Corn Husk Dolls - A Nativity

Have you been following Corn week.  If not you can always stay a while and check out these other great posts.

Corn Relish

Corn Cob Pipes

Corn Warming Bags

So on with today's post history...

Way back in my flying days I was able to go to Europe for 10 Days.  My room mate and I flew into Germany then drove through the Black Forest into Switzerland, through the Alps, onto Austria and Prague then back to Germany and flew home.  What an adventure.  We had so much fun.  It seems like a dream that it even happened.  But I have pictures to prove it. While we were there I came across a shop in Prague. The people there are so talented. Hand made everything. I found this darling Nativity. All made of Corn husks.  I just had to have it.  So I bought it and packaged it with care to make the long journey home.   

I kept it in its box for a long time.  I finally pulled it out after I was married and had a safe place to put it.  (Safe is relative.  We moved a couple of years ago and now I can't find Joseph.  But here is the rest of the family.)

Isn't it amazing.  All made of corn husks and wood shavings.

After looking at it all these years I started to wonder if I could make one.  So for Corn week I made it my project.  Here is what I did.
Supplies:
Lots of corn husks.  You can either save and dry your own corn husks or you can buy corn husk in the Hispanic food section of your grocery.  They use them for Tamales.

Soak your corn husks until they are easy to bend. If you area using your own this process doesn't take long.  If you are using the ones from the store take much longer.  I used a mixture of the two.
First you need to make the head.  I wrapped corn husks around a bead.  Then tie it off at the base with thread. 

Next you will make your arms.  Roll up a corn husk as tight as you can.  At this point you should have a head and arms.   

Take your head and place it between 2-4 corn husks.  I used two of the tamale corn husks.  If you are using your own I would use more.

Tie off the corn husks as close to the base of the head as possible. As tight as possible.

Pull the corn husks back and down. Add your arms in between the corn husks. Tie off below arms.

Repeat the last step.  These corn husks will determine the height of your dolls. 

   

Here is my Joseph.  At this point if you wanted to make a boy pilgrim or something you can divide the corn husks in the center and time them off to make legs. 

Take strings and tie your around the base of your person, until he dries.  Bend arms into the wanted position.  Use string to hold them into place.  They may take a few days to dry completely.

Once Mine were completely dry I used a bit of glue and sprinkled wood shavings from our saw to Joseph's head & chin and Baby Jesus' head for hair.

Here is the finished family.   I think for Christmas I am going to add some twinkle lights and garland around them to finish it off.  If you make some of your own I would love to see them!