A new Christmas ornament featuring "snowman and crow" is uniquely created each year. I try my best to work with a theme using a Christmas song or carol. The title of each year's ornament is handwritten on the back-face of the ornament. I typically begin mid-year on the design, hand painting the bisque ware and firing only during that same calendar year. This is what makes them "collectible". Orders can be placed as early as you like, but once January 1 comes around, I will not continue to paint the same design. I do try to make "extra" for those that are trying to keep their collections intact. Enjoy! Out of state customers have enjoyed ordering them sight unseen during the release year. However if you would like to see the product before ordering please contact me with your email and I will send you a jpeg image for your preview.
2016 Do You Hear What I Hear
During my search for the title of this year's ornament, I found out something I didn't know. I didn't realize that what I had come to cherish as a Christmas song was not written to be a Christmas song at all, but rather a song for peace. Choosing this title was especially fitting as it evoked the same surprise I encountered when I discovered, through my personal bible study this year, that what I thought the verses meant, meant something more and redirected me to a new understanding. There are layers of understanding in the bible. So for me this year's ornament title has even deeper meaning than the suggested Christmas theme, or the original purpose - a hymn of peace. So I ask you, if you are seeking the truth, do you hear what I hear? "Do You Hear What I Hear?" was a song written in October 1962, with lyrics by Noël Regney and music by Gloria Shayne Baker. The pair, married at the time, wrote it as a plea for peace. Regney had been invited by a record producer to write a Christmas song, but he was hesitant due to the commercialism of the Christmas holiday. "Do You Hear What I Hear?" was released shortly after Thanksgiving in 1962." Regney wrote the lyrics for the song, while Shayne composed the music. This was an unusual arrangement for the two writers. Usually it was Shayne who wrote the lyrics for their songs while Regney composed the music, as they did when they wrote a song based on the classic children's song "Rain, Rain Go Away". The composer, Mr. Regney, living in N. Y., was walking home in a depressed mood. "En route to my home, I saw two mothers with their babies in strollers. The babies were looking at each other and smiling. All of a sudden, my mood was extraordinary". This inspired the first line of the song: "Said the night wind to the little lamb ... pray for peace, people everywhere". Now inspired, he wrote the lyrics and handed them to his wife, Gloria Shayne, who wrote the music. ''I am amazed that people can think they know the song and not know it is a prayer for peace,'' Mr. Regney said in an interview in The New York Times in 1985. ''But we are so bombarded by sound and our attention spans are so short that we now listen only to catchy beginnings.'' Bing Crosby made the song into a hit when he recorded his own version of it on October 21, 1963, with the record being released as a single on October 26. Crosby also performed the song on a Bob Hope Christmas television special on December 13 of that year. It was recorded by Bing Crosby and Perry Como, among others, in more than 120 versions, in musical styles ranging from jazz and New Age to funk and reggae. It has sold tens of millions of copies and has been covered by hundreds of artists. Mr. Regney's favorite version was Robert Goulet's. When Mr. Goulet came to the line ''Pray for peace, people, everywhere,'' he almost shouted the words. It was important to me to design something this year that continued the use of modeling clay and a unique ribbon selection. The hanging ribbon is a burlap style with red snowflakes. This year it will have a star in the sky that will glow in the dark, "with a tail as big as a kite" on this 3"ceramic ball. $22.00 (does not include shipping) Add $2.50 for personalization I'll add this button so you can order via email: |
2015 I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
This year is the 20th anniversary of my Christmas Ornament series. It was important to me to design something that gave reference to the traditional materials typically celebrated for a 20th anniversary, platinum and china. The hanging ribbon and model clay bells are silver on this ceramic ball. The times they are a changing. When I read the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, "Christmas Bells", I felt that this was the message that needed to be spread this Christmas season. I hope you will enjoy this year's ornament as well as the message I send to you. In a busy world, rushing by at sometimes a chaotic pace, it is a good thing to sit and ponder, reflect, pray and know that "God is not dead; nor doth He sleep! The Wrong shall fall, The Right prevail, with peace on Earth, goodwill to men!" $22.00 (does not include shipping). Add $2.50 for personalization |
2014 Mistletoe & Holly
Last fall my middle son, Joshua proposed to the love of his life, and it inspired me to immediately work on a design for 2014. The result is this year's ornament, "Mistletoe & Holly". It has gone through several revisions before the final creation. I first thought it would be a perfect time to introduce a second snow "person", following on the theme of Frosty the Snowman from last year. But I wasn't so sure how "Crow" would feel about it and decided to let Snowman and Crow continue their 19 year running streak together with rubbing noses under the Mistletoe. This is for all the new loves, engagements, marriages, and best friends forever, this Christmas season. "Mistletoe and Holly" is a 1957 Christmas song recorded and co-written by Frank Sinatra. The song was released as a single on Capitol Records. Update: My youngest son married the love of his life on Christmas Eve in Japan. This was a very fitting ornament for 2014. $22.00 (does not include shipping). 2012 O TannenbaumChristmas is such a special time. It's a time of memories bubbling up from the past and creating ones in the present. This year it was important to me to share the creation of this year's ornament with my father. I wanted him to share his wood carving talents by creating a wood carving that I could use to help create this year's 2012 ornament. My father whittled the wood cut block which I then use to help form each tree. This year's ornament is special to me because of my father's contribution to the design. $22.00 (does not include shipping).
2011 We Need A Little ChristmasI don't know about you, but I sure need a little Christmas after record breaking weather in Texas,and in many other parts of the USA.This year's ornament is meant to be fun and playful, a spirit of rejoicing! I hand rolled 8 candy canes per ornament. I sold out last year on December 23. After Christmas, but before the New Year I painted 3 dozen more. There is just one left as of 2/19/2013. Enjoy! SOLD OUT
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2013 Frosty The Snowman
Snowman and Crow have discovered a very special " 'ol' silk hat". The Christmas season is bound to be filled with memories for those of us who are older, and with anticipation for those who are young. Memories of Christmas songs, plays, and seasonal TV shows help keep me young at heart. This year's ornament is a creation of a wonderful memory I have of watching "Frosty The Snowman " in the very popular children's animation TV show in 1969, sung by Jimmy Durante. "Frosty The Snowman" was written by Steve Nelson and Walter E. "Jack" Rollins in 1950, in an effort to perhaps "outdo" the previous year's recording of "Rudolph, The Red Nose Reindeer". The song was originally recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass Country Boys. Gene Autry was born in Tioga, Texas. Here I am now, living in Texas, creating this keepsake of a memory I cherish, long after its’ debut. Perhaps children will soon run up to our favorite Snowman and Crow and place the ol' silk hat on Snowman's head, or is the ol' silk hat appearing after years of absence and showing up for a new generation in need of magic and fun to brighten up some of our coldest days. It shall be left to one's imagination. Once again the ornaments are designed with two forms of clay, giving it a definite 3D effect. $22.00 (does not include shipping.) 2010 The Night Before ChristmasSnowman and Crow are hanging up their stockings this year.
Less than two dozen available, as of 12/17. It is a great compliment to last year's, "Sleigh Ride". Enjoy! $22.00 (does not include shipping.) |