In the beginning

I have so many things that I want to say but I think first of all, I will tell you how the name "UglySanta" came about.

I started collecting "misfit" christmas ornaments a few years ago because I knew that someone used to love these objects. When that person passed or was relegated to a nursing home, their cherished, lifetime collection of ornaments ended up in thrift stores with "bottom of the barrel" price tags. So I set out to rescue as many as I could. I've always been what my dad calls a "bleeding heart" (he says it like its a bad thing) and was constantly bringing home stray kittens, birds with broken wings, and other things in need of TLC. Same with the ornaments - the more homely and unlovable they seemed, the more I loved them.

One day I was at the Goodwill with my daughter, who was five at the time, and it must have been around Christmas time because she came running over to me and said "Mommy look at this ugly Santa...can I please have him??" I was so very proud of her at that moment because I knew that she had fortunately inherited my "bleeding heart" gene.

When I started overflowing with ornaments and decided to sell some, I thought what better name than "UglySanta." I like the literal contradiction - Santa is certainly not someone you traditionally think of as "ugly" but many kids - my daughter and I included - were terrified of Santa. I was forced to sit on his lap and endure his hot, stale breath but there is no way I would do that to my child. UglySanta very simply means that even "ugly" things are lovable and should not be cast offs. I think if everyone in the whole world had the "bleeding heart" gene, it might be a nicer and more tolerant world.

And so goes the story of UglySanta...