This is the fourth year that Vaillancourt Folk Art will be exhibiting at the Nantucket Folk Art and Artisan Show. The show which opens with a preview party Thursday, July 14th from 6pm –  9pm will run through Sunday, July 17th at Bartlett’s Farm. In true Vaillancourt fashion, Judi is continuing with her creation of a beach Santa, with the 2011 Nantucket Basket Santa and will be offering premier numbers of this piece at the Show. As added value, the pieces that will be available at the show are all Judi Vaillancourt originals.

Although intended to be Nantucket Santas, these Santas have been met with year-round enthusiasm after the 2008 Nantucket Basket Santa was featured on ABC’s Chronicle. Since then, these pieces have been painted and available throughout the year; not just during the summer months.

For 2011, Judi has outdone herself again with this years Nantucket Basket Santa. Having modified an existing mold, this piece has been hand carved to show Santa skipping his Christmas sack for a Nantucket Basket as he delivers his gifts. In addition his white coat is decorated with the utmost embroidery and illustrative detail, based off of the romantic and nostalgic images on an exquisitely engraved polychrome whalebone box that was researched within the Nantucket Historical Association.