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No Surprise, I'm Suggesting Art Under The Christmas Tree

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Ward County Notary Services 607851

I LOVE ART! All kinds of art fills our home and it always has. Back 50+ years ago I loved sculpture, wood working, literature, commercial printing, and of course music. There have been a lot of little detours, or as my friend Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® CRS,ABR,PSA,RCS-D, ePRO says, "Rabbit Holes" I've gone down including welding and baking.

My sons art gallery is the second one I've set up and run. The first was in a little town of 500 and I was absolutely amazed and all the people who came in but that's another story.

The point of this post is that Art is a great and very personal gift. Art is not something you give just to anybody, but I say give it to someone you love. Someone you know well enough that you have studied the art work in their home or office. If a shelf in their office looks like this you might give them...

...a bird house.

My best Christmas gift ever was one I gave my mother back in 1973 when I was in technical school learning the trade of being a motorcycle mechanic. I lived in a little motel in a resort town with a roommate who I meet the same day we moved in for the school year. My dad gave me $20.00 a week to live on. The resort town had little tourist trap shops and I went from one to the other until I spotted the most beautiful sculpture I had ever seen. It was $40.00. I have no idea how I came up with the money but TRUE STORY: My roommate and I were starving after I bought the sculpture we shot the neighbors well fed squirrel and that and a box of saltines were what we ate for a week.

The sculpture is about 16" tall and made out of rosewood.

My Mom proudly displayed this piece of art in a prominent place in her home until she died. Fortunately for my my stepfather knew where it belonged and returned it to me upon her death. This was the greatest gift I gave and the best I've received (except for the art my children have blessed me with over the last 20+ years.

I was inspired to write this by the December 2024 ActiveRain Holiday Gift Challenge  by Carol Williams 

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Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Yes loved the post and having come from a family of artists I can appreciate it, my Grandfather made a living selling his artwork and now are displayed in a Museum in Hungary, my mother dabbled with it and gave her art work as gifts.... have a few of both of their works and I am grateful for it. Hence I truly get it, glad you got it back under your control:)Endre

Dec 22, 2024 09:19 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

My stepfather and I were very close Endre Barath, Jr. so there was no doubt the piece would be returned. My mother had great art skills but she was more along the lines of an interior decorator so she did not leave anything behind to remember her art skills. 

Dec 23, 2024 08:18 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Bob - yours is a very special memory.  Thank you for depositing that thought into my mind's vault.  

Dec 23, 2024 03:57 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

You are welcome Michael Jacobs .I hope you us the idea to gift art to someone very special in your life.

Dec 23, 2024 08:15 AM
Bill Salvatore - East Valley
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

that was a cool sculpture. Great information. Thanks for sharing, enjoy your upcoming

Christmas and sell a house. Bill Salvatore

Realtor / Arizona Elite Properties

Dec 23, 2024 04:07 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thank you Bill Salvatore - East Valley . As soon as I saw it I knew it was the perfect gift for my mother. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Dec 23, 2024 08:13 AM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

Great idea Bob!!! Thanks for sharing!!! Happy Holidays!!!

Art is a great and very personal gift. Art is not something you give just to anybody, but I say give it to someone you love. Someone you know well enough that you have studied the art work in their home or office.

Dec 23, 2024 04:31 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thank you Sham Reddy CRS . Happy holidays back to you, may you be richly blessed.

Dec 23, 2024 08:12 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Bob.You made a wise choice if you procured that piece for $40 although I hope it was a large squirrel and big box of saltines. Enjoy the holidays and hope you get to see Tina. 

Dec 23, 2024 04:51 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Wayne Martin the neighbors had feed that squirrel well and yes it was a full box of saltines. We didn't have peanut butter so a can of cake frosting topped the crackers. If we see Tina it will be by skype and even that would be nice.

Dec 23, 2024 08:11 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

There is certainly plenty of art in your home, definitely much more than in mine, haha.

Dec 23, 2024 05:19 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

We do have a lot of art in our home Brian England and it's close to 50% my children's art and 50% other professional artists. I think what I posted shows maybe 10% of it.

Dec 23, 2024 08:08 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Bob,

Indeed a very special gift! Thank you for your post and Merry Christmas and enjoy the holiday!

Dec 23, 2024 05:39 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thank you for the Christmas wishes Dorie Dillard Austin TX and the same to you.

Dec 23, 2024 08:06 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I'm glad it came back to you so you can continue to enjoy it!

Dec 23, 2024 05:40 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Me too Kat Palmiotti . Being my mom died prior to the kids being born it is also a reminder to them about the grandmother they never knew.

Dec 23, 2024 08:06 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Wow, Bob. That's a great memory. Did your mother ever know the severity of your financial situation in order to buy her that sculpture? 

I'm glad you got the sculpture back. I know it has deep meaning for you.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

Dec 23, 2024 07:17 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I honestly don't know if my mom knew about the financial struggle Carol Williams but I know she loved the gift. I probably told the story of eating squirrel but I don't remember. 

Dec 23, 2024 08:05 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Hi Bob... I love art and have a home full of it. But I don't want anyone gifting me art... first, because I have no more room for it and second, I've rarely found that people understand my taste. Art is very personal.

Dec 23, 2024 01:31 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Art really is personal Nina Hollander, Broker so I understand that. That being said I bet I could find a piece for you. 😊

Dec 23, 2024 01:49 PM
Steffy Hristova
HomeSmart Elite Group Tempe AZ Tel: 602.710.8161 - Tempe, AZ
Tempe AZ Realtor - Your Home Close to Your Work!

Bob "RealMan" Timm , there is a special feeling in places with art. They make you look deeper, reflect, trigger thoughts. It's a sign that you know the person well, if you are gifting art.

Dec 26, 2024 12:11 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I agree Steffy Hristova . Art is a very personal gift. On a recent tour of a gallery in Fargo ND I saw very little I would gift as much of it was sexual perversion.

Dec 26, 2024 01:09 PM