the 2011 Nativity Scene Additions

This year, I added 3 new nativity scenes to my collection.  I'm to the point where most of the nativity scenes I see look a lot like ones I already have.  I'm always on the lookout for interesting/nontraditional ones.  Maybe even something that would wind up on The list of worst nativity scenes (thanks, KVS) mainly for conversation purposes.

Anyway, here are the 3 newest ones.  In no particular order:

Mom picked up this one for me at a discount store called Garden Ridge.  One of the wise men 's arms fell off and are hot glued back on AND a smurf joined the celebration to present baby Jesus with a wreath.  I really like the "vintage" paint style on these.

This one was a prize from JSS months and months ago.  After Thanksgiving, I pulled it out with big plans that each member of our family would paint 3 pieces of the 12 piece set. I told Husband that I called dibs on baby Jesus.  He was the only one I wanted to paint ...

 (also notice the kids' picture with Santa in the background. Apparently, much like Jesus, Santa is always watching.  ;-))

dibs does not count with 4 year olds.  Daughter pleaded her case that because she loves baby Jesus so much she should be the one who got to paint him.  She won.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I will admit that what I pictured in my head as being a lovely family moment of painting and talking about Jesus's birth and just enjoying each other, turned into me losing my patience and yelling something I don't even remember but I do remember it wasn't Christ-like and it definitely wasn't a shiny example of how to parent toddlers.  (sigh)   I think I let my resentment about having to settle for painting a shepherd, Mary and a sheep cloud my judgement on that one.

this final one I picked up at Jo-ann when I was yarn shopping right before Thanksgiving.

We had a great Christmas.  Lots of fun, food and family time.  We talked a lot about Mr. Scrooge and the Christmas spirit and, of course, about Baby Jesus.

The Wise Man Massacre

Yesterday was Epiphany, a holy day. The day some Christians commemorate the visitation of the Wise Men to Jesus.

Son celebrated Epiphany by moving a toddler sized arm chair he got for Christmas up against the fire place, and using it to climb high enough to reach the mantle. Once there, Son grabbed a wise man (and an already injured shepherd) and in the words of Daughter, "threw them down on the floor real hard." She's the only witness and I consider her credible when it comes to telling on her brother.

I'd been waiting to put the Christmas decorations away until after Husband felt a little better. But after that, I'd had it. In 15 minutes I packed everything up and this morning we got the tree out of the house. All that's left now is to take the boxes to the basement. Goodbye Christmas, see you next year.

The already injured shepherd. Before last night he could still kind of hold the staff in his already broken fingers. Now I just have to rest it against his face.

This guy took the worst of it. complete decapitation.

I didn't even bother with the super glue. I just packed him up. Now next time I get him out he'll still be broken and I'll remember all over again how mad I was that it happened.

maybe next time I see this decapitated Wise Man, I'll be able to find the humor in the situation.

the 2010 mantel

This is the half of the mantel that has the stockings on it.

(side note: I find it a little weird that Husband and I still have stockings up. I mean, my parents didn't have stockings when I was growing up.)

Anyway, Husband's is the green one with the pewter nutcracker holder. Mine is the red one with the pewter angels holder. I got our stockings at World Market for our first Christmas (5 years ago)

Daughter's stocking is the red one with a Santa and a reindeer on the Santa holder.

Son's stocking is the green one with a snowman and a polar bear on the snowman holder.

I got their stockings at Wal-mart 3 years ago (yes, I bought Son's before he was ever born. Actually there is another green one just in case. I didn't want a big family with non-matching stockings. oh the horrorz) I found the matching stocking holders on ebay for $2 each. (there is no third stocking holder)

I asked Husband to choose a few nativity scenes to put on the other side of the mantel.

I love the way he put Baby Jesus in the middle but then had no regard for the placement of the other characters.

other than the advent wreath on the buffet and the wreath on the dining room door, that is all the decorating we did. There's another wreath for the front of the house, but it's still not up yet. It's chances are decreasing by the day!

2010 nativity scene 4

this is an ornament that Husband and his mom picked out for me back in September when they were having lunch at the Greek Food Festival. (Husband usually eats there about twice and I get to go once. On a date. With Husband. It's a favorite)

2010 nativity scene 3

This was another Jo-ann sale. It's small (about 4 inches, I'd guess) and it's not incredibly unique, but I like it. It's all one piece and after the sale was less than $2.

2010 nativity scene 2

I picked this up at Jo-ann for 40% off a couple of weeks ago. It was $3-something I think. It's an ornament. And I like that it doesn't look like anything I have.

2010 nativity scene 1

As soon as walmart starting putting their Christmas stuff out (around Halloween) I was there. walking around, wishing, planning, etc. I found this:

and bought it.

baby Jesus.

My criteria for adding to my collection myself is pretty simple:

1. it must be cheap (less than $15)
2. it must not look like a set I already have.

Since Jennifer mentioned that her family has a ceramic bisque set that they painted, I've been on the look out for a set for us. Especially since Daughter is loving that new craft genre. In 30 years I would love to have a set that we worked on together. I'd even let the fellas help so it could be a family project. ;-) I haven't found an entire set on ebay yet. I definitely have not found any at the big box craft stores. I have found some reasonably priced ones on a website, but I'm waiting until I can search more before I commit to one.

Nativity Scene: BONE

FEAR NOT: this ends the nativity scene series. Thanks for enduring through. I really enjoy each and every set, for many reasons and I loved getting to share them. Again, thanks for the indulgence.

This set I bought in Mexico and was carved out of bone. And then detailed with gold paint. It really is pretty cool to look at, albeit a little macabre.

This is the newspaper that they were wrapped in when I bought them. I was in Mexico on January 6(ish), 2005, so the paper was a few months old at the time.

the whole set, 11 pieces

This may be my favorite piece. A sheep, possibly. Well, a sheep that looks like a poodle. :-)
This is a only markings on any of the pieces. I'm sure it's just a vendor identification from the market I bought it from.

the end. Thanks for enjoying what I think is amazing art (and much more).

nativity scene: sentimental reasons

I love this nativity scene not for any unique physical feature it possesses but because a dear, treasured friend gave it to me.

I can't say enough about sweet Doris. She's been a family friend for decades and I had the pleasure of working with her for almost three years. She's an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, GREAT grandmother and friend.

nativity scene: the missing 8th piece

This is another Kohl's 50% off special. ACTUALLY it was 75% off because printed on the box is "8 Piece Nativity Scene" but there are only 7 pieces.

wiseman 1

wiseman 2

wiseman 3

mary in red

shepherd with the staff

baby Jesus

and the stable (the angel is FIRMLY attached to the stable, so I don't think it can count as #8)

It's the soft-ish clay material. I like it. But I seem to spend a good deal of time super gluing pieces that fall off back on!

nativity scene: mini

I love this little 11 piece set. I bought it from a little boy who was doing a fundraiser for his school. Man, I'm such a sucker for those. I included my sun glasses in the background so you could get an idea of the scale.

While baby Jesus's eyes look a little jacked up, I love the scale and attention to detail on this little set. The little lamb is my favorite.

nativity scene: glass

this is a 7 piece set that, clearly, doesn't photograph well!

nativity scene: olive wood

I was told this nativity scene was carved out of olive wood from Israel. True? I hope so.

Nativity Scene: wal-mart special

Nativity Scene: ornament

This is a Christmas tree ornament.

Baby Jesus looks [not] surprisingly grown-up.

nativity scene: dated

I really like this nativity scene. It's got that old school 1970's shag carpet look to it. And I know exactly when and where I got it. yep, exactly.

because I WROTE IT ON THE BOTTOM! sheesh. yea, I did. I'm not really sure why. Probably so I wouldn't forget when and where I bought it. haha.

TARGET 2004

I like when Baby Jesus looks like a grown man. Religious symbolism at its best.

nativity scene: shiny contrast

This gem is a ceramic piece I found 1/2 at Kohl's. It reminds me of the crafts classes my church used to have. They even had a working kiln. yea, I thought it was really cool then and even more so now. Joseph's hair isn't 'finished' and it definitely adds a neat contrast, I think.

The little bundle of joy, Jesus.

nativity scene: small gift

My mom gave me this one a few years ago. It's small and lightweight. It's about as tall as my cell phone.

nativity scene: traditional one piece

This one reminds me of a smaller version of one my parents had when we were kids. I'm pretty sure it was another 1/2 price special at wal-mart.

I love this baby Jesus. Maybe it's because his lips are in the shape of a heart.

nativity scene: cayman islands style

It's a shell of some sort, hollowed out and the nativity scene decorated inside. [I should have asked of what sort when I bought it in the Cayman Islands] this one of the three nativity scenes I bought on the cruise that I've been talking about on the last two nativity scene posts. [the last one I'm saving for the final post because it's my favorite.]

the lid.

the inside. I love the bright colors. Mary also has a halo here too, as does Jesus and either the angel or Joseph. the mystery halo figure it looks like a man, but it wouldn't make much since for it to be Joseph. unless it was a MALE angel. ok. that makes perfect sense. it's a male angel. mystery solved.

Baby Jesus looks like he has the "prayer hand" post along with everyone else. and a face much wiser than an infant.