Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Bobbi Baldstraum's Christmas Wish

 
 
A SNOWCHILD named Bobbi Baldstraum
and the Pixie who believed in her.
 

 

Photobucket
 

Mrs. Baldstraum loved her daughter more than just about anything.
So of course for Christmas she took extra care to
find just the right gift for her daughter Roberta.
(who preferred to be called Bobbi)
 
But as she often said, "This child's mind was made up the moment she was born."
So, finding  the perfect gift was no easy task.
 
This year, little Bobbi wanted a Snowman. 
Not a toy snowman.  Not a big balloon snowman.
 Not even a fancy snowman robot with jingling icicles.
  Bobbi would have none of it.
Because...SHE wanted to become a Snowman...Snowgirl...
 
 
 
Photobucket
 
 
Finally after a couple sleepless nights,
 Mrs. Baldstraum came up with an idea. 
 
 
On Christmas morning, Bobbi found a sparkly Snowchild suit
 sewn by her mother beneath the tree.
Next to a used pair of black Nutcracker Boots.
 
 
Leaving her cocoa and the rest of her gifts behind,
 she squirmed into the suit and went out in the front yard to turn into Snow.
She struck a Snow Pose.
 
 
Photobucket
 
 
Then Another.
 
 
Photobucket
 
 
 
And another until she was sure she looked just like a Snowgirl.
 
Then she waited.
 
 
Photobucket
 
 
And waited.
 
 
The suit was well padded, so her mother was not worried that she might catch a chill.
Roberta waited so quietly that her mother could barely see from the kitchen window
whether she was still breathing or not.
 
 
 
 
 
Photobucket
 
 

 
 
While cleaning up after breakfast,
she began thinking about Frosty...
 if Frosty's hat could bring him to life, what could an entire suit do to a child?!
 
While Mrs. Baldstraum was searching for Bobbi's Frosty book,
 down the snowy path came a bright and cheery Pixie
trying out her new red sled.
 
 
Her wings full of Christmas Cheer.
 
 
Photobucket
 
 
 
She stopped in awe right in front of Roberta.
Is that what I think it is? 
 She wondered...?
 
 
Photobucket
 
 
 
She climbed up on the Snowchild's shoulder and peered deep within her twinkling eyes.
Well, what do you know...a REAL Snowgirl!
 
 
 
Photobucket
 
 
 
Bobbi  could not help but smile really big.
 Yet remembered to hold as still as freshly fallen snow
so as not to scare her little friend.
 
 
 
Naturally, the merry little Pixie was beside herself
and immediately flew home to tell her mother what she had seen!
 
 
 
Photobucket
 
 
 
Bobbi sighed a big satisfied frosty sigh.
Her Christmas wish had been granted...
 
 
 
Photobucket
 
 
 
Now there was nothing left to do but to go finish her cocoa...
 and see what else might be under the tree!






Photobucket




Description

 
This Set includes
 
10" full sculpt Bobbie Baldstraum the Snow Child
(she also can display your favorite ornament!)
covered in German Glass Glitter and Mica Flakes
 
6" scale poseable Pixie, created by my daughter Angi!
 
 
Frosted pinecone ornament
(brought back from our summer road trip)
 
3 1/2 x 4 1/2 glass display base
 


This is my last sculpture offering of the year.   It is likely that I won't be listing again until spring. 
The next couple months will be spent working on commissions,
 and spending the longwinter evenings hunkered down by the wood stove.

If you are in the neighborhood, please stop by my blog
and see what is going on in our corner of the Forest.  I would love to see you there!


Have yourself a Very Merry Christmas,
and I hope there is something wonderful waiting for you under your tree!  Rose

Hildys and the Christmas Mouse

 
This Companion Set is being presented as a living Christmas Card

for all my friends who have generously allowed me
to continue to work my art...
for one more year.

 
 
The Prayer of the Christmas Mouse


 
 loosely based  on a True Story...
 
 



Photobucket




There was once a Poor Mouse who came to the Northern Country during the Dead of Winter. 
She was carried along by a wayward traveler while snacking on hazelnuts in his backpack. When discovered , she was quickly dumped out in the snow, along with her Mousling The ground was too hard to burrow a nest, and all the nuts and seed were buried under layers of snow and ice. 
She did what she had to do... 
 Lying  under a fir branch, she tucked the baby under her belly and murmured a Christmas prayer.


Photobucket



On the other side of the forest,  Hildys,  was readying her wooden Wagon. 
  She was the House Gnome of the Toymaker and his Wife, and every evening the Wife sent her out to bring Christmas Cheer to the rabbits, mice, and birds of the Forest.



Photobucket


With a pot of hot peppermint tea and a warm knitted sweater she watched while the Wagon was loaded.  
As she stepped out the door, the voice of the Wife trailed after her...
 "Be careful to feed all that are hungry, but do NOT let any of them follow you home!" 

 This was the Toymaker's busiest time of year. 
 And his  Wife did not have time to chase little rodents running through her flour, or messing up her tidy cupboards. 



Photobucket



After a long walk in the woods, Hildys was ready to return home.  Turning to go, she almost stepped upon a bit of fur huddled in the snow.  Poor little thing, she thought.  But alas, I cannot bring it home.  Perhaps a couple nuts and a piece of moss will keep it warm through the night.  She left two acorns and slowly moved on.

Later that night as she sat by the mantle's candle, she could not get her mind off that tiny figure in the snow. 


 She was sure it was alive...and she knew what she had to do.



Photobucket


Well after dark, Hildys once again wrapped her sweater aound her shoulders, and trundeled off into the Forest.
By the Moon's light,  she carefully retraced her steps and came upon the still figure she had left behind.



Photobucket



Hildyce lifted the Mouse up into the wagon.  To her surprise, she found a tiny Baby curled up in a hazelnut shell beneath her.





Photobucket






Taking them home, she placed them in a Nest hidden deep in the Christmas tree, whispering a Christmas prayer that they would be alive and well in the morning.

The Mouse and her Baby thrived amidst the soft lights on the tree and the warmth of the little Gnome's care. 


Photobucket


Little did she know in the meantime, that the Toymaker had spotted the pair.  Just as he was about to shoo them from the house, the Mouse caught his gaze.  Suddenly he was taken back in time to a Humble  Barn and a Simple Manger.  He saw animals gathered around, even the smallest of mice, to keep a new Baby warm. 

And he knew what he had to do.



Photobucket


That evening, the Toymaker stopped his Toymaking to fashion a tiny Golden Bell.  He tied it upon the Mouse, and in return, he asked her to hang the silvery tinsel and to keep the tree lights twinkling. 
  And to NOT go into the Kitchen. 


All was well until Christmas Eve.


Photobucket

 
Hildys thought she might just faint when the Toymaker brought his Wife to the tree and pulled back the branches to show her the Nest.

"Wife, have you ever seen our tree look so Divine?  Nary a light has gone out over these long Work Days. 
And look how Perfectly the Tinsel is placed.
...My Gift to you...a Christmas Mouse who has done it all!" 




Photobucket


The Wife could not help but marvel that not one light bulb had gone dark.
And the tinsel had glittered with the sound of tiny bells in the quiet of the night.
  Nor had she seen a single sign of mouse tracks in her kitchen...
  She thought upon her Gift for one Moment,
 then kissed her Husband and off they went for their Long Winter's Nap.
  Hildys sighed with relief because...
Now, she could finally enjoy  Christmas. 
..




Photobucket




  Hildys gingerly climbed up the tree and curled up in the Nest with her Mice.
Together they thanked the Baby in the Manger for answering their prayers
as they waited for the Morn...




Photobucket




When off they would trundel with their Wagon full of Christmas Cheer...




Photobucket



Details
Included in this Set...
 
6 inch scale Hildys Gnome
 with wire joints for gentle display posing...
Original hand sewn Christmas Gown made of vintage fabrics, tulle, lace, Paper,
and a Sweater and Scarf
 
 
Photobucket
 
 
 
Hildys is fully detailed in dyed woolies and breeches under her Gown.
 
 
 
Photobucket
 
 
Mama Mouse and Baby in a real hazelnut halfshell
were sculpted by my Daughter.
 
Photobucket
 
Photobucket
 
 
 
Wooden Wagon is laden with found acorns,
a sculpted Teapot, Pastry and Plates
5" x 9" Glass panel covered in glittered cotton snow nicely displays them all.
 
 
 
Photobucket
 
 
This little group of Friends and their Story was created with
Wishes of Good Cheer for you and yours this Yuletide season!

Rose and the Toymaker
(graciously played by my husband)



Photobucket