you have to scroll down a bit).

In addition, several images of vintage Christmas trees from Papa Ted's archives and lights from the Nelson Brothers' OldChristmasTreeLights.com files are being used in video presentations. I'll try to publish the links if they ever get put online.

Another favorite that is frequently published in church newsletters, and has been read aloud at more than one Christmas Eve service is our article "Could Christmas Possibly Come at a Worse Time?

All we ever ask is that you contact us ahead of time, and that you give appropriate credit.

Magical Mantels, Redux

My friend Antoinette Stockenberg is a novelist who lives near Rhode Island's seashore and often writes about seaside communities. When the weather turns cold, she has been known to relocate (temporarily) to warmer climates. But before she heads south, she sets up a tiny community on her very large mantel. It includes traditional-style cardboard houses and many small German-made metal figures called zinnfiguren.

These figures are the direct descendants of the "lead soldiers" children used to make in their own homes a century or two ago. They are almost flat, with just enough detail to look almost three-dimensional from the right angle.

Because of their history, the vast majority of zinnfiguren you come across have a military design. Antoinette's carefully curated collection is civilian-only, which is an accomplishment in itself. Arranging them artfully in front of classic antique and reproduction "putz" houses takes a good eye.

But just collecting and arranging isn't enough, though. As a writer, Antoinette has named most of the figures, and she tells a story about each one. New stories every year.

As of this posting Antoinette's 2021 web page isn't quite finished. But her 2020 setup and stories are still available. And frankly, her stories are all more interesting than the Hallmark movies this year. So take a look.

http://antoinettestockenberg.com/WideMantels_2020.htm

To see descriptions of Antoinette's many great "reads," click here.

Keep in Touch

Each month, we get more interest in this newsletter, in our Christmas sites, and in the Christmas traditions, ideas, and memories we discuss. We welcome your questions and comments as indicators of what we should be working on next (also, we always try to answer reader questions quickly). In addition, if you have any photos, tips, or articles you'd like to share with your fellow Christmas enthusiasts, please let us know.

Best Wishes!

As always, our hope is that we can continue helping you and your family (as Dickens said of Scrooge):

Honor Christmas in your heart, and
"try to keep it all the year."

In the meantime, please keep in touch, and let us know what you'd like to see added or changed.

May God grant you joy and wonder every season of this year,

Paul and Shelia Race

http://FamilyChristmasOnline.com

http://CardboardChristmas.com

http://OldChristmasTreeLights.com

Click the following link to view our December, 2018 newsletter:

http://familychristmasonline.com/fco_newsletter/18_12_c_times.htm

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