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: 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: 24 Days Kurt S. Adler Santa Claus Redux

Who doesn't love to accessorize!

Somewhere, I could have sworn I had already posted a blog featuring this particular Santa but I've either lost it or my mind...but probably both.

So, here goes all the things I thought I had blogged about this Kurt S. Adler Santa.

First...Let's talk about Kurt S. Adler, the leading importer of holiday decorations for over 65 years, and not Kurt Adler, the composer. Just so you know that there is a difference.

As an importer of some of the more quality decorative items, his company's products are generally very collectible.

This particular Santa just needed a bit extra. In my efforts to encourage my readers to add to their favorite Santas and create their own heirlooms, I felt this one was another good place to start.

Originally, he came with a bag of toys and a simple plastic bugle in his hand.

I've upgraded him a bit and I hope this is an encouragement to others who want to make their Santas extra special.

I spruced up the bag by adding a blown glass polar bear Coca-Cola ornament, moved the horn to the bag, added a shiny candy cane, and an older plastic nutcracker.

My personal favorite was adding a baby doll to his arms and classy green tassel ornament.

Even though she was in "played with" condition, she still added personality that some of the small porcelain dolls just could not do!

My favorite place for him is near the fireplace because the flickering flames reflected so beautifully off the sequin design on his coat.

I hope this give you some ideas!

Countdown to Christmas: 51 Days Santas I Don't Collect

I know that it's hard for you to believe that with over 1000 Santa Claus figures and ornaments in my collection, there are some artists I do not collect.

Lynn Haney was one of the first Santa Claus figure artists whose work I could identify immediately. His smooth skinned and practically expressionless Santas do have a haunting beauty. His emphasis on detail creates the type of Santa Claus that I admire, but even his reproductions are too expensive for me to collect.

However, this post on eBay makes purchasing an instant collection for less than what one can cost is rather tempting.

16 Lynn Haney Santas 1992-2004 Many Retired

Perhaps it is because I enjoy a variety of faces and expressions that I would rather have ten $20 Santas versus one $200, and if/when I have $200 to spend on Santas, I usually go for quantity. There is something about a buffet layered with a varied of different Santas that appeals to me more than one centerpiece Santa.

Marmee & Company

I realize this stems from my collection of holiday magazine images that illustrate less is less and more, well it's MORE!

Byer's Santa Claus and Caroling figures are another series of collectibles with a very distinctive look. They are cute and more affordable than the Lynn Haney Santas but they never were my thing. However, if one just happens to show up at Rolling Hills or another of my favorite thrift shops, I think I could squeeze him in.

Retired Byers Carolers and Santas

Steph McCrombie, Photographer

HOLIDAY POINTERS:

When storing your cherished collectible figures, toss some cedar balls, blocks or a pleasantly scented bugdeterrent sachet in the box along with them.

NEVER mix fragile ornaments with heavy resin pieces. I generally don't wrap every ornament as if I am shipping them across the country but I do have divided boxes where I sort out heavy, light, breakable and fabric. 

I usually buy fresh white tissue at the after Christmas sale and use it for my large pieces. I wrap my ornaments in deli wrap. It comes in different sizes and is very handy in its pop-up dispenser. And finally, LABEL every box! And stack them heaviest to lightest. This way I can carry manage the lighter boxes and let my husband or son's bring up the heavy ones.

31 DAYS of SANTA CLAUS Day 11 I don't collect EVERY Santa!

I am a writer, among other things, and I take the one hour plus drive Bossier City and Shreveport, LA where I attend meetings with a critique group, Romance Writer’s of America, and Sister’s in Crime.

While there in Bossier City and Shreveport, I like to hit a few of the Goodwills and thrift stores in the area. Today, I found a Longaberger basket and the perfect dust ruffle, valance, and pillow shams for my lake house, a couple of  cute things for my house and a very adorable hand carved Folk Art Noah and his Ark.

But sadly, I found no Santas to add to my collection.

Oh, I saw a lot of Santas, but I don’t collect EVERY Santa, which is why I think this is a great topic of my blog.

I went out to my studio and took some quick photos of a few Santas who are looking for a new home.


These were not gifts, I actually bought these, but as my collections change, I trade out.

Collectors can be very discriminating with their taste in their chosen passion. Now, just because I am not artist specific, and collect a variety of styles, this doesn’t mean I prefer just any Santa. So, it is always best, that if someone wants to give me a Santa as a gift, it should really fall into the various styles I collect.  I only have so much room!

Unfortunately, this has rarely happened and I discourage people from giving me a Santa as a gift unless they are observant enough to figure out what Santas I do collect versus those I do not.  What makes me really sad is that my husband and two sons haven’t a clue as to what kind of Santa to buy me even though a portion of my collection surrounds them in our dining room year round.

·      I do not collect dollar, chain craft store, discount super center, or big box store Santas.  

·      I do not collect ceramic Santas, but I do have a few vintage pieces or ones that I painted.  

·      I do not collect other artist’s gourds or cypress knee Santas but I have picked up a couple of small ones. 

·      I do not collect Santa dolls, but I have a few that are mostly vintage (50’s 60’s) rubber faced dolls.

·      I do not collect soft plastic or flocked Santas, but I do collect vintage (50’s to 60’s) hard plastic and celluloid Santas and reindeer.

I prefer name brand Santas (yes, I’m being snobbish) like the House of Hatten and artist’s originals when I can afford them, quality artist’s reproductions (also when I can afford them), and just about any hand-carved Santa.

I just can’t figure out why anyone who has been in my home and, even if they saw only a portion of my collection of which I probably have about a thousand, could not discern the quality of the pieces I do have. I compare it to someone who decorates their entire home in Stickley, and Arts and Crafts style furniture and someone gives them a Queen Anne piece. Hmmmm.

But let me say this…

I am so overwhelmed with joy when someone gives me a gift that says, “I get you, Geri.”  But I really believe that quality time spent with family and friends is truly a precious and graciously received gift.

And I’ve always got room for that!

31 DAYS of SANTA CLAUS Day 8 Sad Day for One Anthony Costanza Santa

I did an update on my post (Day 3) when an Anthony Costanza Santa that I won on eBay arrived in the mail broken.

I was so excited about receiving this Santa. He was about two inches taller than the tallest on I have already. Most of my Costanzas are about ten inches or less. 

But today, I had to take him to the post office to file a claim. They had to keep him and told me he would be tossed in the trash once the claim and been accepted. This made me terribly sad. I doubt I will ever find this exact one from the same "generation" as the other pieces in my collection that is actually signed by the artist, nor will I be able to find one at that price.

Perhaps the Lord did no mean for me to have him.

Yet still, I have been searching eBay for Costanzas that I can afford and I found this one. 

He was manufactured by Enesco, but I think he will go well with my other Costanza Ded Moroz by Enesco.

The Costanzas I purchased in the 90's (Silvestri) have a different face and artistic style. This one is very similar, but if you compare the other faces, I think you'll notice the difference.

I almost always paint my Santas with blue eyes. Most of the Costanza Santas I have collected have brown eyes, with the exception of Ded Moroz.

This next Costanza Santa in the chimney is from around the same time frame as my original collection and was a product of Silvestri as well.

As you can see, he is also signed by the artist and he will look great with my other traditional Santa by Costanza.

I am still waiting for these to arrive in the mail. Lets hope they make it intact.

I just love the way Anthony Costanza carves his Santa's faces!

And then there is this guy. He's only about 6.5" tall. At first the seller was asking a lot for the opening bid. The seller claimed it was wood, but I sent them a message to explain that since it is marked Silvestri on the bottom, and numbered, then this piece is actually made of resin. 

I also asked them (since the auction ended without a bid) if they would please re-list this Santa with an option to make an offer. They did, and when I made a very reasonable offer, they accepted. So, as of now, I am still expecting him to come in the mail.

All photos from this blog were pulled from their original eBay posts. Once I get all my Santas in, I will add them to my collection for a wonderful group photo to share with you.

I did not get to craft any of my own Santas today because I was substitute teaching art for grades Kindergarten through fifth. Teachers who work multiple grades every day must feel as though they have a split personality due to the way they must adjust their teaching and classroom management skills to every level.

But I just loved meeting all the new Kindergarten students and seeing how much my other students have grown and changed over the summer. The best part of being a substitute is that I get to "spoil" the students, like a grandmother, then give them back.

31 DAYS of SANTA CLAUS Day 5 Ded Moroz

I had to work at the lake house today so I wasn't able to craft any Santas. Instead, I unpacked some glasses and dishes to put in our new kitchen cabinets.

So, today I want to tell you about my Russian Santas. Actually, the Russian "Santa" is named Ded Moroz which translated to "Old Man Frost" or "Father Frost". He is similar to Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas in that he brings gifts, but where Santa likes to sneak in the house, Ded Moroz prefers making a grand appearance in his lavishly decorated coat and thick round hat to hand out his gifts in person.

But did you know that where St. Nicholas got his claim to fame for his generosity, Ded Moroz (who is no Saint) is the descendant of and evil character named Morozka who froze parents and stole their children? Then the parents had to give HIM gifts. That sounds like a pretty good arrangement to me. The parents get a few days away from the kids, they get to shopping together, then go pick up their kids. I don't see a problem with that.

Anyway, now that Ded Moroz has cleaned up his act, he brings his own granddaughter, Snegurochka also known as The Snow Maiden along, perhaps to improve his once dark image. She is always dressed in white and wears a decorative crown. Even though Disney's "Frozen" featured a similar version of The Snow Maiden, poor Snequrochka has a cold heart that only true love can melt, but her version of the story does not always have a happy ending.

Now, why did I decide to collect Ded Moroz when he really isn't Santa?

Well, I first saw him in a magazine, and I just loved his face and his beautiful coat. Each Ded Moroz is hand carved and painted by skilled craftsman in Russia instead of being mass produced in China.  Now, to be fair, some of the smaller ones are reproduced, much like the nesting dolls, but many are one of kind and come with quite an impressive price tag.

These works of art inspired my Santa Claus gourds in that I wanted to find a way to add more dimension to my gourds and that I wanted to incorporate more detail and designs into their coat.

Here are some of my Santas from last year's Holiday Arts Tour juried show in Ruston, LA. My Santa gourds have a variety of expressions, but most are happy. My techniques with combining paint and colored pencil, papier mache' fur, and heavily textured and carved beards add dimension to my copyrighted gourds.

This is my first Ded Moroz. He is only about 5" and I found him on eBay for next to nothing. I've had him for many years, and for many years he's been alone, until if found him a girlfriend. It wasn't Snegurochka, but someone more colorful. Right now she's hanging out with some angels on my staircase wall.

My collection is small, and I mean that in number and size, but I was fortunate to find a larger one (10") at an estate sale for $4.

Say it with me now, "If the Lord meant for me to have it, I would find it at an estate sale." He is missing his magic staff, but I'll whittle him one out once I get some of my other projects under control.

So, This inspired me to look for more good deals and even though I could not beat $4, I found some more smaller ones that usually run around $30 each and I was able win them all on eBay for what one would have cost.




















I was able to find some that represented different styles and the work of different artist. You sure don't see many Ded Moroz playing the accordion.

So, there they are, and for now, I will probably just keep this collection small. Unless...I find some at a garage sale!