The Icycle Cottage, above, an original Putz cottage available at
Chez Noël, is a creative twist on an
old tradition that likely dates back as far as 1910.
One of the "Christmas gardens" at our house, above, includes little cardboard structures -- houses, churches and other little buildings -- that typically make up the make-believe villages with the odd name of Putz. I've collected them on
eBay for the last few years, where the prices run the gamut. There are plenty of elaborate reproductions on the market alongside the vintage models.
I'm especially fond of the ones with the Arts and Craft Bungalow detailing, like mine above.
I found this odd and enchanting little set of Putz houses a couple of years ago.
Each is cut out of what looks like cardboard from an old Christmas box. I find it particularly charming the way the creator of these Putz houses used the graphic design of the cardboard to trim the outside of the house. The cellophane covered windows (often damaged in the old models) are typical of true Putz houses and churches.
That's what inspired me to create my own Putz cottages and churches, like the Florentine Cottage and Eglise Florentine, above. I gave several away as gifts last Christmas, and this year, I'm making them available at the atelier chéri shop on Etsy and at Chez Noël, the Christmas market here at Atelier Cheri.
Collect a house and church, like the Eglise de Lys and Fleur de Lys Cottage (available at the atelier chéri shop at Etsy), with a common theme. I especially like the cottage, covered with pieces cut from an old Paris map reproduction. I make liberal use of lacy German Dresden trim on my Putz houses.
Or start your collection with one of these elegant numbers, Burgundy Cottage and Twinkle Cottage, above, each covered in reproductions of William Morris wallpaper from the Victoria and Albert Musuem. They're available at the Chez Noël Christmas market here at Atelier Cheri.
Putz houses and churches are such a fun way to bring the vintage spirit of Christmas into your home. Whether you collect the old ones or start your collection with one or two of our artisanal styles, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
à bientôt et Joyeux Noël...Tatie
Being German-American, I have a special affection for the holiday traditions from the homeland of my ancestors. Each year, I have a lot of fun applying my own creative touch to traditional German Easter treasures. This year, I have created Cottontail Cheri, an Easter market like those held in Germany. (Sadly, much of last year's collection was destroyed in the flood.)
I particularly enjoy decorating papier mâché eggs my own way, like the one above. I started with a robin's egg treatment and added a curious medallion made of old German type and plaid paper rope (untwisted), centered by a tiny bunny. Martha Stewart's coffee bean-edged pink ribbon finishes it off.
I really heart Florentine designer paper, and it looks just stunning on a papier mâché egg. Add Dresden foil trim, and you have a family heirloom.
By the way, that fellow who's helping me show off my Easter eggs is a little replica of a longtime Reuther family heirloom, Bummy Rabbit, a wrought iron rabbit that my grandmother, Mammy, had in her yard when I was a little girl. The full-sized Bummy now sits in my patio garden, a proud survivor of last year's flood.
Here's the German script medallion again, this time with pleated Florentine paper, on a bronze painted papier mâché Easter egg. Scalloped green Dresden trim is the finishing touch. These eggs make the best candy boxes, to hold little treats and nestle in an Easter basket.
If you've followed this blog, you know what a fan I am of D. Blumchen & Co., where they specialize in imported German craft and holiday specialties. That's where I got my papier mâché eggs and German die-cut scrap, like the bunny on the egg above. I used a dimensional découpage technique to apply the little fellow to this robin's egg painted candy box, which is a little smaller than those above. The tall bunny showing off this egg is destined to become a family heirloom.
Again, beautiful Florentine designer paper, on a smaller papier mâché egg, finished with Dresden trim.
The smaller bronze egg here has a German text medallion with pleated Florentine paper, this time centered by a prim little paper rose.
I do hope you'll visit my Cottontail Chéri Easter market and make one of these creations an heirloom for your own family. Each item in the market includes a link to Etsy, where I am selling this collection. And stay tuned to Atelier Chéri, where I'll be telling you about some of the other Easter treasures at Cottontail Chéri.
à bientôt...Tatie 
