The Heart Behind Christmas Expressions

Meet the artist, designer, and team dedicated to creating timeless holiday treasures.

About Ann

Christmas has always been more than a season to me.

Growing up in a Canadian military family meant that home was constantly changing. We lived in different places, experienced different cultures, and had the privilege of celebrating Christmas throughout Europe and beyond. No matter where we lived, one thing never changed—Christmas always brought our family together.

One of my favourite traditions was our Christmas Eve drive. We would admire beautifully decorated homes, stroll through Christmas markets, enjoy seasonal treats, and simply spend time together. Those moments taught me that the true magic of Christmas isn't found in things—it's found in the memories we create and the people we share them with.

As the years passed, that love for Christmas continued to grow. Our family home became known for its elaborate decorations, inspiring neighbours to decorate more each year. Christmas wasn't simply celebrated; it was experienced.

Life eventually took me across Canada. I studied at university, built a career, became a mother, and continued the traditions that had shaped my own childhood. My children and I decorated our home together each Christmas and visited Ottawa's Christmas lights every Christmas Eve, creating memories that I hoped would remain with them forever.

Then my life changed forever.

On Christmas Eve, I lost both of my children in a tragic house fire.

For many years, Christmas became a season of silence. The joy I had once known disappeared, and celebrating the holiday felt impossible.

Life, however, has a remarkable way of gently restoring hope.

After moving to Alberta for a fresh start, I met my husband, Dave. His lifelong passion for Christmas and the miniature village display he had lovingly built over decades rekindled something I believed I had lost forever.

Together, we transformed that display into one of Canada's remarkable walk-up Christmas window displays—a magical village that continues to grow and delight visitors each holiday season.

While searching for realistic miniature streets, I discovered they simply didn't exist the way I imagined them. So I decided to create my own.

With Dave's craftsmanship and encouragement, I designed my first cobblestone pathways. Soon every street in our village reflected that vision.

From there, one creation led to another.

I taught myself how to create realistic bottle brush trees, glowing fire pits using natural stone and epoxy resin, snowy landscapes, and eventually one-of-a-kind heirloom Christmas décor. Every new technique was learned through curiosity, patience, and countless hours of practice.

Today, each piece I create is designed entirely by hand.

No patterns.

No production line.

No duplicates.

Every creation begins with an idea, an emotion, or a story waiting to be told.

As I work in my studio, I find the same peace and joy that Christmas has always brought into my life. Every design carries a little of that feeling with it—warmth, wonder, tradition, hope, and the quiet magic that makes Christmas unlike any other season.

That is why I create only one of each piece.

I want every family to own something that is truly their own.

Not simply a decoration.

A future heirloom.

A conversation.

A memory waiting to be made.

Christmas Expressions was founded on the belief that the most treasured Christmas decorations are not the most expensive or the most elaborate.

They are the ones that become part of a family's story.

That is the heart behind every piece I create.

And it always will be.

— Ann M. Craig
Founder & Artisan Designer
Christmas Expressions
Alberta, Canada