CJToo's Santa Collection

Hi everyone....I know I've been MIA and most of my usual visitors and followers know that I am taking some time to get ready for my big Christmas Craft Show coming up the first Friday and Saturday in December in Brenham, Texas.  I am coordinating the show from start to finish and also getting some items to sell in my booth.  As of today I have 34 vendors lined up to participate.  It's a huge undertaking but I have a wonderful supportive team.  I will post some pictures soon so you can see the other crafty side of CJToo....LOL. 

Anyhoo's I ran across a picture of my Santa Collection that I took in 2006.  I haven't even started putting out my Christmas decorations this year. ÜÜÜ

Thanks for letting me share it with you. 

Here is my story of how I began collecting Santas...

I get asked this question all of the time - how did you begin collecting Santa's?

 In 1992, I received a Santa in a gift exchange at work. It was a cutsie Santa with the most darling smile. During a shopping trip I found another Santa and said "oh, that's cute too" and it evolved from there. Each year I added another Santa to my collection; sometimes two or three. Family and friends were intrigued by my Santa collection and would find me unique Santa's to add to it. I'd receive them as gifts for Christmas or just a "I saw this and thought about you" gesture. Over the past 17 years my collection has grown quite a bit; to over 300 Santa's. I do have my favorites and they are unique and one of a kind. Most are prim country but I also have some fun and funky Santa's, sporty, old world, cutsie and all simply bring a smile to my face. I do have these Santa's that are about an inch tall and I call them my "tumbling Santa's"; there is 4 in the set, one is doing a cartwheel, another a flip, one fell on his tushy, and one is doing a hand stand. They are tiny but a big favorite of mine.

 Another is my Speeding Santa. Santa is speeding on his sleigh and has been stopped by the police on a motorcycle. The headlights on the motorcycle blink just like a real motorcycle cop. Rudolph is hiding his face is shame. It is hilarious.

My "shot shell" santa is a favorite also made from an old shot shell.  Also, my niece gave me this ornament of Santa kneeling down before baby Jesus and it just gives me goose bumps when I think of it.  Jesus is definitely the reason for the season and I try hard not to forget that. 

Every other year or so my in-laws get together to do a Holiday Home Tour. This is where we all get together on on Saturday afternoon start at one home, ohhh and ahhhh over their decorations and then move onto the next. We spend about 30-45 minutes at each home mingling, looking at their individual decorations, have some snacks and spread the joy of the season. Each one of us has our own taste in decorating and mine is definitely of the prim country nature. Friends and family love to look at my collection. One of my sister in laws always tell me that she feels like she is browsing a store and wants to pick one up to look for the price tag. The men enjoy it just as much as us ladies do; of course they will NEVER admit it though.  It's fun! Ü  I am very blessed to have a wonderful family and in-law family. 

I hope you enjoying looking at my Santa collection just as much as I do.

These pictures were taken in 2006 and needless to say my collection has grown more.  It takes about 1/2 day to put out my collection and not sure if I am up to that this year but you never know.

Happy Holidays,

CJToo ~ Tracy