Collectors Acquire Many Unique Nativity Sets

One collector has 70, another has over 600, but the largest collection totals 2,200!

As reported by Kyle Munson on DesMoinesRegister.com on December 3, 2011, It’s unlikely that anybody else in the world, owns as many Nativity sets as Michael Zahs of Washington County, Iowa: 2,200 at last count.

One is carved from the back-leg bones of beef cattle. Another Nativity is forged from square nails. Zahs crafted one himself by bending and twisting barbed wire. In yet another favorite Nativity, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus were carved out of oak beams from the historian’s great-grandfather Zahs’ barn, set within a stable of intertwined raspberry twigs.

“If you don’t have a story for it, does it get pitched?” Mr. Munson's photojournalist colleague, Mary Chind, asked while sorting through Nativity sets. “Usually you can find a story for it,” Zahs says.

To read more about Mr. Zahs and his quest to ensure that the story of how Iowans have made Christmas their own is preserved in the 21st century click here.

WIFR.com reported on December 4, 2011, that another Midwest collector displayed 750 nativity scenes that he's collected over 30 years at the United Brethren Church in Rockford, Illinois. A short video of this collector's story can be found here.

Even my hometown of Pueblo, Colorado has joined in the nativity festivities; one of the local Methodist churches just launched their inaugural Creche festival.

Loretta Sword reported in the Pueblo Chieftain on December 3, 2011, that at least 70 creches of all description, and that many more Christmas ornaments depicting nativity scenes, would be on display at the church. The collection acquired over a span of 50 years is a mix of nativities from secondhand shops, church socials, catalogs, Christian bookstores, and gifts from friends and family. They range from the delicate and artful to the quirky and even comical. To read about the Pueblo, Colorado collection, click here.

I didn't realize that collecting nativity sets and scenes was such a popular hobby. Perhaps these collectors will add to their collection with a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted rock nativity set lovingly crafted in Pueblo, Colorado.

Three unique, one-of-a-kind painted rock nativity sets

 © Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Heartfelt Sympathy for My Rock Painting Mentor

I just learned that in early September, Lin Wellford (author of the rock painting books that inspired me) unexpectedly lost her 33-year old daughter who suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. As a registered organ donor, Lin's daughter donated her kidneys, pancreas, liver and lungs to 4 individuals before she passed away. My heart aches for Lin and her family and they are in my prayers. As I mentioned in my earlier post, "It's amazing how an ordinary rock can come alive and bring joy in so many ways, including healing a broken heart."

To read more about Lin's moving account of this terrible tragedy, click here.

To learn more about Lin's daughter, Erika, click here.

Updated "He is my Rock" Nativity Set Website

I've been working on the expansion and update of the "He is my Rock" website featuring my unique, hand-painted rock nativity set figures. The updated site includes information about the history of the nativity scene, facts about the biblical nativity story, how my nativity sets are made, a nativity resource page and more.

My updated website has a new address, too. It's www.uniquenativitysets.com. For a short while www.he-is-my-rock.com will be available but I urge you to check out the new site. I think you'll find it much more informative and enjoyable.

He is my Rock - Unique Nativity Sets Painted on Rocks

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Rocks Can Heal a Broken Heart

My rock painting was shelved due to a broken heart and I've been away from my blog for awhile.

In one of my earlier posts, "Healing Art," I wrote about my mother who resided in an Ohio nursing home. Every month I would paint a small rock and mail it to her, hoping to bring a smile to her face and let her know I was thinking of her even though I lived many miles away and was unable to visit.

At first my mother kept the rocks hidden in her bedside drawer. Then, my sister found a wooden frame with little compartments and hung it next to my mother's bed. The painted rocks found a new home displayed on the wall for my mother and all the visitors and caregivers to see.

Sadly, in April 2009 my mother left this world. I was fortunate to be with her during her last days and hours and comforted to see my painted rocks keeping her company as she slowly slid away.

As one life was slowly ebbing away, new life came to the painted rocks. My 8-yr. old niece, Sophie, found the visits to her dying grandmother difficult and at times boring. As a distraction, the rocks were removed from the wall and several sheets of blank paper became backdrops as Sophie drew a scene appropriate for each bird, bumblebee, butterfly, cat, flower, frog, ghost, gnome home, ladybug, mouse, nativity, penguin, pumpkin, Santa, snake, strawberry, and winter house that I had painted and mailed to my mother.

After I returned home to Colorado, I painted one final rock for my mother to mark the spot where her ashes were buried.

Click here to see the back of this Memorial Painted Rock

Then, I lost the inspiration to paint my rocks until a dear friend had to move her unwilling mother to an assisted living facility. Aha! I knew just the thing to bring a smile to her face and make the transition a little less traumatic - painted rocks!

Life goes on and I'm painting again. My friend says her mother's face lights up every time she sees one of my special envelopes in her mailbox. It's amazing how an ordinary rock can come alive and bring joy in so many ways, including healing a broken heart.


© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Rockin' with Santa at Christmas

The theme for the White House Christmas tree this year is U.S. National Parks. While my latest project did not depict a national park, I used rocks from my park-like property in the state of many national parks (Colorado) to create unique Christmas decorations and gifts.

Santa Painted Rock Xmas Tree Ornaments

My hand-painted rocks depicting smiling Santa faces are unique, unconventional ornaments for a tree trimming party as well as a one-of-a-kind addition to a wrapped gift in addition to a festive bow.

Painted Rock Sitting Santa 

Sitting Santa is a whimsical, hand-painted holiday decoration. He is also a great Christmas gift and will brighten the winter garden of a favorite gardener on your Christmas list.

To see more of my unique, one-of-a-kind, hand-painted rock Christmas decorations based on Lin Wellford's designs, visit High Plains Critters and He is my Rock.


© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks