I agree it is wonderful...but why is everybody's eyes open, but his??

Naptime!!! :)

He's meditating on the spiritualness of the forest animals :'/

Bears, wolves, doves...he would do well to think about "spirituality". Reminds me of a lap full of my family! :)

But he is beautiful...and on my wishlist. :)

Hello Simon, I stitched this design several years ago. There is no other design I have completed that I loved as much as this one! I wanted to share the story behind this design. I am quoting directly from the "Told in a Garden" website where Marilyn Imblum explained the story behind several of her designs. It goes like this:

"When I first did this Santa, I gave him an armful of toys. The toys and ribbons were beautiful, but sort of meaningless. When removing fur on his cape, I thought of replacing the toys with animals. The first animal I thought of was a dove of peace. Then I added a little bear, symbolizing Russia. The wolf represents countries that have violent governments and use this violence to survive. The gentle brown rabbit is caught in the middle but looking towards peace. The wise spotted owl sits near the head of man in hopes that he will find wisdom before it is too late. Santa's staff represents history, a guide for moving forward. The fabric of his robe became the forest and trees and stars. His colorful mittens represent the children of the world, extensions of the wise person. This design represents a gathering of nations towards world peace as well as respecting the environment."

I believe the reason his eyes are closed is out of sadness for the state of the world. Marilyn passed away in 2012. It is my humble opinion that the world lost a truly gentle soul. I had found this story before I made the design and meditated upon her thoughts as I worked it. Carol

I had no idea that she has passed away. I thought she just retired from designer. Makes her work more precious to me.

Simon, I have read that her family intends to let her designs continued to be printed. If you go to the "Told in a Garden" website....on their home page scroll all the way down....you will see...
About the designer...the story of her life is there. She had a most unusual upbringing which I think accounts for the "gentleness" we see in her works. I think you would enjoy reading it!

(P.S. She died of complications of Multiple Sclerosis. The public was never made aware that she had it.)

Marilyn's daughter is the artist for the Mirabilia designs.

Bermuda, I have "saved" several of her designs. They are beautiful. I must say....she gets her gift of being an artist naturally!!

i have done this a number of times for presents and for sale and i have loved it everytime... we live in the woods and this depicts all we love about where we live!

handycampers2, I am curious about something. I know 32 count raw natural linen is recommended for this Santa. That is what I used when I made it. I always thought I would consider a different fabric if I stitched it again. Did you make it on linen the first time?? 32 count or a different count or fabric after that??