Baby Jesus

Inspiration

hen I decided to create a Nativity ornament collection, my mind immediately transported me to my childhood. We celebrated the arrival of the Christmas season with Christmas pageants, baking Christmas cookies, and caroling, all in preparation for the arrival of the Christ Child. Part of our traditions was making fruitcake. Indeed, I am one of the few lovers of fruitcake (along with most of my family members). Back then, it was hard to find shelled walnuts. So, my sisters and I would spend hours cracking them to get to the nut. A few years ago, as I was shelling and eating walnuts, the idea for the Baby Jesus ornament came to me.

Baby Jesus Ornament Design Process

I remembered how the task of shelling walnuts was bearable. Indeed, after a few hours, if we were careful, we would have a pile of ‘little cribs’. My twin sister and I would use these half-shells to make fairy cribs. Then, we would hang them from the trees in our backyard, hoping to catch a glimpse of a fairy. So, I thought that these walnut shells would also be perfect as the manger for Baby Jesus. This is why I made the walnuts the center of my design.

I made Baby Jesus like the Baby that Mary is holding in the Mary and Joseph ornaments set. I used a small wooden bead for the head. Then, I made His body from white felt that represents His swaddling clothes. To complete Him, I added a halo made from colorful shiny paper with gold accents. Next, I used straw to stuff the walnut half-shell making the perfect bed for the Baby. The straw was left from a bale of hay that my husband had purchased to cover freshly sprinkled grass seed. So, I laid the straw in a sunray pattern, symbolizing the light that the Christ Child brought to the world, one silent night, many years ago. Finally, I posed a tiny dove at the foot of the manger, signifying His peace and love.