I’ve begun to deck the halls, and one of my favorite things is the vintage inspired tree in my kitchen. If you know me, you know it’s a room I’m in a LOT! Last year was my first time having a small table top tree in our 1876 kitchen, and I loved the look. I’d used all the holiday cutters I had, but it just seemed a tad sparse. Candy canes and strings of popcorn helped fill it out, but in my opinion, the “branch-to-ornament ratio” was too high. So last week I went off in search of more vintage Christmas cookie cutters! Not that I needed an excuse to scour my favorite Madison, Indiana antique malls, but I’d convinced myself that I could use a few more vintage cookie cutters on my kitchen Christmas tree. (#firstworldproblem, LOL)

Small cookie cutters found at Lumber Mill Antique Mall

I found a few metal cookie cutters while I was wandering the Lumber Mill Antique Mall. Then I happened upon a basket of assorted vintage metal kitchen tools in another booth, and a little light came on in my head. “I should look for red handled baking tools!” Pieces like the rolling pin and egg beater (treasures!) I’d placed on the table beside the tree, but small enough to hang on the tree and add some color.

  • Inspiration: Kitchen Tools at Lumber Mill Antique Mall
  • My red handled rolling pin & egg beater

My second stop, Riverwest Antique Mall, had several cool green handled implements, but I was determined to find a few red ones! After combing the aisles, I found three red handled items, plus a whisk, wire egg white beater, cute flour scoop, and an egg separater. Sold!

  • Vintage Strainer
  • Vintage Beater
  • Flour Scoop
  • Ball Scoop
  • Egg Separater
  • Wire Egg White Beater similar to one my Mom used
  • Vintage Whisk

This weekend I put the tree up in the kitchen and mixed the new-found baking tools with my collection of vintage cookie cutters. The cutters are a treasured menagerie from my childhood and early marriage, as well as many that found their way into my possession from friends and family or antique shopping adventures.

  • I made Gingerbread Men Cookies with this cutter for Ken & my first Christmas tree in 1972
  • One of a set of snowflake cutters from my son, Kevin
  • A Star cutter given by my Mom for our first tree in 1972
  • A large Star given to me by my friend Melanie
  • One of a set of canape cutters from my friend Hilary
  • A vintage cutter that’s found a new home with me

I really like how the utensils’ old metal and worn red paint look on the tree with the variety of vintage cutters. They just seem right in the room – against the brick wall, on Aunt Stella’s table with the iron sewing machine base, and adjacent to Ma’s butter churn and my vintage molds. Not to mention “under the gaze” of my Mom’s vintage Santa cookie jar! I have a feeling shopping for vintage Christmas cookie cutters and baking tools is now a “forever searching” thing!

This morning, I realized I had a few duplicate holiday cookie press discs, so I got out my red and white baker’s twine and hung them on the tree! I picked up some peppermint candy canes and added them for a nice pop of color.

Next up, baking all those favorite holiday cookies for friends and family! Check out my post, My Must-Have Holiday Cookies from the 1950s-1960s for recipe ideas and more holiday traditions.

After taking the kitchen tree down… until next year!

Written by

sallymcw

One thing that makes my journey unique is that all of my interests are driven by a joyful and genuine curiosity. I delight in finding less expensive ways to make something or creative ways to enjoy something longer. Finding and creating joy - and sharing it - is core to who I am.