If you have been following along with me over the past while, you will know that I finally launched my hand painted Christmas Baubles. And now the Bauble Sets have arrived too. I have been waiting so long to share these.
But this post is a little different. I do not just want to show you the baubles.
I want to tell you the story behind them.
I am one of those 'slightly weird’ people who loves knowing the meaning behind things.
Especially traditions. I always want to know just why we do things and where they came from.
So when I began experimenting with baubles earlier this year, I ended up going down a rabbit hole learning about their origins. And the more I learned, the more special the whole process felt.
So grab a cup of tea for this one…
A Little History of the Christmas Bauble
Christmas trees were not originally decorated with ornaments at all. In sixteenth century Germany, people hung apples on the branches to symbolise the Garden of Eden. This is likely why the first baubles were round and red.
Over time, people began adding nuts, sweets, paper flowers and little handmade trinkets. Every item on the tree meant something. It was all about colour, hope, symbolism and intention.
But the modern bauble we know today came from the small town of Lauscha in Germany. Glassblowers there were incredibly skilled.
They shaped delicate glass fruits and beads, then moved on to hollow glass spheres. They lined the inside with silver and created the first shiny ornaments that eventually spread across Europe.
This part feels quite meaningful to me because my uncle was a glassblower in Waterford Crystal for many years. And my studio is based in Waterford too, a place with its own incredible history of artistry, craft and crystal making.
So painting baubles, in my own way, feels like a tiny continuation of that tradition. It feels full circle.
The Bauble Sets
When I designed my own sets, I wanted them to honour a mix of those ideas.
Different materials. Different moods. Different textures.
From today, you can now order two types of sets.
Ceramic Bauble Sets which are beautifully solid with a soft cream background and gold details.
Glass Bauble Sets which are larger and lighter with delicate silver caps.
They are ideal for families who want matching decorations or for anyone who wishes to gift baubles to a few people at once. You can choose the same personalisation for all of them or mix and match each one!
Every bauble is painted by hand in my Waterford studio. You can include initials, names, small messages, meaningful dates or Christmas florals.
Read More: Make it Personal: Give a Hand-Painted Gift This Christmas
A Little Offer for You
Because you are here and always so supportive, you can use BAUBLE10 for ten percent off until Wednesday. Find the full Christmas Collection right here.
If you enjoyed reading this and want to hear more stories behind Christmas traditions, colours and symbolism, let me know. I am planning more of these style posts as we head into the season.
They are some of my favourite things to think about while I paint!
Chat soon and do reach out if you have any questions or feedback. I'm always open to have a chat.