This scene has been a grandchildrens' favorite over the years, and it ushers in the Christmas holiday season when it replaces the turkey-hunter dome on the end of our sofa table.
The elf and deer are Christmas ornaments with their hangers and bases removed and a bit of touch-up painting. The base is styrofoam iced with spackling compound, then sprinkled with baking soda. The bare-branch tree was one my husband picked up on one of his hikes. The other trees are available at craft stores. I added the snow on their branches.
I have several of these elves, whom I have named, and have not seen again for sale since the Christmas I purchased them. I love their rather loopy appearances and have assigned them various responsibilities as Santa's helpers, according to my imagination.
This is Edsel Elf, whose responsibility is to make sure the deer get their treats. I filled his bucket with Fimo carrots and apples. Edsel's posture is a bit odd here; because of the heavy-laden wooden bucket, his other arm is swung out away from his body for balance.
If I were to do this
scene now, I would probably glue fabric over his "sheepskin" vest.
I pressed his feet alternately into the soda and spackle while it was still damp to form the footprints. Unfortunately, they don't show up very well in the photo.
This little raccoon is from a large collection of Something-Critters that I bought at a Pic'n'Save years ago when the stores first opened in El Paso. He happened on the scene just as Edsel started up the hill; he's already gotten some goodies.
These two deer come running because they want to get the apples first.
This little one is content to stay in his cozy spot under the tree until Edsel brings his goodies, while another deer peers through the tree limbs to see what all the racket is about.
The blue scarf may keep his head cozy, but what about those ears?
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It was Edsel feeding the deer that inspired the grandkids to make their own snow scenes (see Children's Projects). Maybe I will get the reindeer stable and Edsel's brother elves' settings finished this year.
HOLY FAMILY FIGURINE
This firgurine of the Holy Family occupies the other end of the sofa table. Although not a miniature, it is one of my prized Christmas pieces. I first saw it in an interior design showroom window in the late 70's and lusted after it for a long time but couldn't afford it. One year after Christmas I found it in the back of the store, and got it for fifty per cent off!
Many years ago my husband gave me a beautiful flower arrangement for Mother's Day. When I finally decided it was too shabby to keep any longer, I threw away all the flowers, but saved those bamboo swirls. I came across them while looking through my flower arranging stash for ideas to make a new arrangment for the sofa table. I decided to use them because they made me think of haloes.
I am pleased now every time I look at them, not only for what they contribute to this arrangement, but also because I am reminded of a special gift from a long time ago.
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