7.31.2015

The Christmas Village

A few weeks ago, I randomly came across a picture of a beautiful, sparkling, magical, lit up Christmas Village on Pinterest and I fell in lovel!  Then, I remembered that I have a few unpainted houses that my Mom bought for me about thirty years ago and I actually found them in the garage!

Unpainted plaster Christmas village houses by California Creations

Unfortunately, the company that made these, California Creations, went out of business over ten years ago but they released a new collection of houses every year for about fifteen years.  Luckily, I’ve been able to find a zillion of these houses on eBay and I’ve been having so much fun hunting them down!  Very quickly, my small village of four houses rescued from the garage has become a bustling city of thirty two adorable little houses and shops with a Cavzilla guarding over them…..

Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sitting by unpainted Christmas Village

It’s taking me FOREVER to paint each house but I’m having so much fun doing it.  I actually painted and shaded each individual, teeny, tiny brick on this one and used six different colors so it would look more realistic.

Hand painted Christmas village house

There’s still a lot of work left to do on this one but I’m so in love with how my soft, faded, shabby chic brick turned out that I had to show an “In Progress” photo!   One house halfway done!  Thirty one more to go!

Hugs,
Jenny

P.S.  If anyone knows where I can get some of these houses other than eBay and etsy, please let me know!  They’re sold under the name California Creations or Creative Crafts and the average size is about 5″.

12 comments :

  1. I have 136 of the Christmas houses I love them

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  2. Do you happen to know if there are different sets? I have a tavern that seems smaller than all my other houses and I'm trying to ad to the set I inherited from my mother. Thank you

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  3. Hi
    How tall are your house in the center?
    Jean

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  4. Hi, I am clearing out my grandmother's home/ estate and could easily open a paint shop with the number of unpainted California Creation Village houses. If anyone is looking for these, please let me know. I'm looking to sell all of them, open to offers and suggestions of where to sell (outside of ebay and etsy where I've seen them for seemingly outrageous prices!). I can be reached at Jenni.stokesrn@gmail.com

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    1. I am always looking for more Christmas village houses, my husband and I put on a Christmas display and open it up to the public, with admission by donation for various children's chartities. We did not have is operational last year because of Covid, but are hoping to get it running this year. Please let me know if you have any buildings left, and if you are able to ship to Canada. Thanks, and sorry for your loss of your Grandmother. Denise Madeiros (denisemadeiros1@gmail.com)

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    2. I am looking to buy many of these California Creations Houses unpainted does anyone have any to sell?

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    3. If you are interested in the library I just made you can e-mail me at casey.r.staley@gmail.com

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  5. You can create a fabulously life like brick by taking a small piece of foam sponge and dabbing the bricks. Do a base darker color then the lighter then top with the lightest color. You can also spritz it with a toothbrush but I don’t like the results as much as with the sponge. I started painting my collection at 18. I’m now 45 and have been collecting them every year.

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  6. https://www.statuaryplace.com/store/

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  7. I’m looking for some unpainted houses or stores etc. my grands want to add to the collection I had their Dad paint when he was young. Tradition continues if I can find some pieces that don’t cost a fortune! Contact: mcgeelister@gmail.com

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  8. I would love to find some unpainted California Creations to add to my collection I started when I was 18. Please reach out if you are selling them. My email is angieddb@gmail.com. Thanks.

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  9. Hello, so I am late to the game we started painting California creations in about 2001 and have a 8 or so. When I got married I wanted to carry on the tradition, and I couldn't only find like 6 and then paid through the nose for one or two on ebay but I was frustrated. I decided to make my own. I cannot add a picture here but it's a library. Anyone interested? I am aiming at about $15 to sell this one. Casey.r.staley@gmail.com if you would like to see the plaster library.

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