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Celebrate a Special Person in Your Life with Wendt and Kühn's Angel with a Cake and a Heart

Posted on January 10, 2018 | 0 Comments

Winter is in full swing. We all need a little spark in our lives. Wendt and 

Kühn's Angel with a Cake and a Heart brings just that.  

She is perfect for Valentine's Day, a birthday, an anniversary, or just to let someone know that you are thinking of them. Enjoy! 

Posted in Angels, German Folk Art, Valentine's Day, Wendt and Kühn

Bettina Franke's Charming Santas

Posted on December 02, 2017 | 0 Comments

We have carried a selection of Bettina Franke's delightful folk art from the beginning of My Growing Traditions - first discovering her workshop in the Seiffen area in the late 1990s. 

Coming from a family of woodcarvers (including a great-great-grandfather, her grandfathers [in the 1930s] and her mother [beginning in 1956], who was one of the first women woodcarvers), in 1981 Bettina completed her master craftsman training and founded her own company under the "Gänseliesel" brand - 

We are especially fond of her Santas and are proud to carry her Santa Gift Box

as well as her Santa Pulling a Sled

Her Santas are simply delightful!

 

Posted in Bettina Franke Workshop, Erzgebirge, German Folk Art, Santa

Grünhainichen Gold Edition No. 10 / The Reader / Words for Eternity

Posted on October 27, 2017 | 0 Comments

Since 2009, Wendt and Kühn has crafted a series of figurines with accessories that are 24 karat gold-plated. This year - new for 2017 - Wendt and Kühn presents two versions of their Gold Edition No. 10 Grünhainichen Angel / The Reader / Words for Eternity.  

The Limited edition (22,222 pieces) is with a 24-karat Gold-plated Metal Book and Base  and comes in a wood Splinter Box.

         

Limited Edition with Gold-Plated Book and Base in Splinter Box

With a golden book open in its hands the reader encourages every viewer to think and dream. But what is being read aloud? Is it fairy tales, poems, or perhaps stories written about life itself? This is left entirely to one's imagination. 

The Limited Edition has an individual serial number printed on the underside of each figurine, on the base of its attractive splinter box, and also in the lovingly designed accompanying leaflet. This makes every Angel a valuable and unique piece.

The Gold Edition Reader is also available on a grey base with with the gold-plated book.

       

Gold-edition with Gold-Plated book and Grey Base 

A very special addition to your collection.

 

 

 

Posted in Angels, Erzgebirge, German Folk Art, Wendt and Kühn

Gold Spanbaum / 8 - 14"

Posted on October 23, 2017 | 0 Comments

For years we have enjoyed decorating with natural spanbaum and green spanbaum, and now the Erzgebirge has given us gold-colored spanbaum.

They have many names - Spanbaum, span trees, wood shaved trees, chip or chipped trees, twilled trees, splinter, and curled trees. The German word span means chip in English.

The one pictured here is 14" tall.  They come in four sizes: 8", 10", 12," and 14" - find them here

They are unique to the Erzgebirge - Germany's Christmas Center and Toy Village of wood working craftsmen.

Use them to add a bit of elegance to your holidays - charming on a Thanksgiving or Christmas table.

 

Posted in Erzgebirge, German Folk Art, Trees

Wendt and Kühn's Girl on an Easter Egg Hunt

Posted on March 17, 2017 | 0 Comments

New for 2017 is Wendt and Kühn's Girl Finding Easter Eggs.  She joyfully discovers two red eggs and one blue tucked in beneath a flower.

Girl Finding Easter Eggs

Seeing her for the first time, left us wondering about the origin of the Easter Egg Hunt. 

One of the earliest references is to Scotland, where "it used to be the custom on Easter Sunday for the young people to go out early in the morning to search for the eggs of various wild fowls for breakfast, it being thought most lucky to find them."

The egg has been a symbol of life dating back at least 2,500 years. Long associated with the circle of life (rebirth and renewal), for plants and animals alike, the egg was first seen as a symbol of the beginning of spring and later adopted as a Christian symbol

King Edward I of England is renown for popularizing the custom of dyeing eggs for Easter in 1307, when he had 450 eggs boiled and decorated for the royal household.

Wendt and Kühn's Girl Finding Easter Eggs is the latest in their wonderful Easter collection. Cherish her alone or add her to other fine Wendt and Kühn Easter children - which you can find here.

Enjoy My Growing Tradition's Pinterest board on Easter.

 

Posted in Easter, Erzgebirge, German Folk Art, German Traditions, Spring, Wendt and Kühn

Wendt and Kühn's New Advent Calendar

Posted on December 01, 2016 | 0 Comments

This year, for the first time, Wendt and Kühn has created an on-line advent calendar. Each day one can visit their calendar to discover a favorite Wendt and Kühn figure.

Check it out, here... and move forward each new day of advent...

Such a fun way to celebrate all our favorite Wendt and Kühn figures - one of those extra special delights of Christmas.

Posted in Erzgebirge, German Christmas, German Folk Art, German Traditions, Wendt and Kühn

'Tis the Season to Gather and Send Advent Calendars

Posted on October 28, 2016 | 0 Comments

Advent Calendars are a special part of the Christmas season. From December 1 through Christmas Eve open a little door to discover an image or a biblical quote. They are simple and of an everlasting nature (spiritually and because they can often be reused year-in-year- out). They bring us a bit of "quiet time" amid all the hustle-bustle. 

Angels Looking After the Children

All of the advent calendars that we offer come, of course, from Germany. We try to add a significant selection of new ones each year.

Nativity Scene

 and rejoice in keeping as many of the standard classics as well.

Santa and Angel with Horse Drawn Sled

They make a perfect little gift for family and friends - add a touch of joy throughout the holiday season. Find our full selection here - German Advent Calendars .

 

Posted in Advent, Angels, Christmas Traditions, German Christmas, German Folk Art, German Traditions, Nativities, Santa