Heidi Sonboul WINTER DIY Challenge: Upcycling a Vintage Timeless Collectible Santa Claus Figure

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 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!