31 DAYS of SANTA CLAUS Day 31 It's Not Over...It Has Only Just Begun!

I can't believe I made it! I posted 31 times during the month of October in spite of all the other things I had going on.

So, HAPPY HALLOWEEN from my Zombie Baby!

I actually carried him around to stores today and he got a lot of attention. He even had his photo taken a few times. He already had a cute Halloween onesie but then I found this tiger costume at Goodwill for $1.99. I was just meant to have it.

During this past 31 days, I had really hoped to have crafted more Santas but what I gained by doing research for my blog (on eBay...LOL!) I feel more inspired to get back to creating my own.

I purchased a few Santas that have not arrived and I have really changed the course of my collection from chalkware, hand carved, and resin reproductions of popular Santa artists, to a lot figures.

Here are a few I am waiting to receive:

Santa's Uncle Swede

This little Santa's Uncle Swede  Doll measures 12 inches tall. With Stand  This cloth sculpture was designed from pattern through finish in the heart of South central Pennsylvania. form #355(7/93). A one of a kind. Hand made collectible. .Hand numbered 2802 .. He carries his sack full of toys.. A perfect addition to your holidays display or for gift giving.

House of Hatten

I bought this lot just for the House of Hatten Santa Sitting on the box.

After I received my Santa designed by Dee Gann, I just had to bid on tis one...

And I won!

Other than three for which I am waiting on an invoice, and a couple I bid on that have not closed out, my goal is NO SANTA NOVEMBER when it comes to buying Santa Claus Figures, Ornaments, Art Work, etc. off eBay.

But that doesn't mean I won't visit my favorite shops locally!

But seriously, I do want to thank all of my new readers as well as my old, and I hope you will continue to follow me as I attempt a new goal...

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS! Starting November 1st.

I will be still be talking about my Santa Collection and Santa Crafting but will be adding more about my other creative activities during the holiday season.

God Bless Us, Everyone!

31 DAYS of SANTA CLAUS Day 30 I'm not always a SHOPAHOLIC...but October is a great chance for Christmas Bargains...if you are willing to hunt for them.

I have a lot of small trees that I bought several years ago at a 90% off Christmas sale. I haven't used them like I hoped I would because I think they are just lacking something. So last night I got this idea that I would take pretty glass beads and fashion my own mini ornaments.

Today, I needed some "therapy" to help me deal with the failing health and decline of my nearly fourteen year old LabraWeimer, Hero. She was at the vet for two days and I missed her so very much even with knowing she should be coming home soon. So, I went shopping at my all time favorite store, Rolling Hills Ministry Thrift store.

So, getting back to my idea to fashioning ornaments from beads, the volunteers had recently put out several sun catchers with unusually crafted beads.

I bought all they had because the many of the beads on each strand would make great ornaments.

Even though I started this post late last night, I had to do most of the work on it this morning because I was too exhausted to type.

Over my past couple of visits to Rolling Hills and another church run thrift shop, First West, in West Monroe, LA, I found several small toys that work great with my Santas and some fabric in the form of remnants, placemats, two pillow shams, and a table runner that will make wonderful Santa attire.

To give you an idea of size, the tallest doll in the background is only a8-9" tall. I'll keep updates on either these blog posts or others under my creativedazewithgeri.blogspot.com to keep you updated on how I modified the toys or used them as is to enhance my holiday decorations.

The winter holiday, whether it be Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza, or however we choose to snuggle in during the long winter nights, is a celebration of abundance. It is definitely the time of year where our homes are filled with colorful, collectible, and festive decorations, our hearth with the warmth of glowing embers, and as fragrant delectables from the kitchen, we anticipate the time of year where generosity flows from our hearts.

I decorate my Santas the way some people decorate their trees.

Photo from eBay auction

I couple of days ago, I received these two Santas from an eBay seller. I must say, he is very inspiration. I love to make the faces, but when you start getting into costumes, I get a bit frustrated. If you recall, I hate my temperamental sewing machine, but I do love being the assistant to a fabulous theatrical costumer so I know I can make just about anything I put my mind and patience to.

I have a "collecting" disorder, and two of my MANY collections happen to be candlesticks and industrial textile spools, so I think you see where I am going with this.

Anyway...I took one and gave him a few accessories.

Face it, Santa, if you have arms...I'm putting you to work!

As you can see, I kept to his bright red and more contemporary color scheme.

This is really more fun than you can imagine. Because ornaments are usually affordable and easy to find, I hope you have a great time decorating your Santa figures.  It is yours, do whatever you want with it

photo from eBay auction

I purchased this lot a while back with the intention of giving the tallest Santa a face lift. I did not think I would like his felt costume, but when I received him, I think that his coat may be a wool felt versus polyester or at least it looks that way.

So, later I found this wonderful auction of felt ornaments just minutes from ending with no bids.

Photo from eBay auction

They are the perfect accoutrements to this handsome Santa Claus. I also replaced his sisal wreath with a larger jingle bell wreath from another auction.

The lamb at this feet and the carousel horse due for a repaint, is still under consideration.

Photo from eBay auction

This cutie pie received a nutcracker, a barn, and a sheep pull toy.

He still has his basket, it just isn't showing the photo. I am looking for small things to fill it.

sorry, a bit out of focus

Yesterday, I found a very simple tree topper Santa for $1.99 at Goodwill.

I added two porcelain dolls that I found on shopgoodwill.com. I just thought it seemed befitting to add Goodwill dolls to a Goodwill Santa.

Now it appears this Santa is either delivering dolls or abducting children.  I'm going to have to work on this.







































And finally, my beautiful Dee Gann (replica) Santa arrived in the mail. I have added nothing to him but that glittered Silent Night sign he's holding might have to go in a box.

31 DAYS of SANTA CLAUS Day 29 Whatever happened to Timeless Collectable Santas from Carol Bouquet Enterprise, Inc? PART DEUX: I think I found the problem.

So, just a few days ago I posted a blog about Timeless Collectibles Santa Claus addressing their loss of popularity and drop in price.

I think I've found a clue as to what happened.

I recently purchased two TC Santas on eBay and both have arrived just days apart.

Image from eBay

My first Santa to arrive was Noel, The Magical Santa, and if you recall I had to do a little "cosmetic surgery" on him.

Image from eBay.
Yes, I bought a Santa with no face!

Then my other TC Santa came in and there was a significant difference in the quality of the two dolls.


So today, Bejeweled Claus arrived in a much smaller box than Noel which also weighed significantly less. It seems Carol Bouquet Enterprises, Inc was producing inferior quality products.

To be fair,  perhaps they were make less expensive figures but why compromise your integrity when the larger and better constructed Santas were so desirable?

The fur on Bejeweled is "faux" (Oh, please...just say fake or acrylic) and there is definitely a lot more hot glue holding this one together.

The tapestry fabric is fraying and the mittens and boots are just made from a poly/cotton twill.

And they covered almost his entire face with a huge beard.

I decided to give it a little trim.  I heated up the glue with my trusty hairdryer and slid the beard down to the lowest part of his faceplate. At this point he resembled an Amish boxer because his nose is a bit off to one side.

Then I trimmed some hair from the lower part of his beard where it was the least noticeable and fashioned a mustache for him. He's so much more handsome now. 

Originally, Bejeweled Santa came with a bag of vintage "style" ornaments but this one didn't. You'd think he would since he was listed on eBay as NEW. Hmmmmmm.

Anyway, because I am not afraid to make necessary alterations in "limited edition" pieces, I will find something even better for his accoutrements.

And the jewel from which his name is derived. It is a small poorly made piece that holds his collar together...but I'm working on that as well.

31 DAYS of SANTA CLAUS Day 28 Check out April Cummins One of a Kind Primitive Santa Claus Figures and Snowmen

So, I just found out what OOAK stands for...One Of A Kind.

If I had all the room and money in the world, there are many Santa Claus figures I would love to collect, and at least one of April Cummins adorable 24" tall, one of kind Santas would definitely grace my home.

I blogged before about the Timeless Collectibles being so affordable right now,  especially for the quality of their craftsmanship. April Cummins Santas are available now on eBay at very reasonable starting bids and shipping costs.

Now, I've never seen her pieces in person so please read her descriptions and contact her with any questions.

I'll keep this blog brief, because as they say, "A picture speaks a thousand words."

Primitive Santa Claus Raggedy Ann

Primitive Santa Claus Patriotic Antique Quilt

Primitive Santa Flocked Sheep Antique Coverlet

Primitive Handmade Old Red Santa Claus Primitive Sheep

Primitive Santa Claus Rocking Horse Raggedy Ann Quilt

Primitive Santa Claus Antique Ornament, Book, Sheep

Primitive Santa Claus Vintage Fabric

Primitive Santa Claus Pull Toy Sheep

Plus MANY, MANY more Santas, Snowmen, and Dolls.

31 DAYS of SANTA CLAUS Day 27 We CAN Rebuild Him. We Have the Technology...and a glue gun!

Two days ago, I wrote a post on the diminishing popularity and decreased value of a once very expensive line of Santa figures called Timeless Collectibles created by Carol Bouquet Enterprises, Inc. in Kellogg, MN.

Photos from eBay listing

Today I received one of these Santas that I purchased off eBay.  I was concerned that it would not be as nice as my original Santa because the seller did not offer much in the way of a description. With minutes left on the auction, I took a chance and was thrilled when my Santa arrived. He has real fox or raccoon fur and the trademark Tibetan lamb hair beard.


















And he is huge, at almost 20" tall.

In the photo from the eBay listing, I noticed something was not right about his face.

His beard was not attached symmetrically and that really bugged me.





























So, when he arrived, the first thing I did (after taking his photo) was to...you guess it...rip his beard off his face!

AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

Really? I am a crafter and I have a pretty sound grip on the material, so I did it without fear because I knew I could make him better.















I used a hair dryer to soften the glue and pulled the extra piece away from his face.

There was excess pelt on one side of his face, so I tore it off the 3/4" or so piece off the beard along with another small piece that tore off when I was removing the beard.






I was able to soften the glue with the hair dryer and reattach the beard and the small pieces of hair.

However, I do plan to reinforce it with my glue gun which is out in my studio and I never got around to going out and getting it.

So much for the title of this post!



Basically, his mustache just needs to be finger combed into place. NEVER put glue ON your hair. It will yellow or turn brown.

Now, isn't that better?

The point is...if something is not right about your Santa and it CAN be fixed...then FIX it! 

I'm not talking about an artist original. If there is a problem with those, ask the artist if they will repair it.

So, don't let a crossed eye or missing limb hamper the enjoyment of you Santa; FIX IT!

31 DAYS of SANTA CLAUS Day 26 A Simple Way to Make Your Own Heirloom Santa

I hate to sew.

Well, maybe I don't really hate sewing, I just have a really cheap Brother sewing machine that takes all the fun out of it.

I am the assistant of theatrical costumer, and she probably hates sewing more than I do, so she does all the fun stuff like draping, and I end up cutting and sewing.

But give me something to embellish, and I am a happy camper!

This is why I have been combing eBay for inexpensive Santas who have great costumes. I can always replace the head and beards, replace the fake fur with real, add some embellishments, then make this Santa my own Heirloom Santa.

I am always collecting toys, trees, and other accouterments to add to my Santas. I search garages sales, estate sales, and thrift shops for clothing made from vintage fabric, leather, suede, and fur.

Most people would not think to "tamper" with an original, and I would not if it were an original piece. I am talking about the mass produced versions that you would pick up at chain store.

Compared to some of the $300-$500 Santas, you could create your own Heirloom Santa for less than $100

For example:

This Santa has nice "bone structure" but his eyes look a little dead.

I would start by removing the beard and hat and giving this Santa a new paint job adding a few lines to accent his wrinkles and give him a more "gleeful" look. 

Another trick is to actually make the pupils larger than these using a pale blue acrylic, add irises and a couple of highlights. Gray eyelashes would give him a more realistic look.

On small faces, I use a wooden toothpick dipped into the paint. I also like to use a glassy acrylic sealer to give the eyes that extra sparkle. 

A trick I used from a Santa Claus artist is to add a single piece of glitter to each eye. It is harder than is sounds but the effect is awesome.

This $1200 Santa on eBay is a good example of how to paint your Santa's face to give it more character.

Bard's of Illinois Display 

I also would replace the artificial beard with Tibetan Lamb Hair like the Bard Santa.  You should be able to use the original beard as your patter

Available on eBay or Amaz

This "Tree Topper" Santa does not have legs, instead the costume is draped over a plastic or cardboard cone with added padding to soften the form.

However, you can find or make a muslin doll boy to fit this particular costume, or use an armature and wrap it in batting.




I chose this particular Santa because I felt it had a well constructed costume, but don't be surprised if the Santa your buy is constructed mostly from a hot glue gun.





This frayed end of this knot could easily be clipped. You can add fray check or even super glue to the end to prevent further unraveling.












There are so many things you can do to embellish this hat. I would add gold braid to this hat or at the minimum, sew a gold jingle bell or tassel on the end.

Now if you go with the armature, he'll need some pants, even if they are covered up by the robe. I just prefer a more finished look.

And don't forget the boots. Boots can be a challenge to sew but you can always buy a pair.

Porcelain Santa Boots

Something that bothers me is a Santa without mittens or gloves. If he is dressed in a heavy fur lined robe...wouldn't his hands get really cold and chapped?

Now what this Santa needs is accessories!

I would take his bag and empty out the stuffing because it looks too light and does't hang as if it really has something (other than stuffing) on the inside.

Shopping for toys and accessories can be an ongoing thing and in my opinion, the more the merrier.

My advice, find or make wrapped gifts, miniature books, toys, bells, a sleigh, a wreath, and a tree that is in proportion to your Santa.

Doll house miniatures are just too small for this Santa so look for something more on a three inches equals one foot scale.  I find a lot of ornaments in the appropriate size.

3" Jointed Teddy Bear

3.5" Rag Doll

4" Tall Nutcracker Ornaments

Have fun putting together your own Heirloom Santa! And when you're done, please send me a photo of it in the comment section.