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Thursday, September 12, 2013

Jesse Tree Ornament Swap (For the Crafty and the Non-Crafty!)

Wow!  It's September already!  As I mentioned yesterday, September is always my cue to start thinking about Advent.  I'm not sure why, but it just happens that way.  Last year we began a new family Advent tradition -- we used a Jesse tree.  



A Jesse tree is a tree used during Advent.  Ornaments that represent Jesus' ancestors and tell the story leading up to his birth are placed on the tree.  About one ornament per day is placed on the tree, along with a Bible reading related to the ornament.  (Or, if you're like us, you get overwhelmed with life, miss days, and then hurry to catch up with intermittent 3-4 ornament blasts!)




I'm not sure why we had never done this before.  I think it is probably because it wasn't part of my Lutheran school childhood traditions, and so I just never incorporated it in our Advent practices. However, last year, I ran across a post from Jessica at Housewife Spice inviting participation in a Jesse Tree ornament swap.  I, like Jessica, have never been a huge fan of the "print out" paper Jesse tree ornaments, but who has time to create 32 different ornaments?  So, since I'm not nearly sensible enough to avoid adding to my already full plate, I jumped in, and it was a blessing.  


Back then, I mentioned the possibility of hosting an ornament swap for readers of Liturgical Time and some folks expressed interest.  Well, since I still have not acquired much common sense, I'm still willing to do this crazy thing!  What we will need though, is 32 crazy people who are willing to make 32 of the same ornament and then mail them to me along with somewhere around $12. for postage.  (I'll have to enlist the help of the lady at the post office to help me estimate what it will cost to ship each of you your set.) I will then sort all of the ornaments into 32 separate sets and package each set into one of 32 boxes and mail one set to each participant.  


The ornaments need not be fancy.  They would need to be hand crafted out of any craft supplies that suit your fancy.  As long as it is not moving of its own volition or perishable, we'll be thrilled! A Pinterest search provides lots of ideas.  I will provide a list of ornaments; each participant will choose one of them.  This was our ornament from last year's swap.  There are many other sources for ornament ideas online.

Here are some simple ornaments, from Elizabeth Foss, made with felt.
Here are some extra fancy ideas for the more crafty among us.
Here is a whole set of tutorials.  You'll find all the ornaments in the index on the right sidebar.
Some extra cute kid created ornaments are here.  Kid created ornaments are welcome!  :)




So, this the the call for interested participants!  If you think this is something you would like to do, please leave a comment below, or, leave me a message on our Facebook page or at the Veil Shop. I'll need your email to contact you.  You can either leave it in your comment, or send it to liturgicaltimeveilshop (at) gmail (dot) com.  Remember, you would have to create 32 identical copies of the exact same ornament, but would receive one of each of the 32 ornaments that the whole group produced for your very own Jesse tree.  If 32 people are interested, then we'll be off and running and I'll post details as we go!

Let's do this, because it's not like every one of us isn't crazy-busy enough already!

Blessings!
~Michelle


You might also like:
Getting Ready for Advent: The Wreath





44 comments:

  1. Michelle,
    You are so kind to host this! I would love to participate! What version of the Jesse Tree are you going to use? I know there are several, and if people want to use them with a Jesse tree book, we should probably make the images to match those in the book. I've made some wooden disk ones before, only to discover they really didn't match the book I hoped to use!

    Cheryl
    caswrite at yahoo dot com

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    1. Hi Cheryl!
      I haven't decided on a set yet. I want to make sure that there is a no cost devotional available for the set we use, so that everyone who wants to participate can do so without financial hardship.

      If it looks like we have enough participants, then I'll get to work establishing the ornament set and ensuring that there are readings available. Any and all suggestions are welcome! I want to make sure that this is a blessing to everyone! :)

      Please ignore my facebook message asking for your email address! I just saw that you included it here. I'm going to leave the facebook comment up so that others can see that I'll need their email address too. :)

      Pax,
      ~Michelle

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    2. My friend and I wrote a devotional...not sure it will line up with your ornaments. But you could check it out since it's free! We love the Jesse Tree tradition! Love, Liza

      http://psalm63heart.blogspot.com/2012/12/remember.html

      Scroll down until you see the blue links for the devo and ornament patterns. Maybe it will help!

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  2. I'M IN! I'll link to this from my 7 Quick Takes, which I'm about to post and rush off to teach, so it's nice and early and hopefully lots of people will see this today. *beams*

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    1. I'll link it again early next week. How many people have you compiled so far? :)

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    2. Five of us so far. I'll link the post to some link ups to spread the word. :)

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  3. YES! I'm in, I'm in!

    Will you let us know which "day" we're responsible for as folks line up to do this? Love the idea! Will link to my page as soon as I get a moment. Love this!

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    1. Great Gina! Once I'm sure we are going to have enough participants to do it, I'll come up with a list of ornaments and have people choose which one they want to do. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to use this set: http://jessetree.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Jesse-Tree.pdf
      since the readings are available in a pdf, but I haven't really looked too deeply yet at all the options. I'm definitely open to suggestions that anyone might have.

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  4. I have greatly ignored the Jesse trees because we have so many other traditions during Advent. But if you tell me more and give me some idea of a timeline, I just might be interested.
    I read about this on Tiffany's Blog.
    Blessings,
    Emily

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  5. FINE! I'm in. :) Thanks to Tiffany @ Life of a Catholic Librarian. I don't consider myself to be too crafty, but I can't help but think this is going to turn into an heirloom for my children that they will use for years to come!
    Linking up to this on my website so maybe we can help out and get more peeps involved!
    +++
    Cristina @ Filling my Prayer Closet
    http://fillingmyprayercloset.com

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    1. Great! Thanks so much for joining us! I agree that the set will likely turn into an heirloom. I was rather intimidated about participating in last year's swap; I think I assumed that everyone else will be so crafty and I wouldn't measure up--but the ornament set from last year turned out to contain a range of "craftiness" levels and all ornaments were a treasure. The reason that I decided to host one this year is because my daughter will need a set for her hope chest--so now we'll have two. :)

      I'll need a way to contact you. You can send an email address to liturgicaltimeveilshop (at) gmail (dot) com , or you can send me a facebook message on our facebook page if you'd rather be contacted via facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LiturgicalTime

      Welcome! :)

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    2. And thanks so much for linking to the post! Your blog is beautiful.

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  6. Ok. Thanks for answering my questions. I'm in.
    How many are we up to?

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    1. Nine so far! Let me know how you'd like to be contacted. You can send an email address to liturgicaltimeveilshop (at) gmail (dot) com , or you can send me a facebook message on our facebook page if you'd rather be contacted via facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LiturgicalTime

      Welcome to the swap! :)

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    2. Will email you!
      Sorry I just saw this.
      Em

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    3. Hi Em! You can email at liturgicaltimeveilshop (at) gmail (dot) com

      (Of course, you'll want to run it all together and put a "." for "dot" and an "@" for "at". So:
      sampleemailaddress (at) gmail (dot) com would be: sampleemailaddress@gmail.com
      This keeps "robots" that scan websites from picking up the email address to use for spam.)

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  7. Hi! Read about this from Cristina's blog and I would LOVE to participate! Please let me know how I can be a part of this wonderful exchange!! :) Have a blessed week!!

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    1. Hi! Welcome! Thanks for your email. I sent you an email with preliminary info. :)

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  8. This will be a new tradition for me too! I'm in!

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    1. Hi Mandi! Welcome! I sent you an email at the email address linked to your blog. :)

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  9. Ooh. I've never done a Jesse tree before and I will only have a one and a half year old but when else to start traditions really?! And I am already figuring out all my Christmas gifts so this goes hand in hand. The email linked to my name is a great way to reach me.

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  10. I'm in, if you'll take a Canadian. =) mmcconkey@rogers.com from www.equippingCatholicfamilies.com Hmmm...how do we choose which ornament we make?

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    1. Hi Monica! Thanks for joining us. As soon as we're sure there are enough participants, (we're almost half way there), I'll establish a timeline and gather a list of ornaments from which each person can choose which ornament she wants to make. I sent you an email. Welcome! :)

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  11. Hi, I'd like to join in. I'm a new Catholic convert, but have been doing the Jesse Tree with my kids for the last five or six years! If you want I can send you what we've used in the past for our Jesse Tree devotionals, if you haven't found something already! {I need to dig for it in my files!}. I blog over at www.chelseythall.com, my email addy is: chelseyhall (at) gmail.com

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  12. I LOVE this idea! I actually bought this awesome wooden tree last year during Hobby Lobby's after chrismtas sale for $5 and thought it would make a GREAT Jesse Tree! http://web.stagram.com/p/355225116800324882_55797948

    I'm the same way about Advent. Once Fall hits I'm thinking about Advent and once Christmas season is over I'm thinking about Lent. I also like to host mini series/contests on my blog fur advent and christmas so I'm always thinking ahead.

    So excited about this Jesse Tree project! my email is bethannesbest at gmail dot com.

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  13. I would love to participate! I have made a lot of religious toys for our 1-year old and this sounds like so much fun. The best way to contact me is kellyann dot strate at gmail dot com. Thanks for hosting!

    Sent from my iPad

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  14. Is there still room in this swap? I would love to participate! Michelle at byquietwaters at gmail

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    1. Hi Michelle! Yes, there is room. I sent a message to your gmail account. :)

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  15. I would love to do this... but, it looks like you might be full? If not - Count me in! - Ashli - soaphouse@gmail.com

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  16. I would love to join if there is still room! I printed the paper ones a few years ago but this sounds much more lovely :) Kristen (krisanne.myers@gmail.com)

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    1. Hi Kristen! I reserved you a spot and sent you an email. :)

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  17. Still room? If so, send an email to Amy @ jcislife1@yahoo.com.

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  18. This sounds like fun and we have never been in an online swap. If there is still room we would love to participate. adkerson5@comcast.net

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    1. Hi! There are two spots left and one of them is yours! I'll email you when I get home. :)
      Welcome to the swap!
      ~Michelle

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  19. I would like to participate if there is still space! Thanks- Cynthia

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    1. HI Cynthia! Welcome to the swap! I sent you an email. :)

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  20. Would love to do this if you ever do it again!

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Welcome! We love to hear from you. You are embraced here in Christian charity.Your comment will not show up immediately. Rest assured that is has been received and will be published soon.

Pax Christi!
~Michelle