Sweet Sweater Nativity

i've made a lot of things this year,
and this project ended up being my very favorite one.

i've selected it as my very first 'official' holiday decor post
because for me, this is the 'reason for the season' -
observing and celebrating the birth of Jesus.
it is at the foundation of my faith, and fills my soul with joy.

this project began with the beautiful blown glass art of artist Helle Mardahl...
i was so inspired by the luminous colors and soft forms of her art in photos on Instagram
and they immediately made me think of human forms.
i turned a few small ceramic vessels and some tiny tree ornaments
into a charmingly sweet and simple nativity scene that reflects her art.

after i added sweater scraps to the mix, i HAD to call this a 'Sweet Sweater Nativity'!

continue reading for the very easy details...

the elements that i used in this project are truly simple:

the two taller white ceramic vases are from Dollar Tree.
the white ceramic egg cup 'manger' is from World Market.
the 'body' of baby Jesus is a miniature ironstone pitcher that i've had for twenty years.

small scraps from sweaters cover three small round ornaments for the 'heads' -
i wrapped each ornament with the fabric and tied it tightly at the hook with thin yellow twine.
a wooden skewer helped me push the hook end of the ornies into the vases/pitcher - 

they fit tightly, so no glue was needed.

rolled edge trim from a knit hat was cut and glued into loops for the 'halos',
then attached to the backs of the two ornament 'heads' with a drop of hot glue.

some loose scraps of yellow yarn from that same hat fill the 'manger' under baby Jesus.
(there has to be 'hay' in the manger!)

now, that being said...
you don't have to use sweaters. or any kind of fabric.
simply placing glass ornament orbs on top of vases would have the same effect
with an even more modern mood.
some tinsel would serve as a contemporary version of 'hay' in the manger.

they all sit on a pedestal vase, topped with one of my white plates.
it's very simple with a bit of a mid-century mod feel... and i love it!

oh, and those branches? not real.
they are vintage tree branches, covered in German glass glitter.
they showed up in a grocery bag on my doorstep about nine years ago
(i still haven't figured out who left them there!)
they are perfect for my simplified approach this year - 

and will work all through the winter months!

honestly, i love this so much, i think i'll leave it up all year.
(i left my 2020 Rainbow Ombre' Christmas tree up ALL this past year in my studio!)

last year i made a creche from paint chips to hold my childhood nativity figures,
and the year before that i made a new wood 'nativiTIKI'.
i've linked those posts below to inspire your own creativity!

links to previous related content:

paint chip creche

wood nativiTIKI 

visit glass artist Helle Mardahl on instagram

shared online:

funky junk interiors | new upcycled projects to make #604

creatively beth | creative crafts linky party #69

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