12 Days of Christmas in Miniature 2: Hanging the Stockings

The 12 Days of Christmas in Miniature continues with day 2 of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." (click link for beginning of story.)



'Twas the Night Before Christmas
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;



Uh-oh, one bed is empty...

Well, it looks like all the children aren't sleeping like they should be! This charming little girl is too excited to get to bed - yet! (I hope that doesn't mean she'll get coal in her stocking!) She's an original sculpted doll by Massachusetts doll maker Morena Ciambra.

Morena began making dolls for her grandmother. She used to sculpt dolls as large as 32 inches and mostly in porcelain. She taught making antique reproductions in her own studio and for a time, sculpted original dolls for a series from The Hamilton Collection.

She discovered miniatures in 2002 and found that "they touched my heart." Now she loves making original little ones, her charming cat figures and adorable animals that touch others. (See more of her work on other days.)

While porcelain remains her favorite medium, Morena has since enjoyed sculpting in polymer clay: "It helps me get the ideas out of my head much quicker," she says. "There is so much that inspires me to create these pieces...music, colors, people, fabrics, etc."



* Next:Christmas in Miniature Day 3

* Photos: stockings and tree, C. Verstraete

* Sleeping baby in the cradle and the beautiful bed are by Kitty Balke; see more of her work at Minis by Kitty

* The little girl, "Clara," is hand-sculpted of polymer clay by Morena Ciambra. she's 3 1/2" tall. Baby Kitty is also by Morena. See more photos here or at her blog.