Christmas Ornaments Are Holiday Gift Gems

MC art education students crafted a variety of wonderful Christmas ornaments for sale in early December.

Katelyn Sanson enjoyed every minute crafting angels for the Christmas ornament sale.

“The angel is my favorite because they are reminders of the Lord’s constant protection over me,” says the Mississippi College senior.

A resident of Monroe, Louisiana, Sanson, 20, joined other art education majors selling a variety of items fresh from the Christian university’s kiln. The 10^th annual sale at the school cafeteria wraps up December 6.

“I love making ornaments each year. It is super fun and an easy way to bring joy to people around us in the Christmas season,” Katelyn said.

Putting the finishing touches on crosses was extra special for Vashti Graham. An MC senior from Meridian, she says designing crosses blessed her.

Producing crosses for the sale, Vashti said, “reminds me of how thankful I am for the best Christmas gift, Jesus Christ. These gifts help art majors like me share the joy of Christmas.”

The Art Department-sponsored sale coincides with Mississippi College’s family illuminating the Clinton campus during its Lighting of the Quad event. The December 2 activity welcomed the Christmas season with bright lights, the reading of the Christmas story, holiday music and refreshments.

Art education majors, meanwhile, continued Thursday to pitch their creative ornaments – from crosses to arrowheads that are wonderful stocking stuffers starting at $7 each.

Funds generated from the sale will help students attend 2020 National Art Education Association meetings. The three-day convention in Minneapolis March 26-28 includes more than 1,000 workshops and seminars for visual arts professionals as well as students.

Shoppers, including the public, are invited to buy the Christmas items displayed on decorated tables. Hours for the sale concluding Friday December 6 are 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Students worked hard getting ready for the week-long event. “We made about 100 extra ornaments this year after we ran out last year,” says art education professor Stephanie Busbea. “The ornaments are a wider variety of color than ever before. The prints are all handmade by students.”

The gems come from designs the students carved into linoleum, printed and collaged. The price is right for bargain hunters looking for deals in Central Mississippi.

“I’ve seen ornaments similar to these in boutiques for $20 each,” says Busbea, assistant chair of the Art Department. “They make great gifts!”