About Jill

Jill researches legends and traditions and incorporates many of those into her dolls along with ideas that come from certain materials or found objects.  Tailoring to her customer's desires for special fabrics, colors, and accessories, some of which may be handmade or antique, Jill also offers a choice of expressions for commissioned Santa's from her gallery of Santa faces.  Faces are often sculpted according to description and eye color, striving to capture just the right emotion.  The eyes are the most important and most enjoyable part of the sculpting process for Jill, she works on that special twinkle or sparkle in Santa's eyes that brings him alive and warms your heart.  She uses beautiful glass eyes and Tibetan lambs wool for bearding.

One thing Jill enjoys about making Santas is that no two are alike, she says there are endless possibilities.  Each is an individual, a new challenge, a new creation just waiting to be born. From Praying Santas to Biker Santas, and Santas of legend and tradition like the Spider Santa, Starlight Santa, or even Santas sculpted from a photo they're all unique and... 'just Jill'.  With new or vintage materials, with embossed velvets or grandmother's old fur coat, laces and trims, she lovingly creates Santas from very small to life-size.  She puts her heart into every one along with a metal heart that is attached as a symbol of the Spirit of Christmas and love of Santas.

Family is very important to Jill, she has three sons, Darin, Brett, and Bryan, who live in South Dakota.  She and her husband, Terry (Zap), who is very helpful and supportive, live in Palm Bay, Florida, with their spoiled little Pekingese, Smokey and cousin Vinny (aka the weeble.)  In addition to working at the Kennedy Space Center, Zap photographs her dolls, builds armatures and enjoys working on the website.

Jill grew up on a farm in southeastern South Dakota and attended Dakota State College where she majored in art.  She enjoyed working as a nursing assistant for many years.  In 1998 Jill began sculpting and moved to Southwestern Pennsylvania.  Being a self-taught artist, she's always loved art, drawing, crafts, Christmas and Santas, so it's only natural that she combines these things with her artistic ability which led her to sculpting and Santa making.