Queens of Christmas Holiday Decor Club 12 Days of Christmas Countdown HOUSE OF HATTEN SANTA Dee Gann

Queens of Christmas Holiday Decor Club 12 Days of Christmas Countdown SANTA CLAUS by DEE GANN

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: 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.

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.