Belated Merry Christmas....

Well, I composed a blog post on Christmas Day but apparently I forgot to actually POST it!

It is time for Creative Daze With Geri to return to the style of blog for which is was originally intended, as a place for me to post a variety of creative outlets.

But, before I leave the realm of Santas...I want to post about one last eBay "FAIL" when it comes to sorry sellers.

Recently, I was SOOOOO excited about a Dee Gann Santa that I found on eBay that was an ORIGINAL SIGNED  by DEE!!!! for only $65 (Buy it Now) so, of course, being a lover of all things Dee Gann, I jumped right on it.

"Like-new adorable country folk-art Santa. Original created by artist Dee Gann in 2000.  Detailing is very exquisite. Perfect for a person with an eye for, and appreciation of primitives.  Signed by artist."

What a great deal! Right?
I was meant to have it! Right?

WRONG!

It was a reproduction with a large tag attached to his hat that clearly stated that it was reproduced by House of Hatten.

Now, I love Dee Gann's Santas and he is very pretty, but I have a rather extensive collection so if I wanted to buy another reproduction I would have just stuck to the bid amount of $25.  But I really believed that it was an original because the seller said it was and they failed to mention there was a tag attached or provide any other photos of the Santa.

Look, there are some shady people on eBay and I seem to be finding more than my fair share!

Because this woman was being so completely unfair about her return policy (even though the she was clearly at fault), I had to seek help from eBay's resolution center. So...he will be shipped back to the seller (return shipping covered by eBay I suppose) but that doesn't erase the amount of stress this seller put me through.

At some point,  you don't know if someone is being innocent, ignorant, or just a damn liar.

Since being a liar usually involves claiming innocence or ignorance as their first defense.

But being one to find a silver lining in my ever darkening cloud of doom...I had some fun with him while he was visiting my home. In keeping with my "making my own heirloom Santas", I added a few things to him.

I added a vintage baby doll. The details in his tiny sweater were perfect for this particular style Santa. Dee Gann loads her originals up with vintage toys and dolls, so I wanted to do the same.

A pair of doll glasses was just thing to give him a more bespectacled appearance. As it turns out, it is rather difficult to match the right sized glasses to the right proportioned face. Its a good thing I'm not an ophthalmologist.

Every Santa needs a bear, and in this case, a Boyd's angel bear tucked nicely in his arms.

I added a vintage style pocket watch/pendant. In spite of the doll missing a head (I would have made a head if I kept him) he's a pretty nice looking guy. He'll be missed, but it is time for him to go to another collector who I hope will fix him up nicely.

Countdown to Christmas: Christmas Eve!

Well, I'd like to say I'm ready, but I'd be kidding myself.

However...the table is set ready for breakfast and dinner tomorrow.

The tree is decorated. Goodies have been made to give to friends and family.

But the living room and kitchen are a mess and I still have some wrapping to do!

I guess I'll be counting down hours then minutes!

Countdown to Christmas: 2 Days A Visit from Wilderness Santa and His Wolf

In case you missed my post about creating your own Heirloom Santa, here's another idea to get you started or keep you going.

In keeping with my tradition to constantly be adding things to my Santas, I thought this rugged guy just needed something.

For a while I had him holding a doll, but the doll just did not go, so she's been passed on to another Santa.
I purchased this Santa off eBay earlier this year. I would not have thought a wilderness Santa would appeal to me or go with my decor, but there was just something in his eyes.  Now, with addition of his wolf friend, he looks likes he's got a purpose!

Then I found a Ganz Webkinz Signature Endangered Species Red Wolf at my favorite place to shop Rolling Hills Ministries Thrift Store. He just spoke to me, and for a whopping fifty-five cents (worth almost 10x that on eBay!), I answered his call, OOOOWWWoooo!

If you either watch or have read "Game of Thrones", this wolf is about the size of direwolf in proportion to this Santa, so I've named him Ned.

I felt that my Santa needed a little bit more added to him to make him an Heirloom Santa for my collection and decor, so I've added a birchbark birdhouse (originally and ornament that I glued to stick, and a comical crocheted or knitted reindeer ornament.

Countdown to Christmas: 3 Days Judie Tasch and Her Beautiful One of A Kind Father Christmas FIgures

If you've read some of my other blogs, you know that I love collecting House of Hatten Santas.

I've been fortunate to pick up a few this year off eBay for very reasonable prices. One particular style is that of Judie Tasch.

I've added a nutcracker made in Germany who was rather pricey and deserved a place of honor.

I paid a rather decent amount on both the Santa in the white robe and the Santa in the green robe, but I made up for up when I purchased the smaller ornament with a lot of other collectible Santas.

Judie Tasch is an amazing folk artist who crafts beautiful vintage style dolls with simple and subtly expressive faces. This is one of her originals. Unfortunately, I have house payments, so he's not in my collection, but I have a few with the same "face" that I love. I wish I had more to say about her but apparently she's very illusive and I found little about the actual artist available online.

Either way, enjoy looking at her beautiful work. If you get the chance (and your house is paid for), why not add one of her originals to your collection!

Available on eBay

Available on eBay

Countdown to Christmas: 4 Days

Countdown to Christmas: 5 Days Merry Christmas from The Taylors

This year's family portrait was taken at Albert Pike in Arkansas. Our cat, Storm, didn't make the trip because, frankly, she doesn't travel well.

Besides, we've tortured her enough!

But then Dash had her moments as well...

Countdown to Christmas: 6 Days Countdown to Christmas via FACEBOOK!

I found this great Facebook page! Countdown to Christmas

Since like most of you, I am super busy today! Check out and FOLLOW this page for more great photos, stories, and posts.

And check out Everything Holiday while your are at it!

Countdown to Christmas: 7 Days Beers, Cigarettes, or Toys! How Generous are YOU Feeling This Christmas?

I was so completely unsettled by this article based on a Facebook post I read that I had to share it with you.

Ok...As I was leaving Wal-Mart at 6:30am this morning, I asked the returns clerk did someone purchase these? She responded, those were yesterday's return. I then asked the question; were these gifts? She responded that most likely all of them are gifts from organizations or toy runs. 

I was sick to my stomach with her next response, "folk return them, get a gift card and then buy beer and cigarettes." 

Be aware of your blessing to others in need. Make sure that the organization or individual is truly getting and keeping the gift, especially children. 

These pics are from one day of returns and the clerk said; most of time there's more. Be blessed friends... 
Read more at http://snopes.com/politics/business/walmarttoys.asp#gzfUmoy2oReDt6po.99

The author of this snopes.com article states that this is "Probably False" but for some reason, I don't believe it.

Not to put a damper on anyone's charitable giving this holiday season, but I think it is important you know what you are actually "giving" and you might want to make a few adjustments.
However...

When Katrina swept through New Orleans, many of its refugees came to my town.  I volunteered at the Civic Center. Copious amounts of disposable diapers so generously donated lined the walls of the room where we collected the donations, but we had no babies.  I contacted other shelters, but they did not need them either. Since families, especially those with small children, were at the top of the housing list, there were no diaper wearers in any of the shelters.

My solution?

I sent around index cards asking refugees to let me know of any specific item(s) they needed that we did not have and I loaded my SUV with diapers. Our local Walmart was very helpful and accepted all the diapers and I was able to buy bras, pants, shoes for school children (many only had flip-flops), and other specific items that individual people needed.  If I could not find the item (as in the case of a pair of welder's gloves) I kept the cards by the phone, and when people called in or came by, we asked them to look through the cards and see what they could do to help. Our community really stepped up and most of the much needed items (including the welding gloves) were donated.

I am all unconditional giving all year long. I am only suggesting that you do a bit of research and that you do not participate in or permit the corruption of charitable organizations.

Countdown to Christmas: 8 Days

Countdown to Christmas: 9 Days Nicol Sayre, Another Fabulous Santa Claus Artist

Much like Dee Gann's designs, Nicol Sayre's Santas and other exquisite figures have been licensed by the mass market industry (in her case ESC Trading Company) to make them more affordable for people like me who cherish their talent, but don't have the budget to procure their originals.

Even though there is still a chance to purchase one at a very reasonable price on eBay, I am simply tapped out.

Available on eBay

My mother said something to me today that was rather disheartening. She said that maybe the reason so many fine collectible Santas are selling as such low prices is because no one is collecting Santas right now...and that we (Americans) are letting go of Christmas.

Of course we can blame the economy, but even during the depression era, war, and the most dire times in our country, people pulled together to celebrate in some way.

So, I recommend that we (Americans) no let go of the things you love just yet!

If you do even a quick search on the internet, you'll find people are still collecting and/or using the things they love to adorn their homes to ring in Christmas!

Traditions Year Round Holiday Store

By all means, give us Santa artists a chance to keep on making a living do what we love!

Check out some other Santa artists at The Santamakers Guild and while you're at it...check out Nicol Sayre's blog! There maybe something in there you'll want to add to your collection.

Countdown to Christmas: 10 Days Yet It Still Feels Like a Monday

I haven't done much in the way of Christmas shopping this year. I ordered some gifts off the internet and I've picked up a few little of presents to put under the tree...if only I could just find my tree skirt!

Decorating has been rather challenging for me lately and I think it is time I come to the realization that neither my husband nor my two sons are going to be much help with this either now or in the future.

It looks like it is time to pay a college kid...wait a minute...I HAVE a college kid...to help me retrieve boxes from their hiding places.

It saddens me that my family doesn't care to participate in the decorating, the cooking, the cleaning, organize the family portrait, etc...voluntarily. Even worse, they won't do it for money.

As if the arthritis and fibromyalgia weren't bad enough.

HOWEVER...

I did a little shopping therapy today, and something that I've been wanting finally came available on eBay at an affordable price.

The really strange thing is that it did not come up under a regular search and it is amazing I found it at all.

I do love Dee Gann Santas and I am inspired by her talent.  I found two reproductions this year that I was able to purchase and today, I found a third with Dee's signature that had a starting bid that was in my budget but I got this feeling (and I've learned to listen to that "feeling") that if I did not just go ahead with the buy it now price...I would regret it.

So, now I am waiting for this fellow to join my other two!

He's actually very different from the Santas I usually collect. His coat is rather formal.

I do with my Dee Gann Santas the same as my other Santas by "adding" things to them. Basically, I love Dee's faces. All of her Santas (and other figures) have such great expressions. So, adding a few more vintage trinkets and toys doesn't take away from her work...it just makes him more special to me.

Christmas to Countdown: 11 Days Next Year I'll Have to Start A LOT Earlier

I found the lovely blog, Always Robin's Egg Blue while looking up images of Dee Gann Santas.

Always Robin's Egg Blue

Always Robin's Egg Blue

As I looked through the blogs she followed, I found 52 Flea this charming post about Paula's Christmas Cottage

I'm starting to think that I'm not going to pull my own home together before Christmas.

Countdown to Christmas: 12 Days Dorothy Dodge Robbins Guest Speaker and Co-Editor of "Christmas Stories from Louisiana"

Dorothy Dodge Robbins was the guest speaker at both NOLA STARs (North Louisiana's Chapter of Romance Writers of America) and Grave Expectations (Shreveport, LA Chapter of Sisters in Crime) guest speaker for the December 13th meeting.

Dorothy Dodge Robbins is co-editor along with her husband, playwright Ken Robbins, of four volumes of seasonal literature, including Christmas Stories from Louisiana (University Press of Mississippi 2003), Christmas on the Great Plains (University of Iowa Press 2004), Christmas Stories from Georgia (University Press of Mississippi 2005), and Christmas Stories from Ohio (The Kent State University Press 2010). She served as volume editor for Critical Insights: Mrs. Dalloway (Salem Press, 2014). Dr. Robbins is the Charlotte Lewis Endowed Professor of English at Louisiana Tech University where she coordinates the Graduate Program in English. In addition to her work as an editor and a scholar, she teaches courses in Twentieth-Century British Novel, Virginia Woolf and Bloomsbury, and Mystery and Detective Fiction. As caretaker of the university’s Shakespeare Garden, and an avid amateur gardener, most weekends she plays in the dirt.

Available on Amazon

She did a wonderful power point presentation for NOLA STARs reminding us of historical Christmas stories, romance (even with corpses), murders, and the ghosts and supernatural spirits who have played key roles in winter tales.  She offered autographed copies of her books, Christmas Stories from Louisiana being the most popular, and inspired us to create Christmas themed stories. 

Plus, she included a bit about her cats, Miss Marple and Colonel Mustard.

In the less formal setting of Grave Expectations, she settled right into to the group of ladies and entertained as well as educated us on delightful way to kill someone off during the holiday season. Just kidding...well, maybe just a little. But mostly, she lead a delightful discussion of how murder mysteries were so popular during the holiday season. 

I met Dorothy years ago while taking playwriting courses from her husband; however, when I see the two of them out at Louisiana Tech events, it is usually Ken I converse with, so I truly enjoyed her agreeing to come speak at my groups and this occasion to get to know Ken's "better half" :)