If you know me then you know I love folk art. When we lived in Stow, OH, there was an art gallery that sponsored Charles Wysocki every year. We stood in line one year to have him sign the print we bought, our first, but it was such an ordeal! After 3 hours in line, a little girl waiting with her mother and grandmother accidentally knocked over an original oil that Wysocki had for sale. Mr. Wysocki was so upset by this that he ended the signing and walked away. We were only one person away from meeting him and we were both so disappointed. He ended up signing all of the prints that had been purchased but in private. After that we would buy the print and have him sign them without standing in line. Our house is loaded with Uncle Sam figures, stars and American flags in every medium including our area rugs. Like I said, I love folk art.
December brings our first Christmas in the new house in Denver. We decorated like mad for a week but I knew right away that the Santa Folk Doll would be in the Niche place of honor. I made this doll two Christmas' ago and is another Leslie Molen design. Go to the link to read the story behind the design. I used a French General solid fabric for the hands and head and I went through my stash of scrap fabric including quilting cottons, silk and rayon velvet, satin and upholstery fabric for the patchwork squares. The beard and eyes are hand embroidered as well as his mitten hands, sleeves, some of the squares and the flowers on the front of the doll body. The flowers are hand appliquéd with the same silk velvet that is in the coat and hat. The doll was a challenge but oh so worth it!
Three doll friends in Ohio are making this doll as a group project this year. Carolyn, Teresa and Paloma, how are your Santa Fold Dolls coming along?
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!
