Let's talk about cardboard Christmas houses and accessories

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PostPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 6:03 am 
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TIME TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AS WE DRAG OUT AND DOWN AND UP THE CHRISTMAS BOXES. REMEMBER: OEHMEN HAS DISCOVERED THE SECRET OF…COCONUT… http://tiny.cc/sn6vx


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PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:20 pm 
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I just sent him an email to try to get some coconut for a class I am doing. How wonderful that would be!


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PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 2:23 pm 
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Location: Long Beach, CA
I bought two colors of coconut from Paul and they are wonderful--match what they need to match very well (green and off-white). I thank you for this tip on Paul's creation.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 11:29 am 
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I am working on a house with darker colors, blue, red and green with the intention of covering the house and fence with crystal glitter. Then the more I looked at the house I got to thinking the glitter may not be the way to go. I started looking at the coconut houses and I would love to give this a try. I did send an email to Pet Oehmen with some questions regarding buying some of his shredded coconut. I know nothing about applying this. I have started painting my house. Is the coconut applied after the house is painted? if not I guess I will have to apply some additional coats. Can I paint the coconut to match the paint I am using? Also do you think it will look okay to have the glitter houses and the coconut houses together in the same village? Thanks so much!!


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:02 pm 
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Since I have decided (today) to combine both coconut-covered houses and some with glitter in one display, I would of course say go ahead. I've used Pete's coconut (I have some off-white and green, and now I need dark red and blue) and find it easy to use. I thinned out some white glue and brushed it on the already-painted surfaces and sprinkled the coconut on and it looks great. Very easy to do, but don't paint over the coconut--you will lose all the unique effect of the coconut. Ask Pete to make up the colors you want--he's very accommodating that way, and sells it (or did a month ago) in two-ounce batches, which is really quite a lot.
I used glitter on two new putzes I just made, and they will just have to live with my coconut houses! (Of course one of the new ones is a space-and-time machine, not exactly a standard village component, unless you focus on the time machine aspect.)


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:46 pm 
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Hi Nan,
Thanks so much for all your great info!! I have sent Paul and email and he is still selling 2 ounces of coconut for $7.00. I just have to work out the colors with him. I want to ask him about the bases, they seem multi-color, off white with some tans. I really like this look. What have you used for your bases? It is nice to know you will be mixing up your houses, coconut and glitter. I would love to see some pictures of you houses. Again thanks so much.


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:50 pm 
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HI Nan, I just recieve an emial form Pete. I wanted to pass along some ifo he geat me. "When I make new houses I use the stucco system that the Japanese used. The Japanese used a gusso tinted to a shade that the coconut is going to be. They put their glue right in the gusso then painted the house with this guesso, before it dried they rolled the house in a bin of coconut. That's how they maintained the 3D look of the applied coconut".


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 3:05 pm 
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That's wonderful information, Lynn. Thanks so much for passing it along. I used to use gesso when I was working in gold leaf many years ago--I bet it's the same as what Pete was referring to. The technique sounds very interesting--something I'd like to try, but I can't imagine having enough coconut of one color to "roll" my putz in. Maybe just dipping the assembled walls (without the roof, which is usually a different color therefore requiring different colored coconut) in the appropriate coconut, then the roof, then carefully putting the roof on the house. Will have to think about this.


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:44 pm 
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Hi Nan,

Here is a bit more info from Pete....

If you study the original houses you will notice that the Gesso has pigment added to the mixture. Usually a lot lighter color than the coconut. I use Gesso, a little rice flower (dulls down the Gesso), lots of white glue and a water based pigment. I rapidly paint the part I'm going to add the coconut to with the Gesso mixture and then while it's wet I dunk it into the coconut, just like the Japanese did. By putting the pigment in the Gesso you don't have to worry about chipping later that might show up.

You may be able to sprinkle the coconut in a heavy doses, maybe use a spoon.


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PostPosted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:51 pm 
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Sounds great, Lynn. On my next houses, I'll give it a try. Just finishing four glitter houses, which I'll post when I can get them ready for the camera.


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Note: All content on this forum is Copyright (c) 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 by Paul D. Race
and by the posters who have contributed specific content. All material is for your personal use only. No content
or plans may be republished or sold, nor may any plans be used to make products to sell without prior written
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