Are We Walking to Alaska

Are We Walking to Alaska
Are We Walking to Alaska - A True Story

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Here Comes Santa Claus!



I love Santa Claus - one of the best things about christmas - and there are lots of great things about christmas.  I'm not sure how my Santa collection got started - but it certainly has grown.  Today I was wandering about the house taking pictures of not just my Santa collection on the piano - but other Santas that we have too - and it was amazing how many there are.


Most of the Santas are on the tops of my 1898 Piano - they are perfect there.  Before we got the piano the Santas were on windowsills and where ever I could find space for them











There is no method to my collecting - if I like a Santa it usually comes home with me.  Many have been lovely gifts too.  Most are from thrift stores and yard sales


I like the tin rolly polly Santa a lot






Big and little Santas






A Russian Santa


He's making a list - he's checking it twice


And drinking cocoa.


This is my newest Santa - Don brought him home one day last week.


And we mustn't forget Santa Paddington


This Santa was a gift from one of my favorite blogging friends


He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake



This Santa is a little tippy and made of ceramic - so he sits here on the side of the piano - propped up so he doesn't fall over


I cut out and painted the wooden Santa with the bundle of sticks on his back -many,many years ago







Santas on the piano - sometimes at  night I hear them singing christmas carols

And then there are many Santas who are not on the piano - this old fashioned rocking Santa toy was a gift from my dear cousin Linda, in Oregon.  We are like little kids - we make Santa rock and sit and watch him with big grins on our faces.


And Santa teapots - tea for one with the rolly polly Santa


Tea for one - another Santa
I'm a little teapot short and stout - here is my handle - here is my spout.


A fabulously elegant Santa teapot - a gift from Don



Ho Ho Ho! Mary Englebreit Christmas to all!


We have Santa Ted - a cookie jar from when the kids were growing up.


And this Santa Reindeer will wish our neighbors Happy Holidays - he's just waiting to go out to the end of the deck and greet friends and family.


And here we have Sandra Claus (really it is Elmo - but he likes the hat with braids the best)  As you see, he's been to the nearby San Juan Islands for a ferry ride.


Grampa Bear Santa and his pet reindeer


Two little Santa door hangers - they came home with us from West Virginia when we went out there 8 years ago for Rusty and Jamie's wedding.  It was the first time I'd seen a Dollar Store.




Peace Sign Santa Salt and Pepper Shakers


Mr. And Mrs Santa Salt and Pepper Shakers - we've had these almost 50 years.




More Peace Sign Santas - I just can't resist them - they sit in the china cabinets at christmas time.



A pair of Santa Teddies on a music box


One of our favorite Santas - he is filled with Chex Party Mix - our son made this in second grade.  The teacher got those candle jars - the kind that used to be on every cafe table in the 70s - cleaned them up - and the kids  made Santa hats from felt, glued on cotton balls for beards and made the faces from googly eyes and felt features.  One day it will go to Rusty's house - but not just yet.


Even our bathrooms get to have Santas - these were all from the same thrift shop a few years ago




Happy Santas - one and all.

Do you have a collection?

I know here are more Santas - especially ornaments for the tree - but we don't have the tree decorated yet.


18 comments:

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Girl, you have quite the collection! So many fun Santas.

xo

Sheila

greenthumb said...

That is a lot of Santa's they are great, but take you along time to clean them all.

Lynn said...

I once collected Santas, then gave them all away, I restarted a decade ago and collect cloth and wood ones now I am super impressed with your collection!!!!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

What an eclectic collection! They're all lovely!

Pondside said...

What a wonderful mantle-full of Santas! I like the rocking Santa, the Russian Santa and the one with a list best of all.

Lori E said...

As a fellow Santa Collector I loved this post. I have painted the same Santa as yours with the green checked jacket, holding the bird house. Mine held a sign that said "send help".
The rocking Santa is a real gem.

joy said...

Wow, so many santas! Your piano looks really interesting too, any chance of a full shot of it sometime?
Joy x x

Peggy said...

Wow, what a great collection! We have nativities (now about 45 or so of them altogether, too many to put them all out this year) and nutcrackers, which are a fairly recent collection of Grizz's so not quite so large, but it'll grow!

Lorrie said...

That's a fun and extensive collection of Santas. I like the Russian one. I have a very small collection of angels - I'm not actively collecting, but it just happened.

J said...

I loved seeing your collection. A few others mentioned the Russian Santa as their favorite. He's mine too!
I have about a dozen Santa figures. They do seem to grow by magic! One of my favorites is actually from Alaska! My daughter and her husband cruised there and brought him back for me. He's a touristy gift shop little guy, but I love him anyway!

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

What a wonderful collection, JoAnn! I love them all, but I love the Santa hugging the reindeer the best! He has that jolly, vintage syle. Hugs xo Karen

Candy S said...

JoAnn, Love, Love, Love all of your Santa's! The Russian Santa has my heart, I love his crown (my DIL is Russian orthodox, she would really love him too). They really are all very precious. You have done a wonderful job of displaying this marvelous holly jolly collection. Kudos!

Candy

The Weaver of Grass said...

These santas are lovely JoAnn. Once folk know that you collect something they look for things don't they? I collect hares - they are my favourite animal.

Wildflowerhouse said...

JoAnn I think you should start a museum! I too collect Santas but have no where near that many. I also love teddy bears but had to stop collecting them when my son found out that I was willing them to him. LOL Hope your holidays are wonderful. It is 18 degrees here this morning and can only imagine how cold it is where you are.

Kay said...

I add my applause for the Russian Santa...and I also like the Santa with cocoa, the reindeer hugger, and your rocking Santa. An amazing collection, all! I have a small collection of bears - not just any old teddies. Most of them are fairly distinctive.

eileeninmd said...

Wow, you have a wonderful collection of Santas. I have some Santa Ornaments for my tree, that I love. Beautiful display, thanks for sharing! Happy Sunday!

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Hi JoAnn, you really have a great collection of Santas. I thought I had alot but I think you've got me beat. Love them all. I ordered a pattern for one very similar to the cloth one a friend gave you, but I don't think I 'll get it made for this year. My computer is messed up, someone coming tomorrow to look at it, but can't get into my gmail account so am thanking you for your sweet words to me here. Yes, we still have snow on the ground, it is too cold for it to melt even though the sun has been out for a few days. Very unusual..Happy Tuesday..Judy

Debra at HOMESPUN: http://www.thehomespun.com said...

LOL you were not kidding when you said that you had a lot of Santas! :) This was fun to see. Let's see, were all of these Santas in a store, and I was shopping, I think I'd want the roly poly tin one the most. He's my favorite! And if one was full price and the other 1/2 off, then I'd get that Russian one next.