Santa Claus is depicted in many ways among the world's various cultures. You can see dozens of them in the Sarasota home of Sandy and Jim Slaminko on Sunday, Dec. 16.
That's when the couple opens their Country Creek house, off Proctor Road, for a public tour to benefit Baby Basics, a volunteer organization that distributes free diapers to working-poor families in the community.
Sandy Slaminko began collecting Santas more than 35 years ago because, well, she just loves Santa.
"I had a wonderful childhood and Santa was always good to me," she said. "Then I married a man who has been Santa to me for more than 40 years, and, while our four children were growing up, I began to gather more and more Santa things, because to me the objects represent love, family and happy times. And I think they do for most people.
"When visitors wander through my rooms of Santas, some will often start to cry a bit. One Santa or other will just trigger a flood of memories. It happens all the time."
The first Santa object that she can remember collecting is a pin that belonged to her grandmother in Boston and came to her as a gift. Now Slaminko is a grandmother of seven.
Every room of the Slaminkos' 3,100-square-foot home is filled with Santa-themed memorabilia, from area rugs, throw pillows, bedspreads, lamps, paintings, salt-and-pepper shakers, coasters and waste paper baskets, to cookie jars and a Santa ironing board in the kitchen, to hundreds of Santa figurines arranged in seasonal vignettes throughout the home and lanai. The collector says she has in excess of a thousand items, but has never really done a full inventory because the task seems too daunting.
"My daughter and I tried once," she said, "but we soon gave up. I'd probably be shocked to know just how many there really are. Although, I don't suppose that would stop me from acquiring more."
Since last December, Slaminko has increased her collection by eight -- not counting a few gift Santas she received. Her birthday is in May, but there is always one wrapped Santa, or more, among her springtime presents.
The Slaminkos moved from New Jersey (they are both from Pittsburgh) to Sarasota 18 years ago and lived in Harbor Acres until they bought in Country Creek four years ago. The home is actually a bit smaller than their previous one, but the grounds are more expansive; Sandy is an avid gardener. One of the bedrooms proved to be the perfect setting for the Slaminkos' carved-walnut Eastlake Victorian antique bed, which has its own Santa spread this time of year.
Slaminko stores the Santa collection inside her home, except for the largest items, which have a section of the garage. A five-foot-tall Santa has his own cedar box. "There are no linens in my linen closets," said the collector. "They are full of Santas."
Slaminko starts unpacking her decorations in early October and is finished putting things out in mid-December. It takes Sandy and Jim three weeks to take everything down and pack the Santas away. For the past few years, Slaminko has taken photos of her finished room arrangements so that she can repeat a scheme or change it from year to year.
The collector does not organize her Santa objects by value or culture, but mixes and matches Santas from around the world, based on size and style compatibility.
"I spend a great deal of time arranging," she said. "I just keep moving pieces around until a certain vignette looks right to my eye. Placement is very important to me, and although it may not look like it to the visitor, I do leave blank spaces for the eye to rest before taking in more. I do, however, challenge myself to use all the existing nail holes and not to add more."
To keep a holiday theme consistent throughout her home, Slaminko slipcovers her floral-pattern dining room chairs in rich green damask and replaces her window valances in that room with same seasonal green. She drapes live garland on the fireplace mantel and on high pieces of antique furniture.
In addition to Santa jewelry, plates, bells, stockings, Santa animated toys, and museum-quality carved Santas both antique and new, Slaminko has six fully decorated trees in the house. The one on the lanai, done in shells and natural Florida finds, is Jim's domain, and he often leaves the tree up into February, enjoying it as garden sculpture. On the large tree in the family room is a collection of hand-made ornaments depicting Santa figures from other cultures, as well as characters from Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and other famous books.
The Slaminko home also has vintage Santa-themed greeting cards, magazine covers and books depicting Santa Claus, as well as night lights, walking sticks, cross-stitch embroidery, even Santa toilet seat covers and Santa soap dispensers in the elaborately decorated bathrooms. And don't miss the framed shopping bags, Teddy bear Santas, bobble-head Santas and Russian nesting dolls.
Slaminko enjoys her holiday decorations until the end of January. "That's my month to sit quietly and reflect on my Santa things," she explained. "They are like old friends whom I don't see often enough. Each night I sit in a different spot with a cup of tea and just relax and enjoy the memories that these Santas hold for me. I know how and why I came by each and every one of them. And, yes, of course, I still believe Santa."
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Source : heraldtribune.com
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