A Nativity Scene in Summer

For anyone who has not been a regular follower of my blog, I've started to advertise vintage statue restoration as a way to get extra income and to help people who have family heirlooms that they would like to preserve and have repaired. I like to keep as much of the original look as possible, and not add any unnecessary bright coloration to a piece - I love the "old" look of things.

A couple of months ago I was asked to "brighten up" a backdrop for a Nativity Scene at a Church I used to attend years ago. I remember looking at it as a child during services, and thinking it could look better if someone took the time to repaint it a certain way....but that's as far as it went, of course, until NOW!
The backdrop consists of 3 pieces connected by hinges. In the 2 pictures above, you can see what the outside sections looked like for at least 50 years, maybe longer. The backdrop is made of heavy cardboard that has been painted, and it is all framed with wood. I would like it to look a little more realistic, but still with that "Old Stable" appearance.
In THIS picture, you can see how much I have done today, and I've got a lot more to do. The window is not finished, and either are the stone blocks. The inside portions need to be painted, and the center where the scenery of the countryside of Bethlehem will have to be done as well. Mr. Wonderful will tighten screws and add some nails to hold things together better when I'm finished with the art work. I'll post again as I get more completed so you will be able to see how its coming along.

Christmas in June -

A New Version of a Childhood Game of Statues

I remember playing "Statues" as a child. There were 2 ways to play it. A person starts out as the "curator" and stands at the end of a field. Everyone else playing stands at the far end (distance depends upon playing area selected). The object of the game is for a "Statue" to tag the Curator, thereby becoming the Curator and resetting the game. The Curator turns their back to the field, and the "Statues" attempt to race across and tag the Curator. Whenever the Curator turns around, the Statues must freeze in position and hold that for as long as the Curator looks at them. The Curator can even walk around the Statues, examining them. However, the Curator needs to be careful - whenever their back is turned, Statues are free to move. If a Statue is caught moving, they are sent back to the starting line to begin again (or thrown out of that round, whichever way is preferred.) Usually, the honesty of the Curator isn't an issue - it's more fun to be a Statue anyway.

The second way is for the Curator to take the hand of each participant and spin them around to make them dizzy. While the person is getting "spun", they try to think of a pose to "freeze" into that will give a hint of an activity being performed that must be correctly guessed by the Curator - such as digging a hole, or dancing the ballet. We enjoyed this version as much as the original version above, and even more so, as it offered more creativity.

These days, I have another version of the Statue game - I've been learning the ins and outs of vintage and antique restoration. There are very few people that are able to do this kind of work, and my mother has been one of them. She restored the entire collection of statues at her church - large and live-sized statues. Some had porcelain eyes that seem so real they could cry! She's done amazing work and even had statues shipped to her from northern Michigan. So, it's only fitting I should learn from the best! Last weeks' statue was Baby Jesus.
Luckily, the owner saved as much of the broken pieces as she could, but missing fingers and toes present a challenge, as they have to be molded, sometimes in a curved position, as this statue here was needing. Note the wires that held the original fingers in position. These two angel figurines accompanied the infant. The owner requested some 'brightening up" on them, but I could only bring myself to touch up some chippy paint. The vintage appeal would be lost, as well as some of the value, if too much was changed.
Here are some pictures of the statues when I was finished with them.

On the back of Baby Jesus was penciled in the price of $3.50. To us that believe, His value is greater by far! After all, His death paid the price, in FULL, for our sins.

Blessings today and Always -