Colvert’s name is English and it means “seaman.”  His outfit is made from tea-dyed vintage chenille trimmed with vintage fringe.  A wonderful old collectible coat button with an anchor design (found in a box of antique buttons from the Florida Keys) is sewn to an old doily with tatting around the edges and attached to his jacket.  He is holding a red, white and blue striped buoy and an antique Tuck patriotic naval themed postcard (postmarked 1908).  On the front, it says, "Wherever it floats on land or sea, no stain its honor mars."  The card is technically a “Decoration Day” card.  “Decoration Day” originated shortly after the American Civil War as a day when flowers would be placed on the graves of soldiers to honor them.  (The card has some edge wear, light creasing and a tiny piece missing on the lower left corner.  There is also an invisible cut following the contours of the bottom of the lightly embossed flag.  Still, it's a nicely colored, beautiful old card with a lovely sentiment...)

Colvert is suitable for  year round display and would be particularly nice as an Independence Day decoration.

The buoy and postcard are not attached to Colvert and may be placed anywhere.

Walter’s name is of German origin and means “ruler of army.”  He is made from painted, antiqued and lightly varnished muslin.  Like all of my Shanty Clauses, his lower lip is stuffed and appliquéd.  His entire outfit is made from vintage textiles (chenille and floral plissé), trims, lace and collectible buttons.  Primitive-looking buttonhole stitches were added to the seam binding (from my mom’s old sewing box) decorating the hem of his pants. 

He always has his old worn Bible (copyright 1941) with him.  His name, Walter H. Brown, is neatly printed right inside. 

He has the most wonderful beard and mustache made from thick, curly Cotswold wool.

Hubert is Old German for “bright intellect.”  He is made from painted, antiqued and lightly varnished muslin.  Like all of my Shanty Clauses, his lower lip is stuffed and appliquéd.  Tied around his neck is a vintage scientific toy gyroscope.  His coat and cap are made from a vintage tea-dyed chenille bedspread.  I added a scrap of  vintage trim to his cap.  His trousers are sewn from a lightly tea-dyed vintage fringed tablecloth.  His coat is trimmed with two of my favorite old "ringer" buttons from my button collection.

Delmar
 

The origin of Delmar’s name is Latin and it means “of the sea.”  He is wearing a jacket and cap made from a tea-stained vintage chenille bedspread. His pants are made from a vintage piece of decorator fabric with a shell design.  His cap is edged with a shabby piece of old upholstery trim.  His jacket is tied at the waist with an old piece of bias binding from my mom’s old sewing box.  I attached a really neat vintage wooden toggle button to his jacket.  The button was found in an old tin of buttons from an antique store in the Florida Keys.  I always wonder what stories these buttons could tell… 

Delmar would be right at home year round among your other nautical antiques and collectibles.

Bjorn

Bjorn is Scandinavian for “bear.”  He is wearing a coat and cap made from a vintage tea-dyed chenille bedspread.  There are three wonderful, vintage collectible Bakelite buttons sewn to his coat.  His trousers are made from tea-dyed vintage cotton in a great old print.

He is having a confab with his little buddy, Ursula (Ursula is Scandinavian and Latin for “little female bear.”).  Ursula is a new bear but she's been “aged” a bit to better match Bjorn.  Her outfit is made from a scrap of tattered old lace. Two small antique mother of pearl buttons trim the front.

Asaph
 

Asaph’s name is Hebrew for “collector.”  His outfit is made from old tea-dyed chenille trimmed with an antique doily.  The doily is clean but it’s a little rust-stained, here and there.  His cap is trimmed with a shabby piece of vintage upholstery trim.  An MOP button adorns the tip. 

Asaph is an appropriate name for this particular Santa as he is an avid button collector.   On his lap is his little antique mother of pearl button collection sewn to a vintage Christmas (postmarked 1912) postcard.  The postcard most likely had a photo attached, originally, and later removed as there is a little damage to the paper on the surface.  I was so happy to be able to give this little piece of ephemera a second life by adding the buttons.

Since Asaph would like to be displayed year round, I am also including a sweet Easter postcard (postmarked 1910) so he can welcome the spring...

Asaph is approx. 25" tall.  Seated, he is approx. 14" from his nether regions to the top of his cap.

Winslow 
 

Winslow’s name is Old English for “victory.”  He is made from painted, antiqued and lightly varnished muslin.  Like all of my Shanty Clauses, his lower lip is stuffed and appliquéd.  His jacket and cap are made from a vintage tea-stained pink chenille bedspread with three mismatched vintage mother-of-pearl buttons sewn up the front.  His sleeves and cap are trimmed with vintage upholstery trim (that has seen better days with a little unraveling here and there - all in keeping with  Winslow's time-worn look).  His belt is made from vintage lace with a vintage mother-of-pearl buckle.  His pants (from new, tea-stained pink and white ticking print chintz) are trimmed with vintage lace. 

Winslow’s bag is made from a vintage towel with some lovely pastel hand tatted lace around the edge.  I tied a piece of vintage lace around the bag and sewed an old mother-of-pearl button on top.

Because he is arrayed in pastel colors (not traditional Christmas colors), Winslow would be perfect to display year round among your other antiques and primitive collectibles.

The name Yancy is Native American for "Englishman."  It is the word from which the word "Yankee" is derived.   Yancy is made from painted, antiqued and lightly varnished brown cotton.  Like all of my Shanty Clauses, his lower lip is stuffed and appliquéd.  His wool jacket is finished with hand embroidered blanket stitches around the edges.  Bias tape  embroidered with fly stitches trims his sleeves.  His epaulettes are made from vintage trim and accented with beautiful antique gold-trimmed buttons.  Antique buttons also embellish his vest.  His pants are edged with antique lace.  His hat is cotton lined in wool and accented with bias tape.  Yancy is proud to have contributed to the war chest (although he doesn't remember if it was WWI or WWII!) and wears his antique collectible pinback button on his lapel.  And he's never without his beloved vintage (48 star) flag. 

Leverett  means "young rabbit" in French.   He is made from painted, antiqued and lightly varnished muslin.  Like all of my Shanty Clauses, his lower lip is stuffed and appliquéd.  Leverett's  outfit is made from a tea-stained vintage ivory chenille bedspread trimmed with antique lace and a vintage mother of pearl button.  I've added really cool vintage mother of pearl sequins to his cap.   He is holding an adorable antique Easter postcard (postmarked 1910) with a sweet image of a rabbit hatching from an egg while a surprised chick watches.  The message on the back reads:

Dear Little Bernice,

How are you? Well, I hope.  When are you going to send Auntie some postcards?  Be a good little girl and tell Mama to write soon.  Come and see Auntie when you can.

Bye Bye with love,
Auntie Gertrude

I am also including an embossed antique Christmas postcard (postmarked 1914) with images of holly.  The message reads:

Best Wishes from Grandma

The Easter card has some minor edge wear and the Christmas card has a couple of little creases over some of the embossing, nothing distracting - and all in character with Leverett's aged prim look.

Leverett is approx. 25" tall.  Seated, he is approx. 14" from nether regions to the top of his cap.

The name Irwin means "sea friend."  Irwin is made from painted, antiqued and lightly varnished muslin.  Like all of my Shanty Clauses, his lower lip is stuffed and appliquéd.  His outfit is made from a tea-stained vintage pale seafoam bedspread with vintage trim on the sleeves.  His hat is finished with  vintage  brocade trim, tassels and a beautiful old mother-of-pearl button.  His belt is made from vintage trim with a vintage mother-of-pearl buckle.  He comes with a set of three floats strung on a fisherman's rope on which he can be seated.

Gavril

Gavril means "believer in God" in Slavic.  He is made from tea-dyed osnaburg with a lightly needle sculpted nose and embroidered eyes.  His lower lip is stuffed and appliquéd.  His beard is sewn on - no glue is used on my embroidered dolls.   Gavril is wearing a coat made from a tea-stained vintage chenille bedspread in pale seafoam trimmed with three mismatched mother of pearl buttons.  His pajama pants are made from a beautiful piece of vintage drapery fabric with a subtle taupe floral design.  On his lap is  a pouch made from an old embroidered doily tied with a piece of vintage cotton twill seam tape.

Lemuel means "devoted to God" in Hebrew.  He is made from painted, antiqued and lightly varnished muslin.  Lemuel is dressed in a gorgeous vintage drapery fabric with deep gold florals.  A tea-stained vintage lace doily has found a new life as a kind of tabard or sleeveless vest over his outfit.  A very old piece of bronze-gold seam tape ties front and back together.  His hat is trimmed with a vintage scrap of lace,  a twinkle button and gold tassel.  I added two exquisite antique black glass and gold buttons to his sleeves.  Lemuel is holding a charming little Catholic prayer book (copyright 1936) with beautiful illustrations called THE LITTLE KEYS TO HEAVEN.  Here is a small excerpt from a Prayer by the Crib of the Most Holy Child, Jesus:

"Gentle, little Jesus, Thou camest into the world in a stable, Thou didst show thyself to me as a poor child in want!  And yet Thou art really God, the King of the universe.  I worship Thee little Child Jesus.  I worship Thee and I love Thee..."

Erasmus is Greek for "worthy of love."  He is made from tea-stained osnaburg and his features are embroidered. His jacket and hat are made from a vintage table runner (that had seen better days). His vest is sewn from an old linen floral napkin with antique glass buttons sewn down the front. His hat is trimmed with the frayed edge of an old paisley tablecloth. His hobo bag is made from an old handkerchief with a crocheted edge that coordinates with his vest and hat trim. He wears a large, vintage twinkle button on his jacket as a festive holiday brooch.

Zale is a nautical Santa.  His name is Greek for "sea-strength."  He is made from painted, antiqued and lightly varnished muslin.  He is wearing a double-breasted coat made from old upholstery material with a shell design trimmed with six  mismatched vintage mother-of-pearl buttons.  His trousers are made from a vintage chenille bedspread.  He's sitting with his cork float on some authentic fisherman's rope with the netting still attached...

Leonard

Leonard is Old German for "lion-hearted."  He is dressed in a pink vintage chenille jacket with fringe.  (It takes a brave man to wear a pink jacket!)  His belt is made from some old trim found in an antique store.  He’s wearing a vintage cloth button with a brass heraldic lion right over his heart.  Vintage lace trims his trousers.  He loves reading his antique Bible (New Testament and Psalms).  There is an inscription inside that reads Ina Laudenslager, Dec. 25, 1902.

Uriah

Uriah is Hebrew for "God is my light."  He is made from muslin that has been painted, antiqued and varnished. His outfit is made from a vintage tea-dyed ivory chenille bedspread with an old crocheted doily as his collar. On the end of his hat, I sewed a vintage twinkle button with a "jewel" in the center.

He is ready to greet your holiday guests with his shabby antique embossed postcard (postmarked December 19, 1910).  There is a handwritten message that reads:

Dear Lea,
Am waiting for a letter from you!
Love from Mother

This postcard has silver trim that coordinates with the silver twinkle button on his hat.  Because Uriah would really like to be displayed year round, I'm including a shabby old Tuck Easter postcard for spring.  This postcard has a corner clipped off but the image is so sweet and it has a silver cast to it.  It doesn't have a postmark but there is a handwritten message:

Greetings from your S.S. Teacher
April 11, 1909
Ida C. Miller