Holy Family

Here are Mary, Jesus, and Joseph to accompany the kings I made for my friend, Lisa, last Christmas. Nothing too spectacular in the way of changes. I first stitched Joseph's moustache to his face, but you couldn't see it at all. I took it off, cut a second moustache from felt and stitched the two layers together. Then I glued it on. It looks much better.

Nativity Kings

Here are my completed nativity kings. I love them! I made them for a Puerto Rican friend who celebrates Epiphany each January. Here are some changes I made to the patterns:

• I used 3 different skin tones: brown, tan, and an Asian-sort of fleshy yellow.


• I gave the "Asian" king some Asian-shaped eyes.


• Obviously, I added some beads and sequins along the way!


• I made the arms 3-D. Instead of cutting only one layer and stitching them down flat to the fronts of the bodies . . . I cut two layers, stuffed them, and sewed them onto the bodies when I stitched the bodies together. This meant stitching through 4 layers of felt along the outside edge of the arms, but the three 3-D effect is worth it!


• I also made the gifts 3-D by cutting two layers and stitching & stuffing.


• The gift in the hand of the Asian king is actually upside down. I just liked that shape better!