Do you really want to know about ME, Mary Etta Brightman? With an age spanning 80 years, I suppose there are things to tell.

Like the fact that I owned and operated my own art and gift shop on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. That I've hand-painted all sorts of things, among them dresses, ties, driftwood, slates and evening gowns. That I was a millinery manager back when people knew what "millinery" meant. That I'm a professional seamstress and a lover of animals and flowers. I've raised irises that have won awards from the National Iris Society, as well as African violets, which I used to sell. I've also raised dogs - Yorkshire terriers - my favorite breed. And I paint portraits of people's pets.

I'm a self-taught artist fortunate enough to have earned an income doing what I love for over 50 years. I've painted and sold ceramics. I've exhibited and sold original acrylic, oil and watercolor paintings. If you've ever visited Maryland's renowned annual Waterfowl Festival, you've probably seen some of my work.

My enduring love, though, is making the Olde World Santas - the true heirloom quality ones in which I take so much pride. I have a studio in my home and spend most of my time there with my husband, Donald. We're in this together - he makes the stands, modifies the storage box included with each Santa, and takes the pictures you see on these web pages. We even raised a family of three children in our spare time.

Can you imagine? Eighty-year olds like us getting on the Web? Well, we're still going strong and ME Santas continue to be popular and collectible. So thanks for visiting and let ME hear from you!