25 years….. Creating American made Santas I would have never imagined in 1987 that I would be so lucky to share my work with so many collectors and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity. I never realized there were so many “Christmas Enthusiasts” around who appreciate hand-crafted American made collectibles. During these 25 years I have been fortunate enough to travel and meet many of them and hear of their family Christmas traditions and how they have included our collection of Santas in their holiday celebrations. Each year on Christmas morning… when I am with my family, children and grandchildren… I am reminded of my many blessings and things for which I am grateful. Certainly, one of the things I am most grateful for is the many family Christmas celebrations that include our Santas. Families who will have our work in their celebrations for generations to come… family heirlooms to be passed down to children, grandchildren and family members who are “like-minded” in their appreciation of handcrafted pieces. I am humbled and appreciative that we can continue the tradition of creating our pieces…. One At a Time. About Lynn A number of years ago, Lynn spotted an antique German papier mache' candy container at an antique show. This Santa offered a source of inspiration in spite of being in poor condition and demanding a healthy price. Passing up the purchase of the piece became the focus of creating "something of his own" that still had the same charm and interest of the antique find. The first Santa Lynn made was actually a soft-sculpture stitched and fabricated by hand in a long, bell-trimmed hat. With the encouragement of his wife, Lynn soon started another and others began to follow, with clay heads and more trim and accessories. And in 1987, the Lynn Haney Collection officially began. Working by himself the first year, Lynn recognized that he had more ideas than he had time. Having been a Junior High Art teacher, he could teach others to sew the costumes, paint the faces and craft the pieces that awaited his finishing touches. Supervising the hard work of others gave him the time necessary to develop new designs. As we have grown, we have moved four times to larger studio spaces, and we have added many artist-craftsmen to our extended studio family. At this time the production in our studio is carried out by more than 30 people on a year-round basis. Lynn graduated from Texas Tech in 1972 with a Bachelor's degree in Art Education and again in 1976 with a Masters degree in Art Education.