When I was growing up, we had a tradition of each family member receiving a special ornament for that year. Usually, it was my mom who picked out everyone's ornaments. Sometimes it would be within the theme of our family — for example, each person would get a musical instrument.
Other times it would be more personal and relate to our hobbies and interests or just something that seemed to fit our personality. In return, we would give our Mom handmade ornaments which she treasured until they fell apart. These are my 10 picks for Christmas this year, which ones are your favorites?
FIRST ROW
• 1 Ornaments to Remember Crossword Puzzle $42
• 2 Da Polonia Degas' 14 years old Ballerina $43
• 3 Ornaments to Remember Northern California Cities $30
• 4 Da Polonia Subway Map $37
• 5 Magellan's Handblown Glass Suitcase $10
LAST ROW
• 6 Da Polonia Starry Night by Van Gogh $43
• 7 Artful Home Murrini Sphere '09 $95
• 8 FinnStyle iittala Taika Ornament Set of Two $18
• 9 Etsy Meghanburch Set of 3 Folded Felt Sphere Ornaments $25
• 10 Sur La Table Pastry Chef $5
Ellen's Thirties Style Small Space
Juan's Garage Turned Modern Guest House
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Commercial Flour Sa...
10 Picnic-Ready Salads to Eat Outside
Recipe: Thai Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry
I've sometimes made ornaments out of small items that have a sentimental value (small toys, old valentines, etc.)?
wow... some of these are really expensive, at least for me...
Tres cher but sure to be cherished.
My family has an ornament tradition too. There's a special shop we go to in Chicago every year, and each person gets to pick out one new ornament, with a $20 limit. After 10 years, we've grown a collection of beautiful Christmas ornaments. And when it's time to decorate the tree, the kids love finding and hanging their special ornaments.
In the early years it was an extravagance I couldn't really afford, but now I can say it was worth it.
Silver decorations.
All but three of these are insanely priced...I'm not spending more than twenty bucks on one single ornament.
love the Van gogh one, but i agree with the others too pricey. the Subway one is cool.
Anyone have directions for the felt ones? I have felt....
I know this is the New York AT, but if anyone is ever visiting the central/thumb area of Michigan you want to go to Frankenmuth MI to Bronners. Frankenmuth is a little Bavaria type town and Bronners is the biggest Christmas store in the world. It is literally the size of 5.5 football fields. It is insane. Decorations from every area of the globe.
I have been going since I was a kid, and had the same tradition as someone above. Each year we picked out an ornament and my mom stored them away. Then after graduating college, and getting our first real place, we get the box, and have a whole tree full of decorations.
www.bronners.com
These are all a relative steal compared to Patricia Breen ornaments and Jay Strongwater. Talk about crazy expensive.