Finally getting a chance to witness that part of our country where it took root.  Moved to New Hampshire recently to attend grad school and was pleasantly amazed by the overwhelming scenery everywhere.  They get their share of rain, and the snow season is approaching.  Right now we're going through the fall change of colors.  I've included a few pics as examples.  I'm getting a lot of inspiration for the next Villagescapes I do, especially the Harvest version.

Sunapee Village, New Hampshire

For those of you looking for new ideas to spruce up your next Christmas Village, consider adding landscaping detail to your shoreline or streamside in the form of reeds that populate these areas in real landscapes. Here's a photo I took just yesterday along a creek showing what I'm referring to.

Inspiration for Villagescapes by Village Fantasies

The inspiration for our Villagescapes that this kind of scenery provides is spectacular. Our snowed in street in Arrowbear Lake

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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.

Some New Villagescape Inspiration for Village Fantasies

A day after we moved to Arrowbear Lake we received an early season light snowfall. Our first gift of inspiration to come.

A neighborhood view from home

Downtown Arrowbear Lake

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.

A Bit of History on Villages

Thought this was a pretty good article for those who just want a brief capsule of information on the history of villageing.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_village

A Tribute to Papa Ted and Famous Putz Collection

This is a great article that recently came out about Ted Althoff, otherwise known as Papa Ted in the world of villaging and collectible village pieces.  He has collected a very extensive ensemble of village houses known as Putz, and is a wonderful resource and knowledgeable authority on these older type of village houses. 

Check out his site for a nostalgic trip back in time to some of the early days of villaging.  http://www.papatedsplace.com/ 

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.

Wonderland of Noble Firs on Display and Sale at Riley's Farm

A trip back in time to colonial America, a stimulating and invigorating experience that brings smiles and appreciation of a simpler time in our country's history.  At Riley's Farm in the historical Southern California apple town of Oak Glen, you can not only enjoy reenactments and hands on activities that hark back to our country's roots, but you can also buy #1 grade Noble Firs like these cheap, enjoy live music, fresh ground wheat bread, a tavern fireplace, and Adventures in the Old World? Make plans!

Linda and I at Riley's Farm-circa 2009(love that word 'circa', sounds so historical)

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 Traditions-Give Your Family Something to Look Forward to With a New Tradition

Christmas Traditions-Give Your Family Something to Look Forward to With a New Tradition

Check out our new Christmas tradition article about adding some new flavor to your annual holiday festivities.

Thanksgiving Music Anyone??

We were just wondering if anyone had any favorite background music that they liked to listen to during the Thanskgiving holiday.  We yearly hear the Christmas tunes playing over the airwaves, but why aren't there any recognizable Thanksgiving tunes?

The Nostalgia of Elgin Park

For anyone who is nostalgic about our country's history like I am, you have to check out Michael's Smith's Elgin Park diorama photos.  His work is amazing.  As someone who appreciates skilled miniature replication, I am in awe of his talents, and eye for detailed imagery.

Michael and I are both cut from a similar cloth, in that we have a passion for seeing larger scale scenery in a smaller format.  The level he has mastered, is being able to replicate miniature vignettes of the 1930s to 50s using scale model cars and buildings typical of the day, and adding magnificently realistic photo backdrops to add a fullness and lifelike image to his work.  Except without the life. You'll notice there are no people in the photos.

Take a look at his use of shadowing and light grading. I'm a fan for life.

Welcome to Elgin Park

  

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 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