Description
A Very Special Santa — Handmade by Delois
This extraordinary Santa comes to us from the personal collection of our beloved village member Delois, whose family has so generously entrusted us with many of the beautiful things she created, collected and loved. We will be offering this remarkable piece in a special raffle to benefit Dog Ranch Rescue.
But there is something especially important about this Santa that makes him unlike anything you could simply purchase in a store:
The clothing and accessories you see were handmade by Delois herself. Even more special, many of the fabrics she used came from pieces of her very own clothing.
Knowing that makes all of these wonderful little details take on an entirely different meaning.
Santa sits nestled into a wonderful old-fashioned red metal sleigh with a woven basket-style body, surrounded by an incredible assortment of textiles, animals, toys and tiny Christmas treasures.
His wonderfully expressive face is framed by a huge, soft, curly white beard and mustache. Rather than a traditional red Santa hat, he wears an elaborate hand-knit, folk-art style stocking cap, covered in patterns, colors and embellishments and topped with a tiny knitted bird.
His clothing is truly a work of art. Layers of richly textured fabrics in muted reds, rust, cream and plaid have been combined with knits, decorative stitching, lace, patches and handmade embellishments. These aren’t simply fabrics chosen to make a costume. Many came directly from Delois’s own wardrobe and were given another life through her creativity.
Look closely and you begin to appreciate just how much work went into him. Delois mixed different fabrics, textures, trims, yarns, crocheted pieces, tassels and decorative elements to create something wonderfully whimsical and completely unique.
And then, of course, there are the dogs.
Cradled in Santa’s arms is an adorable black-and-tan furry dog, while another little cream-colored dog rides at the front of the sleigh bundled snugly in its own striped knitted sweater and red-and-white winter hat. Another little black-and-white dog peeks out from behind Santa’s enormous red knitted sack.
And the closer you look, the more you find.
Behind Santa is an entire miniature Christmas world. There’s a tiny red sled filled with presents, a little Christmas tree, an elf and a Santa-hatted dog. You’ll also discover a miniature nutcracker, colorful packages, festive cords and ribbons, a red lantern and other tiny treasures tucked throughout the sleigh.
Everywhere you look there is evidence of Delois’s creativity—chunky knits, crocheted flowers, woven fibers, tassels, lace, embroidery, patterned fabrics, jewelry-like embellishments and pieces of clothing transformed into something entirely new.
Even Santa’s extraordinary hat deserves a second look, with its knitted patterns, tassels, tiny bird and beautiful jewel-like ornaments dangling from the side.
This isn’t simply Christmas décor.
It is a piece of Delois.
Her hands created these clothes and accessories. Her imagination decided which fabrics belonged together. Some of the material quite literally came from clothing she once wore. She took pieces of her own life and turned them into something whimsical, beautiful and joyful.
That is what makes this Santa so incredibly special to us.
Delois’s family chose to share these treasures with Dog Ranch Rescue so that something she loved and created during her lifetime could continue doing good for the dogs she cared so deeply about.
The person who wins this Santa won’t simply be taking home a beautiful Christmas decoration. You will be entrusted with a one-of-a-kind piece of folk art created by Delois, containing pieces of her own history and shared with the Village in her memory.
And at the same time, something created by her hands will continue helping save dogs.
One very special Santa. Handmade pieces of Delois’s life. And a beautiful way for her creativity and generosity to live on.
