In the 36 years of being in the Christmas business we have been blessed with meeting and working with some of the most amazing Christmas artists in the country.We met Bruce Catt and Mark Mathews in 1987 in Frederick Maryland at a show. Their booth and costumes were of a period ship keeper and they were beyond belief. We found out after that Bruce was a costume designer for many movies, and did Bernadette Petter’s costumers when she performed on Broadway, and dressed the host for Saturday Night Live—and on many occasions would invite us to attend the live filming of the show.What we knew Bruce for most was his hand made Victorian Christmas ornaments. He would import material from Europe and would make the most accurate Victorian paper ornaments and Dresden ornaments we have ever seen.We carried Bruce’s work for many years, and he was a regular visitor during our Christmas in July celebrations. Because Bruce stuck to his NYC schedule—used to working all night and sleeping through the day—he wasn’t always the most jovial in the morning of our signings!Several years back, Bruce retired, and he and Mark left New York for Colorado.Our collection of Bruce’s work is one of the highlights of our Christmas celebration at our homes. Bruce passed this past weekend and leaves a legacy of Christmas magic. Our condolences go out to Mark who was a loving and dedicated companion.
