Frank’s final collection • In 4 active carts right now • Only 287 left
Frank's Hand-Carved Wooden Reindeer
Frank's Hand-Carved Wooden Reindeer
Ships within 1–2 business days
30-day money-back guarantee
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Frank's Hand-Carved Wooden Reindeer
Frank’s final collection · Hayesville, North Carolina
A little sitting reindeer, carved one at a time in a workshop in the North Carolina mountains.
Only 287 left · workshop closes December 15
“Put him out on the first of December. That’s all he’s been waiting for.”
“People asked me a hundred times about a website. I always said: if you want one, come to Hayesville. This is the only time I’ve said yes.”
– Frank Ledbetter, 74
What arrives at your door
- One Waiting Reindeer from Frank’s final collection, carved from pale wood with darker antlers and hooves
- About 8½ in tall, 5 in wide and 4 in deep (21.5 × 13 × 10 cm)
- Ready to set out the moment you unwrap him – no batteries, no plug, nothing to assemble
- Shipped within 1–2 business days
What makes Frank’s reindeer different
NO. 01
Real carving marks
The body is covered in small, uneven cuts. They catch the light from every side, so your reindeer looks a little different in the morning than by candlelight.
NO. 02
The face comes last
Long nose, two small dark eyes, that calm and curious look. Frank always cuts the face at the very end, when the rest is finished.
NO. 03
Sits like a real reindeer
Back straight, front legs stretched out, hooves on the ground – the way a young reindeer rests in the snow. He sits flat and steady on any shelf.
NO. 04
Darker antlers and hooves
The pale wood stays warm and natural. Only the antlers and hooves are darker, as if he just walked in from the forest.
NO. 05
Made to come back every year
No batteries to change, no bulbs to burn out, nothing to break down. Unpack him in December, put him away in January, repeat for decades.
NO. 06
The same design since 1979
The reindeer you get is the one Frank carved for his daughter’s first Christmas. He never saw a reason to change it.
Where he looks best
On the mantel, next to a few pine branches and candles. In the firelight, every carving mark shows.
On a windowsill facing the street, where neighbors and children walking past can see him.
Under the tree or on the dining table, between the presents or the candles on Christmas Eve. Keep him away from open flames and direct heat.
A store-bought figurine vs. Frank’s reindeer
| Typical store figurine | Frank’s Waiting Reindeer | |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Smooth, cast, every one identical | Carving marks you can see and feel |
| Face | Printed or painted on in seconds | Cut by hand, always the last step |
| Feel | Light, hollow, a little cheap | Solid in the hand, sits steady |
| After 10 years | Chipped, faded, thrown out | Still the first thing you unpack |
| Who made it | A production line | Frank, at his workbench in Hayesville |
Carved by hand in Hayesville
The workshop sits behind Frank’s house in Hayesville, a small town in the mountains of western North Carolina, a few miles from Lake Chatuge. Frank built kitchens there for decades. In 1979 he carved the first reindeer from an offcut for his daughter Lisa’s first Christmas, and from then on he sold them in just one place: his table at the town’s Christmas craft fair on the courthouse square.
Now his eyes are failing. The fine work on the faces is the first thing they won’t do any more, so this Christmas is the last. His granddaughter Megan has put the final 287 reindeer online – for the first and only time.
From my workbench to your mantel, Frank
Perfect for
Frank’s standard
- Every body roughed out and carved by hand
- Every face cut last, with a small knife and a magnifying lamp
- Antlers and hooves stained by hand, then oiled
- Checked by Frank, one reindeer at a time, before it leaves the workshop
Questions people ask Frank
Why are they called Waiting Reindeer?
Because his granddaughter Megan, at four years old, looked at a row of them on the workbench and said: “They’re all waiting for Christmas.” The name never left.
Is every reindeer exactly the same?
The design is the same, but no two are identical. The carving marks fall a little differently on every piece. That is what makes each one yours.
Can I order more than one?
Yes. Many customers order one for themselves and one for their parents or children. Choose how many you would like above – but remember there are only 287 left.
Can he stay out after Christmas?
Of course. Plenty of customers leave him on a bookshelf or windowsill all winter, or all year round. He is a reindeer, not a Santa – he looks just as much at home in February, next to a stack of books or a pot of tea.
Will there be more after this collection?
No. The workshop closes on December 15. Anything left after that date still ships while stocks last, but Frank won’t carve another one.
30-day money-back guarantee. Set him out, light the candles and live with him for a while. If he doesn’t win you over, send him back within 30 days and you get your money back. No questions, no fuss.
Care
Dust gently with a soft, dry brush or cloth. Don’t use water, sprays or polish. Keep him a little away from open flames, radiators and very damp rooms, because wood doesn’t like sudden heat or moisture. After the holidays, wrap him in tissue paper and store him somewhere dry until next December.
Product details
| Material | Wood, natural finish; antlers and hooves in a darker tone |
| Size | About 8½ in tall × 5 in wide × 4 in deep (21.5 × 13 × 10 cm) |
| Made by | Frank Ledbetter, Hayesville, North Carolina |
| Availability | Final collection, 287 reindeer |
| Shipping | Ships within 1–2 business days |
| Guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee |
The Final Collection
The Final Collection
A message from Frank:
After 47 Christmases at the same workbench, my eyes can’t follow the knife around a face any more. These 287 reindeer from my final collection are the last I will ever carve. Every one was roughed out, carved, sanded, stained and oiled by hand in my workshop behind the house in Hayesville. Nothing rushed. Nothing outsourced.
My granddaughter Megan wraps and ships them for me. The workshop closes on December 15, and what’s left after that goes out while stocks last.
When they’re gone, they’re gone.
Free Shipping
Free Shipping
Free shipping across the US
- Ships within 1–2 business days
- Insured: every package is fully insured, with tracking
- Wrapped in tissue by hand and packed in a sturdy box so the antlers arrive safely
- Care: dust with a soft dry brush, keep away from open flames and damp
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Megan personally replies to every single email – as fast as she possibly can. Whether you have a question about your order or just want to say hello to Frank, we’re here.
You can reach us:
- Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (ET)
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (ET)
Email: info@countycraftco.com
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Of course. We stand behind everything in our shop 100%. If the reindeer doesn’t win you over, just send us an email within 30 days and we’ll make it right – no hassle, no headaches.