Getting 2018 Behind Us!

Had a couple of Santas to do by Christmas and they all did get finished!  One of them was a Buffalo Bills santa and we had FUN w him. 

Well, first of all, I have never made a Santa SWEATSHIRT before, but he came out lovely!  This special delivery want something that was also funky and a little Florida-y!  How about some shorts!

Knobby knees and all.  A little fabric sculpting on the legs.      Don’t forget Santa’s cookie-filled tummy!  Oh, yeah!   there are a BUNCH of cookies in there!  He is also wearing crocks….out of frame.    And for funky, well this slouch hat is FUNKY!Oh and there are those crocs, too.  He came out all Florida Funk!     NEXT>>>>>>>>>>

 

Next Santa was for a fellow that graduated from Clemson University, so…. Team colors are very tricky — the have to be the RIGHT blue and orange.   He is how he turned out!

And this, by the way was the BEST MUSTACHE I ever did!

This All Started With…..

Occasionally some tiny thing will get me going on a santa.  I am showing you this picture and it’s was a belt or a necklace or a ?  But when I saw it…..

All I could see was buckles on santa boots!  Well  from there it was off to the reindeer races for me.   This is how they turned out and, oh!  They were buckles all along!!!

Once these were accomplished the rest just flew into place, well w a little help from my sewing machine, glue gun and lots of extra ingredients. (I have mentioned before that I LOVE gathering up extra ingredients, haven’t I?)   One of these ingredients is a metal kids toy from probably the 50s and since it was RED, all I could see was santa going out to chop down his own tree for him and Mrs. Claus.  While he was there there was grapevine to pull and make into wreaths and a little birdy that decided she wanted to go home w santa — and who wouldn’t?!

His little ax is made from clay and painted.  His hat has earflaps in case it gets REALLY cold and windy.  He doesn’t go anywhere without his toy bag !

 

Sometimes the beard and mustache go on just perfectly.  This one did!

This guy is cute as a button!   On to the next ones!!

Well, He is Dressed and Ready to Leave….

Well,  after I did a nice rolled hem on his silk shift, he was  nearly complete.

Now fill the toy bag and add all the goodies that Santa will be bringing! This santa has a cute little ramp walker from the pole!!  It was a toy from her childhood.  What could be better than that!? Did I mention decorate the tree?  Oh, and on his back he has a bag of switches just in case there are bad girls and boys!

 

Add moss and cones, acorns and pods….  and I am calling him done!  Thanks Melody for letting me share in your Christmas memories!

 

Just a little of this and a little of that….

I take so much care doing their hair and beards and mustaches but it makes all the difference in their looks to me. The mohair that I get from a goat farm here in the US is just beautiful to look at and to feel.  This hat is coming down so far an his head, that you need long hair so that some will show under his hat.

That just looks PERFECT to me.

Just in case you are wondering,  this santa now has a ‘bib’ so no glue will get on his clothes!

I put the volume of the beard on and then I attach little ringlets of curls to the top.

After the beard, I fill in any open spaces on the sides and add a mustache!  I think he is a cutie for sure now!

Today I  did attach and begin to decorate santa’s tree.  Tomorrow the hands go on.  The toy bag gets stuffed!  The switchbag  gets filled w switches and all the pods, cones, moss, acorns, wreaths, go on as finishing touches

Melody’s Santa – to the finish line!

Revisions, revisions!  I THINK I now have the pattern for a body that I LOVE!  Don’t know how many we have had over the years, but this one seems to be a good fit.

Sometimes the most basic things make all the difference.  Now let’s get this guy stuffed and  on the frame.

Oh, this right jolly old elf has THE CUTEST tummy!

Think it will shake when he laughs, like a bowl full of jelly!

Before we can get him just right, I need to put him, his shoes and one layer of clothing on the stand and figure just how tall to make it. Too short and his boots won’t show.  Too tall and you can see ‘body’.   When I get to what looks right, I fill up the channels in the stand that allow it to move up or down — just fill it up w glue.  When that dries, I stitch the back of our santa body, (don’t worry, I am assured that it doesn’t hurt!), to the frame with a figure 8 stitch and secure those thread w glue.  I feel like there is no chance he will move!  Now he is at the right height so I stitch his boots to his body and glue his boots onto the stand making sure his stance looks natural!

Then I check to see if he is going to look right.  Oh, my, my!    I THINK HE IS GOING TO BE WONDERFUL!

Try to do some more tomorrow.  We are getting there!!