My Cypress Knee Santa Collection

Today I finally let go of my entire Cypress Knee Santa collection in one fell swoop. 

I sold them on Craigslist believe it or not! 

And the person that wanted them sent me a message that his aunt was coming by to pick them up and, believe or not, his aunt turned out to be a dear friend of mine that I have lost track of lately.

WOW! Small world indeed. 

Some of my Cypress Knee Santas I have had for at least 16 years because they pre-dated my move back home to Ruston, LA. 

One of these Santas, the one with the quilt and the large tree, was painted by Patsy Price, an artist I wrote about in another post. 

After they left my house tucked away in a brown paper bag with a cute raffia bow that I had added just to make it special, I realized that the only photo I had of them had been taken with my cell phone! 

So these are the only images I have unless a few were tucked in an arrangements of Santas that I just happened to photograph over the years.

Anyway...

Letting go is sad but necessary as I have a serious hoarding problem and Santas seem to top my list of must haves and must hoards.

I am curious about why I tend to hoard Santas and if there is really something deeply disturbing in my psyche or if it is just that I enjoy being surrounded by faces.

I welcome your analysis, professional or otherwise.

Santa Claus and Snowman Gourds by Pasty Price of Ruston, Lousiana

Patsy Price is a gourd artist from Ruston, LA who has produced a great number of gourds in all different styles using dyes, paints, and pine straw weaving. She also crafted dozens of holiday themed gourds including these Santas & Snowmen. 

I actually know Mrs. Price personally having gone to school with her son and daughter. I also volunteered with the North Central Louisiana Arts Council (NCLAC) Art Gallery at the Dixie Theater where  both our gourds were also on display.

Patsy Price did not sign nor date all of her work, in fact, only one of these gourds is initialed, but these are all examples of her style over the many years she was producing gourd art.

Most, if not all of these gourds were painted in 2004. I believe she participated in Ruston's Annual Holiday Arts Tour that year as do many artists in our area.  She also was a vendor at Ruston's Annual Peach Festival Craft show.

From the largest Santa (13.5" tall and 27.75" around) to the smallest Santa (7.5" tall and 18.75" around) these large gourds make quite a decorative holiday statement on a buffet or table scape.

Plus, I like that the snowmen can be turned around if you just want to see the trees.

Where I painted very detailed and complicated gourds and cypress knees, Mrs. Price was able to capture a clever expression with simplistic style.

As a gourd artist, I know the joy of working with this medium and as a collector, I have enjoyed having her Santas and Snowmen in my collection.