When you admire one of Jim Shores great nativities, you may be surprised to learn that Jim Shore studied engineering in college , not art. He grew up in rural South Carolina and I guess he realized that he needed a technical degree to make enough money to support his family. He initially did that and worked on his art in his spare time.

He did come from some artistic roots, though. His mother was a very prolific quilter and he learned to appreciate the time and effort it took to make those designs. You can easily see the quilting influence in his designs today. I grew up in a rural area of Virgina and I remember my own grandmother having "quilting parties". She would invite a few ladies from the area to come over and they would sit around a huge table frame and had the quilt stretched over it. They would all be working on a different section at the same time. I loved those quilts and apparently so did Jim Shore.

As he honed his skills as an artist, it became increasingly apparent that he needed to devote his efforts to his passion. He founded a company called Designs America and quickly grew it to 350 employees. This did not go over too well though, because he had to devote so much time to running the company, he could not enjoy his art. Jim began to search for a partner that could do the marketing side for him. This is when he found Enesco. He joined with them and has been ever since.

Jim's designs are very much like the quilts he watched his mother make back in South Carolina. His designs are both interesting and diverse. Within a Nativity Set you will find both those elements. It is easy to find a small piece of a quilt design on many of his sculptures.

I hope you enjoy Jim Shore designs as much as I do. We have them throughout our home and each one brings a smile to my face when I get close and inspect the work of this great artist.

Disney Traditions designed by Jim Shore for Enesco From Beauty and theBeast Figurine 6.25 IN List Price: $38.50 Sale Price: $31.95 You save: $6.55 (17%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Description Part of the Jim Shore Couples collection, Belle and her princely Beast are together representing a love as old as time.

Jim Shore Peace And Plenty Irish Angel Sale Price: $44.95   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Description This Irish angel features everything Irish with the harp and the Celtic patterning as well as the scene. Perfect for St. Patrick's Day or any day!

Jim Shore Heartwood Creek from Enesco Irish Cat Figurine 5.75 IN List Price: $38.50 Sale Price: $29.88 You save: $8.62 (22%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Description This festive Irish cat features everything Irish. a shamrock hanging from his metal tail the pot of gold and the shamrock rosemaling base.

Jim Shore Disney Evil Enchantment Maleficent with Dragon Sale Price: $79.95   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Description Sleeping Beauty's evil entrantress Maleficient prepairs to cast her wicked spell. Intertwined in sorceress' gown the dragon from the climax sequence of Sleeping Beauty is fully represented complete with fiery eyes that glow when you turn on the switch.

Disney Traditions by Jim Shore 4010021 Belle Midnight Enchantment Figurine 9-1/4-Inch List Price: $52.99 Sale Price: $34.99 You save: $18.00 (34%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Description Disney Traditions by Jim Shore 4010021 Belle Midnight Enchantment 9-1/4-inch Figurine

Disney Traditions by Jim Shore 4010026 Bambi Personality Pose Figurine 4-3/4-Inch List Price: $21.99 Sale Price: $17.99 You save: $4.00 (18%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Description Disney Traditions by Jim Shore 4010026 Bambi Personality Pose 4-3/4-inch Figurine

Jim Shore Heartwood Creek from Enesco St. Francis Figurine 11 IN List Price: $41.00 Sale Price: $24.20 You save: $16.80 (41%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Description A Heartwood Creek rendition of (No Suggestions), the patron saint of animals.

Disney Traditions by Jim Shore 4011754 Tinker Bell Personality Pose Figurine 5-Inch List Price: $21.99 Sale Price: $14.00 You save: $7.99 (36%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Description Disney Traditions by Jim Shore 4011754 Tinker Bell Personality Pose 5-inch Figurine

Disney Traditions designed by Jim Shore for Enesco From Sleeping Beauty Figurine 6 IN List Price: $38.50 Sale Price: $28.00 You save: $10.50 (27%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Description Part of the Jim Shore Couples collection, Princess Aurora and her Prince Phillip are shown together "Once Upon A Dream".

Disney Traditions by Jim Shore 4005434 Seven Dwarfs Walking Over Fallen Log Figurine 8-1/4-Inch List Price: $99.00 Sale Price: $74.10 You save: $24.90 (25%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Description Disney Traditions by Jim Shore 4005434 Seven Dwarfs Walking Over Fallen Log 8-1/4-inch Figurine