The blog of Yonder Star Christmas Shop, www.YonderStar.com
Tomorrow is the last day to take advantage of our 15% off Fontanini coupon code. The coupon code is the word FIFTEEN and it is for use on everything in the Fontanini Nativity collection. Here is a quick link to the Fontanini Nativity collection at Yonder Star. Enjoy!
Of course, Yonder Star Christmas Shop, LLC needs to reserve the right to limit use of this coupon.
Spring Hop! The 2009 Easter basket from Jim Shore is just so cute. Several bunnies hop along the outside, there are lovely little flowers on the handle, and – of course – the eggs exquisitely designed by Jim Shore inside the Easter basket. Here is a link to the basket if you’d like to see for yourself. Jim Shore – the artist behind the Heartwood Creek collection – designs an Easter basket each year, with this 2009 Easter basket the 4th in the series.
Also new for 2009 from Jim Shore is the gorgeous Easter Tree with little eggs and chicks and bunny ornaments for hanging. I just love this tree. Here’s a link to the Jim Shore Easter Tree if you’d like to see the incredible cuteness. This tree has a very simple name – “Spring Tree”. I think I would have tried to come up with a better name. Nothing is “Springing” to mind, but I’ll be sure to let you know if I think of something better. Regardless of the name, I still think this is a super cute tree.
2009 Jim Shore Easter Basket: http://www.yonderstar.com/heartwood-creek-easter-basket-2009.html
2009 Jim Shore Easter Tree: http://www.yonderstar.com/jim-shore-heartwood-creek-easter-tree-with-ornaments-eggs-4009306.html
When I was a child, we always had an Advent wreath as part of our Christmas tradition, and that’s probably a big reason why I love the lighting of Advent candles once Advent begins. My mother would make a wreath out of greens, and we would put in taper Advent candles like these here: http://www.yonderstar.com/adventcandles.html We also had a small book of Advent prayers that we would read when dinner was finished. Typically, whoever finished eating first would read the prayers while the rest of us continued eating. That routine seemed to work well enough.
Now, my family continues the tradition of lighting Advent candles each night of Advent.
Actually, it’s two. We couldn’t decide on just one. They’re both great.
We love this Wooden and Magnetic Advent Calender shown here: http://www.yonderstar.com/calendar.html The little Nativity scene figures behind each door are magnetized and can be stuck on the metal creche scene backdrop. The doors also are magnetized so they stay closed.
And, this other Wooden Advent Calendar tied as our favorite: http://www.yonderstar.com/wooden1.html It’s a more grown-up version of the calendar above. It has that classic Christmas house look. I know a lot of people love the Advent Calendar from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and this one is certainly reminiscent of that. You do need to supply your own treats for behind each door, but picking up some chocolates can be an easy solution.
I am ALWYAS on the look out for new Advent Calendars, especially wooden ones.
Like most things, Nativity scenes are yet another product that can be tough finding “Made in America”. Below are a list of Nativity sets we have found that are made in the United States:
The Companions Collection Nativity from Hestia is made in America and can be seen by clicking here. The figures are made from bonded marble and then hand dressed in select fabrics. Hestia has also added a line of Santas that are also made in the United States. They too can bee seen at the link above.
Another Nativity scene made in America is from Vaillancourt Folk Art and can be seen by clicking here. Vaillancourt makes all their figures from calkware, cast in antique chocolate moulds and then handpainted with beautiful detail. Vaillancourt also makes a Startlight Santa each year (also made in the United States). Each Starlight Santa is produced for one year, and then retired. These Santa are highly collectible and can be seen by clicking here.
Lastly, are several styles of Outdoor Nativity scenes. These are all made in America and have been for decades. There is a life size scale outdoor nativity scene that can be seen by clicking here, a 36 inch scale full color outdoor nativity set that can be seen by clicking here, a 36 inch scale all white nativity set that can be seen by clicking here, and lastly an 18 inch scale kids style outdoor nativity scene that can be seen by clicing here. All of these outdoor Nativity sets are made in the United States.
If you know of any other Nativity sets made in the United States and would like to post a comment to this blog, it would be much appreciated!
Every year at Christmas time, my parents always set up an Outdoor Nativity Scene. It was just the holy family – the traditional Empire of Carolina set that you’ve seen on American lawns for decades. Fortunately, those same molds still exist and the same figures are still being made. This is the set that my parents always used. In fact, it was this same Holy Family but they used to make it wil the (now) life size Baby Jesus like this one here. Not sure if my parents’ set came with a crib because they always just used a produce bin to lay baby Jesus in. lol.
My personal favorite is this all white stone Outdoor Nativity scene shown here. I like the garden statuary look of it. It’s the kind of thing you could leave up year round if you had room enough. They’ve just started making this same set in full color and, as pretty as that is, I’m still partial to the all white. They also started making the same set in a larger size and with three kings as well.
I don’t leave my Christmas decorations up all year long. But there are just so many beautiful way to commemorate the season, there just never seems to be enough time to set up all the decorrations. The Christmas season always goes so fast!
Fontanini Advent Calendar
I know it’s only August 12th, but I’m already thinking of Advent Calendars. ‘Tis one of the perks of being a Christmas-year-round kind of person. I always had an Advent Calendar as a child and loved the tradtion. Openeing one door each day was one of my favorite parts of the Christmas tradition in our household. That, and playing with Vertibird. (Our family didn’t set up a train, we set up Vertibird each Christmas. )
I know as a child I would have loved this wooden Nativity scene Advent calendar: Wooden & Magnetic Calendar. I also would have loved this Advent calendar that looks like a Victorian home all ready for Christmas: Victorian House Advent Calendar. Although I would have hoped for a piece of these wrapped chocolates tucked behind each door.
As an adult, I really like this Advent Calendar by Fontanini: Fontanini Advent calendar. I like the simple and elegant design and the pieces, though printed on heavy paper board, are really quite lovely. I also hear there is a Jim Shore Advent calendar this year so I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for that one!
I am not a huge Disney fan. I saw most of the movies as a kid (although to this day I have yet to see Bambi) and enjoyed them. I guess I like Disney movies about as much as the next person.
Having said all that, I was just completely taken with the beauty of these little Disney movie shadowboxes at Yonder Star. The shadowboxes are quite small, but very intricately detailed. They are designed by artist Robert Olszewski who has been producing miniatures for Disney for almost 15 years.
Each one of the shadowboxes has a small hidden button in the lower right corner of the box’s frame. Push the button and the scene lights up. Just so magical!
Right now there are 7 different styles – Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Lady and the Tramp, A Nightmare Before Christmas, Sleeping Beauty, Bambi, and Snow White - but I hear that a few more will be added any day now.
Congratulations to Christopher Gonzalez of Virginia who won our First Holy Communion porcelain cross give-away. As this was our first give-away, it was a lot of fun for “team Yonder Star” to draw the winner. We plan to add more give aways in the future and will notify all of our customers on our mailing list as soon as the next one begins.
For a limited time, we have First Communion coupon for Yonder Star – www.YonderStar.com - that will take 20% off all First Holy Communion items that are not already on sale. The coupon code is COMMUNION. This is just for a limited time. If you’d like to browse our First Communion gifts here is a direct link: http://yonderstarshop.stores.yahoo.net/communion.html
We’re trying our first give-away! We thought it would be a fun thing for our customers, and a fun thing for us as well. It’s always fun to hold a contest. So we’re giving away one of our First Holy Communion Crosses. We’ll allow the winner to choose between a boy’s cross and a girl’s cross. If you’d like a chance to receive a free boy or girl First Communion cross, be sure to visit our First Communion page for details. We’ll hold the random drawing on April 7th, 2008 so you’ll need to enter before then if you’d like a chance at winning.
