Thinking about Advent and Christmas

Advent and Christmas!

My favorite time of the year!

This year i have created this beautiful Nativity set. 

I wanted it to be a treasure for parents, grandparents, teachers or anyone who wants to give children a rich and nurturing experience of what  Advent and Christmas is.

I have spent many joyful hours making it, inspired by my children and my love for this season.

I wanted to make it quite simple for the children to be able to use their imagination but for example with Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar, the Three Kings, i went a bit overbore while embroidering their tunics.  I wanted the children to feel their royalty, wisdom and the magic that they bring. 

The animals are very simple, dream like animals.

The figures are about 3.5 inches tall (9 cm). Perfect size for little hands to hold them and though the set is not for playing, of course gentle handling under the supervision of an adult is wonderful for the children.

The body is made from a card cone and then covered with felt which  made them stand up securely. 

The 15 pieces nativity set includes: 

1 x Mary

1 x Joseph 

1 x Baby Jesus

1 x Angel

3 x Shepherds

3 x Kings

1 x Donkey 

1 x Ox 

3 x Sheep and a shepherds’ cauldron.

The materials are: Fleece wool, 100% wool felt, pipe cleaners, card, sticks, leather, pine cone, bell, silver card, cotton tricot, embroidery thread, sequences and beads. I always try to use natural local materials.

Shepherds cooking by the fire

 

The set makes a thoughtful gift for someone special, a special family, or a classroom for this wonderful time of the year.

Please have a look at my Etsy shop: appleblossomdolls.etsy.com if you would like more information.

Tips:

The set can be placed beneath the Christmas tree or you can create the heart of Christmas by building up a scene during advent, making a mood of expectation for Christmas.

Start with a nature table only covered with a blue cloth and add some beautiful stones on the first week of Advent, make a path with tiny white pebbles towards where the stable is going to be.

In the second week add a little blossoming plant and maybe using some tree bark build the stable. On the third week the animals arrive, sheep, an ox and a donkey.

Then for the fourth week the shepherds appear on the fields while Mary and Joseph make their way to the stable.  The children’s excitement each morning to see what has happened is a treasure!

There are some fantastic story books for you to get inspired to create this magical time for children. Mary's little donkey by Gunhild Sehlin or The Light in the Lantern have been our favorites for years!

I know it's early for Advent and even more for Christmas but sometimes you have to start early if you want to get there...

love and good wishes,

Yolanda