This is Edsel Elf, whose responsibility is to make sure the deer get their treats. I filled his bucket with Fimo carrots and apples that I had made in my early clay days. If Edsel's posture appears a bit odd here it is 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 or add flocking over his "sheepskin" vest. I think I would use a wash over his face, too.

I pressed his feet alternately into the soda and spackle while it was still damp to form the footprints leading from Nimble Fingers, the raccoon. Unfortunately, they don't show up very well in the photos.

This little raccoon is from a large collection of Something-Critters (can't recall the exact name) that I bought at a Pic'n'Save (now Big Lots) years ago when the stores first opened in El Paso.
These deer were Christmas ornaments, purchased separately at another time, whose hangers I removed. I did a bit of touch up painting here and there.
I loved that they had such expressive postures and personalities. That baby just cried out to be hiding underneath a tree limb. I used sawdust shavings beneath and around him.

The blue scarf may keep this deer's head cozy, but what about those ears?
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When my granddaughter Jenna was small enough to peer at Edsel at eye level in his dome on the sofa table, she asked once, "Nana, why can't we make a project like you do?" That was what inspired her and her brother Joel's first Christmas projects, the snow scenes.

This figurine of the Holy Family usually 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 with this figurine 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 my dear husband a long time ago. They and Edsel, and memories shared with my grandchildren, always make our Christmas complete.
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