My friend and her fellow church goers at Wickham Skeith Church managed to gather many different Nativity cribs for the display. They are fundraising for church repairs - always much needed.
Just a few photos...first an introduction.
This one below is very unusual - I wonder where it came from, it doesn't look English.
These below come from Italy, I liked the extra characters working at their professions on the left.
Another selection
I would love to know which country this scene below comes from. Upstairs and downstairs and closing doors - very different.
The card set at the back here looks very old.
The teeniest little crib scene below, not even as big as a matchbox
Hopefully Wickham Skeith church had lots of visitors and raised a goodly amount. Son, DiL and the two grandchildren visited too after I'd met up with them a couple of miles away at Cotton Village Hall for the regular Christmas Fair there. Father Christmas was in attendance for YGD and MGS to visit. They always have activities for children to do - colouring and wordsearch etc which is a good idea and means parents stay longer. I didn't buy anything again - I think I'd seen all the things for sale at umpteen other Christmas Fairs.
When I got home there was a small parcel on the doorstep and inside I found these gorgeous little figures with a note - A beautiful handmade set from Ang at Tracing Rainbows. The little people are turned wood and their clothes are made from felt with stitched and knitted trimmings. I have no idea how Ang made the stable or how she has the patience for all this work on a small scale!
How lovely and so kind, I shall have to hope that my friends church has a crib display next year so I can lend these because there certainly wasn't a set like this there.
Thank you Ang . They will be treasured.
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Yesterday was the next huge bill of this years expensive December....A filling at the Dentist and before I went out I had the Day 8 advent coffee which was simply called 'Breakfast'.
After the dentist I went into Ipswich town centre (Ipswich is our County town - biggest in the County) - probably the first time for 2 years - Oh My Goodness, everywhere is looking even worse than it did. There are perhaps fewer empty shops but empty shops have been replace by phone shops, vape stores and similar. Even two of the charity shops that I used to visit have gone. There was rubbish everywhere and it all looked really depressing. I didn't stay long and doubt I'll be going back anytime soon.
That a lovely creche set you now own! My smallest is a wooden hanging ornament a couple of inches wide. I have a couple of bigger ceramic ones and some spare Italian porcelain figures. It's my favorite Christmas category.
ReplyDeleteMy olive wood and glass nativity scenes will come back to me today after being loaned out - I'll be able to choose which to have on display.
DeleteI have a hanging olivewood scene, brought back from Bethlehem. It's meant for the Christmas tree but I keep it out all year. My son's church always has a posada, a little nativity set that stays overnight with a different family all through Advent, returning to church on Christmas day.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame when a town loses its way and all the interesting shops disappear.
Ang has made a beautiful little set!
DeleteAng is so clever with all the crafting she does.
DeleteNice idea for the set that is passed around at your son's church
The stable is half a bamboo food container. I think that two tier crib maybe from Peru.
ReplyDeleteAh - Bamboo - I had no idea how you had found such thin wood and bent it! Thank you again.
DeleteI have a small hanging set that I put on the tree. We also have a pottery set a friend who was a potter made for us years ago when our sons were small. This always takes pride of place. I hope the church raised quite a sum for repairs. Ang is so gifted and imaginative with her crafts. That is so sad about Ipswich. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteMy friend said they had lots of visitors so hopefully raised a little toward tower roof repair although by the time the end of Sunday came and they had cleared the church she said they were all exhausted - shortage of younger people to help of course - as with so many church congregations.
DeleteSue, according to Google Lens your two tier scene is a Peruvian Retablo or altarpiece, a sophisticated form of Andean folk art
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteYes, I was also thinking Andean for the upstairs down stairs nativity, didn't think to Google it.
DeleteCeci
A Nativity 'display' is such a good idea and a wonderful fund raiser. It's amazing how many different interpretations there are. It seems as if you are building your own collection, with the latest beautiful little set to add.
ReplyDeleteI've got 3 now - hopefully I can lend them again if they have another event like this
DeleteWhat a lovely Nativity scene you received. It's a great fundraiser for the church to have lots displayed.
ReplyDeleteMany local towns are going downhill, plenty of nail bars, Turkish barbers and suchlike. No thanks!
Penny in the UK
Ipswich used to be full of good shops and before Christmas it would be crowded - now just sad and tatty
DeleteI love all the Nativity scenes, but the one Ang made is gorgeous. I don't know how she finds the time to do it all. She's so creative :)
ReplyDeleteAngie
It was a lovely surprise. She certainly fits more into her days than I can!
DeleteLovely to see all The Nativity scenes and your surprise gift from Ang - so very special x
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
I think they are lovely - hope I can lend them if the church has another fund raiser sometime.
DeleteSuch a nice variety of Nativity scenes! Ang's is my favorite!
ReplyDeleteIt's so cleverly made
DeleteI love this. What a great idea. And I loved the Italian too. I have four characters from that series. But what almost brought tears to my eyes was seeing the cardboard scene. I have that! We have had it since I was about three or four -- I have a photo of me with it. I don't always have room for it every year. In fact, I haven't brought out any of the nativities yet -- that's this week. But maybe -- seeing it reminds me.
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence. I found out the cardboard set belonged to my friend - passed down the family
DeleteMy crib set is like a Russian Matryoshka design, the smallest piece being Jesus. At this time of year it lives on the hall windowsill. The one Ang sent you is beautiful. Xx
ReplyDeleteThere was a Russian Doll set in the church. I have Santas that go inside each other - but only 5
DeleteAll lovely and a reminder of the real meaning of Christmas,
ReplyDeleteI was always fascinated by the crib in our local church, when I was very young. It was a real treat to visit at Christmas.
It was lovely to go and see them all locally. I hope my village church has it's outdoor presentation case with nativity inside - need to go and look
DeleteI also love! and have that cardboard Nativity set!! I found it online I think, and bought it for $20. It is EXACTLY like the one my mother had, which she found in the attic of the small house they had just moved into when I was 18mo old. We used that cardboard set for my entire childhood. The cardboard piece that holds the single yellow lightbulb is cut wrong and so would not ever really do the job. Eventually my mom figured out a better way to hold up the light. The set is from the early 1950s, possibly the 1940s. Thank you so much for this Nativity display!
ReplyDeleteMy friend owned the cardboard set - how lovely that you have one dating from all those years ago
DeleteAng is very creative…love the nativity set she made for you! Cali
ReplyDeleteIt's so little and so clever and she has oodles more patience than I have!
DeleteThat lovely nativity set from Ang is gorgeous, isn't she a talented lady. I think I recognise half a Charlie Bigham's food container as a the stable. What a brilliant idea. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe church nativity displays are lovely. Each one is inspired and crafted beautifully. I do love the nativity that Ang sent to you. Such a nice surprise gift for you.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the church will raise the funds they need.
I've never heard of nativity sets/scenes referred to as cribs. Sometimes I use creche but never crib. I think I have the world's smallest one. It's painted inside a shell. I'll have to put it on the blog as an Advent day soon so you can see it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely nativity set you have been given. I have a tiny one that I purchased in Portugal while we were on holiday years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe upstairs/downstairs one kind of reminds me of some of the angels our oldest got me that come from Peru.
God bless.
What a lovely gift from Angela, she is very creative. The nativity crib fundraiser makes a change from the Christmas tree festivals we have locally, lovely idea.
ReplyDelete