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Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Christmas Issues of Home Décor Magazines



What to do with magazines that you enjoy when finished reading them is often a quandary. You may tear out interesting articles or recipes and toss the rest of the magazine. You may also give them to a friend or relative or to a thrift store so others may have access to the magazines. Or, you may just store them away somehow. Well I tend to do the last mostly, and find quite a job in finding space for them as well as trying to keep them in order to facilitate access.

One group of magazines, though, is no trouble for me. This is my collection of Christmas issues and covers the years 1989 to 2006. Just before and during the Christmas holidays, I take out stacks of these magazines and keep them at hand for inspiring reading as I enjoy planning and preparing for Christmastime.



These are those to which I have subscribed.
Country Living
House Beautiful
Traditional Home
House and Garden
Veranda
Victoria [I need only 1992 issue to complete run from 1989]
Elle Decor
Colonial Homes
Early American Life
Metropolitan Home

Of these titles I only bought specific issues as desired, including Christmas issues:
Southern Living
Martha Stewart Living
Victorian Decorating & Lifestyle
Victorian Homes and Gardens
Home
Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion
Mary Emmerling’s Country
The English Home
Better Homes and Gardens
Good Housekeeping
Ladies Home Journal
Women’s Day
Family Circle
Gourmet

I have a list on four 3x5 cards of the above magazine titles indicating the years I have the December issues. That way, when in a thrift store and I see Dec. issues of magazines, I can quickly check to see if that particular one is needed.



My records show that I really went all out in December 1999, buying Christmas issues of all 15 of the following -- except for the ones to which I was subscribing at the time:
American Homestyle & Gardening, Better Homes & Gardens, Colonial Homes, Country Living, Country Living Gardens, Country Victorian, Elle Décor, Family Circle, Home Magazine, House & Garden, House Beautiful, Martha Stewart Living, Traditional Home, Victoria, and Victorian Homes.


Latest Thrift Shop Finds for Collection

Today, Wednesday November 7, I made a brief visit to the Hospital Thrift. Checking the magazines near the entrance I found 2005 & 2006 Christmas issues of two magazines:
Better Homes & Gardens - December 2005 & 2006 issues
Country Home - December 2005/January 2006 & December 2006/January 2007 issues


I also picked up Country Home – August 2006 issue for its articles on antiquing and collectors. Also, 4 embroidery hoops, a small bag with notions, a tiny wood applique of a Scottie, and one paperback book. Total cost was $2.40.

I trust you are each having as much fun anticipating the coming holiday season as I certainly am.

11 comments:

Esther Sunday said...

I love all those mags - my favorite, though is Romantic Homes. When I get it in the mail, I plan my life around reading it - house must be quiet, mood right, tea nice and hot, etc. Love, Esther

Wanda @ Just Vintage said...

Aren't you smart to keep a record of the magazines you need? Actually I do that too. I run across it in a drawer every now and then. Sigh.

Mary said...

What a great collection! I tend to save magazines, too, but I'm not as organized as you! :) Love your thrift store finds; don't you love the price?!
xoxo,
Mary

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Wow! I think you've got me beat with magazine addiction! LOL! I've never bought the English mags. You've got some really good ones, wish we could get together with our mags!

What a coincidence we had the same idea for posting about our mags, the same day!! Great minds......!

Katherine

Irene said...

Oh I love Christmas, and Christmas magazines.They help me get in the mood, since there is no snow here and I miss the cosiness of American and English Christmas.

The English Home issue is the first and only that I have bought so far.
I subscribe to US Country Living and House Beautiful.
I have read so much about the re-issue of Victoria, but I cannot subscribe through Amazon and apparently they don't hae a website, and it is not available in foreign press stands over here (sigh).
I used to subscribe to Veranda, but it was a little too much for my tastes, though I have saved a sublime issue! I love Mary Engelbreit's work. I used to subscribe to Home Companion.I just didn't have the time to do the crafts I admired and I ended up feeling frustrated, so I quit!
A magazine that I love is French. It is called Cote Est and it has all those lovely Eastern European chalets. It always arrives after Christmas here, but I add it to my collection nevertheless. I daydream over New Year's!
Great post. I think I'll post about mine sometime! I'll invite you!Thank you for sharing!

magnoliasntea said...

Hi Carrie!
Those are wonderful magazine and full are inspiration.
Can't wait to see how you incorporate your new finds into your decor. :)

magnoliasntea said...

Hi Carrie!
Those are wonderful magazine and full are inspiration.
Can't wait to see how you incorporate your new finds into your decor. :)

black eyed susans kitchen said...

It is good to see that others enjoy magazines as much as I do. I mostly only keep my Martha Stewarts and Mary englebreits, but subscribe to Country home, Country living, Cottage living and Canadian house and home...I will be posting a give away for these today. Susan

Anonymous said...

I have a bookcase I put in my closet to hold all the issues I keep! Wonderful mags full of inspiration.

Manuela

Erin~~The Classy Rabbit~~ said...

Wow! I love your collection of Christmas magazines. I too am a huge collector of magazines. They're just too pretty to discard and I have them displayed throughout my house for constant inspiration! Some of my favorites are Romantic Homes, Victoria(yeah, she's back!) and I love Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion too. Oh, and I musn't forget Tea Time and Southern Lady! Have a great weekend!
Erin

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

What a wonderful collection of magazines! I love all of them you mentioned.
Penny