Groups can tour Vaillancourt Folk Art and learn the history of the collectible pieces.
When Gary Vaillancourt gave his wife, Judi, a gift of three antique chocolate molds in 1984, neither of them knew it would signal the start of a new family business. In the years since, Judi’s collection has grown to more than 3,000 vintage molds — one of the largest collections in the world. She uses her molds to make hand-painted collectible chalkware figures for all major holidays, especially Christmas. Today, Vaillancourt Folk Art is one of America’s last remaining Christmas ornament and collectibles makers and the only New England-based one. Unlike most Christmas collectibles, which are manufactured overseas, Vaillancourt chalkware figures are still made by hand at the VFA studio….
