The regular “little of this, little of that” feature from Like Mother, Like Daughter!
Today we have a great giveaway for you!
Sue Dow sent me these little figures that she makes and sells in her Etsy shop, and they are very sweet. They feel nice in your hand, they are just the right size for a little one to manipulate, they stand up so well, and they are sturdy. You can see that little Ann is enchanted!
In her shop, Sue has many figures from Scripture and many of the saints we love the most. (My dear Protestant friends, go to this post to get an idea of why you, yes even you, might want to consider this!) She will even make you one if you want something she doesn't already stock.
I know you will love them! They make wonderful gifts for children.
She also sent me this Blessed Imelda one:
It charmed me to know that this sweet nun not only died of her rapture at receiving her first Holy Communion, but is a patroness of the little oratory!
Scroll down to the end of the post to get the details on how to be the winner of a lovely hand-painted wooden figure.
And now onto our links!
- Here is a short video of a fascinating little flower, the petals of which look like glass when they are wet.
- I always enjoy reading Sally Thomas. Here she writes about whether there is a conflict between homeschooling and doing one's Christian duty to transform the world. A taste: “I suppose I mainly wonder at what point the local public school became the sum total of “the world.” If our children aren’t in public school, does it follow that they aren’t anywhere at all? I wonder why the public school should be a more “natural” environment for loving our neighbors than anywhere else.”
- Deirdre (who has strong feelings about the value of penmanship) enjoyed this short reflection from The Atlantic on learning handwriting.
- I enjoyed this essay on A Dad's Life, by Jonathan V. Last: “I turned to my wife for confirmation. Her face was frozen in horror. “You just compared parenthood to ditch digging and dentistry,” she said evenly. It was at this point I realized I might be doing fatherhood wrong. But the good news for dads is that it’s a long game and you get points just for showing up.”
- I liked this little post about St. Augustine of Canterbury, the missionary who converted the Angles at the behest of another favorite of mine, St. Gregory the Great. He really didn't want to at first, by the way, for good reason — the fierce tribes he and his fellows had to get past to get to Britain scared them — but Gregory insisted. So they bravely faced that fear, but even more: “The second chief aspect of fortitude is well-ordered attacking. The brave man, whenever he is able to reasonably do so, will attack whatever obstacles or evils stand between him and the good.”
- Enjoy the feast of St. Joan of Arc!
For this giveaway, just visit Sue's Etsy shop Soodow, see which of her figures you like, and leave us a comment here! (You can change your mind later if you win.)
The winner will receive a figure from the $30 category of her choice. We will close the giveaway on Wednesday night.
mary beth says
Just precious. I love the Mary holding Jesus.
Julia Mooney says
These are darling! I really like the Mary figurine as well as the St. George.
Erica says
I also love the Mary holding Jesus figure.
Sue K says
I really like the visitation best, but in the $30 price range it’s definitely Mary holding Jesus!
Kim F. says
Sue’s work is so beautiful! I really like the St. Therese best. Thanks Auntie Leila (and Sue, too) for this opportunity. And am I the only one unable to view the video of the flower?
Christi says
They are all so lovely, but I really like Mary holding Jesus and St. Gianna ( I have my own Gianna).
Betty says
I’ll have to go with St. Josemaria 🙂
chere mama says
I really like St. Nicholas! But they are all so wonderful!
Rachael says
It’s so hard to pick which one I like best, I love them all. I guess I’d have to pick Mary holding Jesus.
Erin says
I love the Good Shepherd. I’m about to be trained as a CGS catechist and I teach 2nd grade faith formation.
Lisa G. says
I have a St. Patrick from Sue’s shop – I love him!! But please leave me out of the running – I’d rather someone with children would win it.
Monica says
I like the St. George figure. If I win, I’d request a St. Thomas Aquinas for our eldest son.
Kelsey says
They are beautiful! I really would love to have Mary holding Jesus.
Annmarie B. says
In our house we are studying Saint Therese………..so her Wood Figure would be a good choice …these are so wonderful ….especially for children !!!! and grandchildren 🙂
Lynn Marie says
I love the one of Our Lady holding baby Jesus. The blue is so pretty.
Sarah K says
My children and I love the look of these little figures! I love Mary holding Jesus and St. Therese. My sons are quite taken with St. George. Thanks for the chance to win one.
Jacki Weishaar says
Such beautiful work! My favorite is the Mary with Jesus in hand and I know my husband and little boy would love the St. George.
Katie says
I love St. Joseph holding baby Jesus, and also St. Therese.
Mary Catherine says
I love the Presentation set!
CMerie says
These are great! I would choose St. Nicholas.
Dianna says
I love Saint Dominic! My husband is a lay Dominican so he’s rather a favorite in our family. Thanks for featuring her shop – we are going to godparents for the first time and we may have to pick something up for our new godsons.
Barbara says
I love St. Joseph and would love to add him to my home altar. He has been an important part of our family since my Sicilian grandmother prayed for his intercession that her sons would return home safely from World War II and promised to honor him with a St. Joseph Altar, which she did for so many years continually until her death in 1968. St. Joseph, pray for us.
Nancy says
Thanks for the give away-St. Nicholas is a favorite.
Katie says
They are so sweet! My favorites are the St Catherine of Siena or the simple Padre Pio.
Anamaria says
Love the Good Shepherd!
Jenny says
I like the St. Nicolas one the best.
Kimberly says
I love the Mary and Jesus !
Mary K. says
The tax collector is my favorite. I need to remember him every day. May my heart become like his heart.
Elizabeth says
Oh, I love them all! Mary holding Jesus is particularly lovely, and I think I might get a St. Joseph for my husband for Father’s Day whether I win the giveaway or not!
And I love the essay by Sally Thomas. She is quite active in the Mater Amabilis Fb forum, and in the short time since I’ve joined, I’ve really valued her insights into homeschooling.
Kate says
My boys would live St. George (of course).
Ruth Anne says
I love the St Joseph holding the child Jesus!
Teresa says
I like Joseph holding Jesus!
Jane F. says
Oh my goodness! I’m drooling over the Catechesis figures, especially the -in-Hand ones. I’m starting an Atrium at my parish this year, and only wish I could make such beautiful pieces! I have to keep reminding myself, “It’s a long work. It’s a long work.” Thanks for the chance to win!
lena says
i love her work the visitation is my fav.
Maura says
LOVE the Good Shepherd, but would probably go with St. Joseph or St. Patrick if I won!
Beth says
St. Pio!
Laura Jeanne says
These figurines are so sweet! I would love the Mary holding Jesus.
Tamara @ This Sacramental Life says
Lovely! I would choose St. Patrick, St. Nicholas or the Visitation figures. Thanks for offering another wonderful giveaway!
Katy says
It’s only $25, but I love that Good Shepherd. My five-year-old needs one of those so much.
Celeste says
That St. Gianna with wee babe in her arms would be adored by my girls!
Allison says
I love the St. George and the St. Joseph! With three girls and one boy we need plenty of manly saints for good guidance.
I read the Sally Thomas piece in First Things this week and was so impressed. Not that homeschooling is for everyone, but I have sort of felt that sending our kids into a public education would sort of be like throwing them to the wolves, particularly since I have two that from very early on just wanted to be part of the group and so follow whatever anyone else is doing. Homeschooling has been arduous, but definitely a blessing for us.
I also had trouble with the link for the flower. It said it was a private video when I linked through. Something interesting that my son and I learned about this week, we had an Indigo Bunting come to our feeder for the first time and in reading about it found out that it’s coloring is due to sunlight passing through it’s feathers which are translucent. We thought this was very cool!
Annalisa says
It is hard to choose a favorite, but St. Joseph with baby Jesus in hand caught my attention this time through. I’ve looked at Sue’s shop before for CGS materials and loved what I saw. It’s beautiful work.
Melissa says
Oh I would love a little figurine!
Nicole Alvarez says
without a doubt….Mary Holding Jesus…
Adele says
I love the Mary holding Jesus. It so lovely to have Jesus seperate.
Alaina says
Mary holding Jesus is absolutely precious, but I also like the guardian angel, for those times when it’s hard for my kids to fall back asleep after a nightmare.
Ann-Marie says
The St. Joseph is beautiful. I love the look on his face.
Cary says
These are beautiful. I like St. Dominic.
Donna says
love the St. Catherine of Siena!
Meredith says
I have admired Sue Dow’s figures for months as I gathered materials for the Infancy Narratives. I would love to select one for our atrium!
Lucy says
i love st. Gianna.
Jill says
I love the Mary holding Jesus figure…..so sweet!
Mona says
I’m headed to her shop right now. What beautiful, sturdy figures!
Kimberly Haren says
I love Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem. I always love the dipictions of Mary pregnant. What a lovely giveaway!
Elizabeth says
Goodness, how to choose just one?! I love the Flight into Egypt set. I love the St. Joseph holding the Child Jesus. I love St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Nicholas too! If I had to choose just one, I suppose I would take St. Nicholas, to put on my family altar, since we have been asking him to pray for us this year as the Patron Saint of Children, and the Miracle Worker. But it’s a tough choice!
L Burg says
beautiful!
Morgan says
Each week I am so excited to read Bits & Pieces! Thank you! I entered the Church this Easter and I am always looking for ways to explain the communion of saints to my relatives. Thanks for the link to your post about them. I am so excited for my kids to get to an age where they are excited about celebrating feast days (they are 2yrs and 12wks right now), because I will learn alongside them.
Thanks for sharing with us “In The Loft”. Such beauty! I love ‘Mary Holding Jesus’,
Michele says
I love the Mary holding Jesus! I have my own Maria’s birthday coming up soon. 🙂
Maria says
I would definitely go the custom route for my kids!
lyn says
St. Padre Pio is a special saint to my brother Jerry. I would love for him to
have this beautiful representation of St. Pio.
Julie says
I love Mary holding Jesus.
Heidi says
I’m developing quite a love for St. Therese of Lisieux, thanks to our worship pastor (we’re protestants), so I’d love to give this to him.
Mamabearjd(Michelle) says
My favorite is St. Joseph holding Jesus. It is hard to pick a favorite!
Now, I’m going to email you my house plans so you can suggest Little Oratory placement.
Kidding. I am going back and reading your book again with that in mind, though!
Deb H. says
These are so lovely! I especially love the “in hand” series. The Blessed Mother is my favorite.
Amy says
These are fantastic. I loved them all for so many reasons. The last supper/ altar set is an amazing idea; to have these available for little hands is an opportunity I wish I had when I was young. BUT if I could only have one, Blessed Mother – In Hand would be the one.
Lisa says
I love all of these! I have a daughter, middle name Therese, a son’s midle name is Joseph, another son’s middle name is George, and my baby is Patrick. That only leaves my other daughter whose middle name is Virginia, but Mary is her patron, so they’re all covered. How beautiful!
andrea says
Oh, I love the “Mary holding Jesus”! So beautiful and unique.
Janet says
Lovely. Thank you. I would pick St Padre Pio.
Christine says
Mary holding Jesus is my favorite, too!
Laurel says
I love the figure of St. Joseph holding the baby Jesus. These are all just so beautiful!
Kate says
Either St. Gianna or St. Therese!
Laura C says
In awe of the Mary holding Jesus statue. Really needed to see these sweet statues tonight- very beautiful and perfect reminders of our big brothers and sisters in faith.
Becky says
Such beautiful figures – I like .mary with Jesus best. Thanks for hosting such a generous giveaway!
Karen B. says
Sue’s work is heartfelt and beautiful. I have some of her figures, they reflect the attention to detail and skill of an accomplished artist. Her love of God clearly shines through in each figure she creates.
Karen B. says
……..Oh, and I Like Mary with Jesus or St. Catherine of Siena.
sarah king says
Well, they are all so darling, it is hard to pick a favorite! I like St. Therese, the little flower, but I think my kids would pick St. Nicholas. And the nativity would be lovely for kids.
Melissa says
I think I would choose the altar set. I am training in CGS, so many of these items would be a great addition to my future atrium! Thanks!!
Megan K says
I love these, especially the St. Raphael one!
Logan says
Mary and Jesus is my favorite, but they were all so fun to look through!
Amy says
These are so sweet. Mary holding Jesus is my favorite, but the little St. Dominic made me smile!
Stephanie says
Mother Mary holding Jesus is beautiful.
Valerie says
These are really lovely figurines. I like the ‘ Mary holding Jesus’ one very much as well as the in hand ones, in particular the ‘St Therese’ one. Thank you for the giveaway!
Theresa (Haus Frau) says
Just one?! They all look great! St. Dominic caught my eye, perhaps because one of my boys just finished a book report about him. But then, those Archangels! And St. Nicholas!
Claudia says
If you hadn’t posted this giveaway, I’d never have known about this artist and her etsy shop.
Thank you for all the interesting things you post! I’d be hard pressed on which to choose if I won,
but do like the guardian angel and Mary holding baby Jesus.
Pam says
I like both St. Joseph figures.
Laura says
These are beautiful! My favorite is the good shepherd. Thank you for the giveaway!
Mona says
Oh, I like St. Josemaria. I would give him to my friend who is a supernumerary.
Kansas Mom says
I like St. George, but I’m tempted to ask her to paint St. Bruno. He’s one of our patron saints and it’s difficult to find something of St. Bruno designed for children.
Anne says
These figurines are wonderful! I would love to have the little altar set. My little ones are so curious about what goes on up there at mass and it’s so hard for them to see.
Ashley says
I like the Visitation figures. Thanks for the giveaway!
Elizabeth says
Love beautiful Mary holding baby Jesus, with Joseph holding baby Jesus in hand as a very close second. Lovely art!
Rebecca says
Beautiful! I love St Josemaria!
Jennifer says
My favorite is St. George.
Kaitlin @ More Like Mary says
I so enjoy your links. Thank you! And it’s not a figure, but I REALLY want the alter set!
Sarah Cooper says
I like the one of Joseph holding the babe. Thanks for the chance to win! 😀
Mary Anne says
My favorite is the Mary holding Jesus.
Lisa says
Beautiful…would love to win for my daughters!
Lisa
Sarah says
I love so many! I really like the Joseph and Mary traveling on the donkey. My kids would love that!
Donna L. says
I love the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus…several little people love St. Michael…so maybe that one, too!
Jennifer says
These are just darling, I like them all! I especially like the parable sets. I’ve always wanted to be part of a Catechesis of the Good Shepard Atrium and these are the nicest sets, in my opinion, that I’ve seen. Thanks for sharing and for the give away.
Julianne H. says
I adore the Mary and Jesus figure, but would likely opt for St. Patrick (since I belong to St. Patrick’s parish in Sparta, WI). If I could have one of my own painted, it would be of St. Brigid…the patroness of Ireland and my confirmation saint.
Cecilia says
I love the Mary holding Jesus statuette and I really the St. Therese one too. I’ve been looking for something like this for out little oratory that my toddler daughters can hold without breaking off little arms or noses! Beautiful!
taryn says
I love her work! I just ordered one for my niece’s First Communion gift last month! The St. Catherine of Siena figure is beautiful, but I would also love to custom order a St. Paul Miki figure from her.
Denise says
Saint Catherine of Siena
Nicole says
As I have a daughter who made her First Holy Communion last month, we love Blessed Imelda around here! What beautiful pieces!
Valerie says
Oh my! They are all so lovely! But if I must choose, it will be our Blessed Mother with the Sweet Baby Jesus in hand.
Did I win?
Stephanie says
Mary holding Jesus is so lovely!
Gina says
Such beautiful pieces! I love the Mary holding Jesus. Thanks for the chance to win!
Lynn Wright says
I think I’d go with the Good Shepherd. My little girl is in CGS and she would like it. Or, I might go the custom route and pick one of our saints. Thanks!