Creche 2011

I look forward to putting up the creche every year, and this was no exception. I have had a bug of some kind, so it is a bit late, but it is up at last! And I feel human again, though I am not quite over whatever it is. I was hoping to get a cave made as the stable but maybe after Christmas. Until then, the building with the donkey in it will have to do. One of these days I will make a wooden platform with roads and sand and all on it too, but right now, I have no place to store it, so cloth is the fallback. I also want to paint more of the figures, especially the bases, so you see less of them and more of the figures themselves. All in good time.

A Little More

Food! I made food! Soup and cheese and bread (baked and unbaked) and olives and apples and one lonely turnip. Was supposed to be an onion, but looks more like a turnip! This is too fun.... I can't stop!

Some more done

I really enjoy the making of things, but sometimes it seems I take the hard way rather than the easy way. I still have alot to do, and the photos really show up the flaws, but progress is being made. The well really needs a coat of paint, and I still have to make bedrolls for the camel drivers and more food for the Kings and the workroom for the potter.... maybe I will finish by next year, not this year! The coast of everything has gone up, what a surprise. I will be getting sticks from the woods next week.... three tiny two inch bits were $3.99! Can you believe it? Who would pay that? Well, maybe someone who lives in a concrete jungle. Not I. My creche won't be as professional as others I have seen, but I am having fun doing it anyway.

The Beginning

I have begun to get my creche set up.... just the bare bones so far, but it is a start. I haven't felt very festive, and the last 4 months were pretty ragged, but things are getting better, so here's a start. I have plans to build a workshop for the potter this year, and a nice display for the kings. I have two tents, I need a third, and a set up with a well/oasis and campsite. There is more to a camp than tents, after all. I have plans for next weekend, so the building will need to be done this week, at least for the workshop. I will keep the carpet seller under the bridge... I rather like that. I want to combine the potter with another workshop... I am thinking maybe an apothacary. I saw a nice figure of a boy selling herbs this weekend. I got an olive press last year at half price since the mechanics didn't work.... but I don't mind. Still is fine. So I need an olive shop too.... maybe that will be a good combo. Then the herbseller next year.....

Several more inches!

The snow is considerably deeper now, and thanks to the help of 2 young neighbours and my dh's hard work, we have a well tended path to the car. Unfortunately, tomorrow we will have to dig out behind the car. Church has been cancelled, so dh won't have to preach and so can dig. Brave and good soul! The store I work in was open today, though a snow emergency is in effect and the governor has asked everyone who can to stay off the roads. Tomorrow we will surely be open too, and I will schlep in as usual. I figure on an hour for the 15.5 miles.

I got more of the creche up too, so enjoy the pics of the travelling kings and holy family and the cold but hardworking shepherds, and the diligent women who keep the homefront comfortable!

Finally

Yippee! I finally got the new camera to disgorge its pictures! So without further ado, here is my creche a (and a few little vinettes). Tomorrow, the Singing Animals!

Some frustration

Well, I can't get my new camera to give up its photos of my decorations, so I still don't have any to show...drat. But the house is beginning to look a bit like Christmas... I sense a song there! The creche is up, from the stable to the wise men's tent, the village in between, it looks lovely. Funny how a few simple statues elicit such strong feelings of joy and wonder. The Christmas singing animals are out too, and they go through their concert whenever I pass by. The Jingle Pig was first, the Jingle Reindeer the last, and I never thought there could be so many! I plan on taking one to work on Christmas eve. I work in a huge fabric shop (sheer heaven to be around all that fabric) and I don't think the staff will mind a few quiet songs, eh?

I hope the season's joy and awe is wrapping you in warmth and love.