Hand-crafted Christmas Decorations Inspire Holiday Cheer

When Lynn Haney designs his detailed Christmas Santa Claus figurines exclusively for Frontgate, he says he works with a Frontgate merchant to offer a coordinated look with other Christmas decorations found in that season's catalog.

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"I think the Frontgate customer appreciates classic design, and I have tried to design pieces that will be complementary to their home settings and Christmas decorations. I like the 'assignment' of creating a Santa to fit with a particular color palette or theme. It has been a pleasure to be featured in such a quality publication."

Lynn is well-known for his intricate Santa Claus dolls. He has designed exclusive Christmas decorations for the Frontgate catalog in the past, as well as the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Disney World of Florida, and Disneyland of California. He says he has been a "Christmas Enthusiast" since he was a small child.

"My mother would hang 12 ornaments on the tree and that 'was enough'. I am of the 'More is Better' school. I enjoy designing pieces that will become family heirlooms. These are usually colors and themes that I consider timeless and traditional. My grandchildren are now enjoying pieces that are 21 years old, and I hope they will enjoy them when they become adults as part of their childhood Christmas memories."

Lynn says he is inspired by unique color combinations, an accessory or toy, or a motif or pattern that can be repeated on a costume. Each year he stays alert of the current trends in Christmas decorations, including which colorations, trimmings, and themes are popular that year.

The first Santa figurine Lynn made was a soft-sculpture that was stitched and fabricated by hand, and wore a long, bell-trimmed hat. Lynn switched from teaching junior high art to designing in 1982, and by 1987 he was designing Christmas decorations and Santa Claus figurines full time. Now, his business includes more than 30 artisans and employees who work on the collection year-round.

Because of his background in sculpture and pottery making, Lynn says he is very three dimensional. He'll typically picture the overall concept of each piece in his mind, then sketch out the costume to make patterns. He then experiments with different fabrics, trims, and textures to see which unique combinations he can create.

"Many ideas pop into my head and some I can bring into fruition is a very short time," he says. "Others I have to mull over and imagine more. Sometimes, I may have a Santa dressed in a new costume and have to search for the perfect toy or accessory to complement the costume or theme of a piece."

Each Santa Claus in the Lynn Haney collection is hand-crafted in his Texas Studio by artists who use fine fabrics, trims, and accessories to create high-quality holiday collectibles. Many accessories are made by other vendors due to their expertise; for example, all of the boots are made from leather to Lynn's rigid specifications.

"As an adult, I remember childhood Christmases: The smell of a freshly cut tree, unwrapping the tissue around the ornaments before decorating the tree, Christmas baking. I realize that our pieces are a part of many, many families' Christmas celebrations. When I think about how many families we share Christmas memories with, I am a little awestruck to think that they have invited us into their homes to be a part of their celebrations of the holidays."

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