Despite the best-designed rules of collection, unexpected (and sometimes odd) things slip in. Folks will purchase a set for you (pewter from Mexico) because they know you have a collection: Since I don’t walk around sharing my collection rules, the occasional gift now and then is to be expected. And every now and then you’ll […]

With the purchase of the Alaskan nativity, focus arrived for my collection: I’d only collect nativities related to our travels. That’s how we ended up with a Precious Moments nativity: And this wildly colorful fabric collage nativity from San Antonio’s Market Square: We found this simple and elegant nativity (by a Native American artist) near […]

The Boy took me on an Alaskan cruise for our honeymoon. While on a port stop, we saw an incredibly unique (and expensive) nativity set in one of the local shops: I instantly fell in love. It was undeniably the nativity, yet was also uniquely Alaskan. Just look at how warmly wrapped Mary, Joseph and […]

Before leaving Kenya, I added to my nativity collection with several sets made of ebony. I also picked up a nice set made of soapstone: I’ve given the ebony sets away as gifts over the years – I only wish I’d kept one set for myself. Yet another reason to return to Kenya for a […]

When I moved to Kenya, one of my friends collected a nativity produced by a Tanzanian sculptor. I loved her set – loved the artist’s work even more – and thought I’d buy a set of my own. His work is amazingly detailed. Just look at Mary’s face: And the patches on the shepherd’s robe: […]

As evidenced by my need for a display cabinet, I have a decent-sized nativity collection. I didn’t start out to collect nativities, it just sort of happened. While in college, I worked with international students. After one particularly taxing event that we worked on, some of my friends from Palestine gave me this lovely nativity:The […]