Add sparkle to your tree with these holiday ornaments

They may not be welcome at Sea-Tac Airport this year, but for many Seattle families, the Christmas tree is the highlight of the holiday season. The tree itself is important, of course, but as Charlie Brown and his gang so poignantly demonstrated, it's really the ornaments that hang from it -- and the love with which they're placed on it -- that count.

With that in mind, we offer this gallery of a few of our favorite ornaments, found, naturally, in local stores.

 

These sparkly little blown-glass baubles from Landmark Creations are miniatures of the 440-foot Walla Walla from the Washington State Ferries fleet, one of the largest double-ended ferry boats in the world. $28 at Crackerjack Contemporary Crafts.

It's the year of the pig! Celebrate with this cute little blown-glass porker, all decked out in a glittery red bow. $9.99 at Communique Cards & Gifts.

These brilliant robin's-egg-blue spheres, decked out with jewellike bronze beads, will make your tree sparkle with old-world elegance. $19.99 at Swansons Nursery.

A star of white frosted bottle brush, decked out in pearly beads, brings vintage style to your tree or holiday gifts. Drape one over the neck of a wine bottle for a change of pace from the traditional decorative bags. $8.99 at Lavender Heart.

If Paris Hilton were an elf, this would be her dog, all decked out in the finest designer elfinware. We particularly like the blown-glass pooch's festive scarf and ankle muffs. $15.50 at Wild Rose's Antiques & Gifts.

Seattle isn't exactly known for its white Christmases, but you can usually count on gray and wet, so go with a rugged beach theme instead. Sand dollars and starfish make perfect trimmings for your holiday cabin by the sea. $2.95-$4.95 at Capers.

Although these felt trinkets were meant as gift decorations, they can also beautifully adorn smaller trees whose branches can't quite hold up under the weight of heavier ornaments. $5.25 at Swee Swee Paperie and Studio.

While the Whos down in Whoville stay snug in their beds, the snowmen don Seuss hats that unfurl from their heads. These blown-glass ornaments bring the cheer of snowy mornings to your Christmas tree. $6.50 at Party at Display and Costume.

These blue paper-and-glitter stars from Bangladesh are part of the Fair Trade project of Ten Thousand Villages, which helps artists and artisans earn a living wage with their craft. $10 at Ten Thousand Villages.

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