Christmas Countdown Characters #19

No prizes for guessing that today's S celebrities include the jolly man himself, but wait, there's more...

S is for Santa Claus and Suzy Snowflake

What do these two have in common - nothing much except a tentative Christmas link, a reference to the same era, and I think they look good in a snowy scene together.

I am sure I do not need to add much to the profile of Santa Claus because many of you are most likely experts on the subject. However, in Australia, I often see images of Santa in beach board shorts or even wearing a bush hat with hanging corks to keep away the summer flies and I wonder how it came about that red flannel and white fur are still the preferred attire for Santa.

Did you know that red and white became a tradition after Santa appeared in a Coca Cola advertisement in 1931? Coca Cola Company deny that they "invented" Santa Claus as we know him - plump, jolly, friendly and definitely lovably human. In the past Santa Claus had been depicted as a thin man or a spooky elf. I think Cocoa Cola had a lot to do with "shaping" the image of Santa Claus with their famous Christmas advertisements from 1931 -1964 by Sundblom. Perhaps Cocoa Cola didn't create the image of a 'modern" Santa Claus, but they certainly popularised it.

(://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/santa/cocacola.asp)

Now as we are going back in time in popular Christmas culture, the personified snowflake, called Suzy got her break when, in 1951, Rosemary Clooney recorded Suzy Snowflake as a Christmas song, with instant appeal to those who love Winter. Suzy Snowflake is thought to be a young happy character who dances her way through a Winter Wonderland. Although Rosemary Clooney's version remains the most popular "record" , I have included a dancing video version of this catchy Christmas song about Suzy Snowflake... just for all the tap dancers in my family.

Since hearing this song recently, it does appear to be strange that a snowflake , even with a name like Suzy, could take on human attributes, and it doesn't really make sense - such an impossibility here in mid summer.
But if you believe in Christmas, anything is possible.

#SeptTextileLove26 Day8

SeptTextileLove #stl26day8 ‘Inspiring Exhibition’ … earlier this year , the Wednesday Makers Group at Timeless Textiles ( Newcastle, Australia) celebrated International Women’s Day with their exhibition, “Inspiring Women in Stitch’ - congratulations - inspiring women honouring inspiring women . link to video

#SeptTextileLove26 Day 9

‘ Craft or Art?’ … a continuing complex question, with, I guess, has no definitive answer. I’ve often wondered about traditional practices especially … as an example , temari ( Japanese stitched thread balls ). Even authorities on temari have called it ‘an ancient folk craft ’ as well as a traditional, highly artistic culture and skill in that each design shows the unique characteristics of the maker’s free ideas and creativity. ‘ (Japan Temari Association)… My mother taught me to make temari and she would always consider her own creations ‘craft’ and to me they are ‘art’! Craft or art? Does it really matter what we call the techniques or the outcome of what we create ?

#SeptTextileLove Day 10

#SeptTextileLove #STL26Day10 ‘Low Impact ?’ … today I am highlighting an admirable decision by Newcastle ( NSW Australia) textile art gallery , Timeless Textiles . When you purchase from the gallery shop, the protective wrapping is made from recycled fabric - donated abandoned textiles, repurposed clothing and household linens, and sewing project scraps. Not only is this packaging practice low impact on the environment , it doesn’t cost much and making these bags requires minimal effort and only basic skills. However it has high impact as a thoughtful, aesthetic and sustainable retail practice. What other practices have you noticed retailers are using for a lower impact on the environment?

Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

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