A Sad Journey In Elegant Figures

The nativity story ended with a sad journey for the Family as they left Bethlehem for points south to Egypt. Goebel of Germany produced a series of figurines designed by Janet Robson which depicts that journey.

The modelling is elegant and serene. The characters are each dressed in blue and white garments.

Both Mary and her son wear white rimmed hoods:

Joseph carries a lantern in one hand and a small bundle at the end of a staff

The donkey trods patiently...

This post is linked to Blue Monday and Mosaic Monday. See other participating posts as listed by our gracious Sally at Smiling Sally and visit Mary at Little Red House for more creative photo collages.

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.

Radko Nativity Ornaments

Christopher Radko designs a wide array of beautiful high end Christmas tree ornament designs which he has produced in Poland. As a nativity enthusiast I am glad that he has several nativity ornament series. Here is one.

"The Nativity" has three groups of three figures. The "Heavenly Family" is dated 1996.


The Three Wise Men set is dated 1995 and has ribbon streamers on each figure ornament.

Last is an Angel with two Shepherds with sheep, "Shepherd's Prayer, Gloria," dated 1997.

As is typical of Radko’s designs, each figure is finished in bright colors in unusual combinations. The color blue appears in the garb of Mary, Baby Jesus and one of the Magi, the Angel’s wings.

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.

Lovely Vintage Spanish Plate

It seems that during the 1970’s there was much production of nativity themed items such as porcelain plates. Many of my annual nativity collector’s plates date from the 1970’s. Today’s subject is a lovely example of this.
It is a plate from the Spanish firm, Lladro, and shows Mary with the Baby Jesus on her lap and the ox and the donkey behind them.



The soft blue border frames the raised figures on the plate. The clothing has great patterned detail.


Tha plate has all the grace and perfection that is a Lladro hallmark.



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

Plastic Canvas Nativity set

Today’s topic is a handmade nativity scene, cross stitched on plastic canvas. It was made around 1970 here in the U.S. The scene includes a Stable - 14" long and 8" high,

Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus in the manger,

Mary is the only one dressed in blue -- the traditional color for the Virgin Mary.

The Angel stands on the roof (secured with Velcro patch). Note the glistening gilt threads.

Three Wise Men offer their precious gifts.

A shepherd kneels holding a lamb; nearby are two other sheep.

The animals include a donkey on the left, an ox in the left foreground and a camel at the right rear.

A pair of hens roost in the attic of the stable.

This post is linked to Blue Monday, a delightful weekly blog event sponsored by our gracious Sally at Smiling Sally.

Sculptural Nativity Figurine

Here is a very pretty nativity figurine. Mostly in blue, the robes of Joseph and Mary is a sculptural sweep of their garments.

The Baby Jesus is nestled in the sweep of their gowns.

The parents look lovingly on the precious newborn.


This post is linked to Blue Monday.

Blue Monday is sponsored by our gracious Sally at Smiling Sally.. Please visit her for more participating posts.

Thrift Rescue

As I walked around the thrift store one day last week I spotted the little clay figurine. It was still there after a few weeks of being ignored by all the shoppers -- including me. But this time I decided to bring it home.
It is just a small light brown clay vessel squeezed into an oval shape. It sits on four ball feet. The sides have a wash of white.

Along the upper edge, small striations represent straw.

Inside is a little figure with a round head, three poke marks for eyes and nose, and a curve for a mouth. It’s a little baby!

While the manger is whitewashed, the blanket is a small swath of blue:

I wonder who made this little representation of the Savior in the manger. On the bottom there are illegible markings, probably a name and date.

This little clay piece deserved to be rescued since someone, one day, thought of the Baby Jesus as an appropriate subject for a little work of art in clay.

Considering the blue blanket, this post is linked to Blue Monday.

Blue Monday is sponsored by our gracious Sally at Smiling Sally.. Please visit her for more participants.
Because someone took a lump of clay and transformed it into a representation of Christ’s nativity, it is also being linked to Metamorphosis Monday

Metamorphosis Monday, is hosted by Susan of Between Naps on the Porch.
See more transformations at her blog.

Since this is handmade product, I am also linking to Handmade Holiday.

Handmade Holiday is hosted by Kathy at Kathy's Cottage. See more interesting handmade items for the holidays at Kathy's Cottage