Squishy Felt Nativity (with magnets!)

 We have a family visiting for the holidays.

They have a brand new baby.

But they're no trouble at all.

In fact, they're so quiet that sometimes Olivia just sits and stares at them.

But they don't always just sit still.

They're also really fun to play with.

Olivia loves playing with the baby.

Especially when his parents' backs are turned.

But they don't mind.  In fact, they're really nice about it.  Really, really nice.


Maybe that's because our visitors are

Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus.

I stitched them up a couple of years ago when Olivia was just a baby.

They're made of craft felt (which is probably why they're starting to pill already) cut and layered to create their bodies, clothing, and faces.

They're stitched up with regular sewing thread and a simple blanket stitch.

Joseph has this sweet-o beard.

Mary is just plain (pun-intended) sweet.

And baby Jesus is all swaddled up in this royal purple blanket.
He is of royal birth, after all.

But there's a little something extra that makes this holy family special.

Each one has a magnet sewn into the bottom (on the inside).

Why?

So they can do this:

Standing them up on this metal tin is much easier for little hands than trying to balance them on the table.

And the tin also makes for a handy storage place guest room.

Not sure it's earthquake safe though.