Jesse Tree in Miniature, Jesse Tree Full-Size

Last week I mentioned we would be hunting for our Advent Cubes from last year. What I had forgotten was that, during the summer, while we were away in San Francisco, a leak in the basement had done some damage in the boiler room. Unfortunately, the advent materials (among other things) were damp and useless when I uncovered them, leaving us to begin at square one with almost everything.

Fortunately, stuffed in the closet we had an 8 inch bare tree, meant as an accessory for the Christmas village I never get around to setting up year after year:

A while back a friend of mine had brought a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates to our Mother's Tea and Rosary. It was beautiful and beveled, with exactly twenty-five small compartments, so I saved it hoping to create and Advent calendar of some sort:

One holy card was enough to transform the box into something perfect for Advent and Christmas:

Using the pictures of last year's Advent cubes, the four older girls and I spent Saturday afternoon making tiny ornaments out of Sculpey. With five pairs of hands, this did not take long:

Here they are before baking and painting:

They fit well in the candy box, ready to be taken out each day:

At eight inches high, the Jesse tree looks as if it sprang up right outside the Mission in Miniature. The Guadalupe holy card in the background will help show the small scale of the tree:

And here is something far more wonderful, a complete set of Jesse tree ornaments created for us by the mothers from my local homeschooling group--the brainchild of my generous and thoughtful friend Leticia! They knew things would be chaotic for us this year with my mother in the hospital and made me a complete set! We are so blessed to have these friends!

And, as if that is not enough, look at the perfect Jesse tree my friend Heather gave me for my birthday--she said the bird at the top reminded her of me! Thank you, Heather!

Comments

[Jennifer]

WOW!!! I can't believe you can turn candy wrappers into something so breathtakingly beautiful. That's amazing.

[Meredith]

Oh I absolutely LOVE the scupley ornaments and your tiny tree. It's so precious and what a lovely afternoon you had creating them together, that's the best part! I'm so sorry you lost so many of your other treasures. Love,

[jen]

WOW!! I LOVE the Jesse Tree ornaments! So pretty

[Beck]

That is just enchanting - and what a wonderful gift from your friend.

[Christine M]

I am in awe of the beautiful things you make!

[Jeannine]

You had me at "miniature," Alice. You had me at "miniature." What memories you are making for your children, Alice. They will remember those tiny symbols for the rest of their lives.

[Rachel]

Alice,
This was the first time I visited your blog and I love it(we are in a near circle together). Everything you do is so beautiful. I am originally from Southampton, Long Island (I can't tell where you are). But I do miss that amazing green, like in your title picture. I can almost smell it.
~Peace~

[Account Deleted]

i love the way you combine the advent calendar with the jesse tree. i was thinking about doing this myself - except that i'm not so organized! ha! i LOVE LOVE LOVE the gift from your friend.

[aussieannie]

Such beautiful, little ornaments Alice! And I REALLY love the Jesse Tree, as it was a gift, do you know where it can be purchased or should I pm Heather?

God Bless, Anne

[Leona]

You are amazing, It must be because you are an O'Brien! Gwen my Mum would agree. I love those chocolates and could never imagine turning the box into something so beautiful.

Aislinn, Mum and Dad were at the church yesterday and my 2 year old niece did her job with a candle for Auntie Leona's friends Alice's Mammy who is also Alice! She is so cute when she came home she asked Granddad was is still night time in California as she wanted to call me to tell me that she put her money in, did the candle and talked to Holy God that Alice and Auntie Leona would be better soon!

Hope all is well with you all there and remember you are always in the O'Flaherty's\O'Brien's prayers in Cork and the O'Flaherty\McCann's prayers in California.

Leona

[Leona]

You are amazing, It must be because you are an O'Brien! Gwen my Mum would agree. I love those chocolates and could never imagine turning the box into something so beautiful.

Aislinn, Mum and Dad were at the church yesterday and my 2 year old niece did her job with a candle for Auntie Leona's friends Alice's Mammy who is also Alice! She is so cute when she came home she asked Granddad was is still night time in California as she wanted to call me to tell me that she put her money in, did the candle and talked to Holy God that Alice and Auntie Leona would be better soon!

Hope all is well with you all there and remember you are always in the O'Flaherty's\O'Brien's prayers in Cork and the O'Flaherty\McCann's prayers in California.

Leona

[Claire]

So neat! I have a perked interest in Jesse Tree projects this year since at the parish where I am DRE, for our last "family night" I had each family make their own, using kits from Illuminated Ink (www.illuminatedink.com). It turned out to be a great project!

Your Jesse Trees are so unique and beautiful...thanks for sharing!

[Karen Edmisten]

Alice, you never cease to amaze me! What great creations!

[patience]

Such beautiful things. And look at your windows! Wooden window frames! Sigh.

I always think of Christmas as a very special time for mothers. I'll be thinking of you and your mother this season.

[MacBeth]

The kids did a really good job naming all the symbols in the photos (and made a plea for polymer clay...) but we were stumped by the Cheeto. What is that supposed to be?
;)

[elena maria vidal]

Beautiful Jesse tree!

[diana]

O My Goodness!!!

I cannot believe those sculptie jesse tree ornaments! They put our pathetic salt dough ones to utter shame (not to make comparisons or anything).

I am *so* doing that with my kids!
the rest of the jesse trees are beautiful but the homemade ornaments are just way cool.

[diana]

O My Goodness!!!

I cannot believe those sculptie jesse tree ornaments! They put our pathetic salt dough ones to utter shame (not to make comparisons or anything).

I am *so* doing that with my kids!
the rest of the jesse trees are beautiful but the homemade ornaments are just way cool.

[diana]

Sorry for the double post. My computer is behaving badly!