Luverne's Jan Busse holds the 2001 Christopher Radko ornament, "Brave Heart," which the artist designed to donate proceeds to the Red Cross. It doesn't take long for visitors in the Busse home to notice a decorating theme of Radko ornaments. They hang on multiple Christmas trees, they're suspended from the drapery rod in the living room, and they're tastefully displayed on table tops throughout the house. While Busse admits she loves to shop, she said she's never collected anything with such fervor as she does the Radko ornaments. "I kind of got addicted to them," she said. "I just think they're so beautiful." Part of the draw, she said, is that the artist makes a limited number of hand-painted ornaments, each of which takes seven days to create, and then breaks the mold. While the pieces can be quite costly, Busse said she tries to limit her purchases to those under $50, and she's learned which stores (and QVC shows) offer them at special prices. She bought her first one two years ago and the collection now has 27 Christmas pieces, plus another 15 for Halloween, Easter and other occasions.
Photo by Lori Ehde
