365 Days of Santa Claus

I am so happy to have added many followers to my blog this holiday season with my 31 Days of Santa Claus and my Countdown to Christmas themed posts.


It is always good to meet other Santa Claus collectors, artisans, and crafters, as well as those who truly enjoy the holiday season!

I have started a new blog, 365 Days of Santa Claus where I will continue to post blogs about Santa Claus collecting and crafting.

Please join my email list and share my post with other Santa enthusiasts.

Countdown to Christmas: 43 Days Kathy Tate Davis and Her One of a Kind Okra Pod Art

I got one of those "FEELINGS" that I had to stop by one of my favorite thrift shops in Ruston, LA. It provides a work place and support of members of our community, much like that of Goodwill, but it is privately owned.

I dropped by to see if they had put out any Christmas decorations and boy did I hit pay dirt!  Actually, the tall tree and a few of the ornaments are from yesterday, but the large Santa figure, etc. are from today's haul.

But I will blog more about that later because TODAY I want to talk about one very unusual find.

This little elf still has his tag (although stained) and was created in 2007.  I wanted to take advantage of my blog to share with you what I've learned about the artist, Kathy Tate Davis.

First of all we are "practically" neighbors! She lives in Coushatta, LA and I have a camp on the southern end of Lake Bistineau near Ringgold, LA.

Second, she and I got into crafting about the same time. Me in 1992, and she in 1993. Where I have jumped around from art to crafts to acting to photography and back to crafts, she has made quite a name for herself with her favorite materials, OKRA, and her talent is well displayed in her work.

I often find it a bit comical calling myself a Gourd Artist, but Kathy has me beat.

"So what do YOU do?"
"I'm an Okra Artist?"
"Oh...wait, a WHUUUUT?"

I can definitely see how Kathy is inspired by the odd twists and turns of the dried pieces of okra. Much like a gourd, if you shake them, they rattle! Which makes them even MORE adorable!

Anyway...

Check out her Etsy page to learn more about Kathy and her see what she has available.

It looks like Kathy and I share our interest for all things holiday related. You've just got to love the faces she creates on her colorful and clever little characters. Take a gander at some of her Halloween figures and I'll bet you'll think they look like someone you know. SPOOPY!

I found some more of her images on Pinterest and on her Facebook page. But if you really want to scroll through her some of her amazing pieces, check out Georgia's Gift Shop Facebook page.

WOW!

31 DAYS of SANTA CLAUS Day 25 Whatever happened to Timeless Collectable Santas from Carol Bouquet Enterprise, Inc?

There is nothing like trying to write a cheerful blot about the Jolly Ol' Elf when you are feeling rather ill. But I will press on, because i am determined to provide you with 31 days of my entertaining and informative prose!

In the early nineties, a series of limited edition Santa Claus figures started popping up in upscale gift shops. These fine fellows were approximately 20" tall (or long depending on their  position) with real fur lining their well constructed finery and silky beards made from Tibetan sheep hair.

Believe me, this was not Santa for a Vegan or Animal Rights Activist.

Their faces, all similar in style which made them very recognizable to collectors, was very simple in design and I believe they were composition if not bisque.

I'm saying "I believe" because I can find little information on these Santas. Even the ones listed on eBay and WorthPoint Santa Carol Bouquet Enterprises Numbered Ltd Ed MIB

I recall seeing these Santas for my first time in Monroe, LA at a store named The Pillars which went out of business in the late nineties.

My mother picked up a couple during their going out of business sale and gave me one for Christmas. I seem to recall that even at %50 off, this Santa cost around $150-$165. Remember how I said that if someone gave me a Santa as a gift, it usually wasn't one of the styles that I collected AND I prefer Santa doing Santa-like things as in carrying toys and trees, etc.? Well, I think this one is definitely an exception.

Mine is tucked away in my Christmas closet, but the good news is that I borrowed this image from eBay. I seem to recall my Santa also having a coat that you could hang on the coat rack. Hmmmm

Oh, and I added a small vintage handmade paintbrush to my Santa that fits in his hand holding the paint pallet.

The bad news...the Santa in the photo sold on eBay for only $10. TEN BUCKS!!!!

If you've been perusing eBay lately for Santas, you'll find that even junky Santas (yeah...I said junky Santas) have starting bids set at twice this price! Of course, I don't know what the shipping costs were on this listing, but on a previous listing it was set at $18.72.  

That is really sad.

As far as decorate Santas go, I think these pieces by Carol Bouquet Enterprises, Inc (Kellogg, MN) are rich with detail, come with interesting "accessories" and are worth WAY more than what they are going for on eBay.  Which could be to a collectors advantage.

Currently there are several Timeless Collectible Santas by Carol Bouquet Enterprises, Inc. available on eBay.

Check them out now while the starting bids are still low, perhaps you can get a good deal so that when the word gets out about them, their popularity and their value will increase.

Happy Shopping!