✦ Putz Houses
The vibe this year seems to be Ralph Lauren Christmas and Crafty Christmas. At least that’s what’s all over my TikTok feed. I love both aesthetics, but definitely lean more toward a Crafty Christmas. So in the crafty spirit, let me share my favorite craft we’ve done over the last few years: Putz houses!
Putz houses are small cardboard houses that are painted, glittered, and meant to glow from the inside, with a very specific look and feel. The name comes from the Pennsylvania German word putz, rooted in putzen, meaning “to decorate,” and tied to the careful, hands-on process of building these tiny scenes. The version we recognize today emerged in the late 1920s, when Japanese-made glitter houses were designed with little cellophane windows and openings for electric Christmas lights. Their golden years ran through the 1930s, paused during the war, and then returned in a postwar five-and-dime revival.
Today, those early houses are highly collectible, especially among mid-century fanatics, and due to their fragile cardboard construction, true vintage pieces can be hard to come by. They’re loved for their playful color, simple materials, and the small magic they still bring out every holiday season.
Anyway, I think it’s fun to decorate your own Putz house village! We did this a few years ago with our friends and put out the village every year. On Etsy, you can purchase pre-constructed cardboard houses for a few bucks and build your own little village to decorate yourself or with friends and family.
You can also make them out of cardboard, but I personally prefer them pre-built. I have always ordered from littlevillagehouses on Etsy. They come quick and are really affordable. I will get some paint and glitter and have at it—this craft blogger has a guide for applying glitter and how to not make a giant mess.
A video of someone’s collection from Pinterest! ^ The more the better!
✦ A funky tree
We got our tree last night! She’s a bit funny looking but I like it that way. Next week I plan on sharing how we decorate and some ideas for homemade ornaments.
✦ Thanksgiving in Seattle
Took last week off to spend time with family and had a great Thanksgiving. Here are a few photos from our time.
✦ Nani’s Gravy
Every Thanksgiving, my dad calls my aunt Nora and asks her for their mom’s gravy recipe. I think this is a really cute tradition. It’s not only the best gravy, but I love that my dad continues to never write it down as an excuse for him to call his big sister every Thanksgiving. So as a little seasonal tribute, here is my Nani’s gravy recipe.
