I painted this Christmas tree after my very first trip to Norway.  All of the dolls on the tree were gifts to me as a little girl.  These gifts were from missionaries who came to stay at the Bethany Indian Mission from around the world.  I loved my doll collection and when my husband and I had our first Christmas tree and nothing to put on it, I remembered my dolls and began a new tradition.  As our children arrived I added to the collection.  The little crèche under the tree my son Nicholas and I made together when he was four years old.  The design in the wallpaper and around the tree skirt are from Norwegian rose-maling.