THE AWESOME SANTA COLLECTION OF CANDICE BARNARD

by Candice Barnard & Sandi Phillips

As the unofficial, unpaid reporter for the ACJA it was once again my job to view another ACJA members collection. We should all have such a rough job, yes? I have to report to you that I was simply awed by this wonderful collection.

In Oklahoma resides one of Santa's favorite elves, Candice Barnard. Petite in stature and generous of heart, she has about 1200 Santas on display in her home. Candice says, "I started collecting Santas a little over ten years ago when my sister gave me a very meaningful gift of a 1950's Glo-Lite Santa just like we had when we were kids. That started the madness and then lead to a room solely dedicated to 'Santadom.' But it didn't stop there. The Santas started migrating to the living room as well and now there is a Santa bathroom and at least one Santa in every room in the house. I always wanted to collect cookie jars for as long as I can remember. I drooled longingly at each one I saw in antique malls. However, I knew that I wouldn't have room for a huge cookie jar collection. So I started looking on eBay for Santa jars; they are a huge part of my collection of Santas. I now have 85 Santa cookie jars of which about one-third are vintage."

"The best part of collecting cookie jars has been meeting and becoming close to the other collectors in the American Cookie Jar Association. Chat on about.com has become such an important part of my life! The support and friendship is matchless! I would never have met all these wonderful people had I not met Jay Blumenfeld. Jay unknowingly changed my life forever and I'll be eternally grateful to him. He invited me to chat a little over two years ago and what a fantastic two years it has been," Candice went on to say.

Each part of her collection is special to her although she does have her favorites. She said, "My favorite Santa doll is a vintage designer doll called 'Kris Kringle,' by Georgene Averill. He is from the 1950's, dressed all in wool and leather, and is musical." Her favorite cookie jar is the beautiful American Bisque Santa. It's hard to tell who has the biggest grin on their face when Candice is looking at that jar.

"My non-collector friends think I'm pretty foolish with my obsession for Santas, but these dolls and jars happily are a constant reminder of the generosity and kindness of my Daddy, one of the most precious 'Santas' I know, who has been gone now for over ten years. I don't think my collection is a coincidence, do you," she says?

Some of the rest of us poor slobs frantically decorate for the holidays each year; not Candice. Her Santas stay up all year round as does her Christmas tree. She mentioned that only special guests like us get to have the tree lit up to better see all the wonderful ornaments.

My favorite piece in Candice's collection is pictured and was surprisingly not a cookie jar, but a wall light featuring Santa and Howdy Doody. Old or new doesn't seem to matter, Candice just knows what she likes and adds that piece to her collection. Husband Gary while not being a collector like Candice, is supportive of her collection and always on the look out for a find. Even the bathroom is gaily decorated; the hand towel had a Santa on it. Candice even served us gingerbread cookies! At the end of our visit, I felt full of the peace and joy that I associate with the holiday season. Some of it was from all the wonderful Santas; but even more it was the joyful spirit of Candice. Santa, trust me you couldn't find a better elf!

To view more of Candice's Santas go to: "http://members2.clubphoto.com/julie192452/Candice_Bernards_Santas/">