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Sunday, November 28, 2010

First Advent

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, a time of anticipation and preparation for the birth of Jesus. One of the visual aspects of the passing of time is with an advent wreath where one candle is lit the first Sunday of Advent, the second Sunday the first candle and another are lit and so on until December 25th. Another visual and tactile way to count down the days is with an Advent calendar. I have several of these - oops I think it's now another collection.


2008 Advent Calendar swap- round cookie tin painted beige with gold highlights and lots of fun rub-ons to decorate the tin when the calendar pieces are not there yet. I ran some small faux greenery around the outer edge just to give it a more wreath-like appearance.


Our hotel key Advent calendar filled with great pictures of Christmases past and family. More pictures HERE.


Michael's Advent calendar made solely of QuicKutz dies and lots of embellishments.


Advent calendar swap 2009 - I just fell in love with the snowman ornament found at Michael's in 2009. My friend Stacy did a beautiful job with the bow!


This is a talking story of Christmas Advent calendar. Each day that is opened, another nativity figure gets placed on the magnetic background and a portion of the Christmas story is revealed.


Here is the Advent Calendar finished. This was purchased in 2008 at The Shop, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.


This musical Santa Advent calendar, also purchased in Santa Fe at the The Shop plays music when a switch is turned on. Grandkids love this one!


I found this Lego calendar in Chicago. Or was it Huntsville, AL? I don't remember. What I do remember is lugging it back home! It's one that gets used year after year. the kids can build the little Lego characters. Very entertaining, even for the 29 yr old.

I am linking to Tablescaper's blog for Seasonal Sunday.. be sure to jump over and get some great decorating and seasonal inspiration.
I am linking to Holiday Haven's Christmas Blog party.. check this blog out for some great ideas!

19 comments:

Unknown said...

Marlis...I love this post! What a lovely collection you have (I have several accidental collecions myself, lol). I love the city of Santa Fe (my parents live in NM) and enjoy all the wonderful shopping it offers.

Blessings!
Gail

Johanna Gehrlein said...

Dear Marlis,
what a nice post and what a stunning collection. Oh, I love those calendars with the magnetic figurines that complete the nativity scene. Gorgeous idea and lovely made! I have made for my children also calendars (when they were little kids) and filled them with treats and tiny gifts.
Wish you a very nice Advent time.
Greetings, Johanna

Jacqueline said...

What a fantastic collection. Each one is so unique. I love advent calendars and you have so many. Thanks for sharing them. How fun to get to open more than one each day!

It's me said...

Thanks for your lovely vomment on my blog so nice to come and visit me......you make the most wonderful things here so nice !! .....lovely sunday.......love Ria......

Aledia said...

Very nice variety, I think my favorite is the Hotel Key one. Thank you for sharing and also for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. You will find that I am your newest follower! :) Have a blessed day!

Kuby said...

really wonderful!

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

And I thought I loved advent calendars! Your collection is so fun and interesting! Great to see--Jacqueline

Fuzzy Slippers said...

Fun to see all the advent calendars! My husband would love the Lego one. ;) I adore the hotel key one. My in-laws have a mini tree that sits on the dining room table and a different felt figure gets added each day during advent. My favorite as a kid was one my mom got from Current that was a candy shop. Each day had a fun saying and a scratch 'n sniff picture. :)

Lynn said...

Love the advent calendars, especially the Lego one, that will keep them busy for a while:@)

Sarah said...

Marlis, what a clever collection. I suspect that the grandchildren love it all the more because each day there are multiples to discover. I've always enjoyed the tradition of an Advent Calendar. Nice collection!

Tanja E. said...

Beautifull!!

Kathleen said...

That's a great collection of Advent calendars! I love the religious ones best. I just gave my 4 gkids a new one Tgiving. Similar to yours , but not magnetic. Same little doors. I always give them the candy ones at Tgiving. I wonder if they cheat and eat the chocolate before time! :)

The Decorative Dreamer said...

What a nice collection of advent calendars you have. I like the first one very much and the hotel key one is fantastic and so personal. I know a family that goes on vacation for Christmas every year wouldn't this be fantastic for them. I grew up with advent wreaths, great memories!

Jessa said...

Love all of the wonderful advent calendars! Such a great post.

Simone @ Doberman's by the Sea said...

Cute ideas! The Bavarian Christmas linky party is now open-won’t you come and join us at http://dobermans-by-the-sea.blogspot.com/2010/11/1st-christmas-linky-party-at-dobermans.html

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Oh Marlis, What wonderful and unique advent calendars! I really liked every one of them. Thank you for sharing this great collection. (I just hope it doesn't start me on another collection - I only have one advent calendar!) laurie

Unknown said...

Hi Marlis! What a great collection of Advent Calenders!
Have a blessed advent season.

Carol@6WilsonBlog.com said...

Hi Marlis, Advent calendars are a tradition in my family too. Not a collection of them, but the annual one with chocolate. I always had them growing up and my kids have, too. In fact, we just hung this year's tonight. Good stuff.

The Tablescaper said...

Hi Marlis:

So sorry to be so late in getting around to visit. I love all of your advent calendars. It truly helps us anticpate what is to come!

Thank you so much for participating in Seasonal Sundays! I'm glad to be part of your celebration of the season.

- The Tablescaper

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