ANDERSON, Ind. — Santa Claus may represent many things to different people, but to Greta Jones, Santa Claus is literally made of many things.

Jones creates intricate, beautiful Santa dolls from various odds and ends. She's repurposed a handheld butane lighter to be a rifle for a hunting Santa. A Greek Orthodox Santa wears a cloak lined with real mink and holds a staff made from a curtain rod. A day-after Christmas Santa relaxes in a hammock that was once a banana holder.

A former interior designer and medical technologist, Jones began making the dolls about 14 years. It often takes her years to complete a figure — since they require so many homemade parts - and she sells them for about $100 each.

“It’s very hard to tell when they’re complete because I never know when they’re done," she said.

Few of Jones' improvisations are noticeable until one looks closely at her dolls. Jones said that part of the enjoyment she gets from making them.

“I love the creative element, finding the details and stuff, rummaging for strange things in odd places, in the bottom of drawers and antique shops,” she said.

---
Details for this story were provided by TheHerald Bulletin in Anderson, Ind.