Thursday, September 5, 2013

Handmade Holidays 2013...so I begin









Yes I know...It seems very early in the year to be thinking about Christmas gifts. But folks, my darling husband just told me there are only 110 days left until Christmas. That's less than 4 months! And this year I don't want to be caught unprepared. Plus in my case there are some special circumstances coming into play over the next few months which necessitate my getting things done early or probably not done at all. Not the least of which is the impending birth of our sweet little girl due in November, and family coming to stay from out of the country for several weeks in December!  Since I probably wont get much wood working done after the baby gets here I am trying to get that part of my handmade holiday preparations finished now! Sawdust and baby wearing really don't go hand in hand!

I've wanted to make a wooden Nativity set for the little ones to play with for a couple of years and I just never got around to it for some reason. I have the set I played with as a child, but it's more delicate than these sturdy wooden figures, so I really don't like them playing with it unsupervised. I have, until now, kept it out of their reach and only brought it down to the coffee table for them to tell the story of Jesus' birth and then back up it goes as soon as we're done playing and telling. But my plans for this one are to leave it within their reach all Christmas season so that they can interact with it as often as they desire!

I looked at a couple of  natural toy catalogs I have and different stores online then drew out the elements I liked best from several different wooden Nativity scenes. Next I transferred the outlines of my drawings to the wood, and cut them out with my scroll saw during two afternoon nap times last week. (I try to get the potentially dangerous crafting done while the under 4 crowd is napping in the afternoon!)  Yesterday during nap time I managed to get them all sanded and snapped these pictures outside just as the little ones were waking up from their naps. Sometime over the next couple of days I plan on wood burning details into them, and I'll probably add some nice watercolor washes to them. I haven't decided for sure whether I will paint them or not, I'm leaning towards yes, I will, but we'll see how I feel about it once I get the wood burning done... Then to seal the wood with some kid friendly homemade beeswax wood protector. And I'll be done!

Oh and I still would like to come up with a nice little stable for everyone to hang out in, at least something big enough for the Holy family and a few animals, and as always sturdy enough to stand up to years of play! Or at very least to survive Emmett's toddlerhood! He's rather a force of nature, that one! Kind of like what an insurance company might describe as an "Act of God" :-) That's it, our darling little Emmett~ our own personal Act of God! I read recently on someone's blog that a friend had described her toddler boy as feral, sometimes I feel like that might describe our child too. You'd think after having this many kids (he's #5 for goodness sake!) that we'd have this parenting little ones thing all figured out. Ha! Not really, this kid is so different from any of my other children. He is sweet, and loving, and always happy...until he's not!  He is very friendly and outgoing and extremely high needs all at the same time. At least the fact that he is number five gives me the perspective of knowing that although some days are completely draining and can feel like they last forever, time really does have a way of passing so quickly and pretty soon, he'll be beyond this stage and on to some new and exciting development! :-) That perspective is something that I am very thankful for, that comes from having gone through these years before, and really wanting to mindfully make the very most of them now, because this adorableness, and even this neediness doesn't last forever. At least not in the same ways.

Linking up with Nicole here and Linda here.

17 comments:

  1. ooooh, nice. i think a nice water color paint job would be subtle and beautiful. what a treasure.

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    1. Thanks! Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. Something not too dark or opaque, just a nice hint of color.

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  2. Wow, it looks awesome. A hint of colour would be nice, I think :)

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  3. Yes, that perspective of experience is a blessing indeed. It really does go so quickly. My husband and I always marvel when some challenging stage or another has been outgrown and we suddenly realize that, "Hey, when did such-and-such-an-issue stop being a headache?!"

    Just yesterday I pleaded with my husband to please, please, please get my woodshop set up (currently buried under renovation mayhem)so that I can get making Christmas gifts. So I hear ya!

    What an exciting November you have ahead!

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    1. HeeHee a very exciting November! I guess this is my own strange take on nesting that most pregnant women go through. Most seem to want to decorate the nursery...me, I'd rather pull out power tools and do woodworking projects! I've been feeling awfully creative lately, that must be why! Plus we've never had a nursery to decorate, the babies all just slept with us!

      I really do feel like the perspective of experience is a blessing too! I remember when my oldest children where toddlers/preschoolers. We had just moved to the USA and I didn't really have anyone to talk to, and I was sure that those trying days and months were going to last forever!! They didn't of course, but I feel like I am so much more able to just roll with it now and enjoy these times even more, since I know that no matter how hard it seems at the moment, that's all it will be- a moment, before we're on to something new.

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  4. Your nativity set is precious! I love it just the way it is. I also do woodworking, so I know how much work goes into it. This reminds me of the movie The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. If you haven't seen the movie, I recommend it to you.

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    1. I haven't seen that movie yet. I love Christmas movies though...I'll be sure to put it on my list of movies to look for this Christmas!

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  5. I love this!! I wish you would put things like this in your Etsy store. I'd love to buy a set from you! I hope you are all well and your house has recovered!

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    1. I know! Aren't they super cute!?! I can't wait to get them done! I actually have a few things (creations of my very own and one of a kind designs!) I hope to finish up this weekend and stock in my store on Monday. Plus I made something extra for a fun giveaway next week...

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  6. Ooh! Lovely! I'm not even Christian but I see the love, naturalness and sacredness of this gift. Spectacular.

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    1. Thanks so much! I really do enjoy making things for my children, who in turn seem to be pretty thrilled to play with mama made toys! It's a lovely cycle to be in!

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  7. It really is that time. I am dreadfully behind this year. I just don't know where the year disappeared to . Usually by now, I just have the stockings left to stuff, but this year I haven't even started. I think it's time to make some adjustments and see what realistically can happen. Thanks for the inspiration today...

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  8. This is a beautiful set, sure to be cherished by all of your children. I love that it's kid durable as well so it can be loved by all. I'm looking forward to seeing it woodburned and finished!!
    Thanks for sharing it this week on Sharing Creative Ideas!
    ~ joey ~

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  9. This is gorgeous! I bet it will inspire all kinds of creative play <3

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  10. You are amazing Rachel! I haven't even considered thinking about Christmas yet ( although I really should soon). This nativity is going to be wonderful & yes, I had two 'acts of God' when they were your Emmet's age :) They have grown into sweet, busy, but wonderful boys & I would have more again in a heartbeat (if God would send them (sigh)).
    Blessings
    Renata:)

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  11. Rachel, really, where do you get the time to create so many wonderful treasures with a big family and a new babe joining you in November. You really are an inspiration! I have four boys and no 2 and no 3 are acts of God. I too would love more babes. You are blessed! Love Kelly

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