Victorian Porch Tour 2010

Something old.....

Something new!!!!!! This year we spent much time on this new display! This neighbor has long wanted some Wise Men. We felt like it would be a really big job so we have waited until we felt like we could get it done in one year. Their costumes came together with trial and error- a tablecloth here, some ribbon there, an old velvet skirt I outgrew, a trip to Eclectic, AL to a fabric store/warehouse. The hats came from an antique store. Our resident sculptor made the faces and did the hairstyles. The bodies are pieces of mannequins from thrift stores.

They got rave reviews from the crowds!

They are both mine!

Christmas in August

It is so hard to think about Christmas and snow when the temperature is 98 degrees! But that is just what I have been doing! Due to the rain last Christmas there were a lot of repairs to make this year. We have given new costumes to 6 of the figures and we are excited to introduce 3 brand new figures this year. They will have a grand reveal before the tour. Right now they are top secret!

Scarlett (the lady in the green top with her back to you) is coming home with me soon. Her costume is falling apart and it is easier for her to come to me for a fitting. She has had back surgery this summer and is doing much better. She was doubled over. It hard to see him, but, her husband is to her left- Rhett. And Bonnie Blue is to her right. I know they are not Victorian characters, but she is wearing green velvet so the name fits!

Victorian Front Porch Tour

Many years ago my new husband and I stood on a corner in front of a shabby Victorian house. We had a blended family with 4 children and a baby on the way. We dreamed of living in one of these big old homes where we could have more room for our growing family. It was December and the city was walking through the neighborhood enjoying the Victorian Front Porch Tour. The historic homes were decorated with Santas, elves, angels, and Victorian people. It was magic!!!

By the time that "baby" started Kindergarten we lived in that house and were in the process of restoring it! We are still in the process....the "baby" is now 13. We will never be done, but it is a work of love!

The Porch Tour is 17 years old. It started when my former neighbor, artist Jan Jones, had some life sized paper mache Santas that were not being used that Christmas. She and some of the other neighbors decided to sit up some displays on a few porches for the city to enjoy. It grew every year!

The porches are lit up each night for a driving tour starting Wednesday, December 9th. On Saturday the streets are closed at 5:30 to traffic so that people can stroll on the streets, enjoy entertainment on many of the porches and get a closer look at the displays. Many of the neighbors dress up in Victorian costumes to greet the guests. And it is free! It is Opelika's gift to the community. Here are a few pictures from last year!

The Tree

The tree is different this year! It has to be relocated to the parlor, near the stairs. I took the bottom 4 feet off, so this is the top 8 feet of the tree. Since it is much shorter I thought that it would stand up without support...I was SO wrong! The morning after I put it up - Lulu took it down! Now it is tied to the stairs.

I combined ornaments from our "Wonderful Life" tree with a few of the smaller ornaments from the big tree.

Tomorrow we set up for the Victorian Porch Tour. The figures have been delivered to the porches. We will go around to each porch and arrange the pieces, add snow and dust with glitter! I sure hope it does not rain!!!!

Hide the Turkeys!

Early this morning One of my friends called needing to take some pictures for the newspaper for Porch Tour PR. My kitchen was a mess and the part that looked the best was covered with "turkey" items. So quickly I shoved the turkeys in a corner and hauled out a little Christmas. Instant Christmas cookies being prepared for the Tour!

After the photos I shoved it all away and turned the Turkeys loose for 2 more days! Eli was not impressed since he felt like he should be the subject of the pictures. He did manage to get in a couple, so people will probably be afraid to eat cookies at my house - since the pug helped make them!

He is all dressed up in his Auburn football shirt since the big game is Saturday! War Eagle!

This and That

I have had to get back to the "real" world this week -which means Porch Tour, soccer, and sewing. I still have another week off of violin, but I did go by school today to get a flu shot! Ouch! I didn't take any pictures of my sewing job this week yet. It's a baby boy's nursery in primary colors -very bright and cheerful!



At the Santa Studio we are really getting into the heavy repairs. This week we worked on this display.

This is Millie, her neck was broken, I had to pull back her dress and replaster her neck. Then I replaced the lace collar and made her a new slip and pantaloons. After she dried we repainted her neck and shoes-then redressed her. She sits in Santa's arms. Somehow Santa fell off the truck last year and the wire that held her in place cut through her neck! Santa was bashed. First we had to undress him and go inside his chest to fix his neck and body.
In his chest we found that he was built in 1994 , so he was one of the early Santas.Trust me - he will look a lot better when we repair him!



Thursday night I was a soccer mom. Youngest boy had a game that had been rescheduled and only 5 players showed up for our team. The other team all showed up. We lost- but they played hard- no breaks- no substitutions. They were really tired. The Dads cheered them on and offered bribes to keep them going. DH offered him an ipod if he could score 2 goals- these were desperate times! He scored one and had a good assist on the second. Even the ref was hoping he could score. On the other team the goalie's Dad said he was taking away his son's cell phone if T scored! I know this sounds crazy- but it was all in good fun! This is a really laid back sport and the parents cheer for both sides no matter what team your child is on. Our older sons played baseball and the parents were out for blood. We did not like that!

This is one worn out boy!
Trying so hard to get the second goal! Maybe Santa was watching.....
I was embarrassed to pick up Bitsey at the vet's Monday. Her harness was so dirty and ripped! So today the princess got a new one- War Eagle or pumpkin orange!

Saving, Sewing, and Santas

Three words that sum up my week- saving,sewing and Santas (throw in some swimming, too)! Starting with some good savings at my favorite stores - CVS and Walgreens. Total spent =$24.66 and money back in receipt rewards to spend next week = $19.99. So for $4.67 I got $ 87.81 worth of stuff. Not everything is pictured - I got a few clearance items that I forgot to put in the picture -flags and patriotic banners for next year- 90% off! The magazine and tissue were freebies that came in the mail !

Sewing- I spent most of my sewing time on this Alice in Wonderland costume and a few more outfits for football season like I made last week! No Etsy shop in my future right now- maybe after Christmas. It is something I have considered but when I sewed for a local store that made custom kids clothes I was overwhelmed! I like people to come up with the idea and then I make it for them- one or two of a kind - not mass production! So Maggie and Christina- if you have a design in mind let me know!

And Santa - we started on the Porch Tour this week. Our displays have been in exile. They now have a home. The Rec Center and city cleaned up and painted this storage space and work space for us. They also installed new secure garage doors. We had help from some local civic clubs and in an hour and a half this empty hall and the two rooms were filled with our refugees!

The large white ghostly figure on the left -behind the little angels is my beloved Santa - he is wrapped in a sheet. Many of them have names and stories -the girl in the red cape used to be called Red Riding Hood. About 5 years ago she was kidnapped on the day we were taking them down and packing them up. A few days later she was spotted about 25 miles away in a trailer park. A rescue mission was launched (the police and a couple neighbors) and she came home. She is now called "Amazing Grace" she once was lost, but now is found!! I cleaned her up and combed her hair and she was good to go the next Christmas- but we keep a chain on her!

This is the repair area- in the back you can see Peggy Sue and the Woodsman. Both of them lost arms in the move. The Woodman stands in our backyard and Peggy Sue is across the street. We had several casualties last year. Many have clay faces that crack (especially when they fall off moving trucks!) and the mannequins tend to lose body parts that are not secured well. Then we also have to touch up faded clothes and fluff up bows and flowers.

Poor Santa - he looks like a hostage! Never fear - he'll look great the 2nd weekend in December!

The next post will be 100! I'll announce my Celebration Giveaway!!