I can remember my Mother telling me that, as I'm sure most of you can too. We all know Santa as the familiar image with his red suit, sled or sleigh, reindeers, and sacks of toys delivering packages to
"all the good girls and boys!" I love the Christmas season and I always have. It is by far one of my favorite times of the year.
The familiar image of Santa Claus is an American invention that first appeared in a drawing by Thomas Nast in Harper's Magazine in 1868 (see picture on the right).Thomas Nast helped create the kinder, more fatherly, plumper Santa as we know him today. But, Thomas Nast wasn't the only person to contribute to this legend. Clement Clarke Moore was a huge contributor as in 1822 he published his poem "A visit From St. Nicholas," better known as "The Night Before Christmas." His poem is the first mention of a sleigh powered by "eight tiny reindeer" and mentioning their names.
When the name Santa is mentioned everyone thinks of the traditional image. However, that doesn't mean Santa couldn't be a little unconventional - like a primitive make-do Santa. I hope you like my primitive Santa make-do's.
A Little Bit Of Country, Santa
"A Little Bit Of Country, Santa" is one of the new members of the "Santa Make-Do's" series of cloth and wood make-do's. He's "A Little Bit Country" while "A Little Bit Primitive, Santa" is - well, "a little bit primitive."
They are a fun loving group of Santa make-do's that just love to decorate the homes of primitive and country lovers alike during the holiday season.
"A Little Bit Country, Santa" is a 7" self-standing country Santa. He has a muslin cloth head and wooden candle stick body. His face is embroidered and his nose is embroidered with a burgundy satin stitch. His eyebrows are embroidered as are his eyelashes and mouth. Santa has a string yarn mustache and stringy beard. He has a dark print Santa cap with fringed bow decoration and a green painted wood candle base decorated with a fringed bow.
"A Little Bit Of Country, Santa" is looking forward to the upcoming holiday season.
A Little Bit Of Primitive, Santa
"A Little Bit Of Primitive, Santa" is another one of the new members of the "Santa Make-Do's" series of cloth and wood make-do's. He's "A Little Bit Primitive" while his buddy is "A Little Bit Country."
They are a fun loving group of Santa make-do's that just love to decorate the homes of primitive and country lovers alike during the holiday season.
"A Little Bit Primitive, Santa" is a 7" self-standing primitive Santa. He has a muslin cloth head and wooden candle stick body. His face is embroidered and his nose is embroidered with a burgundy zig-zag stitch. He has two button eyes and his eyebrows and eyelashes are embroidered, as is his mouth. Santa has a thick mohair yarn mustache and beard. He has a dark print Santa cap with gold bell decoration and a green painted wood candle base decorated with a round grapevine wreath which is decorated with gold bells and fringed bows.
"A Little Bit Of Primitive, Santa" is looking forward to the upcoming holiday season.
Santa Me
I just love to experiment. Especially with wood and cloth. So, I decided to see what I could do with a bunch of wood finials that I had.
If you don't know what a "finial" is it is an ornament at the top of a piece of furniture. Like a curtain rod or lamp, etc.
I decided that the "finial" I had would make a great body for a primitive Santa make-do. So, "Santa Me" was created.
"Santa Me" is an 8" a primitive Santa make-do with a stand alone wood body and cloth head. His face is embroidered and his cheeks are blushed. He has thick mohair yarn for his loopy beard and mustache. His straight hair made of thick mohair yarn sticks out from the top and side of his head in three spots. The back of his head is totally bald.
"Santa Me's" finial wood body is painted antique maroon and he has a painted black and gold belt and black dash highlights.
"Santa Me" loves being different and loves being the first in a new series. He's adventuresome and loves to be bold and daring. Best of all he loves being unique. As a wooden Santa finial - he sure is.