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.

Stairwell Picture Gallery

In her November 11 post, titled "Problem Staircase Walls" Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch showed how she solved her problem walls with family photos, interspersed with mirrors and wall shelves. This gave me the idea to take most of the nativity artwork (prints, paintings, embroidery) and display them all together in the lower stairwell. The walls were still bare from being painted this past August.

I didn’t take a before photo of the bare walls but did find a 2002 holiday photo showing the staircase with a few pieces of framed artwork.

Now I decided to dedicate it entirely to the nativity collection, since to the right at the bottom of the stairs is the room where the collection is displayed.
Here are views of the stairwell now.
On the left side looking down:


On the same side looking up:



On the right side looking down:

On the right side looking up. The first three pieces are embroideries:

The last two are: a brass rubbing from England, and above an original print:

My only concern about making this change permanent is the effect of light on the art work.

This post is linked to Metamorphosis Monday, hosted by Susan of Between Naps on the Porch. Go there for a listing of more transformations.

Thank you for visiting today. I wish you a wonderful Christmas and urge you to "keep Christ in Christmas"

Arts and Crafts for Nativity Wall Hangings

For today’s Show and Tell I will share some fabric arts and crafts items from the nativity collection.


A. Batik
Batik is a technique used on fabric in a wax-resist process. The fabric is coated in wax according to the pattern desired. Dye is applied and seeps through the fabric not penetrated by the applied wax. Batik is done in Indonesia, India, West Africa, Iran, Malaysia, Philippines, among other countries.
Here is an example of batik from India

This piece is from Tanzania, Africa

B. Applique and Quilting
The stitcher choose to frame this appliqued piece in an embroidery hoop. It shows Mary Joseph and Baby Jesus in a simple folk design. The fabrics are small-scale country prints.


C. Mola
In the islands off the coast of Panama the San Blas women make a type of reverse applique, called molas.

D. Mixed Media
Here the crafter used twigs, wood, wire, twine and cotton fabrics.

The simply designed little figures of Joseph, Baby Jesus and Mary

Above them is a wooden star painted yellow
A piece of twine is used for hanging

For more Show and Tell Friday go to Kelli’s house at There is No Place Like Home.

Poster Blues

Blue Monday is sponsored by Sally at Smiling Sally. Today I will show a poster from the collection. It is actually a reproduction of a Carteles magazine cover. The magazine was originally published in Havana, Cuba. The 10"H x 8"W poster reproduction is by CubanGraphics, made in the U.S.A.

The painting "Nativity" shows Mary and Baby Jesus surrounded by Three Wise Men. Three Angels in white robes and sombreros are on roof; everyday citizens are depicted forming a line of pilgrimage.


The eBay seller’s description details the reproduction process – "All the prints we sell are restored reproductions of originals, scanned at high resolution and professionally fixed using Photoshop, removing tears, tape, glue marks etc, and later printed in DOUBLE WEIGHT MATT high quality archival surface paper using pigmented UV inks also known within the commercial printing industry as 100 year ink. These inks are UV protected and can withstand direct sunlight over long periods of time without loosing quality. They also produce rich vibrant colors that accentuate the beauty of our reproductions."

Strong blues combined with red, black, and yellow are combined for a very striking composition.

For more blue Monday posts please visit Smiling Sally.

Needlework Nativity Scenes

This post focuses on framed needlework in the collection.

The first piece is a counted crosstitch completed by my former secretary. I started to stitch the piece but the stitches were too small for me to do after work in the evening. My eyes protested really protested about the close work.

Th design is based on the style of a medieval illuminated manuscript.

The next piece I acquired is done in crewel embroidery

A third piece is a needlepoint done in bright colors, designed with a stained glass effect.

Last is a quilted piece framed in an embroidery hoop. The fabrics and the simple design provide a nice example of folk art.

The story of Jesus' nativity is presented in an appealing way by each of these pieces of hand work.

Carved Wood Plaque

The item for today’s show and tell is a wood plaque of the nativity. It is made of natural wood which remains unvarnished or stained. The size is 11 ¾" T x 23 ½" W. It hangs on the wall from a notch on the back.


It shows the family, Mary, Baby Jesus and Joseph in the stable surrounded with stored goods.

The simple treatment of the wood gives a sense of serenity and grace. It is very effective treatment of the subject.

Thanks for stopping by today. Visit more Show and Tell at Kelli’s house.

What the Collection Includes

The Nativity Scenes Collection is really quite comprehensive, and includes many types of items related to nativity scenes. As a person who enjoys putting things in order, I have cataloged the collection according to the following categories.


Catalogue Sections
I - CRECHE SETS
II – CRECHE FIGURE ORNAMENTS
III – CRECHE ORNAMENTS
IV – CRECHE TABLEAUX
V – CHRISTMAS PLATES
VI – CRECHE WALL ART
VII – CRECHE ITEMS – Xmas postcards, greeting cards, philately,
VIII – CRECHE BOOKS
INDIVIDUAL CRECHE PIECES


Here are brief explanations of the various categories, along with photos to illustrate.

I - CRECHE SETS
There are individual pieces in a set.
This Mexican creche is made up of individual pieces which are moveable.

So is this set of figures made of tree thorn from Nigeria.

II – CRECHE FIGURE ORNAMENTS
These are individual figures meant to be put on a tree as ornaments.
Here a metal ornament tree holds blown glass ornaments made in Poland designed Christopher Radko

These Lladro figures stand but also have a hanger for use as an ornament.


III – CRECHE ORNAMENTS
These composite nativities meant to be hung on a tree as ornaments.
Here is a small wood ornament from China

Another metal tree holds Hallmark ornaments with an Hispanic motif


IV – CRECHE TABLEAUX
These may consist of individual pieces glued down in a stable or on a background; cutout panorama of nativity scene; etc.
This photo shows three Italian nativities. The white one is a creche set, while the other two are creche tableaux.

This retablo from Peru has all the figures affixed within the box, so it is also a creche tableaux

V – CHRISTMAS PLATES
Collector’s plates illustrated with nativity scenes
Behind this creche set from Spain is a Spanish collector’s plate by Santa Clara.

From Germany two plates by Hedi Keller

VI – CRECHE WALL ART
The nativity-themed art includes framed needlework, paintings, prints, or calligraphed scripture. Here is an 1880’s print of a scene by Gustave Dore

A needlepoint nativity scene


VII – CRECHE ITEMS
This category includes paper ephemera such as Christmas postcards, greeting cards, calligraphy, postage stamps; also items like candles, bells, chocolate tins.
Here is a vintage Christmas postcard with a nativity theme

A Porsgrund blue and white mug from Norway


VIII – CRECHE BOOKS
This includes books on crèches; books about the Biblical nativity story; books of illustrations of nativity art.

INDIVIDUAL CRECHE PIECES
These pieces are only parts of a set. The collector is always on the lookout to find missing pieces and complete the set.
For example, these four vintage figures (Joseph and Three Wise Men) do not make a complete set. I hope to find Mary and Jesus to make up a creche set.