Turning discarded chunks of wood into folk-style Santas has been a passion for Patricia Cobb, owner of Folk Carvings by Patricia Cobb, for over thirty-five years. What started as a “what if” became a successful career choice for her. “I was inspired by my sister, who is a wood-carver,” Patricia says. “After college I gave it a try to see if I could make a go of it.”

Patricia started doing shows in the late ’80s, mostly on the weekends. “My husband would stay with our daughter while I traveled around to the various shows.” As her family grew, this arrangement continued to work well for them. “I was able to stay home with my girls,” she says.

Having grown up in the Lehigh Valley, Patricia would come up to her family’s cabin in Bradford County, and she fell in love with the area. In August of 2023, the Cobbs made the move to Wellsboro, where Patricia’s business has flourished.

“When I work, I let the wood inspire the carving. I’ll sit with a piece of wood and study the grain until it reveals itself. An open mind is necessary to be creative,” she explains. Using only a chisel and a mallet, Patricia turns these otherwise ordinary blocks of wood into something spectacular.

“Old-time Santas are a huge part of my carvings, and are probably the most popular item I make, but I’ve also done angels and birds,” Patricia says. They range in height from roughly five inches all the way up to twenty-four inches for some pieces. Handmade ornaments have been known to make an appearance in her repertoire.

There’s no shortage of resources when it comes to finding the wood for her creative endeavors. “I’m particular about the wood I use. I like American chestnut and can order it from a company, but have found lumber mills and even my friends’ backyards can have the perfect hardwood I need,” Patricia says.

She doesn’t have a website, but has found word-of-mouth through satisfied customers to be her best promotion. “I ship all around the world,” she says proudly.

For more information, or to place an order, you can email Folk Carvings by Patricia Cobb at [email protected].