Snow and Children, You can Never have Enough at Christmas!
Snow and Children, You can Never have Enough at Christmas!
Two of the most evocative themes of Christmas are children and snow. And, since you can never have too much of a good thing during the holiday season, the combination of these two images is simply irresistible. Elaine Roesle's "Snow Children" are just what Santa might conjure up in his North Pole workshop!
Cotton batting, snowsuit-clad figures first became popular in America in the 1920s. These child-like figures depicted snowy day activities, with children posed on sleds and skis.
During this same decade, Snow Babies made their first appearance on the holiday scene. These small porcelain figurines ranged in size between 1 and 3 inches in height and usually depicted young children as well as Santas, snowmen, sledders, skaters and polar bears in various poses. The figurines were often used in Putz scenes and because of the snow-like exterior of their clothing, they helped create a wintry effect. Antique versions of these seasonal collectibles range in price from $20 to almost $300, depending on color, detail, pose, origin, age, condition and rarity.
Starting with Old World Santas
Locating antique figures is not always an easy task. Artist Elaine Roesle's Snow Children combine elements from both the cotton batting and porcelain styles. A self-taught doll-maker, Elaine has been handcrafting Christmas themed figures for many years. In 1978, she began creating Old World Santa figures with great success. By 1990, her St. Nicholas Collection was so popular that the Santas were featured in that year's Christmas issue of Early American Life.
In addition, during this time Elaine was also making porcelain dolls based on antique patterns.
The dawn of the 1990s was a busy time for this talented artist as it was then that Elaine Roesle developed her first Snow Child. Five of these delightful pieces were debuted at art shows in Washington D.C. and Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Today, the Snow Children collection has expanded to include over fifty designs.
Snow Children Production
Collectors admiring the small figures likely give little thought to the creative and technical skills required to fashion such whimsy. Luckily for us, Elaine's creative mind and skilled hands expertly transform simple clay and cotton batting into the rosy-cheeked faces peeking from mica-covered snowsuits that we now covet.
A modern-day "cottage industry", each Snow Child is carefully handcrafted in Elaine's small, two-story backyard workshop.
The business employs exactly two others, both of whom are relatives. Elaine's mother, Lynn Daly, and her daughter, Heather Shingledecker, each have specific responsibilities. While Elaine runs her own kiln, Heather does the casting for the heads, hands, feet and bodies of the Snow Children. After firing, Lynn creates the delicate faces that so characterize the line. As Elaine explains, "I do the design and detail work, including the wrapping and shaping of the cotton batting, which becomes the children's snowsuits." Their vintage look is achieved by carefully collecting specific fabrics and materials. "We gather antique textiles, old tinsel, vintage ornaments and fur throughout the year," she adds. Elaine also makes the garments for her Santa figures as well as many of their accessories. Creativity is very much alive in this family business, as Elaine's three-year old granddaughter, Catlynn Elaine, has begun her very informal apprenticeship as a painter and molder.
The dawn of the new millennium ushered in an unanticipated but exciting opportunity for Elaine. Upon answering the telephone one morning, Elaine was surprised by an enthusiastic representative of Department 56, headquartered in Minnesota, offering her a licensing agreement. After months of discussions and negotiations between their respective attorneys, Snow Angels were born. Under their agreement, Elaine provided Department 56 with original designs for cotton batting figures as well as ornaments.
Avid collectors and fans can now see these winged creations in stores throughout the United States. Manufactured for Department 56 in Asia, each figure will include a gold signature tag recounting Elaine's story and immortalizing her small hometown of Clayton, Ohio. A particular highlight for Elaine was her invitation to appear as a signing artist at the big Department 56 silver anniversary bash in Minnesota.
Although Department 56 will produce Snow Angels, Elaine will continue to create her hand-made original designs. Felicia Angel, Angel David, Christmas Angel, Bunny Angel and 2001 Year Angel ornaments are all part of her 2001 line. Snow Child On Polar Bear, Swinging On a Star, Ho Ho Horsey, Christmas Goose, Country Booty and Lights Up the Tree are all new 3-4" ornaments.
The 2001 collection contains several pieces named in honor of a very special young artisan, Elaine's granddaughter Caitlyn. Caity's Dollhouse, Caity's Snowman, and Caitlynn Dances With Snowy are especially dear to Elaine's heart.
"And", laughs Elaine, "Caity has claimed Country At Heart (see cover) for herself as well." In fact, the Snow Children line includes a series of "country" pieces that are finished with a special flecked mica, which creates an "antique" look as opposed to the freshly fallen "snowy" look of the others. Country At Heart is a limited edition of 100.
Family continues to be an important theme in Elaine's work as can be witnessed in Angel Michael, Thomas, Christopher, Beth, Jacob, Gabe … ornaments all designed to honor loved ones. Two charity figures, Angel of Faith and Angel of Peace, were inspired by her father's struggle with cancer. A portion of the proceeds from each design will benefit both a Dayton area hospice and the Hipple Cancer Research facility in Kettering, Ohio. A third ornament, Angel of Hope, will help benefit breast cancer research.
Although Elaine has spent many years as a successful artist, attracting such notable collectors as Christopher Radko and Bill Rhodes (Billy Bunny), her career has now taken off into an unexpected new and diverse direction. The wide exposure she will receive as a result of her partnership with Department 56 is likely to focus a special Christmas spotlight on Elaine's other creative energies and, before long, many more collectors will want to begin families of their own … families of Snow Children that is!
Elaine Roesle's private collection pieces of Snow Children.
To contact Elaine or for more about the St. Nicholas Collection:
The St. Nicholas Collection Snow Children
by Elaine Roesle
5260 Old Salem Rd.
Clayton, OH 45315
937-836-5222
St. Nicholas Collection
Two of the most evocative themes of Christmas are children and snow. And, since you can never have too much of a good thing during the holiday season, the combination of these two images is simply irresistible. Elaine Roesle's "Snow Children" are just what Santa might conjure up in his North Pole workshop!
Cotton batting, snowsuit-clad figures first became popular in America in the 1920s. These child-like figures depicted snowy day activities, with children posed on sleds and skis.
During this same decade, Snow Babies made their first appearance on the holiday scene. These small porcelain figurines ranged in size between 1 and 3 inches in height and usually depicted young children as well as Santas, snowmen, sledders, skaters and polar bears in various poses. The figurines were often used in Putz scenes and because of the snow-like exterior of their clothing, they helped create a wintry effect. Antique versions of these seasonal collectibles range in price from $20 to almost $300, depending on color, detail, pose, origin, age, condition and rarity.
Starting with Old World Santas
Locating antique figures is not always an easy task. Artist Elaine Roesle's Snow Children combine elements from both the cotton batting and porcelain styles. A self-taught doll-maker, Elaine has been handcrafting Christmas themed figures for many years. In 1978, she began creating Old World Santa figures with great success. By 1990, her St. Nicholas Collection was so popular that the Santas were featured in that year's Christmas issue of Early American Life.
In addition, during this time Elaine was also making porcelain dolls based on antique patterns.
The dawn of the 1990s was a busy time for this talented artist as it was then that Elaine Roesle developed her first Snow Child. Five of these delightful pieces were debuted at art shows in Washington D.C. and Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Today, the Snow Children collection has expanded to include over fifty designs.
Snow Children Production
Collectors admiring the small figures likely give little thought to the creative and technical skills required to fashion such whimsy. Luckily for us, Elaine's creative mind and skilled hands expertly transform simple clay and cotton batting into the rosy-cheeked faces peeking from mica-covered snowsuits that we now covet.
A modern-day "cottage industry", each Snow Child is carefully handcrafted in Elaine's small, two-story backyard workshop.
The business employs exactly two others, both of whom are relatives. Elaine's mother, Lynn Daly, and her daughter, Heather Shingledecker, each have specific responsibilities. While Elaine runs her own kiln, Heather does the casting for the heads, hands, feet and bodies of the Snow Children. After firing, Lynn creates the delicate faces that so characterize the line. As Elaine explains, "I do the design and detail work, including the wrapping and shaping of the cotton batting, which becomes the children's snowsuits." Their vintage look is achieved by carefully collecting specific fabrics and materials. "We gather antique textiles, old tinsel, vintage ornaments and fur throughout the year," she adds. Elaine also makes the garments for her Santa figures as well as many of their accessories. Creativity is very much alive in this family business, as Elaine's three-year old granddaughter, Catlynn Elaine, has begun her very informal apprenticeship as a painter and molder.
The dawn of the new millennium ushered in an unanticipated but exciting opportunity for Elaine. Upon answering the telephone one morning, Elaine was surprised by an enthusiastic representative of Department 56, headquartered in Minnesota, offering her a licensing agreement. After months of discussions and negotiations between their respective attorneys, Snow Angels were born. Under their agreement, Elaine provided Department 56 with original designs for cotton batting figures as well as ornaments.
Avid collectors and fans can now see these winged creations in stores throughout the United States. Manufactured for Department 56 in Asia, each figure will include a gold signature tag recounting Elaine's story and immortalizing her small hometown of Clayton, Ohio. A particular highlight for Elaine was her invitation to appear as a signing artist at the big Department 56 silver anniversary bash in Minnesota.
Although Department 56 will produce Snow Angels, Elaine will continue to create her hand-made original designs. Felicia Angel, Angel David, Christmas Angel, Bunny Angel and 2001 Year Angel ornaments are all part of her 2001 line. Snow Child On Polar Bear, Swinging On a Star, Ho Ho Horsey, Christmas Goose, Country Booty and Lights Up the Tree are all new 3-4" ornaments.
The 2001 collection contains several pieces named in honor of a very special young artisan, Elaine's granddaughter Caitlyn. Caity's Dollhouse, Caity's Snowman, and Caitlynn Dances With Snowy are especially dear to Elaine's heart.
"And", laughs Elaine, "Caity has claimed Country At Heart (see cover) for herself as well." In fact, the Snow Children line includes a series of "country" pieces that are finished with a special flecked mica, which creates an "antique" look as opposed to the freshly fallen "snowy" look of the others. Country At Heart is a limited edition of 100.
Family continues to be an important theme in Elaine's work as can be witnessed in Angel Michael, Thomas, Christopher, Beth, Jacob, Gabe … ornaments all designed to honor loved ones. Two charity figures, Angel of Faith and Angel of Peace, were inspired by her father's struggle with cancer. A portion of the proceeds from each design will benefit both a Dayton area hospice and the Hipple Cancer Research facility in Kettering, Ohio. A third ornament, Angel of Hope, will help benefit breast cancer research.
Although Elaine has spent many years as a successful artist, attracting such notable collectors as Christopher Radko and Bill Rhodes (Billy Bunny), her career has now taken off into an unexpected new and diverse direction. The wide exposure she will receive as a result of her partnership with Department 56 is likely to focus a special Christmas spotlight on Elaine's other creative energies and, before long, many more collectors will want to begin families of their own … families of Snow Children that is!
Elaine Roesle's private collection pieces of Snow Children.
To contact Elaine or for more about the St. Nicholas Collection:
The St. Nicholas Collection Snow Children
by Elaine Roesle
5260 Old Salem Rd.
Clayton, OH 45315
937-836-5222
St. Nicholas Collection