Stained Glass Creches

In my other blog there was great response to a glimpse of my pastel colored stained glass nativity in my post about the new foyer light fixture. So, I thought to write a bit about it here, and share a few other stained glass creches.


In the 2006 Ebay listing for this set the seller indicated that “this is handcrafted by a local art teacher, all proceeds from sale will go to support his non-profit private Christian school.”
In this set of seven pieces, the figures range from 4 to 11 inches in height. Hand crafted in Virginia, the figures include Mary with Jesus, Joseph, Three Wise Men, a Donkey and a Sheep

Viewed from the other side:

Placed nearby is another stained glass nativity set, but this one is in deep jewel tones:

This 7-piece set includes a Star and 10” H stand, along with Mary, Joseph, the Baby Jesus, an Angel and Three Wise Men.

This one-piece Family mounted is placed on a shelf in the stairwell picture gallery. At about 7” tall, it shows Joseph, Baby Jesus and Mary in lovely colors of blue and green.

This stylized nativity is made from a panels of stained glass framed in pewter.
Because this is a split entry, from the picture stairwell you can look past this piece to see the large pastel set on the ledge above.


Here is a little (3 1/8” tall) nativity scene is made up of pewter figures of Joseph, Baby Jesus, and Mary in front of round stained glass with shooting Star. The base is of brass and it is made in Italy

Next is a stained glass nativity candle holder. It is 8"tall by 6" wide and has a glass base with a metal candle holder. It shows Mary, Baby Jesus in Manger, and Joseph with staff.

I also have some thrift store stained glass nativity items. Here tea light anndle holders provide illumination to a Family scene and Christmas Tree:

This post is linked to Three or More Tuesday, sponsored by Tam at The Gypsy's Corner. Please visit her for more participating posts.
The thrift store items qualifies this post for Second-Time Around Tuesday, which Diane hosts at A Picture Is Worth 1000 Words. See more participants at her blog.

Lenox China Jewels Nativity

Several creche sets in the collection must be kept put away due to the amount of display space they take up. One example is the Lenox China Jewels nativity set, which is used every year during the Christmas holidays as the centerpiece of the dining room table. Before putting the set away I took photos of the groupings of figures in the table setting. See the tablescape post here.

First on the left, are the Wise Men and their Camel Driver and Camels.


Other views of the camel driver

The Three Wise Men

In the middle is the Family, along with Angels , the Innkeeper and the Drummer boy




The innkeeper holds a lantern aloft



The drummer boy performs

Further along are a few angels

The last group includes the Shepherds, sheep, goats, and fowl and a palm tree.

This post is being linked to Show and tell Friday hosted by Cindy at My Romantic Home.
Be sure to visit her for more shared treasures.

Needlepoint Bell Pull

An earlier post featured featured framed embroideries in the collection. Today’s post deals with a lovely handmade needlepoint canvas bell pull. Its overall size is 43" tall x 7.1/2" wide, with a 6" tassel. The embroidery itself is 32. ½" long.

In the foreground is Mary and the Baby Jesus

The three wise men appear behind.

Colors include navy, purple, beige, gray, green, blue, brown, black, yellow, and white, with gold thread accents. (The back is lined in soft blue velvet.)


It hangs from gold colored wooden holder.

It is now one of my favorite embroidered pieces and hangs in the stairway with framed nativity wall art. Click here for the post on the stairway.

This post is being linked to Blue Monday, sponsored by our gracious Sally at Smiling Sally.

This post is also linked to Mellow Yellow Monday. Go to http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/ for more bright posts.

The Three Kings on Epiphany

The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
will bring tribute to him;
the kings of Sheba and Seba
will present him gifts
Psalms 72:10

January 6 is celebrated as the Feast of Epiphany, in keeping with the tradition that the Three Wise Men from the East arrived to worship the Baby Jesus on this day. It is called Epiphany to express the “appearing” of the Saviour to the Gentiles.

"The people that walked in darkness

have seen a great light:
they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death,
upon them hath the light shined.”
Isaiah 9:2

The wise men figures are usually the ones that are dressed in fabulous robes and head dress. More nativity scenes include these three figures than the shepherds. There are even designs of the three as a stand-alone artifacts. A new section of the nativity gallery is a display of wise men figurines and ornaments.

We see various materials -- plastic canvas, burlap and sequins,

Various sizes...

Various formats

Ornaments are hung on a lighted garland:

A small book in the collection is The Gifts of the Magi: Gold and Frankincense and Myrrh, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY.

In the slipcase along with the book are samples of the wise men's gifts:
Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh:

These precious gifts provided financial assistance as the Family had to flee to Egypt. But they also symbolized tribute to the long awaited Messiah from foreign lands:

The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores

will bring tribute to him;

the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts
Psalms 72:10 NIV

One of my Christmas gifts from my sister and brother-in-law was The Original Gifts of Christmas, a folder from the Holy Land Experience in Daytona, FL. Inside are samples of the three gifts.

They also sent me an ornament with the Wise Men and the Baby Jesus:

I have a particular fascination with the three wise men as part of the nativity story. I love to consider the Bible texts that show God’s interest in people from all parts of the world.

“ ‘Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth’ ”
Isa. 45: 22 NIV

For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life
John 3:16 NIV

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,
and not only for ours
but also for the sins of the whole world.
1John 2:2 NIV

Here there is no Greek or Jew,
circumcised or uncircumcised,
barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,
but Christ is all, and is in all.
Colossians 3:11 NIV

The biggest news of the nativity story is that the Baby Jesus was sent to make an even playing field and to offer eternal success for any person who chooses Him as their Saviour.

For more Word-filled Wednesday posts, please go to Amy at The 160 Acre Wood.