Posted by Lindsay Hagerman on Sat, Oct 20, 2012 @ 11:12 AM
We've only got one of these on display behind the counter at the store right now, but it keeps catching eyes and eliciting curious questions.
It's brand new to us, and that's because prior to a few weeks ago, it didn't exist.
And in just a few more weeks to come, it'll be gracing the homes of our first keen-eyed pre-orderers.
What is it? Well, it's difficult to keep you guessing when it's in the blog post title and there's a picture of it to the left. But I'm hoping you can see already why it's flying away even before we've received the shipment. It's the Philadelphia Landmarks Ornament: a generously-sized, hand-painted Christmas bauble, decked out with several Philly landmarks in the snow, and dusted with sparkling iridescent powder. It's hard to see how it glitters in these images—you really have to view it in person to appreciate that. The internet doesn't do it justice, I'm afraid.
Turn the ornament around and you'll see Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Art Museum (complete with "Rocky" steps, of course), the LOVE sculpture, and Boathouse Row. It's a montage of Philly's most iconic places in wintertime, and anyone who's lived in Philadelphia will recognize it immediately. One customer who pre-ordered it told me that it brought back memories of her engagement at Christmastime in the city several years ago. That's exactly the kind of fond reminiscence that we hope this ornament will provoke: it's a beautiful gift for anyone who has a personal, emotional connection to the city of brotherly love.
So what prompted the creation of this gorgeous little slice of Philly? Well, we are already known for our Main Line and Philadelphia platters, also exclusive to Flag Lady Gifts. They have been hot items at the store for years, and they were designed by our store founder and owner, Jan Hartman. So this year, Jan decided to branch out and design a Christmas ornament that would be a beautiful accompaniment to the Philadelphia platters. Based on her designs, its familiar details are carefully painted in color by Polish artisans on a 100mm glass ball.
Polish, you say? Why, yes. The ornaments will be arriving from Poland in mid-November, but, as previously mentioned, are available for pre-order now. So if you want to be certain that you'll receive one of these beautiful ornaments, I'd recommend ordering one as soon as possible. They will then be ready and in your possession long before the Christmas frenzy descends in full force.
To continue with the question-and-answer theme of this blog post, let's see if I can predict a few more of your questions. How much does it cost? $52.50. Will it shed glitter all over the floor? No; I've only seen a few specks of it fall off at any time. Will my tree be strong enough to hold it? That depends if you've invested in a sturdy Douglas Fir or if you're running with a more Charlie Brown-style specimen. It's not any heavier than your basic large, hollow, spherical ornament. Do I have to put it on the tree? No; in fact, it would also work quite nicely as a table centerpiece surrounded by, say, some garland or holly, and maybe a couple other plain metallic-colored ball ornaments. My mom likes to use ornaments as mantlepiece decorations. It's an idea.
Would it make a nice gift? I certainly think so. It would work for ex-Philadelphians with happy memories, current Philadelphians who love their hometown, or even friends from afar who are planning to take the plunge and move to Philadelphia.
All right. Here's that link again. Get yourself over to the website and pre-order this baby. Or come on down to the store to see it, touch it, imagine owning it, etc. I will personally vouch for its prettiness, but you'll probably want to experience it for yourself.
Posted by Lindsay Hagerman on Thu, Mar 15, 2012 @ 07:00 AM
Even though the calendar still says it is March, it definitely feels like spring has come
in full force. The warm and sunny days have inspired us to break out the spring wardrobe, pack away the wool sweaters and roll down our car windows. With any chance of snow gone for the season and the daylight lasting longer into the evening, it means it is officially time to pack up the
winter flags and down jackets. This calls for the perfect time to give your home a mini-makeover and help welcome spring with a decorative applique house flag.
The owner Jan Hartman started sewing these unique sewn house flags in her basement in 1992 and since then the store has expanded and so has the demand for these exclusive flags. Even though our store location may have changed since 1992 the quality and care of our applique flags have not. They are still designed by the owner and handmade by our favorite local sewer. Each flag is carefully designed to help enhance the beauty of your home while offering something for everyones taste. Spring is a great time to brighten up your home with a Pineapple "Welcome" applique flag or a colorful Flower Basket applique flag. The St. Patrick's Day Shamrock flag is wonderful for showing your Irish pride and celebrating the first spring holiday, St. Patrick's Day. The Easter flags, such as the Easter Bunny and Eggs flag or the Easter Bunny and Tulips flag are a great and adorable way to welcome April and the Easter Bunny. These spring applique house flags offer the perfect pop of color your house dreams of after a long and dreary winter. 