Earlier this week, you may have seen my short little post You Snooze, You Lose - No More 2008 White House Ornaments available from the White House Historic Association.
In true ActiveRain fashion, members stepped up to the plate to help me out. There were not many comments, but three out of the first six offered suggestions for obtaining them and two people emailed me with specific contact information. What are the odds that such a random post would be read by people familiar with these ornaments, people who may have a source for them? Talk about quality comments!
But there's more to this story...
PETER GACICIA, President/CEO of Friends of the White House, must have a Google alert set up for "White House Ornament" that led him to my ActiveRain post. He emailed me to say that his organization is offering the first in a series of hand-blown glass ornaments this year. When I clicked through to their website, this is what I found:
Isn't this stunning?
These ornaments are hand-blown glass, hand-painted with original art, historically accurate, silvered, and gift-boxed.
When I saw this, I immediately contacted Mr. Gacicia and asked for permission to display the image on ActiveRain, and he was happy to oblige. I don't blame him... he's proud of this ornament and wants everyone to see it.
The inaugural ornament in this new collection depicts our first president, George Washington, supervising construction of the White Houses. (How's that for a tie-in to real estate?)
If you're as taken with this as I am, you'll want to visit Friends of the White House and see the full description of this beautiful ornament. You might even want to order one!
Thank you, Peter Gacacia, for contacting me about this and for sending me a complimentary ornament. It certainly won't be my last in this new collection! (UPDATE: It arrived today, and this ornament is exquisite... even prettier than the picture. I am thrilled with it!)
I just hope they offer a subscription sign-up so I'll get a reminder each year when new ornaments become available. That may be the only way to save me from myself - I don't want to miss any in this collection.
ActiveRain has brought me listings, sales, referrals, friends, knowledge (arguably even "expertise"), and now this stunning White House Christmas ornament.
Thank you!
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Thanks for the heads up. It is truly a lovely keepsake treasure.
Margaret, what a wonderful conclusion to the year here on Active Rain. I'm sure that this will make a beautiful addition to your tree.
That really is a beautiful ornament Margaret. You never know what Acitve Rain can bring your way:)
Isn't it fun,when this happens. They are gorgeous and this one to remember George Washington. I must go look, wow this is so exciting when things like this happen.
Thanks for the post. That is a great piece of art!
Now that is a WOW!
Margaret, Thanks for letting us know about this ornament. I want one and will click on the link you provided.
My ornament arrived today, and it is a WOW! Even nicer than the picture!
Shirley, I hope to visit San Antonio over the holiday. Never been there before, but I'll be in DFW for Christmas and my husband says we have time to go home via San Antonio.
Connie, it is!
Brian, it will... It would make a great client gift, too.
Bill, It was such a pleasant surprise.
Missy, I thought it was beautiful, but then mine actually came. It's probably the most beautiul ornament I've ever seen.
Integrity Mortage - You're right
Cindy, I'll show it to you the next time we get together.
Wow! The power of the rain. Congratulations Margaret! I want one too.
Isn't that beautiful? The only problem is if they do one a year I'll be dust by the time we get to the modern era! haha Merry Christmas, Margaret.
Margaret, this is depressing! I'm having to use pretty much all non-breakable ornaments so that Willy the hyperactive Labradoodle puppy does not break them when he pulls the tree down! When he's an old doggy, I'll be able to use the glass ones again!
Supervising construction of the White House is a good real estate tie-in. I have noticed that there is very little that doesn't have some tie-in to real estate. I think that is one of the reasons I find real estate so much fun. And then you get to blog about it. :-)
Active Rain is pretty powerful if it got you a free ornament. Happy Holidays.
Very nice, Margaret. Our collection of ornaments is aging rapidly with 3 kids under 8 in the house. Bam! Crack! etc etc. Will be time to reboot soon.
Margaret - how cool is that? We have a White House ornament as well, but it's brass with a cutout of the White House....Beautiful! Our daughter who lives in Rockville, Maryland sent it to us. ;-) I'm now past the age of collecting, and now getting rid of the things that I've collected. ;-)
Morning Margaret,
Thanks for sharing. These ornaments are just beautiful. Too bad this year's is already sold out. The others that are still available are a delight though.
Hal, the ornament that's pictured here is NOT sold out. This is an entirely different collection by another organization.
Teri - I'm with you... getting rid of some old stuff but starting some new collections, and this is one of them.
Jeff - Been there done that. It's a fun time!
Peter- It is!
Patricia - This is the kind of ornament you can display on a hanger on a bookshelf, so you might be safe with it!
Jesse - I guess that depends on whether they due them in chronological order...
Kay - I'm actually going back for more after the holidays!
Margaret... and thank god for Google Alerts.... that is just so cool and I am glad that someone was able to supply some information. Happy Holidays...
That IS beautiful. I have one from a few year back. I have to get with the program and get a few more as the years go by. Happy Holidays.
James - This is the first EVER from Friends of the White House. You probably have some previous ones from the White House Historic Association, which is what sent me on the hunt. Now there are two sources for ornaments of entirely different styles.
Jeff - I am so grateful, because I still wouldn't know about these if the gentleman hadn't contacted me.