4 Figure Fixed Nativity Set

The first nativity scene is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 in Greccio, Italy, in an attempt to place the emphasis of Christmas upon the worship of Christ rather than upon secular materialism and gift giving.  The nativity scene created by St. Francis is described by St Bonaventure in his Life of Saint Francis of Assisi written around 1260. Staged in a cave near Greccio, St. Francis’ nativity scene was a living one with humans and animals cast in the Biblical roles. Pope Honorius III gave his blessing to the exhibit. Such pantomimes became hugely popular and spread throughout Christendom. Within a hundred years every church in Italy was expected to have a nativity scene at Christmastime. Eventually, statues replaced human and animal participants, and static scenes grew to elaborate affairs with richly robed figurines placed in intricate landscape settings. Charles III, King of the Two Sicilies, collected such elaborate scenes, and his enthusiasm encouraged others to do the same.

Sources:  Wikipedia

Live Like an Italian

Festive Nativities

Poseable Vinyl Head Elves (Elf on the Shelf)

I listed some knee huggers and pixies this week and thought it time to recognize them for the collectibles that they have become. Few makers
had the special touch that the Japanese did in the late 50’s, 60’s and early 70’s. From the proverbial felt and plastic knee-huggers to the pottery whimsies, you will find examples with alternately playful and mischievous expressions. In the 1970’s quite suddenly, they disappeared from store shelves, and Japan moved from manufacturing Christmas kitsch to electronics and more instead.

Vinyl Head Pixies,Japan

Here are some links to sites with lots of pictures:

• Steely Elf
• World of Pixie Elf on a Shelf
• Ismoyo

http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2011/08/for-love-of-vintage-pixies-elves-and.html

Here are the End of Season Retirements and the New Introductions of 2012 for Christmas in the City

January 2012 Introductions

>

	4025269	“Chesapeake Bay Light”	$95.00
	4025270	“New Britain Vestry Church”	$80.00
	4025271	“Plainfield Sign Co.”	$90.00
	4025272	“A Salty Dog’s Respite”	$32.50
	4025273	“Green Bean Casserole & Pumpkin Pie”	$25.00
	4025274	“Master Sign Painter”	$18.50
	4025351	“The Gables”	$95.00
	4025352	“Essex St. Witch House”	$80.00
	4025353	“Salem’s Farm”	$90.00
4025354	“Old Man of the Gables”	$17.50
	4025355	“Herdin’ Cats”	$18.50
	4025356	“Scaredy Crow”	$17.50

May 2012 Introductions

4028701

“Nantucket Christmas Taffy”, Limited To Year 2012 Production

$89.00

December 2011 Retirements

	4020201	“New England Clock Tower”	$35.00
	4020203	“Home Cooked Christmas”	$18.50
	4023613	“Lakeshore Holiday House”, Limited To Year 2011 Production	$89.00
	805525	“Pembroke Textile Mill”	$115.00
	808914	“Tilton Station”	$95.00
	808917	“Waiting For The Train”	$25.00
	808919	“Caroling On Christmas Eve”	$25.00

Here are the End of Season Retirements and the New Introductions of 2012 for Christmas in the City

January 2012 Introductions

	4025241	“Murphy’s Irish Pub”	$85.00
	4025242	“The Fox Theatre”	$120.00
	4025243	“Wakefield Books”	$70.00
	4025244	“Rachael’s Candy Shop”	$70.00
	4025245	“Atwater’s Coffee House”	$70.00
	4025246	“City Cars, 2 Assorted”	$25.00
	4025247	“A Little Irish Jig”	$17.50
	4025248	“A Family Holiday Tradition”	$25.00
	4025250	“Sweet Friends Forever”	$18.50
	4025251	“Holiday Coffee Break”	$22.50
	4025252	“Pennies for the Penny Press”	$25.00

May 2012 Introductions

4028697

“Santa’s Reindeer Petting Stable”, Limited To Year 2012 Production

$89.00

December 2011 Retirements

	4020176	“City Clock Tower”	$35.00
	4020942	“The Macambo”	$95.00
	4020943	“Uptown Boys”	$25.00
	4020944	“City Wreath Seller”	$30.00
	4020954	“The Flamingo Revue”	$25.00
	4022814	“The Flamingo Club”	$95.00
	4023614	“City Park Carriage House”, Limited To Year 2011 Production	$89.00
	56.58952	“Molly O’Brien’s Irish Pub”	$70.00
	805533	“The Golden Ox Market”	$90.00
	805537	“The Roxy”	$95.00
	807253	“Welcome To Chinatown”	$47.50
	807254	“Lanterns & Fireworks For Sale”	$28.50
	808824	“Eat In & Take Out”	$25.00

Here are the End of Season Retirements and the New Introductions of 2012 for Alpine Village

January 2012 Introductions

	4025235	“Reit Train Station”	$100.00
	4025236	“Basel Cheese Shop”	$90.00
	“4025237	“Rhineland Wine Tavern”	$90.00
	4025238	“Just in Time To Celebrate”	$27.50
	4025239	“Treats for the Nanny Goat”	$17.50
	4025240	“My Octoberfest Debut”	$22.50

May 2012 Introductions

4028695

“Christmas Market, Pyramid Booth”

$45.00

December 2011 Retirements

	4020170	“Alpine Clock Tower”	$35.00
	804441	“Christmas Market, The Ornament Booth”	$40.00
	805530	“Christkindl Church”	$125.00
	808754	“Wolfstein Beer Hall”	$95.00
	808777	“Pretzels And Beer”	$25.00

Evem though I sell mostly vintage Christmas items, I always find it interesting to see what the current trends are for next Christmas season. I’ve posted a new pinterest board on Christmas Trends and am recapping what I found in my research here.

The most influential trade show Christmasworld for Christmas occurs in January in Frankfurt,Germany. This year’s fair featured

• Snow on Everything. “Hardly any exhibitors did without it – even fir-tree green disappeared to a large extent under a white covering of bio, powder, scatter, crystal or gently iridescent artificial snow. Snow of all kinds decorated Christmas wreaths. Freezing rain and glitter effects conquered glass baubles, stars and danglers.”
• Tree and table decorations featured classic elements, such as baubles, stars, angles and nativity figures, with a traditional character. Good news for vintage lovers!
• Nature continues to be the primary source of inspiration. As Samim Pilli, CEO of ART-CAN-DEL Kerzen- und Accessoires Vertriebs-GmbH, put it, “The trend is towards meliorated natural products, which are to be seen in almost all decorative settings. White wash and glimmer dominate at present while we expect a shift towards grey wash next season. Additionally, the knitted look remains very popular.”
• trend towards do-it-yourself.
• LED lighting market is growing and becoming more innovative. It is not only manufacturers of traditional electric lighting that offer branches, wreaths and candles fitted with LEDs. Makers of traditional wax candles are also responding to the great competitive pressure caused by high paraffin costs with innovative concepts. Thus, LED lamps are integrated into hollow cylinders made of genuine wax, to create an authentic candle-flame look while electro-magnetic candles accurately reproduce a natural flame using flickering reflective wicks in real-wax candles.

Sources: Christmas Mood Boards

Trends at the Fair

DIYweek

Color Trend forecast

http://www.fromgrandmastree.com/listed-1511/ Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000 http://www.fromgrandmastree.com/?p=2738

Ornaments,Lights,Santa Today!

• Buy It Now

  Link to My eBay Store for immediate purchase.

Want more ornaments?

Check out my website, www.fromgrandmastree.com

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My series on the “Journey to Easter…Symbols and Traditions” continues.

The egg has long been a symbol of new life, and all around the world Christians eat eggs at Easter. Some refrain from eating eggs during Lent so it is also a breaking of a fast to eat an egg at Easter. Eggs were used as currency in medieval times and tradition of paying a tithe of eggs at Easter existed in several European countries and in England. Giving a decorated egg at Easter to suitors or to express fondness is a long tradition as well.

Collectible Easter Eggs

Pysanky and Decorated Eggs

Ukranian Pysanky

Before the advent of modern food dyes, people colored Easter eggs with a variety of naturally occuring substances including onion skins (yields a golden deep orange or reddish brown color), Brazil wood (bright red),or Coachineal (scale insects).Many central and Eastern European countries etch elaborate designs on their easter eggs. Some use a scratch technique where the eggs are first dyed, then the artist scrapes away a thin layer of eggshell to create the design. Others use an applique method which attaches various decorations to the egg, such as sea shells,strips of dough,metal coils, or paper cuts. Another technique was a batik method which places wax on the egg to protect the areas which will not be dyed and then dying the egg. Ukranian and Polish artists create astonishingly complex designs with various colors using this technique. These eggs are known as pysanky. These eggs are collected as stunning examples of folk art.

Colored Eggs

Greek Easter Eggs

In Germany and Austria, eggs are dyed green on Maundy Thursday to match the green foods that are traditionally eaten on this day. Many Europeans favor red dyed eggs. This color is associated with magic,love,blessing and renewal, all themes that blend well with Easter. Orthodox Christians prefer red eggs as symbols of the blood of Christ, and red dyed eggs are also baked into braided Easter breads.