Throughout my kids’ lives, I have painted an ornament each year for them to hang on our tree. Ry is still a bachelor and lives in an apartment we built onto our home, so he shares our tree, (plus most of his apartment is a home gym, with punching bags and weights, not exactly Christmas tree friendly).
But Adam lives with his pretty little hippy chick and Sugarwings, so I think it is time to pack up all of his ornaments and send to his own happy home.
The teddy on the rocking horse was an early one for him, painted in 1981.
But his all time favorite was the pink Care Bear. My little guy was never afraid to be fond of pink toys. He had a pink water balloon named Pinky that lived for over a week and went every where with him when he was four. He wrapped Pinky up in a towel "blanket" to cuddle it. (the towel came in handy when Pinky met his demise)
This was one rough, tough, little boy, but he had his sweet side too, and that might be why he is such a great dad now.
This Care Bear ornie is even more special now, because Sugarwings is a huge Care Bear fan, and her uncle Ryan is giving her a big stuffed pink Care Bear for Christmas.
Some of the balls that I painted over the years are satin, most are glass.
When I was a single mother, working as a waitress, I used to buy all the kid’s Christmas gifts with money I made by selling hand painted ornaments for $3- $5 each. And my hand painted ornaments were the gifts I gave to everyone else. I still do a few dozen each year as presents, as well as selling them.
I also used to paint these pre-made ceramic pieces too. These two horses were painted to look like our own horses, Scooter and Fairy Belle. I think these were made for Adam in his Jr. High years. 
Here is a cartoon of Adam as a high school wrestler.
And a moon face for the year he had his bedroom done up in gargoyles.
The marble looking balls were some that he and I made together, by pouring and then swirling acrylic paints and glitter into clear glass balls.
Sadly, not all the ornaments survived, we’ve had a few mishaps over the years. But I have quite a few to pass on and to hope he will pass on to Sugarwings someday.
Some of them do make me cringe, looking back at them. I think I was lucky to sell my work for five bucks back then! They were all cute, but maybe not that good.
I enjoy seeing the progression of my style over the years. And I am glad I didn’t trash the ones I painted when I was young, no matter how bad they look to me now. 
Some of my sentimental things always make it into my holiday decor, things that aren’t necessarily Christmas items.
Like this scrapbook, that I made last year of Sugarwings. I have it opened to the page of her first Xmas. 
(of course, I made the book so thick, it never closes anyway!)
The book that Mr. Snowman (the doll is not sentimental, only 50 cents at a garage sale) is reading was written by a friend, Vicky Howard. And the apron covering the chair was sent to me by my great Aunt Caroline who is turning 100 this next summer.
I had painted this little wooden box for my mom one year. And she didn’t really like cats, so i don’t remember why I painted a kitten for her.
I think I was just in a kitty phase and was painting a lot of kittens in late 80s.
I always have family things on display year round and dedicated one wall in my stair way to paintings and photos of people I love.
The background of the oval painting of my mom is of a quilt she made for me. And I hung the necklace she wore in the painting to a nail I put into the frame. It is a charm necklace that I made for her, and she used to wear it a lot.
Here is a painting I did of my husband’s grandmother, and also used a quilt she gave to me as a background. 
Her name was Gladys, so I added a gladiola to the painting.
I used her quilt top as a table cloth in the library and set out more family scrapbooks on it.
One page is open to Grandma Nathan’s picture in a cabinet card. The background is "quilted" with strips of paper, and I tied a teeny sewing machine charm to the flap of the photo cover.
And the card opens up to the photo I did the painting of.
Well, I’d better get to work. I have a studio to clean up and turn into a dining room.
Does this look like a place you’d want to eat Christmas dinner?????
I have packed up a few things, sold a few, gave some away, and then the rest of the things from my sale are just shoved here and there and every where. I have to do a major transformation, plus buy gifts for my family and wrap them. And did I mention that not a single Xmas card has been made or sent??? I’ve been in bed with the flu and have severely fallen behind.
Heck, I’ve shown you bad artwork from my youth, the total wreck of my studio, I’m sure you’d love to see the ultimate in NON-eye candy photos- me recovering from the flu. Ugh. Now, I have probably chased away all my readers for good!
At least I have Twinkle by my side through it all.
Now, for a shower and back to work. Or maybe a nap.
PS– here is a little tidbit of decorating advice from my funny freind, Beth. She was sick too, and stayed at an auction long enough to buy a transferware bowl before going home to bed, and I said, at least she had a pretty puke bowl to keep by her bed.
"That’s a pleasant thought- maybe you should write an article about how to keep living a lovely life while you sick- pretty puke bowls, arrange your pills in the shape of flowers, use antique lace hankies instead of kleenex to blow your nose, take your cough medicine from a sterling silver spoon"
I do hope you feel better! You look lovely even when you are sick. What special memories those ornaments hold – I’m with you – good thing you kept even the ones you don’t like so much. These will certainly make a wonderful family heirloom.
Karla
Poor Karla! I wondered where you’d been lately. Hope you’re feeling back to your sprightly self real soon.
I love the paintings you did of your mom and husband’s grandmother. Those are real heirlooms! I’m glad I saved my old artwork, too. It’s a reminder of how far I’ve come!
LOL!! It never occured to me to take a picture of me being sick! And I didn’t have a cute nurse like Twinkle- I had to fight Milo for the couch.
Oh you poor thing, I’m sorry you’ve been sick, but hopefully you are on the way to feeling better. It would stink to be sick at Christmas! Love the pictures of your ornaments through the years! What beautiful portraits you did of your family and I love that you hung the necklace over your mom’s portrait!
That’s a lovelty sentimental journey you have taken us on. Family is everything and your many special treasured memories. I have seen you miracle studio transformations before! Hope you feel better soon:)
Hope you feel better soon, no fun to be sick near Christmas. Get lots of rest 🙂
Such wonderful memories 🙂
crystalxo
Sorry to hear you are feeling under the weather, but the pictures of your studio make me feel ok about my house(The room that holds my excess stuff and my organized chaos)that is eye candy to me. Hope you feel better!
Karla, I hope you’re feeling better soon!! I loved reading about all of your family ornaments. And it made me a little sad to think of sending off my kids one day, all grown, with their favorites (which pretty much make up our whole tree right now!!). I’ve missed checking in with you the last few days. My computer is back up and running and I have photos again…yeah!!!
Oh No Karla – get lots of rest and get well quick !!
Lovely pics too!
xo
Mary
your children are so lucky to have all of those wonderful ornaments from the past years! Hopy you feel better soon- I’m your mirror image- everyone is sick here!
Bless your heart! Do I need to put my big girl Nurse hat on and come take care of you?
Mucinex DM 1 every 12 hours with lots of water. Your RN friend,
Carol
It’s so fun to look back on the memories the ornaments hold! Good thing you kept them too, as you can see how you have developed into different techniques! I still have an “80’s” duck hanging on my tree-an ornament that I made and although I cringe sometimes when I see it, I have fond memories of making them! Hope your feeling better soon, twinkles will see to it!
Oh poor Karla! Bummer to be sick at Christmas. My son is home barking today. I mean coughing. LOL
Get better quick. I should show some of the ornaments I’ve made over the years. I was thinking the same thing too…I can’t believe people bought them. (mine not yours-I think yours are cute)
Oh you guys crack me up! Chic sick!
I was wondering where where you were – hope you are feeling better!
Joy
Oh poor sick you!!!! Hope you get well soon!!!
LOVE the ornaments you have painted over the years, you have a wonderful way of creating memories. The portraits are fantastic too. Love that you kept them all!
Karla, hope you are feeling better.
What a wonderful collection of ornaments Adam will now have to pass onto the sweet little Sugarwings.
Alison
Thank you for sharing all your ornaments of Christmas past! I know your children will be so happy to have them and as time goes on they will be even more and more precious to them! Bless your heart….get well! Barbara
Southern Lady’s Vintage
Common girl!! You look great even when you’ve been sick! Ha Ha! You don’t look bad at all.
You had me laughing so hard with the puke bowls and lace comment.
I love all the wonderful things that you and your talent make!
Stay well.
Shelley
I do hope you start to feel better. I loved the trip down memory lane, but I really think we should be living the good life while being sick. I think making flowers out of our pills is a wonderful idea.
Karen
Oh you just crack me up! Well, one way to get sympathy is to show us a sick picture! Hope you are feeling better, at least you have being sick out of the way for Christmas. Why is it someone has to get sick at Christmas time. Never good when it is the woman of the house! Loved seeing all your pretty things. It is fun to see those fun memories and how your talent has progressed. Happy Christmasing!
Karla,:)
the ornaments with a sentimental value are the best to keep.I loved the carebears as a little girl and it’s nice to see they’ve made a comeback. I think your blog rating will go up with the realness you’ve shared 🙂 so keep em coming. Hope you feel better soon !
It is all so beautiful. I hope you feel better soon. Merry Christmas
I think the pictures of you mom and your aunt with their quilts are very special, and I like the way you’ve displayed your mom’s necklace.
I hope you will feel very much better soon.
Love your blog, and your home and your sweet traditions of painting an ornament for your kids each year!
Hope you feel better real soon!
Merry Christmas to you;-))
Jeannene
Hi, Karla, sorry you have been down with the flu. I hope you are feeling better soon! Thankyou for showing your beginning artwork, we all have to start somewhere don’t we! I’m sure your adult children will be glad you saved them and your grandkids will too!
Merry Christmas!
Jacquelene L.
Canada
OH gosh!!! I’m laffing at what Beth said!!!
A new way to be sick LOL.
And YES I’d love to have Christmas dinner in that studio 🙂
I love all of the sentimental ornaments and family photos…quilts and gladiolusessess…very sweet. Did I hear that the swap is full? I’m jealous of your turn outs…it was me you know…why they didn’t come before…next time you can host!
The handpainted ornaments are so special. I threw out a few things I painted back in the day and wish I hadn’t now. Even if they were bad it would have been fun to have them. Hope you feel better soon.
Karla,
I hope you feel better! I am so glad some one else’s studio is like mine. Though, I think your’s is neater!
Jen R
Karla…I adore all your old ornaments! The fact that you painted them makes them the more sweeter! Your talent is enormous…
Happy Holidays,
Priscilla
Karla, I am convinced that there are really two of you. In a million years, I could not write a post like that and still be sick with the flu. Your ornaments are wonderful and what a great legacy you have created for your children. Feel better quickly and have a wonderful holiday. Susan
I hope you are feeling better so you can enjoy the holiday season!!
Merry Christmas
Michelle