Thursday, December 20, 2012

I Love Santa! Yes I Do!

I do know that 
Jesus is the Reason
for the Season...so
don't be hate mailing me
that I also love Santa.
I believed in Santa until
I was 12.  Actually, I 
STILL  BELIEVE  IN SANTA.

I have collected them
for about 40 years.
This year I gave a large 
portion of my Santa collection
to my kids.
However, I kept a few of
my favorites.
This is one of my
VERY FAVORITES.
A sugared Santa..
that hangs at the bottom
of my plate display piece
by my kitchen sink.
Yeah- Yeah-Yeah-
I know- poor lighting...sorry...
Is he cute, or what?
Then, I have this Santa..
a Fitz & Floyd set
with reindeer candle holder.
You can see the children's 
The Christmas story propped up
waiting for little CJK.
I got one for each family.
My daughter, Mimi, cross-stitched
this for me when she was in college.

When my kids were little
screaming monsters
I used to do some folk art painting
to "escape".  
I sold a ton of these at craft fairs
over the years.
These were done on SLATES!
I take my big chalk board down
and replace it with these
on one of our kitchen walls.
I have actually been thinking
about taking up painting again....
I think I would like to use
a live model this time.

Oh-Sorry- Must go-
My doorbell is 
ringing and my Santa model
is here.
Hope YOU have a happy day, too!
your photo name

54 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love your Santas. You are a very talented artist. Your daughter's cross stitch is amazing; I did a lot of cross stitch when I was young and I know the time she devoted. Now, about that model.....

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Diana,
Hee hee, you naughty girl. Now we have learned another wonderful thing about you and that is you are an artist, well I've always known you were an artist but now we know you are a painter. Nice subject too. Maybe I'll take it up...just sayin!!

hugs
Sissie

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

I love the Santa with animals :-)

Kay G. said...

Diana!
I also love SAnta! (Shh..don't tell too many people, they will look at us funny.)
LOVE your sugared Santa! And your last Santa...HA HA!
When I do my unopened letter to Santa post (about the letter that C. wrote 15 years ago), I was going to write of my love for Santa Claus! Look out for it!
I LOVE LOVE your Santa artwork, you are an ARTIST! So happy to know that!

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Ha! Very funny! I like your collection very much. I've collected Santa's for years as well and even painted one myself. Your artwork is wonderful, you really should take it up again!

Sweet Posy Dreams said...

Wonderful Santas. And your paintings, as everyone is saying, are fantastic! I would love to have artistic talent, but I'm afraid it bypassed me. I console myself with admiring others' efforts, and yours are charming.

Maria Elena said...

Beautiful collection, Diana! Your paintings are beautiful! You are very talented!

Susie said...

Diana, Now are you being naughty??Girl you know Christmas is just around the corner.Would your model be called Christmas eye candy? I have to tell you, I love the Santas. xo,Susie

Shirley said...

Hi Diana, I am home today because of the weather. It is snowing and blowing snow so many accidents. You can barely make out the street light outside my window and I haven't heard a vehicle go by the house. I have just heard the wind howling. I love the santas and Your last picture made me chuckle. How will I spend part of my day? Catching up with friends and wishing them Merry Christmas. Hugs and Prayers Your Missouri Friend.

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Ha!! You always make me smile Diana! Your Santa paintings are beautiful!! You should still be selling them!

Beth said...

I love Santa too and he is welcome to ring my doorbell anytime. :-)

Something Nice and Pretty said...

Oh, you make me smile and laugh Diana! I'd love to see my husbands face if he knocked on my door.lol
I love Santa too, he does more then deliver toys, he puts magic in the air:)
I love your Santa's, I to collected them right, now they are all in a box just don't want to put them away after Christmas, tried to do the decorating a little simpler this year:)
Have a wonderful Christmas!

Anne said...

Well you are a very good artist! Those paintings are beautiful! My daughter is 13 and found out about santa just before her 12th birthday.Yes be believe in santa.But just like you we know that Jesus is the reason for the season.And my daughter always got that when we were celebrating Christmas.
xx
Anne

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Diana,
Love your Santa collection and the folk art you painted. You are one talented lady. I can so relate to the folk art my friend doing many an art show over the years. I miss those days in a way, but not the overwhelming work!!!

I love Santa's too and have a growing collection. I did not bring them all out this year. I guess some wanted to sleep through till next year.
Hey, I still hear your doorbell, you better go answer. LOL
You are too cute my friend.
Hugs, CM

Cranberry Morning said...

Yeah, right! Enjoy your painting. lol

Julie Marie said...

OOOH Diana... you are incorrigible my friend!... does your Santa model have a brother by any chance?... he's pretty easy on the eyes you know... love all of your other Santas too... and girl, you are a fabulous painter!!!... those folk art Santas are adorable, no wonder you sold so many!!!... thanks for making me smile this morning!... LOVE that Fitz and Floyd especially... love everything they do... I still believe in Santa too, always will... sooo...why is Santa ringing the doorbell though... why can't he just shimmy down the chimney???... xoxo... Julie Marie

Anonymous said...

beautiful santas, you are so bad lol,!!!!

miss flibbertigibbet said...

It is so nice to see your art! I never decorated much with Santa until my kids were bigger....I so wanted them to keep the right focus! But, I have some vintage Santa stuff that I really love and I usually have it out....not this year, just too busy to get anything else from the attic! But the whole Santa thing is SUCH fun! I love the Santa Clause movie bc it really explains so many questions kids have! I wish it had been out when my kids were small! LOL

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Love your Santa's, Diana! I'm more of a snowman girl myself, but I can't think the live model is as nice as yours. ; )

Ron said...

Diana, I love the sugared Santa. My mom has the same one, and I hope one day it becomes mine. As far as that model goes, heeeeeeeeeeeeey!!!! LOL! xo

Daniela @Frugal Aint Cheap said...

...you must be busy now...;)

Little Miss Maggie said...

Diana, you SHOULD take up painting again. You are very talented. I still believe in Santa too.

Unknown said...

You know Diana I think of the one you gave me every single Xmas-even though I don't have it anymore (got molded in the storage unit)I always smile about it.
You should paint again, you are so good at it and if you need help interviewing those male models just give me a call-LOL

Ruth Kelly said...

Your santa holding a little deer looks a little sad in his eyes yet he smiling.

Jettie said...

I think you should paint one of those and send it to me....
I still believe in santa, ;) if that is all it takes.

sweetvintageofmine said...

Your SANTA collection is handsome....I mean adorable. You are one talented painting artist...beautiful work! Now the next question, where do you HIDE (I mean store) your SANTAs? Merry Christmas Diana! from one sweetie to another~~~Roxie

Donna said...

Yes, you should start painting again, Diana! Your work on the slates is just beautiful! And when you are done with your santa model, send him this way, will you?

This N That said...

In your dreams!!! Merry Christmas

Patty Patterson said...

I love Santa, too! I guess it's that dysfunctional family thing. You know.... where you're a kid and all you get is one hug a year from a department store Santa Claus. That sticks with you to the point that you can't let it go. Santa was the only love I had until I found Jesus! And Jesus definitely tops Santa. He's 24/7 for 365 days a year! :-) That's impossible to beat!

Unknown said...

Got to love Santa!!

Red Rose Alley said...

I love all your Santas, Diana. The second one that you showed is my favorite. He's so jolly, and his red and white suit is so unique. I collect Santas too. Hope your day is merry and bright.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

SImple and Serene Living said...

Wait a minute. Are you implying that Santa isn't real? Is that why he has failed to visit me for.....a while. I thought maybe it was my bad behavior.
Hmmmmmm, maybe I don't have to be good after all :)

Love your paintings.

Hugs,
Laura

SImple and Serene Living said...

P.S. Thanks so much for the lovely comment you left on my blog today. I was trying to respond when Yahoo wiped it all away.

Hugs,
Laura

NanaNor's said...

Girl, You crack me up-glad you are back to making us all laugh!!!! I too love collecting Santas because if you trace back the origin, you realize that St. Nick gave to others in worship of the Lord. I love your paintings-you are very talented! I think you should continue painting.
Thanks for sharing my friend.
Hugs, Noreen

Diana LaMarre said...

Ah, I see why you still believe in Santa. :)

Lucille said...

You naughty girl, Diana! Hope you enjoyed your art class. I just like Santa as a memory. I think it's this memory that I have of how it felt like to believe in him. There was a certain touch of magic involved. It was a little like being part of a beautiful fairy tale.

Emily {Isnt That Charming} said...

You painted those Santas?! They are lovely. Well done!
Isn’t That Charming.

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Yes, You should take up painting again! You are sooo talented, I hate to see it go to waste. I Love the last Santa the best!

Carol

Ricki Treleaven said...

ROTFLOL I was going to say that Jesus probably likes the patron saint of children, too, but then I saw the last Santa on your post.....send him my way when you're done! ;P

Dewena said...

The Santas are so pretty! And I love your post from yesterday. All are an important part of my Christmas. And that lithograph of your father's is a real treasure. Beautiful!

Jane, Naples, Florida said...

What fun you make Christmas! I love your paintings! You could illustrate that book you are going to write someday!

Jane
Flora Doora

Shannon Fox said...

hahahahaha!

I love Santa too. But for some reason.. I always buy snowmen?

Bonnie@Creative Decorating said...

I'd take up painting if I could paint him or the one that Gloria had over to the house!

Love your Santas! I also love the view out the kitchen window!

Did you get the snow they were predicting???

Leena Milligan Lanteigne said...

Diana, your paintings are beautiful! You have so much talent! I love them and I love Santa too! It's like there's two Christmases - the traditional one marking Jesus' birth and the more modern-day not so religious one with Santa Claus. I enjoy both but the "real" reason touches my heart and soul the most! Hugs, Leena

Nellie said...

Oh, Diana! You are just TOO MUCH! However, it is easy to see why you still like Santa.:-) xo Nellie

Anonymous said...

LOL! You little silly! Make sure you show us your next Santa painting since you have your live model! ;)
Now I love your Santies too! You're a great painter and I think you should pick up that brush again!
Merry Christmas, Dear One,
Shelia ;)

Blessed Serendipity said...

You have some nice Santas Diana. I can't wait to see your newest painting once you finish THAT one ;)

xo
Danielle

Leslie said...

Hi Diana!

Your Santa's are darling and I too have a little collection;)

Believing.. I always think of the Polar Express and THE BELL!! Do you still hear it? :) I do!!

xxleslie

Bella's Rose Cottage said...

Hi Diana,
Well you gotta believe in Santa, he has the goodies:-) I love your paintings, a great job, you have got to do some more of that!!
Merry Christmas:-)
Hugs,
Bella

Musings from Kim K. said...

My comment makes number 50!! Your Santa collection is fantastic and I especially love your paintings.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Oh my! I was going to go on and on about what a talented artist you are and how you should definitely start painting again...but then you went off in another direction! heeheehee! LOVE your Folk Art paintings though! WOW! You are GOOD!

Karen said...

Your decorations are just gorgeous. A happy December birthday to you. ...You realize that our Dec birthdays are shorter than those folks born in midsummer:)

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

I love Santa too. I still Believe! When we moved I accidently left my container of Santas at my other home. Youngest son bought it and asked if he could put them out at Christmas. I had so much that I said, sure! Asked again this year if I wanted them back. Didn't have the heart. I just go to their house to visit my jolly old elves. Love your Santa model! Does he travel to Utah?
Hugs,
Jann

Annesphamily said...

I love Santa too! But your art pieces are so wonderful. I would love to have those! Sigh! SO sweet! Happy New Year to you and yours friend!