Heartland Valley Water Mill is Back

Villagescape showing Heartland Valley Village Water Mill

It's back. We're so happy to see that Ace Hardware has contracted once again to carry the Heartland Valley Village Water Mill during the holiday season.  This was hard to find anywhere previously.  We have since painted the wheel of our only working model in a dark brown for a more realistic appearance.

You'd be hard-pressed to find another miniature mill anywhere that has a working wheel that uses real water.

A Big Move for Village Fantasies

We'll be making a big move to a new setting at month's end to the scenic and very inspirational San Bernardino Mountains here in California.  We're moving to the small hamlet of a town called Arrowbear Lake nearby the more well known Running Springs.  Arrowbear Lake is as the name signifies, half way between Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead.  We're looking forward to the majestically forested canyons and peaks providing multitudes of inspiration for many a Villagescape to come. Pray for us though and our sanity as we make this trip up the hill.

Apple Season in Historic Oak Glen

The fall season hasn't officially arrived here in Southern California, nor the cooler temperatures that typically accompany it, but that's no reason for the arrival of the apple season to be held up in historic Oak Glen, nearby in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains.  Things are in full swing with all of the local orchards and vendors offering a multitude of local apple varieties for sale, in addition to entertainment, great food, and fun away from the hectic pace of city life below.  If you haven't checked out what Oak Glen has to offer, it is well worth the trip.  

Why Christmas Villages

Someone asked me once, "Why are you so interested in designing and displaying Christmas Villages for others to see?" My answer to the question wasn't preplanned, scripted, or sugar-coated.  It was one of passion and of shear love for the history of our country and its beginnings.  There is a reason why I choose to depict scenes from out country's earliest days in my village displays.  I was the kid in school who loved reading about American history.  I wished we had spent more time though on the pioneering and Colonial periods.  That could be the essence of what pushes me to a sense of realism in my village displays, and depicting true to period decor and dress.

Another 5 Great Traditions for Your Family During Christmas

We've added a new excerpt to our library of Christmas stories and articles at Villagescapes by Village Fantasies. Check out our stories page at http://villagefantasies.blogspot.com/p/article-library-by-village-fantasies.html 

Oh Where oh Where Have My Villagescape Photos Gone

What is a villager to do when their harddrive file full of Villagescape photos ends up being inaccessible because the computer had a mind of its own and moved them to an imaginary removable media device entitled local Disk C? He screams at the top of his lungs. Plug your ears, this could get painful.

A Christmas Village Preview From Villagescapes Past

The Village Fantasies Villagescape transitions from the colors of the fall season in to winter with a light dusting of an overnight snowfall.  A Christmas village with added texture and detail will cause your thoughts to wander back to an earlier forgotten time.

Windermere Church in late fall

Christmas Village Design Ideas

Thought I'd share a photo of a prop I made for a village several years ago.  A trash can.  Very simply made from a tiny 35mm film canister. The size was perfect, and just had to paint it to get rid of the shiny plastic appearance. The latest early 19th Century New England Coastal Villagescape doesn't need that. I don't believe they used public trash bins back in those days.

Here is one of our handmade stairways just below.

A Salute to Our Veterans

Our salute goes out to all veterans, for those who sacrificed their lives and those who are willing to do so in the name of our freedoms and rights. Today, our flag waves boldly in the breeze.

Wave Boldly Old Glory

A Perfect Day at the Base of the San Bernardino Mountains

Linda and I spent an overdue birthday celebration up in Oak Glen, CA on Sunday.  The weather was perfect ,with the landscape awash in fall colors and a crisp breeze to remind us of the holidays about to arrive.  Here is some of the proof of that color.  Sorry about the blurry photo quality. My regular camera battery died, and the Blackberry photos, although they work in a pinch, just aren't as clear.  The reddish tree to the bottom right is a Japanese Maple, and one that does not do well in many areas of the Inland Empire, nor many other parts of Southern California. The cooler mountain climate of Oak Glen must do it well.

My beautiful Linda at Willowbrook Farm in Oak Glen

An Amazing Day in a Glorious Hillside Village

Linda and I spent a spectacular outing in one of our favorite locations today, the foothill apple village of Oak Glen here in Southern California at the base of the San Bernardino mountains.  I have been visiting Oak Glen with family since a young boy, and love it more with every adventure.  A great deal of my inspiration for our Villagescapes comes from visiting scenic locations like this.

Today, among our several stops of the day, was one to a new Bed and Breakfast that opened earlier this year, and the very first in Oak Glen, Serendipity Ranch Bed and Breakfast.   There we met the owners Bill and Nina, and were quick to tell them how happy we were to see their type of accomodations now being offered in Oak Glen.  The village atmosphere is perfect for their warm homestyle accomodations.  Surrounded by nature and wildlife in all its glory, we know we'll be back, and will pass the word on to family and friends.

I hope you check out their website, and pay them a visit for your own tour: Serendipity Ranch Bed and Breakfast

Great News! Now anyone can post

Just thought I'd let everyone know that for now, anyone can make a post to our blog. Want to make it as simple as possible to interact for you fans of Village Fantasies, and those who just want to share thoughts and ideas about harvest and Christmas villages.

The Smell of Cider Brewing and a Christmas Village Display Around the Corner

Riley's at Los Rios Ranchos

Locally here in Southern California, many of us have a fall season destination where we can get away from the common everyday congestion and angry tirades that are encountered throughout an everyday clock cycle.  One of our family's favorites is the small mountain foothill town of Oak Glen just at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains above Yucaipa.  My own family has been visiting the town known for its apple orchards and village lifestyle for over 50 years now. The fall season brings the harvesting of numerous varieties of apples, amazing apple pie, and cleaner air to breathe than what we're used to on the lower flatlands.

One thing is missing though. A town Harvest Village Display, and when Christmas arrives, a Christmas Village display. Oak Glen would benefit tremendously from a grand display set up at a central point for visitors to linger around and enjoy as part of the yearly festivities.

After dinner at Hawk's Head Public House
at Riley's Farm in Oak Glen

Fall Ushering in the Harvest and Christmas Village Season

We may have finally reached our true fall season here in Southern California, as we approach the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday seasons. I should say the Harvest and Christmas village seasons, for those of you who are die hard villagers like us.  Would love to hear what everyone has in mind for the upcoming village displays. Not necessarily what pieces you are putting out this season, but how you plan on displaying them that is new. We're all about the creativity and design here, not so much about the collecting.

Christmas and Harvest Villages - A New Horizon

I was asked recently why I discontinued the main Village Fantasies website, even though it had risen to the top of the second page of Google and Yahoo alike under "Christmas Villages" and "Christmas village displays". It was a really popular site, but took too much work, and we felt it wasn't serving the purpose intended. We're hoping the blog and this fan page will rise to that same level of entertainment and following. Thank you everyone.

Thomas Kinkade Hawthorne Village collection

Anyone else incorporate the discontinued Thomas Kinkade Hawthorne Village pieces in their displays? Those are the Seaside Village and/or Lamplight Village pieces that are based on Mr. Kinkade's artwork of the same name. Wonderfully detailed and realistic collectibles that are actually my preference over Department 56, Lemax, and other collections. The detail is incredible, and even though made of resin(I believe), they are a denser product which prevents unwanted light from shining through the walls of the piece. It only comes through where you want it, the windows.

Thomas Kinkade's Windermere Church

Amazing Thomas Kinkade replicas

One of my favorite Hawthorne Village Thomas Kinkade replicas.  Unfortunately the entire line was discontinued as a result of the economic slump. Too bad.  The detail is far more realistic and refined than anything I've seen D56, Lemax, or any other collection put out. I have some favorite pieces from those collections, but they just can't compare.  Look at the realistic windows. You know how the light shines through the walls of the average village collectible? Not with these. The light only shines through the windows.  Everything is proportional as well.

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Village Fantasies Harvest to Christmas Transition Villagescape

Here's the video reposted with annotations.