Fall 2013 by Pioneer Communications, Inc.

Displays to Scream About

fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

fall 2013

City Lights

YEAR ROuND cHRIStmAS & cOLLEctIBLES EmpORIum 1212 knoxville St., San Diego, cA 92110 phone: 800-262-5335 Email: D56heaven@aol.com When in San Diego why not visit our 40,000 sq. ft. store and view our incredible village displays including most retired pieces.

Visit Our Super New Website! www.CityLightsCollectibles.com

We Have All New Intros Available In All Lines ALL IN StOck & SHIppINg! You can order online or give us a call! Every Department 56 collectible listed, and most pictured, from Buildings to Accessories to trees to Walls and Fences.

FREE SHIppINg On Orders Over $48 TAX FREE OUTSIDE CALIFORNIA

WE BuY ALL VILLAgES BRANDS WE cARRY: Jim Shore, precious moments, Disney classics, Just the Right Shoe, Lenox, Ebony Visions, charming tails, christopher Radko, possible Dreams, gold Label, g. DeBrekht, pipka, Harbour Lights, Annalee, Byers' choice, Willow tree, Fontanini, Ne'Qwa, Steinbach, Forchino, Alley cats, Wee Forest Folk, Boyd's Bears, Speed Freaks, trail of painted ponies, my Little kitchen Fairies, karen Didion, Bethany Lowe, Hansa, Foundations, mark Roberts, Lynn Haney, munro Dragons, Fairy glen, Fairy Divas. fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

Contents

Pg. 8

Designing Displays 8

halloween to the extreme

"Lights, Camera, Action" by J. Michael Sanders"

ALL HALLOWs' EVENING "On Display" by Leigh Gieringer

DOUBLE FEATURES "Collector Profile" by Stephanie Finnegan

Just So You Know… "Display Ideas, Hints, and Opinions" by David Spears

Pg. 16

30 New York "From Our Readers" by Anne Korchevsky 32

THE TRAin SCREAM! "Train Skein" by Paul Malek

36 GROUPING AND ELEVATION "Village Workshop" by Stephen Pepin

Department 56 Details 16 Designer scott enter Is Inspired by His Family and Childhood "From Inspiration to Creation" by Stephanie Finnegan

village mid-years The Most Recent Department 56 Releases

Miscellaneous Musings

From the Editor

A GATHERING ON THE HORIZON

SNOW Village HALLOWEEN Word Search

“Puzzle” by Linda Kruger

"News From the NCC" by Mike Goode

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

fall 2013

Pg. 24

on the Cover

A Halloween Village scene by Department 56®. Photo courtesy of Department 56®.

Over 45,000 Retired items ready for shipping @ $14.75 per order with no sales tax out of AZ.

Check Ebay user name: garynshe for 100% positive (4,000) customer feedback rating. Prices are less on our websties than in our Ebay store. Buying from Retailers and Collectors with all pieces mint in original packaging. For selling your inventory email: HMCGO@citlink.net, only. Call for 7 page priCe list. Hometown Church St Paul 295 Ch Notre Dame Cath Paris 248 Grinch Cindy Lou Who Hou 245 NCC Blue Umbrella 28 Xmas Story Bumpus 805667 256 Sea Bay Mystic Ledge 53445 168 Jefferson Memorial 57704 248 Village Memorial 53028 30 HolY laND Gatekeeper Dwelling 59797 98 Good Samaritans 59924 110 Heralding Angels 59759 38 Holyland Animals 59922 35 Innkeeper Caravansary 138 Nativity S/2 59796 88 Prodigal Son 59923 62 Rug Merchant Colonnade 138 Sower & the Seed 59925 58 Spice & Copper Vendor 59913 146 HalloWeeN Village Be Witching Costume Shop 228 Bobbing For Apples 55185 16 Canine Trick or Treaters 33 Costumes For Sale 68 Gathering Pumpkins 55200 26 Hall Dance 55189 148 Halloween Kids 55186 48 Halloween Van 58634 20 Haunted Barn 55060 138 Haunted Fun House 55094 98 Hauntsburg House 55058 98 Helga’s House of Fortunes 160 Preparing for Hall 54982 32 Scardy Bat 53132 48 Screech Owl Barn 804443 152 Shipwreck Light Ho 55058 295 Spooky Schooner 55087 178 Treats for Kids 55016 42 DisNeY parK Village Balloon Seller 53539 28 Mickey Xmas Carol 6 Pt 78 Original Set of 7 360 Entire set of 10 590 Silversmith 53520 118 Tinkerbell 53522 88 DiCKeNs Village 2 Turtle Doves 58360 22 5 Golden Rings 58381 15 10 Pipers Piping 58386 80 12 Drummers Drum 58387 398 Admirals House 58733 65 Ashbury Inn 55557 32 Brick Abbey 56498 74 Bringing Fleeces Mill 58190 18 Brixton Watchman 58390 18 Browning Cottage 58249 35 C Bradford Wheelright 58181 12 Chadbury Train / Stati 65285 225 Chancery Corner 58352 88 Codington Cottage 58514 48 Come in to the Inn 55603 25 Crown Cricket Inn 57509 58 Dedlock Arms 57525 35 Dickens Gadshill Cha 58488 38 Dudley Docker 58353 28 Gads Hill Place 57535 36 Great Denton Hill 58122 28 Gunnersbury Pk Folly 58707 65 Hedgerow Garden 58476 28 Hembleton Pewter 58009 36

Hop Castle Folly LE 58633 65 Leacock Poulterer 58303 68 Leather Bottle 58511 72 Margrove Orangery 58440 85 Nettie Quinn Puppet 58344 66 Old Globe Theatre 58501 118 Old Royal Observatory 58453 98 Old Queensbridge Station 138 Peggotty’s Green 55506 22 Pied Bull Inn 57517 48 Red Lion Pub 58715 98 Royal Staffordshire 58481 58 Sheffield Manor 58493 98 Sir John Falstaff 57533 52 Victorian Fam Xmas House 168 Wackford Squeers Board Sch 58 CHristMas iN CitY 1234 Four Season Pkwy 88 Architectural Antiques 70 Cathedral St Paul Gr 58930 238 Christmas @ the Park 58661 19 Christmas @Lakeside Pk Pav 148 City Ambulance 16 City Fire Truck 58 Consulate with 25 Flags 58 Haberdashery 24 Holy Name Church 128 Jambalaya Café 59265 160 Kelly’s Irish Crafts 59216 118 Light Nouveau 59262 138 Midtown Barber Shop 78 Molly Obrien Irish Pub 88 Monte Carlo Casino LE 98 Mrs Shannon School 59251 118 Old Trinity Church 88 Paradise Travel Co 75 Parkside holiday Brownstone 96 Pumpkins in the Park 59402 40 Ready For The Road 16 Regal Ballroom 799942 148 Rockfeller Plaza Skat Rink 595 Salvation Army Band 59854 48 Stepping Out on Town 58885 22 Wintergarten Café 58448 28 NeW eNglaND Village Amish Buggy 28 Bluebird Seed & Bulb 56421 22 Cape Keag Fish Cannery 26 Chapmen’s Cider Hou 56655 78 Connachers Nursery 56662 78 East Willet Pottery 56578 36 Hale & Hardy House 48 Harvest Seed Cart 56456 12 Independence Hall 55500 68 It’s Almost Thanksgiving 38 Lumberjacks 56590 17 Mountain View Cabin 56625 195 Navigational Charts Maps 110 Old Man & Sea 10 Pembroke Textile Mill 805525 115 Sawyer Family Tree Farm 119 Semples Smokehouse 32 Sleepy hollow Church 58 Town Tinker 56464 12 Trinity Ledge lighthouse 68 Verna Mae Boutique 56626 38 Whale Tale Pub/Inn 56652 198 WM Walton Fine Clocks 88 Woodbridge Post Office 78 alpiNe Village Bergermeister Haus 56233 128

Grist Mill 59536 Kamm Haus 56171 Nussknacker Nutcracker Spielzeug Laden Toy 56192 St Nicholas Kirche 56170 storYBooK Hickory Dickory Dock Humpty Dumpty Café Lambsville School Mary Quite Contrary Nativity 13241 Old McDonald’s Farm 13244 P. Peter’s Pumpkin 13184 Twas Night Befor Xmas Ch NortH pole Acme Toy factory 56729 Alfie’s Toy Sch 2nd Gr 56781 Artic Games Station 56779 Avon Grandma’s Bakery Beard Barber Shop 56340 Blitzen 808929 Beard Brother Sleigh Wash Countdown Xmas Headqtrs Custom Stitchers 56400 Elfin Forge & Assembly Elve’s Trade Sch 56387 Express Depot 56368 Hall of Records 56392 Kringle St Town Santa 56869 Marie’s Doll Museum 56408 Orly’s Bells & Harness 56219 Popcorn Cranberry Ho 56388 Real Plastic Snow Factory Rimpy’s Bakery 56219 Santa’s Visiting Center 56407 Santa’s Workshop 56006 Starlight Dance Hall 56742 Sweet Rock Candy 56442 Town Hall 56767 sNoW Village 56 Flavors 51519 1234 Kissing Claus Lane Abandoned Gas Pump Airplane Red 54402 All Saints Church 56709 Al’s TV Shop 54232 American Hero Comics 55322 Another Man’s Treasure Acc Bakery 86 2nd 50776 Bank Original 50245 Bayport 50156 Beacon Hill House 50652 Beacon Hill Victorian 54857 Ben & Buddy’s Lemonade Bill Service Station 51284 Buds TV & Hi Fi 55612 Budweiser Delivery Truck Boulder Springs 54873 Bringing Irish Cheer Buck’s County Horse Trailer Candle Rock Lite House Carmel Cottage 54666 Caroling Family Catch of the Day Chapel of Love 55354 Children in Band Christmas at Farm 54500 Christmas Barn Dance “ Cadillac 54135 “ Kids 97 54922 “ Lake Chalet 55061

38 72 375 58 48 165 158 125 165 63 168 88 90 68 78 48 36 19 20 48 68 24 32 28 27 34 24 28 19 38 58 32 38 138 28 88 28 88 128 23 52 98 29 65 29 38 231 178 165 56 38 78 128 38 46 18 65 94 45 12 14 228 16 12 56 32 14 78

“ Lake high School 128 Delta House no iron 138 Doctor’s House 89 51438 65 Eden Prairie Inn 4016905 78 Elf House 805510 225 Elvis Autograph 65 Farm House 87 50890 110 Farm House 97 54912 73 Farmer’s Coop Granary 45 Farmer’s Flatbed Truck 29 Federal House 94 54658 44 Fire Station #3 89 54942 198 First Round of the Year 20 Friendly Used Car Sales 45 Frost & Son 5 & Dime 75 Frost University 799927 158 Fun at the Fire House 22 Gabled House 50814 395 Gazette Sv 55605 75 Gifts on the Go 55035 18 Good Shepherd Church Sch 47 Governor’s Mansion 138 Graceland Elvis 55041 198 Grocery 1983 50016 165 Gus Drive-in 55067 98 Happy Easter Church 55325 295 Hard Rock Café 55324 85 Harley Davidson Holiday 14 “ “ Motor Shop 145 Hartford House 54267 45 Haversham House 84 50083 97 Hearts & Blooms Cottage 158 Hiking in the North Woods 23 Hitch Up the Buckboard 28 Holiday House 55048 238 Holiday Reindeer Run 19 Holiday Sleighride Together 42 Hope Chest Consignment Shp 58 Ice Cream for Everyone 30 Jefferson School 50822 138 Kenwood House 88 50547 78 Last Stop Gas Station 55012 42 Lets Play House 85 Lionel Elec Train Shp 54947 178 Listing to Summer Concert 13 Lot 57 Chris Court 799929 98 Lucky Dragon Rest 98 Lucky Irish Souvenirs 89 Mailbox Red & Blue 9 Main St Gift Shop 54887 40 “ “ Hardware 51535 78 “ “ Town Santa 55254 22 Making a House Call 55170 18 Mayors Mansion 55607 140 McDonalds Drive Inn 54914 350 “ “ “ (rough snow) 250 “ House of Love Built 98 95 “ Ron Kids Candy Canes 13 “ Lights Up the Night Sign 78 Meadowbrook Church 55349 78 Midtown Shops 55334 52 Mission Style House 55332 45 Mount Olivet Church 54429 78 Mountain Lodge 50013 248 Mrs Claus N Woods Nursery 135 Museum of Art 55618 76 Mush 54747 12 Nantucket Orig 78 50146 98 “ Renovation 54410 28 Neighborhood Xmas Scene 55 New Stone Church 50830 295

fall 2013

News Flash 55225 Noel House 55341 Now Showing Elvis Sign Oakgrove Tudor 54003 Old Chelsea Mansion 54903 Our Lady Guadalup 4020215 Pacific Heights 86 50660 Palm Lounge Supper Club Parish Church 84 50393 Patriot House 4020166 Patrolling the Road 54971 Pearlson’s Jewelry 55386 Pedal Cars for Xmas 55108 Pepperment Porch Day Care Pinewood Log Cabin 51500 Pint Size Pony Rides Print Shop Vill News 54259 Pizza Delivery 54866 Queen Anne Victorian 51578 Quineanera Celebration Ramsey Hill House 50679 Red Barn 50814 Reindeer Bus Depot 54874 Richmond Holiday House Roadside Produce Std 55411 Rock Creek Mill Hou 54932 Rockabilly Records 54880 Rollerama Roller Rink Round & Round We Go Santa Claus House 55602 Santa Comes to Town 1997 Santa Comes to Town 2000 Santa Comes to Town 2003 Santa Comes to Town 2011 Santa Wonderland Ho 55359 School Children 51187 School Out 55129 Secret Gardens Florist 54949 Service with a Smile 54865 Shingle Victorian Silent Night Church 55378 Silver Bells Xmas Shop Smoky Mountain Retreat Snow Carnival Ice Pal 54850 Snowy Hill Hospital Snowy Pines Inn 54934 Southern Colonial Spanish Mission Church St Nick Toyland Stillwater Coll Ant 55383 Thanksgiving Grandmothers Timberlake Outfitters 55054 Tree Light Ceremony 55104 Vill Warming House 51454 Vineland Estates Winery Williamsburg House Winter Retreat 4023611 Woodbury House 54445 Wooden Clapboard 50725 Woodlake Chapel 55068 Woody’s Woodland Crafts Wreaths For Sale 54098

12 195 58 38 98 110 70 55 180 95 13 67 43 58 43 30 45 13 98 22 73 88 40 128 88 31 44 78 29 345 21 28 30 37 135 20 18 47 16 98 158 44 73 248 195 84 49 138 98 138 395 65 48 47 168 140 89 58 145 98 72 38

Call 928-505-5655 for 50% off snowbabies, snowbunnies, easter animals, Merry Makers, and all thru the House. VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

from the editor

Editor Advertising Manager Art Director Circulation Director

It's here! The Village D-tails Reference Source and Secondary Market Guide, 3rd Edition, is now available, with full color photographs of each item, an alphabetical index by name, and item number index. It is the only complete reference to list all buildings and accessories for all Department 56 Villages from their inception to January 2013. $29.95 value. The accompanying Village Handbook is designed to use on your shopping trips as a record of your purchases and to avoid duplications. Each item is listed with the original sale price and retirement year to help value resale pieces, sorted by the Village series and release date. $4.95 value Order yours today, both online at TreasuresMagazine.com and by phone at 1.877.899.9977.

A New Chapter It is with both joy and sadness that I am announcing a new chapter in my life’s journey. After 32 years in the publishing industry I am retiring, and this is my final issue serving as editor to Village D-Lights. My replacement, Erich Gaukel (egaukel@pioneermagazines.com), is already hard at work on the next issue, and you can look forward to new leadership and fresh ideas. Erich brings rich experience to the position, and I know he is excited to hear your thoughts about the magazine. Please welcome him warmly to the world of Village collecting! There is always the right time to move on, and this is mine, though bittersweet. The sweetness is that my husband and I are both healthy, active, and enthused about traveling together and enjoying life and our families. It’s exciting to once again open life to new situations. And yet I feel sad closing the door on more than nine years of Village friendships and experiences. Many of you have been subscribers and contributors since the inception of this magazine. Readers, contributors, and colleagues — you all have become extended family and will be greatly missed. Thank you for allowing me to share the excitement and fun of collecting with you these many years. We’ve learned much together, and through it, hopefully you have found your lives enriched in a way that is only found through the hobby of collecting Department 56® Villages.

Keep on Villaging! —

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

Ronda Jans

Alicia Fryslie

Katrina Brocka

CEO Jim Slife

Village D-tails

Linda Kruger

fall 2013

Linda

Publisher Polly Clark

Production Twilla Glessner

Accounting Manager Allison Volker

Volume 9 / Number 4 TreasuresMagazine.com Phone 877.899.9977 Fax 515.246.0398

Village D-Lights (ISSN 1555-2918) (USPS 024-048) is published bi-monthly. Periodical Postage Paid at Des Moines, Iowa and at additional mailing offices. $27.00 per year in U.S., $37.00 in Canada, Mexico, and other foreign countries. Payment in U.S. funds must accompany order. Published by Pioneer Communications, Inc., 300 Walnut Street, Suite 6, Des Moines, Iowa 50309. Village D-Lights is a Pioneer Communications, Inc. publication. COPYRIGHT ©2013 by Village D-Lights. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. The opinions in articles written by contributing columnists & writers are solely those of the author & not necessarily those of Village D-Lights. Editorial & Subscription: 300 Walnut St., Suite 6, Des Moines, IA 50309, Phone: 877.899.9977, ext. 204, Fax: 319.824.3414. advertising: Call Ronda Jans at 319.415.5639 POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to Village D-Lights, 300 Walnut St., Suite 6, Des Moines, IA 50309.

Pioneer Communications, Inc. HEADQUARTERS: 300 Walnut St., Suite 6, Des Moines, Iowa 50309. Phone: 515.246.0402, Fax: 515.246.0398. PRODUCTION FACILITY: 316 W. Fifth St., Waterloo, Iowa 50701. Ph.: 319.234.8969, Fax: 319.234.8518. “Department 56®, Inc.,” “Original Snow Village®,” “Heritage Village Collection®,” “Dickens’ Village Series®,” “New England Village® Series,” “Christmas in the City® Series,” “Seasons Bay®,” “Profiles Department 56®,” “Literary Classics®,” “Alpine Village Series®,” and "American Pride® Collection," are the Registered Trademarks of Department 56®, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN. “North Pole Series™,” "North Pole Woods™ Series," “The Holy Land™ Collection,” "Little Town of Bethlehem™ Series," "Hot Properties!™ Collection," "Disney Parks Village™ Series," Williamsburg Village™, Winter Frost™, Jim Shore Village, and “Snowbabies™” are Trademarks of Department 56®, Inc.

ncc

By Mike goode, NCC president

News From The NCC There’s a gathering on the horizon! Each year, Department 56 collectors gather for three days of shopping for lighted houses and accessories as well as learning how to better enhance their village displays and vignettes. This year on October 25-27, collectors from throughout the United States and Canada will make their way to Windsor Lock, Connecticut. This is the site of the Northeast Harvest Gathering. Not only will collectors attend seminars and attend “Make and Take” workshops, they will make new friends and renew old friendships. Display ideas, quick layout tips, and laughter will fill the meeting rooms and hallways of the Sheraton Hartford Hotel at the Bradley Airport. Whether you are a seasoned collector or just getting started, this is an event that you just simply cannot miss. Professional display artists will be on hand to demonstrate background and lighting techniques. Numerous

seminars will provide collectors with layout strategies and unique design methods. If you are looking for a way to get more lighted buildings into a small space, this is the place to be. If you are looking for ideas to bring life to your waterside buildings, you can attend a seminar that will teach you how to create a realistic boat dock. Do you have an area of your display that is difficult to use? There will be experts there to help. Perhaps you have always wanted to incorporate an open basement under “Santa’s Workshop” or in your Halloween Village display. You can learn how at the Northeast Harvest Gathering. The display contest at a gathering is always a wonderful opportunity to see the fine work of talented collectors. Attendees not only get to view these carefully planned village displays, but also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite. Prizes are given to the winners in each division. The display contest

is definitely a location where you want to take your camera or sketchpad. Do you belong to a collectors club? Would you like to join a club in your area or would you like to start a club? There will be seminars on how to do so. Members of the National Council of 56 Clubs Board of Directors will be on hand to help answer your questions and guide you to various seminars and workshops that will help you. If you are in search of program ideas and service opportunities, the NCC can help. Windsor Lock, Connecticut, is a wonderful place to be in the fall, and the Northeast Harvest Gathering is an exciting opportunity for collectors to come together to learn, to share, and to enjoy the fun of collecting those little lighted houses. As president of the NCC, I invite you to join others and me for three days of intense fun and fellowship. Visit northeastharvestgathering.com or ncc56.com for more information. u

Stocking all Department 56 Villages Showcasing exciting displays of all Villages

866-760-1717 Toll Free

ReTi 2013 R Day SemenT Starts ale

See lis nov. 1 st t 11/1 www. at sal emcre

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694 Hanes Mall Blvd., Winston saleM, nC 27103 fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

Lights, Camera, Action

By J. Michael Sanders

"Extreme"!

Jim and Lauren Murphy own the Lazy R Ranch. Once you make it past these two ghouls guarding the entry, watch out for the giant spider over your head!

ast summer, I had the pleasure of speaking at one of the meetings of the San Diego 56ers Club. While in the area, I was invited to the home of Jim and Lauren Murphy, long-time members of this club, to see what I had heard to be an outstanding Halloween display. Well, I am here to say that what I found was Halloween to the Extreme! Nestled in East County San Diego, amid the juniper and pinion pines in the lower elevations of the Cleveland National Forest, is the small town of Jamul, where the Murphy’s have lovingly worked to

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

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keep up their historic home. The original house, built in 1898 and added to in 1928, sits in the middle of their four-acre ranch. Other than three pug dogs, they do not raise animals typically associated with a ranch. They do, however, have a small pond and quite a bit of land under cultivation. But the most unique aspects of the property are the 13 outbuildings the previous owner had built that are clustered about the property. There are two saloons, a jail, a hotel, a log cabin, a trolley car, a mortuary, boot hill — and even some real outhouses — all Western themed and in-

habited with all manner of ghostly ghouls and an army of skeletons. After the Murphys moved to their ranch in 1993, they began with more modest Department 56 holiday displays inside the house. It wasn’t long before Jim took over one of the outbuildings (the 16’ x13’ saloon), and 13 years ago he began to construct a permanent Halloween display within. Having filled that space, Jim has moved his attentions to the log cabin, where there is a bit of space left to expand. Once that space is filled, it is anyone’s

A model of New York’s Hell Gate Bridge dominates this section of the display.

These floating stairs are created by cementing a series of small foam shapes, offset, and stacked one on top of the other like dominos.

guess which building he will take over next. Lauren continues to concentrate her efforts inside the house. Together and with the help of friends and fellow club members, Bob O’Conner, Jon and Winnie Sage, and Vern Brown, the Murphys have graciously opened their ranch to many, who have made their open houses a holiday tradition. Besides the various outbuildings, there are 50-plus Halloween

inflatables and lighted/animated decorations spread all around the property. It is truly a sight to behold! I have included as many photos and captions as space will allow, so you can see for yourself and get some ideas for your own “Halloween to the Extreme” display! The Murphys, who also collect Dickens’ Village, North Pole, Peanuts®, and seasonal displays, have been collecting Department 56 for almost 30 years. At first, they collected just a few pieces at a time; but when Jim discovered Halloween

This backdrop scene is painted on a clear acrylic sheet and back-lighted. Then, a silhouette of black buildings are cut out and placed in front.

buying, self-control was a thing of the past and their collection grew exponentially! Jim also collects O-Scale model railroad equipment and is a member of the San Diego 3-Railers Club, which operates a magnificent display at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park. If you are ever in the San Diego area, I highly recommend that you check fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

Lights, Camera, Action This tiered display is one of several display vignettes inside the Murphys' historic home.

out this museum and the many other attractions in Balboa Park. Now I realize that there are not many of us that have entire rooms, much less entire structures to devote to our displays, but there is a couple I know that collects everything Department 56 — as well as model trains —

and they devote not only entire rooms, but the whole house, to their displays. I will be writing about their extensive collection in a future column. In the meantime, do you have a question, a comment, or a subject that you would like me to cover in this magazine? Please take a few minutes and write me at jms56villager@aol.com. Until next time, Happy Villaging! u

Part of the Murphys’ army of skeletons is on its way to mischief on the Jamulian Express trolley car. This was a kiddieland ride in its previous life.

The water is created by sculpting clear silicone caulking and brushing the raised edges with fluorescent paint, which glows in the dark when illuminated with the overhead black lights. A small fog machine adds to the eerie effect.

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fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

ON DISPLAY

‘

By LEIGH GIERINGER

All

Hallows’

Evening

RIGHT: Even if you do not have a Halloween designated building, you can still create the atmosphere. Develop your display and substitute a Dickens’ Village piece with a subdued coloration.

BELOW: Tombstones can be easily made to compliment those available from Department 56 and LeMax®. Wooden crosses and rounded stakes are available from craft stores. Use them alone, or merged together. Tiny skulls in black and tarnished silver are available in the jewelry section. There are numerous ways to develop a cemetery. Be creative!

was the night before All Hallows' Day and all through the neighborhoods, little ghosts, gremlins and gobblins are roaming the streets. The observance of the Halloween Holiday has become more and more popular each year. Back in the late 1990s, Department 56 came out with their first Snow Village Halloween pieces. Since that time, more and more village collectors have obtained pieces from this village to set them up in October — or before, if their village is immense. I’ve spoken with collectors who did not start this village when it was first introduced. “I didn’t want to start col-

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lecting another village. I already have too many!” “I have no where to put them.” “Christmas is just around the corner, so it is too difficult to put up Halloween, take it down and put up Christmas. They are going in the same areas!” Excuses. Excuses. Excuses! Recently, I’ve spoken with some of these same people. “Oh, that village is so-o-o-o cute! I wish I would have started collecting it when it first came out.” “ I can’t afford to buy the pieces now. Many are going for prices higher than issue price.” If you have been collecting this village from the beginning, congratulations! There are many envious collectors who wished they had started ear-

RIGHT: The bridge crossing the rocky stream was made from balsa wood. Place quarterinch strips across the gap and cut planks to cover most of the length. With a craft knife, shape and distress the planks before gluing them down. The more imperfect the wood is, the more authentic the bridge will look in a Halloween display. A gray paint, then a wash of black, as well as aging powders were used to color and weather the bridge. A jewelry necklace was cut for the broken handrail. Realistic Water by Woodland Scenics™ was used to assimilate the stream.

lier to create a spooky village. After all, the creativity is only limited to one’s imagination. It is extremely fun to set up, detail and look for additional pertinent items to incorporate into the setting. That can be a year-long venture! However, what if you did not have the foresight to acquire the village from its inception? There are a couple of things you can do beside going to the secondary market, and mortgaging your big house, to obtain all the pieces. There are some sub-series village pieces that can easily go into smaller, yet fabulous, displays. The Grimsley pieces are an example. There are also accessories that go with them! They will make a great vignette all by themselves. Add some other favorites if you want a larger display. Although introduced in 2007, the “Rickety Railroad Station” is still available. The railroad theme also offers the platform, water tower, and of course, the engine and rolling stock — which

of course is not really rolling since the train is static. A few of the cars have been retired, but they could be obtained, if desired, without mortgaging the big house. A couple pieces on the secondary market are more affordable than the entire village. Or, just work with the current pieces. The engine, sleeper car and caboose are still current, plus the new pumpkin flat car makes four. Along with the new track, there is plenty to make an impressive rail display! A third suggestion, and maybe the easiest to obtain, is the Western ghost town of Dead Woods. Introduced in 2012, all the pieces are still readily available. Expand it with the station and train. What a great display they will make! A Halloween set-up can be focused on just one building set up to create the mood in an entry way where the little Halloween beggars can see it as the door opens. There are a number

The water falls through the rocks. Colored in tones of gray or taupe, they could be part of any other village.

of props available at party stores, big box stores, dollar stores, and just about anywhere you look. One of them is a variety of Styrofoam™ tombstones. Some might think they are too big to incorporate into a village display. They could make a dynamic backdrop for the building(s), especially if there is a miniature cemetery within the display to carry out the theme. And, if you don’t want to pay retail prices for props before Halloween, make your fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

ON DISPLAY own out of Styrofoam® or cardboard. The former has more depth and substance, and is easy to carve and detail. The latter is probably less expensive unless you managed to get some freebee Styrofoam. Both would have to be painted in multiple gray tones to make them look aged, weathered, authentic, and detailed. But, both could be stored and reused each year. Or, get a percentage-off coupon from a craft store like Michaels® or Hobby Lobby® when they begin offering their Halloween merchandise. Another choice would be to wait until after Halloween to get several at a reduced price for next year’s display — if there are any left. You can also get blackened fences, skulls, smoking cauldrons, witches, and more from these stores to add to your display atmosphere. Look for candelabras or small chandeliers, especially ones that are bent, oxidized, or broken from a thrift store or Goodwill®. They can be added to the background with the Halloween building(s) in the foreground resting on some black fabric. A display can also be surrounded with ghosts — large, small, and tiny! Gather some light-weight white material, bind it to form the head, use a magic marker to draw eyes and a mouth, and place a fan where it jostles the wispy fabric. Or, cut several out of white FoamCore®. Check out the Internet for patterns. There is another option. Take a non-Halloween village piece or pieces and design your display around it or them. Most pieces will not work, especially those that are brightly colored or have detailing on them that wouldn't fit the theme, but there are some you may already possess which would allow you to develop an awesome vignette. Most of these pieces would be older, since they are more simply designed and more crudely fabricated. Look for the ones that have drab coloration. And, if for any reason, a building has been broken or cracked, don’t discard it. It could be made into a very exciting and realistic Halloween display. 14

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A good place to look for these could be a garage sale. The illustrating display uses the Dickens’ Village Church, fifth version, the butterscotch-colored one, dating somewhere between 1985 and 1989. It is the least valuable version. Being an older piece, the sides are somewhat concave, the color quite drab, and the quality of the painting indicative of the era. The actual Snow Village Halloween Village doesn’t have a church, but since Halloween is about skeletons, ghosts, cemeteries, and the macabre, this church is very apropos. Just add the cemetery! Stock tombstones are available in the Department 56 accessory line, from LeMax®, and they can alway be made from wooden tongue depressors, FoamCore, clay, or cardboard. Make several in different shapes, such as rounded tops, angled tops, crosses, etc., in the same scale as the stock ones. Vary the color. Use pictures from old cemeteries for ideas if you really want to highly detail your cemetery. There are also some larger crypts and tombs in the Department 56 line, or stack various sizes of Styrofoam or FoamCore to make a funerary monument. Pieces of balsa wood, cut in the shape of a coffin, can be stacked to create a dimensional piece. A small cross can be mounted on the top of the coffin. Dig a hole in the Styrofoam dirt so the coffin can be in the process of being buried. Tiny skulls and bones can be seen coming out of the coffin, placed near it and/or scattered around the cemetery grounds. Aging powders are an excellent way to weather anything wooden, like the coffin, wood fences, or planks leading to the cemetery; or jute ropes if they are used. Simply brush the dry powders on. If you want them darker, add another coat or use the deeper toned powder. The medium does not require water, but will adhere to any rough surface. Gray aging powders can also be used to darken the building bricks, if desired, making it look older and more dilapidated. There are several smok-

ing cauldrons available, as well as the Department 56 “Foggy Point Platform.” The former are open, so would be placed below, within or behind the display. Design the display with vents to allow the smoke to circulate around the display. The platform, on the other hand, can be front and center, with your building on top of it. Scatter additional bones within the rocky and flat areas. Skeleton garland is available during the pre-Halloween season. They are brown in color and larger than the ones available in the Snow Village Halloween Village, but when they are broken, leg and arm bones, hand and feet, and the skulls can be sporadically placed within the display. They actually look better in pieces than as an entire skeleton. Gather other small items throughout the year that could be added to the scene. Occasionally, you can find single wheels from a child’s broken toy truck, the springs from a ballpoint pen after the ink dries up, small round ball bearings, and tiny broken items such as a garden statue, clay pots, or pieces of balsa wood fencing. These are the items that make the display truly interesting. Your viewers will spend hours marveling at the detail. But most importantly, you will have a wonderful time collecting items throughout the year and creating the displays. Halloween displays and vignettes can certainly be some of the most interesting, creative, imaginative, and exciting scenes to develop. Both little trick-or-treaters and big Halloween lovers will enjoy your efforts. u You can reach Linda Gierneger, the author of this article, here: Leigh Gieringer Village Display Tips Lakeside Suites at Ocotillo 3115 South Price Road Chandler, AZ 85248 Phone: 480.600.6099 Fax: 480.855.2303 villagedisplaytips@cox.net

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Call 1.877.899.9977 or order online at www.TreasuresMagazine.com fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

from inspiration to creation

By stephanie finnegan

With his love of family and enthusiasm about Christmas and Halloween, designer Scott Enter is an ideal fit for Snow Village buildings. For many parents and grandparents, the world they grew up in was a more leisurely paced, more tactile environment. Music was actually held in a person’s hand because it was recorded on a CD, or even on a vinyl record album! Books were printed on paper pages and the notion of an “app” was an abbreviation for appetizers. This electronic-free lifestyle was the one that Scott Enter enjoyed and, in fact, most likely helped to lay the foundation ABOVE: Coca-Cola® is a permanent fixture in popular culture — it ranks number one in “soda pop culture” for sure! Department 56 has an array of Snow Village buildings and accessories to celebrate its cheerful connection to Christmas. 16

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for his successful life as Senior Designer for Department 56. Growing up in Bloomington, Minnesota, young Scott came of age in the “primitive” days that predated handheld Game Boy™ and omnipresent iPads®. “I always liked to draw and make things,” Enter recalls. “Back in my childhood, it was a way to help pass the time on long car rides, since there were no videos for the cars or electronic games. Plus, I was always encouraged by my parents to make my gifts for Christmas and other occasions as they always seemed to be appreciated more.” Naturally gifted, Scott bolstered his artistic aptitude by studying and taking

Scott Enter, Senior Designer for Department 56.

courses in school: “I took many art and photography courses in high school, then at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and then at the St. Paul School of Associated Arts. In fact, I was originally hired to do the photography for the

Department 56 brochures and catalogs.” As luck would have it, the catalog was completed at the time of Enter’s hire, so he was asked if he knew how to draw and if he could help out with the Village accessories. All of those long car trips paid off! Scott was handy with paper and pencil and had the trained aptitude to learn new crafts and skills. “One of the accessories grew into a lit house — the ‘Village Greenhouse’ — and I have been doing houses ever since!” Enter’s fortes are The Original Snow Village buildings and he revels in adding a personal stamp to his offerings. One way he leaves his mark is by bestowing the names of family members, friends, and significant chapters of his life to the buildings. “Yes, you will find my family, coworkers, and places from my life and travels in the buildings,” Enter admits. “For instance, ‘Shelly’s Diner’ was named after my wife.” Scott has the highest praise for his spouse and his three children. He is unabashedly proud of his wife’s commitment to him and their children — and of his children’s accomplishments. “My wife is the love of my life, 25 years this year,” he affirms. “She is a great mother and my friend. Without her pushing me to go back to school 28 years ago, I would not have been here today at Department 56. Working from home, she has always been there for the kids after school,

which I know is a big part of what has led to their success.” The Enters’ trio of children are two sons and a daughter: the eldest is daughter Mackenzie, 21, a junior in college; the middle child is son Andrew, 18, who is about to begin his university career; and the youngest child is son Alex, 16, a highschool junior. “My kids are great. They are all smart, caring, and good-looking. They are everything I could have asked for. I love them all immensely,” he reflects. “Even my dog, Charlie, is arguably the best dog in the world!” he adds jovially. Surrounded by a family whom he adores, working alongside colleagues whom he respects, and mingling with collectors who always delight him, Enter knows that he is a fortunate man. “It is rewarding to know that I am helping

Scott Enter is a proud family man. He often turns to his wife and three children, friends, relatives, and colleagues for his inspiration.

collectors create family memories and traditions with my pieces. For some of these folks, the buildings help to trigger recollections of times from the past that they have spent with their loved ones and friends,” Enter says. Since the early 1990s, the senior designer has been attending conventions, gatherings, and signings every year. What he has learned is that all attendees have their own personal tales and connections to their chosen pieces. “Everyone wants to or will share these stories with a little coaxing when necessary,” Enter observes. “I like to hear these tales and enjoy the satisfaction I get from helping to create

Many of Scott’s pieces hold clues to his personal life. “Shelly’s Diner” was named in honor of his best friend and wife of 25 years.

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VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

Priced at $30.00, the new “Coke Is It!” figures act out what many collectors feel in their hearts. Coca-Cola® is their favorite beverage.

“Bob’s Truck Stop” seems like a welcoming, cheery rest stop for the holidays. Decked out in holiday finery, the Coca-Cola® building is slated for a $95.00 price tag.

these special connections.” In addition to the autobiographical name clues, Enter is also connected to the pieces through anecdotes from his life. Having done a lot of Halloween buildings for The Original Snow Village, he understands the allure of that holiday spectacle. October 31st held a large fascination for him as a boy. “Growing up as a child, I was a little shy. Putting on a costume and running around at night in the dark, and getting candy, helps you to forget about that,” he muses. These days, he looks forward to attending his friends’ annual costume extravaganza, and he also delights in decking out his house with loads of Halloween-inspired decorations and Department 56 collectibles: “Our house is one of those that families like to come and see. I enjoy carving all the pumpkins and helping the children with their costume choices. Halloween is a holiday where you get to show your creative side.” In addition to the menacing and the macabre, Enter is also versatile enough to conjure up the merry and the magical. He is also associated with the CocaCola® buildings and accessories for The Original Snow Village. In his youth, soda pop and Santa figured prominently. “When I was a kid, Coca-Cola was the one I drank and it was always in my 18

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house! Not only did I enjoy drinking all that Coke, but when it was all gone, the bottles were all mine for the refund,” he declares with a chuckle. Regarding the iconic interpretation of St. Nick that is associated with the CocaCola brand, Scott reveals that that rosycheeked, white-haired, portly gentleman is indeed his go-to notion of what Mr. Claus should look like. “Since my childhood, I’ve seen him as the perfect image of Santa, and it has remained with me for all these years,” he states. As a child Scott was shy, but Halloween afforded him a chance to dress up and demand candy at night. It was a treat to be more forward and bold. The “Haunted Mansion” was his first Halloween piece for Department 56.

When Scott isn’t at the office, or busy sketching or sculpting a new proposal, he gravitates to his home, where he can relax and spend time with his family. “The kids are all growing up and moving on,” he laments. “I enjoy going to the lake with them and getting away from everything. It seems that is when all the best memories are made.” And, will these cherished lakeside retreats find their way into a host of future buildings and Department 56 renderings? “There are always new things brewing and new things that I would like to add,” Enter acknowledges. “For those new arrivals, you’ll just have to wait and see!” u

Jim Shore Signing & Special offer event

September 27, 2013 Spend $115 or more and receive a FREE SIGNED “Witches Brew— Witch With Cauldron," a $65 value plus FREE SHIPPING & NO TAX out CA. Only pieces over $29.99 will be signed. The number of pieces Jim will sign is VERY LIMITED and will be on a “First Received” basis. Once the limit is reached we will no longer be able to accept orders for signed pieces, but all pieces will still be available to ship. To have your pieces signed you MUST ENTER the coupon code of SHORE. All orders for special pieces will be charged in full at time of acceptance but will not ship until after the signing.

City Lights

Year Round Christmas & Collectibles Emporium • 1212 Knoxville St., San Diego, CA 92110

www.citylightscollectibles.com • 800-262-5335 or 619-275-1006 fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

Snow Village Halloween Word Search By Linda Kruger

Find and circle the Word List names of Snow Village Halloween series buildings and accessories in the Word Search (excluding punctuation). Good Luck!

Word List

Blood Creek Jailhouse Dolly's World of Hypnosis Hemoglobin Blood Bank Haunted Rails Grain Elevator Let's Have A Little Fun No One Rides For Free The Clown House of Terror The Pumpkin House Three Witches Cauldron Haunt

June/July puzzle winner

This puzzle is sponsored by

Shirley Enger from Loretto, Minnesota Congratulations, Shirley!

Prize for the Aug/nov 2013 Puzzle: "Three Witches Cauldron Haunt" #4030758, from the Snow Village Halloween, Witch Hollow Series, Department 56, website (Department56.com). Deadline for Entries: Entries must be received by Village D-Lights no later than October 1, 2013. One winner will be randomly selected from the valid entries. To Enter: Complete the puzzle. Send it or a photocopy to:

June/July 2013 Solution

Village D-Lights / Word Search 300 Walnut St., Suite 6, Des Moines, IA 50309; or fax 515.246.0398.

Submitted by: Name Address City State

Zip

Phone Email

No Purchase Necessary. One entry per person or household. Puzzle must be completed correctly to be a valid entry. Village D-Lights and Department 56 are not responsible for lost, incomplete, illegible, misdirected, misdelivered or delayed entries. This offer void where prohibited or restricted by law, and is subject to all applicable federal, state and local rules. Odds of winning depend on number of valid entries received. Winner responsible for all taxes resulting from receipt of prize.

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

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VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

collector profile

By stephanie finnegan

Double Features With a dash of realism, a speck of the Old West, and a tidbit of terror, Michael Melius’s displays are both original and evocative of Hollywood. LEFT: Utilizing Department 56 buildings, accessories, and wares from other manufacturers, Michael “Mike” Melius is all about giving scope and majesty to a vignette, such as his Sierra Hill.

Michael Melius might be retired, but his lifestyle is anything but retiring. The 64-year-old West Coast resident relishes new challenges, especially those with an old-fashioned bent. A collector of Village accessories and buildings, he delights in arranging them in unexpected and quite cinematic ways. Interestingly, though he has a gregarious and quite conversational manner, he much prefers his work to speak for itself. And, most fascinating, the work he prefers is of a darker, more somber bent. “Designing for a Halloween village is not the same as a Christmas village,” Melius points out. “Typically, the Halloween versions are dimly lit, so you don’t have 24

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to put as much detail into the scenery because of the absence of bright lighting; however — and this is crucial — accent lighting is critical for viewing.” The décor designer admits that the lower lighting does present a problem for photography, but the mood is essential for what he hopes to achieve with his nightmarish vignettes: “Often dimly lit photos are best. They can show the details, but they still give a semblance of the ‘dark night’ that is approaching.” Melius’s attraction to more Gothic backdrops and foreboding scenes might be linked to his childhood neighborhood. He recalls that, “when he was growing up, he

was surrounded by and impressed by the stately old homes he would pass.” “As a kid, I lived on a street full of these old Victorian homes. Many had turrets and three or four floors. Nooks and crannies were all over the place for a kid to hide,” he reminisces. Some had a two-story barn or garage out back for their horse or their Model A.” These large domiciles have figured prominently in the collector’s memory. He can close his eyes and instantly envision their appearances during the holiday seasons: “At Christmas, they were all lit up in festive lights, with a big spruce tree in the window!” His preferred time of year, though, was the fall, with the “shadows lurking everywhere and all of us kids feeling that it was so spooky to go trick-or-treating there!” With this sensory memory being so keen, it’s no wonder that Melius’s favorite items to collect are Victorian buildings and accessories. He considers his specialty to be “re-creating America circa the late 19th century and early 1900s. Trains, streetcars, or motion accessories all bring their own set of challenges. They can be stand-alone interest items, but are typically part of a much bigger plan. They have to be blended in such a way as to support the overall picture, even though these accessories can capture attention on their own. I love them!” Being a people person, Melius enjoys interacting with fellow enthusiasts. He knows that his displays can be eye-popping and he truly enjoys hosting parties, where guests are

Melius gets to play all parts in a Hollywood Western with his meticulous designs and sketches. Director John Ford would be pleased with the collector’s rendering of Comstock Mine.

encouraged to locate specific items. Played along the lines of a treasure hunt or a scaleddown scavenger hunt, these find-it contests are enormous fun for the invitees. “The winners get bottles of wine,” the considerate host says, “so, now all of a sudden, this is serious business! You have fully-grown adults poring over and combing through every nook and cranny of my contest village for particular items, because whoever finds the most on the list wins. A couple of months back, I crossed paths with a contestant who had been to a couple of these parties a few years back. She still remembers how fascinating the village was set up and how great the party was.”

In addition to these private soirees, Melius has also set up some of his captivating displays at stores, where they sell buildings and accessories, as well as at a museum that showcased creative individuals. I think in easy-to-set-up and breakdown, compact terms. For instance,

my Sierra Hill vertical village has a small footprint but lots of impact,” he says. Throughout his storied life, Melius has worn many hats and has pursued lots of different career paths. Building has always been in his blood. “My fascination with architecture goes

At first, Melius felt that collecting might be too feminine and refined. He found a way to unleash his inner pirate and adventurer. Skull Mountain rose from these early configurations.

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collector profile

A great deal of planning goes into the final product. Sierra Hill began as a sketch and rose to its lofty heights.

back to my love of American and some European styles, and that’s reflected in my background when I was designing period-looking homes around Atlanta, Georgia, years ago,” he recounts. “I also designed casino lighted displays for Las Vegas, for Reno, and for Indian Gaming in Northern California.” With this practical real-world experience, he was overjoyed when he found his first Department 56 pieces in 1993. “I initially picked up two. I loved the fact that I had a lit, scale building of a design that I could put into a scene. Boy, did that idea of a scene morph into an epic!” he says. The initial pair of buildings has expanded to more than 100 and Melius admits that he was a tough cookie when it came to choosing styles and adding to his trove. “With my knowledge of design, I only settled on those that offered a rather correct design approach to the building being sold. If it was too whimsical, I passed. Being a minority in this hobby — wouldn’t guys be fishing or hunting rather than collecting — made me realize why some building offerings were being made. I had to swallow my pride and get 26

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that sewing shop or millinery store because they had those shops back then. I can’t have a sports shop or a tavern in every building.” Setting up vignettes and tableaux, and developing landscapes that tell a tall tale, Melius found his niche. An occasional actor, this hobby allowed him to be a writer, director, and producer. He was in heaven, and his friends and family prodded him to take his handiwork to the next step. “My VillageVille website is a byproduct of my imagination,” Melius says. “There are many little helpful ideas on the blog part for getting that look, but ultimately it still rests with the artist creating it. ‘Line of sight,’ or ‘selective compression,’ or ‘scale’ are just some of the terms many of us face when laying these villages out. Collectors may not know the meaning, but we all have to do them if the display is to pass muster with the viewer,” Melius explains. In addition to sharing tips and photos on the website, villageville.com, Melius has offered his services to build and to design custom scenarios for fellow collectors. He has also conjured up a way to improve an

omnipresent, very essential supporting player: “For me, the next level is creating things like a man who carries a lantern. He is seen in all types of layouts, from Dickens’ Village to Halloween, Victorian to fantasy. Through custom fabrication, I can now bring a lowlight area into one of special interest. How did I happen to fabricate this? It was an idea I had that just happened to work. The lantern man can be moved all around the layout because he is on a 40-inch wire, and it is fine enough to be hidden until you run it through the base. It is a super cool effect!” Having been a member of the Valley Villagers, based in Sacramento, and a contributor to the Building New Worlds website — he's always agreeable about sharing photos and advice — Mike Melius has fashioned a new chapter in his very versatile life. It’s one that he is glad he’s authored and he looks forward to more building opportunities down the road: “Sure, I am at that point in life where I enjoy coloring outside the lines, just like I did when I was a kid. When I grew older, I got on the corporate bandwagon and promptly fell into step with decisions by committee. Today, I am totally responsible for my final designs and happily so. I cater to a customer’s request, but the final look falls on my shoulders. If smiles and appreciation meet me for a job well done, it’s because of the pride I take in my work.” Pride that could light up even the darkest, stormiest night sky! u

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VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

display ideas, hints, and opinions

By david spears

I placed a bunch of real flowers, which were mostly annuals, in a very old wheelbarrow. It made a very nice background/setting for a Department 56 house in a summer display.

Just So You Know . . . Twenty-eight musical groups — that’s my first count of what we have in our village collection. It includes everything from a oneman band, to the Department 56 “Twelve Drummers Drumming,” to the Lemax® eight-piece “Christmas Marching Band.” We have quite a variety. Sure wish I could sing, or play an instrument.

. . . 3rd Edition, 2013, of Village D-Tails has arrived at our house. Now, Linda and I have to post it with all the Department 56 we possess. It’s sort of fun for the first couple of hours, then I check out TreasuresMagazine .com or call 877.899.9977. All village buildings and accessories from 1976 through January 2013 cost $29.95.

. . . Kentucky Fried Chicken™ mashed potato/coleslaw containers provide good storage for little things. Knew I was on to something when I read “reusable” on both the container and cover.

. . . I’m going to try to make village display topiaries this year. The greenery will be model railroad foliage. The items to be covered may be cartoon characters, animals, or whatever?

. . . These are some of the new animated/ musical Lemax pieces for 2013; “Santa’s Cabin,” “Rising Star Bakery,” Lemax’s “Santa’s Workshop,” and “6 A.M. Christmas Morning.” I found these on the Web page of the Australian Lemax dealer Barcourt. Now, do we really need more animation?

. . . Linda and I had over 95 percent of our displays taken down and put away in April. As most of you know, the last five percent is the most difficult. Can’t find the box for this piece, can’t find the piece for this box — and on it goes.

. . . (photo at right) A while back, I mentioned a photographer that looked like me. A couple folks asked who it was. He is part of the Photographers #92622 from Lemax. This is what I previously wrote: “Now, I 28

know what others think I look like — well at least my brother-in-law Lee thinks so. He asked where I found a model of me. He then pointed out a photographer in our display. The small gentleman is overweight, has gray hair around the edges and is bald on top, and has a camera held up to his eyes. Doesn’t he know that I don’t even own a gray jacket?”

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. . . Visited Michael’s® and saw the “Eiffel Tower” sold as an item for jewelry display. Anyway, I really like it. It’s made from strong black wire, feels substantial, and looks good. It is 17 inches tall and seven inches square at the base. Cost is $19.95 (of course we always

buy with a 40 percent off coupon — Linda says we have to). If we purchase one, I will cut off the hooks for the jewelry, which is an easy task. Linda likes it. . . . We lost the last Department 56 dealer in our area, Gordy’s Gifts and Collectibles in Hermantown, Minn. I’m sad. . . . I saw some circus trucks and wagons from Diane’s Attic, but they just won’t do the job for us. Made to be placed on American Flyer® model railroad flatcars, they are too simple looking for me. I prefer at least some detail. And, they are expensive at $95.00 a set. Visit dianesattic.net. . . . “Reindeer fly, but polar bears handle ground transport!” a quote from the 2013 Department 56 Village mid-year brochure. I kind of like the words and the polar bear is very cute. He is part of the new “Holiday Special The Jolly Fellow Toy Co.” The bear is pulling a sled full of presents. Think I may have found two new Lemax additions for our Southwestern/Mexican area. One is the new “Taco Fiesta Taco Shop” and the other is “Feliz Navidad” #32144, a five-piece set (singing group). Saw them on the eHobby website.

have marching units with a variety of flags. Now, I forgot where I was going with this — suffice it to say, we now seem to be in the “can’t have too many flags” group. We didn’t even ask for membership. Oh yes, I forgot to mention all of the auto racing flags (from my past). . . . Linda and I are dancers, so I always look for dancing accessories. For 2013, there is a new Department 56 Snow Village “Christmas Waltz.” It appears to be Santa and Mrs. Claus dancing on skates. . . . Sounds for displays — we haven’t used our Department 56 “Sounds Of The City,” or “Music Emporium” for awhile. Most recently, animation with music/sounds has provided most of our noise. I think it may be time to go back to something a bit more soothing. . . . Linda and I kept asking if anyone had seen the new “Old Mission Church” or “The Pagoda Restaurant” from Lemax. We felt they might work with our Southwest and Chinatown displays, respectively. Nobody replied, so we solved the problem — we ordered the houses without seeing them in person. They fit in nicely!

. . . Linda found my “I Ate A Bridgeman La La Palooza” pin. I’ve been looking for it to use with our Department 56 North Pole “The Santa Palooza Masterpiece.” To win a bet, in another life, I ate almost two of the huge ice cream sundaes in one sitting. That probably explains why I purchased two of the masterpieces. Note: Bridgeman’s is a regional chain of ice cream stores.

. . . A declared snow emergency on May 2nd! That actually happened in several northern Wisconsin towns this year. School was also cancelled — just so you know!

. . . We turned around our Southwestern village display in our living room bay window. What did face into the house now looks out the window. We hope the display adds to our (outside) Southwest-style garden. We have a small area with cactus and other appropriate stuff in front of our house.

. . . We added some North Pole Woods Series houses and elves to our family. I mention this because we found them at a garage sale. To me, that means there are still Department 56 items out there to be found. These were at great prices. Linda hadn’t noticed the North Pole Woods’ houses before. I think there may be more of them in our future. Fortunately, it’s a small series.

. . . Flags! We have many for our displays. Now, we seem to be adding more. We’ve long had most of the American flags available from Department 56 and Lemax. We’ve purchased several other nations’ flags for our displays. There are also all the flags that come with buildings. I like parades, so we

. . . Has anyone used clear plastic tubes as an elevator for elves? The tubes that Toobies™, candy, and lots of other stuff, come in, seem like a good idea to me — and fun.

. . . It looks like a big — very big — version of the Department 56 “Peppermint Trees.” It’s 22-inches tall, but with no peppermint. It’s way over-sized, but I’ll bet we find a use for it. I remember our friends, Lani and

Mike, have made good use of the many large trees they own. . . . We’ve cut sisal trees in half, from top to bottom, to use against a background. Our first use was on a windowsill. The tree took up too much room without the modification. . . . I placed a bunch of real flowers, which were mostly annuals, in a very old wheelbarrow. It made a very nice background/setting for a Department 56 house in a summer display. Unfortunately, I don’t like to — and won’t — leave any of our houses outside, so it’s a one-day thing. . . . Halloween is now available on/at most Internet stores. Besides looking at Department 56 Halloween, remember that Michael’s has Halloween Lemax, usually with a few exclusives. . . . “We live in a rainbow of chaos.” — Paul Cezanne . . . Our gardens were featured during an episode of Great Gardening on local Public Television station WDSE. You will find our seven or eight minutes about halfway through the half-hour show. Visit the website wdse.org/shows/gardening/ watch/bugs-and-blight (no comments on bugs and blight). Gardening is another of our hobbies — just so you know! . . . Remember that you can use dried puka pods as pumpkins. They look like very small, real pumpkins. They’d be great in fall New England Village displays and a natural for Halloween vignettes. We found ours in the potpourri section of a gift store. They are also available, in season, at Michael’s. . . . “Look What We Found!”— that’s the title of the seminar(s) Linda and I will be presenting on October 25th and 26th at the Northeast Harvest Gathering. We hope to see you in Hartford. Your comments and ideas are welcome. Contact David Spears at: spears.duluth@ juno.com, 105 E. Toledo St., Duluth, MN 55811-2356 or call 218.724.6148. u

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VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

From our readers

By anne korchevsky

New York City Village My 2010

Dear Linda Kruger and Village D-Lights subscribers, I have been a Department 56 collector since 2005. I started collecting when my friends at work introduced me to Department 56 and Lemax速 villages, and they gave me several houses as a gift. Who would have known that this would be the best gift given to me and a start to my biggest and best collection. Through the years my family and friends have given me houses as gifts, and I have bought buildings and accessories myself. The joy and fulfillment that I receive 30

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when planning and making my villages, especially at Christmas, is priceless. I love the Department 56 villages the best because of their quality and detail of each piece. I presently own 108 Department 56 buildings which are Christmas in the City, Dickens', Alpine, New England, Snow Village, and also all the buildings and accessories of Seasons Bay. I also own 80 Lemax buildings and over 500 Department 56 and Lemax accessories/figures. The most wonderful Christmas gift I get each year is when my family, friends, neighbors, and their family and friends come to my house to see my village display. I see the joy and Christmas spirit they experi-

ence when they view my display. It is worth millions to see smiles and expressions of joy on their faces. Also I am so glad that I am able to give people the Christmas spirit by inviting them into my home. Living in Florida and not having snow takes away that Christmas feeling for some people. Each year my village is a different theme, examples are Ski village, Country, City, etc. My most beautiful and biggest village was my New York City village built in November 2010; it was 10 feet x 10 feet in my condo living room. My husband Grigory always supported me when I bought my village buildings, figures, and accessories, but he rarely helped me make my villages.

I started buying and planning my New York City village when I found the Christmas In The City piece, New York City Central Synagogue, which was the first Synagogue built in New York, and I bought it as a gift for my husband for Hannukah. It took me one year in planning and researching for my New York City village. I did Manhattan and Brooklyn. This village was very special for me because I was born in Brooklyn and it reminded me of the wonderful times we had growing up, especially at Christmas time. When I was going to start building my New York City village in November, my mom had a complication during surgery for cancer, and I was so concerned about her that I didn't feel like doing my village. When we got home from the hospital Grigory reminded me that my mom and our family would want me to do this village and continue the tradition. Thank God she was going to be okay. I never saw Grigory get so involved and excited about doing one of my villages. The joy that the both of us experienced with this village helped us get through the worry of my mom. It took us two weeks to build it. Grigory made holes in the Styrofoamâ&#x201E;˘ to put and hide the electric cords, carved the Styrofoam to make the sidewalks, made the street pavements out of copy machine paper, and cut white paper strips to make the lines in the streets. I did the painting and built and decorated the Statue of Liberty base and Ellis Island base and awning. I even made a Macysâ&#x201E;˘ parade by using glass ornaments and floral wire glued to the base of the orna-

ment to make them look like they were floating in the air. The bases that the figures were standing on in the parade were also made out of flat ornaments and beads glued underneath to elevate them from the street. I changed "Visiting Santa at Finestroms" to Macy's Department Store by making a sign and putting a Macys ornament on the roof. For the wedding party in the Synagogue I made yamakas for the men out of felt material and tassels for the Rabbi and groom were made out of ribbon and a pen. This was the biggest and best village I had made and, unfortunately, it was the first and last village Grigory was able to help me

with. He was diagnosed with cancer and passed away on December 4, 2012. I will always treasure this time together building this special village and would like to dedicate this and all my future villages to him. I would like to thank Department 56 for making these special village pieces for us to buy. They need to know how much joy they have brought to people's lives. Village D-Lights magazine is wonderful as it shares people's experiences and stories, gives information, tips, ideas, pictures, and other information. u â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Anne Korchevsky Miami Beach, Florida fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

The Train Skein

By paul Malek

The Train Scream! Welcome to my second installment as co-author of Train Skein, or for the purpose of this article, “The Train Scream!” I am dedicating this installment to all those things that go bump in the night and raise the hairs on the back of your neck — my second favorite holiday, Halloween. Department 56 has really done a great job promoting this holiday with all their Snow Village Halloween Village pieces and, especially for train fanatics like myself, they have all those great haunted train pieces, like “Rickety Railroad Station” and “The Haunted Rails Engine,” plus a series of cars, that just seem to keep on coming; not to mention some other great accessories like the “Halloween Water Tower,” “Haunted Rails Water Tower,” as well as the really neat “Haunted Coal Car” (with Gandy dancer skeletons) is awesome (Photo 1)! Their new pieces like “Blood Creek Jailhouse,” “Haunted Rails Grain Elevator,” “Jack and His Lanterns Haunted Rail Car,” and “No One Rides for Free” look great and will meld together, with all those pieces I mentioned earlier, to help expand your haunted rails line. But alas, if you are like me — as cool as

these railroad pieces are — you are looking for those haunted trains that actually run around and through your Halloween display. Well as luck would have it, they exist. Lionel® O-scale trains have several Halloween themed trains and train sets available, including a ready-to-run set, complete with track and transformer. The “Transylvania Express” (Photo 2) is an example of that exact train set I used a few years back in my Halloween display. If you are a movie buff, you maybe interested to know that Lionel also has a ready-to-run set available in a Harry Potter themed “Hogwarts Express,” as well as an Area 51-themed “Alien” train set, with add-on cars, for you extraterrestrial fans. Since I am still currently working on my rather large Christmas layout for this coming season — yes, I said, “Christmas” — I don’t have the available space to show or talk to you about my Halloween trains and display. However, I was very lucky to meet a couple here in Mesa, Arizona, whose attraction — no let’s say it, ADDICTION! — to all things Halloween, and to all things train, is going to make writing this article easy. I was a bit over-

“My Rickety Railroad Station” and “Haunted Train Display.”

Amy and Kevin Updegraff — New Blood.

whelmed the first time Kevin and Amy Updegraff (Photo 3) invited me into their home to see their collection of spooky village items and just a couple of locomotives. Yeah, like a couple more than you can see at your local train store, or maybe two train stores! I pale in comparison, in both my collection of Halloween village pieces and in my quest of items that go Choo-Choo! I know, boohoo! But, please believe me, a hungry, anemic vampire has more color than I did, when I was surrounded by their ever-growing collection. Amy admitted to being the Halloween fanatic and Kevin the train collector, but I know better now that I have had the

Lionel® “Transylvania Express” passing in front of “Hell Gate Bridge.”

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MTH® Southern Pacific “Black Widow” with Lionel’s® “Grave’s Mortuary Supply Co.” boxcars entering the terror tunnel.

chance to spend more time with them. One of them, who will remain nameless for the time being, is the definitive addict here, although Kevin is not exactly on a 10-step program in collectors’ anonymous. I have watched Amy personally clean out my favorite train store when new items arrive faster than I could say, “Wait! But! I Wanted! Oh!” She may be tiny, but so are Tasmanian devils. She simply looks at me, smiles, and says, “Have a great day,” as Kevin heads out to their truck with my, I mean their, newest locomotive purchases. Some of their purchases fit right into the Halloween theme. The Southern Pacific “Black Widow RS11” high-hood manufactured by MTH®, coupled with a Lionel GP-9 “Black Widow,” are following the Lionel “Grave’s Mortuary Supply Co.” boxcars and headed into the terror tunnel on their way to deliver those fresh corpses to the grave digger. Does this couple know how to have fun, or what? (Photo 4) That’s okay, though. I don’t get mad, just even. So, on my first visit to their home, I noticed that they didn’t have a single Department 56 Halloween piece anywhere. Not one! Well, as you can see by looking at Photo 5, I have helped them

alleviate that problem. Can you say, “Welcome to my nightmare?” With any luck, they will continue to sink in the quicksand we (collectors) call Department 56. This might slow them down just long enough for me to sneak into the train store ahead of them and get that new locomotive. Just kidding. Kevin and Amy are a great couple that I am happy to have met and am grateful to be able to call them my friends. I hope to revisit their home, in the not too distant future, and do a

follow-up article on their ever-growing layout. They currently have over 600feet of operating track, 100 power units (locomotives), 400 pieces of rolling stock and countless numbers of spooky and entertaining Halloween village items, all of which will almost certainly grow over the coming year. Okay, I have had a lot of fun with this Halloween edition, but it’s time to get back to working on my Christmas layout. Until next time, I’ll see you all aboard The Train Skein.u

Welcome to Department 56! Be afraid, be very afraid!

fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

4506 Culver Road • Rochester, NY 14622 585-266-4506 Authorized dealer for Dept. 56 Villages and Village Accessories, Snowbabies, Snowpinions, Snowbunnies, Grinch, Dept. 56 Christmas ornaments. Our website is open 24/7: www.johnrobertcollectibles.net Free Shipping for Department 56 (In lower 48 states only). Coupon code: DEPT 56

3257 100th Street Urbandale, IA 50322 515-276-3599 • Toll Free: 877-633-6647 Email: dennysgiftden@aol.com Some of the brands we carry: Boyd’s Bears, Byers’ Choice Carolers, Cherished Teddies, Department 56 Villages, Harmony Kingdom, Peggy Karr Glass, Precious Moments, Rinconada, Webkinz, Yankee Candles, Willow Tree. We Buy Collectibles!

Suzie’s Hallmark Shop

2822 West Erwin Street Tyler, Texas 75702 • 903-526-5556 A few of the brands we carry: Dept. 56 Villages & Accessories, Grinch, Peanuts, and Disney Villages. Bethany Lowe, Patience Brewster, Steinbach Nutcrackers, Fontanini, Mark Roberts, Pre-lit Christmas Trees in all colors and sizes, Custom wreaths and Garlands. A huge selection of themed trees.

jansen

18065 Harwood Ave. Homewood, IL 60430 Ph: 708-799-2810 Fax: 708-799-1475 Gold Key Dealer for Department 56. We carry: Hallmark, Department 56, All Villages and Accessories, Snowbabies, and much more. All purchases receive points on your Gold Crown Card. Free Display Seminar: Sunday, Sept. 22, 1-3 p.m. Dept. 56 Artist, Barbara Lund in store: Friday, Nov. 1, 5-7 p.m. Find us on Facebook.

flowers & Gifts Gallery

1052 Washington Way • Longview, WA 98632 (360) 423-0450 • Fax: (360) 425-7461 jansenflowers@qwestoffice.net 2013 Open House: Nov. 8, 9, 10 (Theme trees) We feature: Department 56 Villages & Accessories, Snowbabies, Patience Brewster, Margaret Furlong, Glass Eye, Jim Shore, Foundations, Moon Struck Chocolates, and Willow Tree.

Crystal Aerie

37597 Niles Blvd. Fremont, CA 94536 Ph: 510-791-0298 • Fax: 510-791-2358 crystalaer@comcast.net • www.crystalaerie.com We carry the following brands: Harmony Kingdom, Byers’ Choice Carolers, Munro Faerie Glen and Dragonsite, Lenox Classics, Walt Disney Classics, Disney, all Department 56 Villages, Ne'Qwa Ornaments and much more! Check our website for harder to find, older village pieces!

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

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Pier 39, Level 2 #N213 San Francisco, CA 94133 • 415-398-2944 info@seasonssf.com • www.seasonssf.com Some of the brands we carry: Department 56 All Villages, Snowbabies, Possible Dreams, Jim Shore, Byers' Choice, Old World Christmas, Thomas Kinkade Paintings, Fontanini, Nutcrackers, Disney, and much more.

Good Things For All Seasons 334 S. Main St. Grapevine, TX 76051 817-251-3673 contactus@goodthingsforallseasons.com www.goodthingsforallseasons.com Club 56 and Gold Key Dealer for Department 56  We carry the following brands: Department 56 All Villages, Accessories, Possible Dreams, Snowbabies, Mark Robert's Fairies, Elves & Santas, Byers' Choice Carolers, Old World Christmas, December Diamonds, Mary Lake Thompson, Glitterville, Karen Didion Originals, Lilly Pulitzer Paper Products, Christopher Radko. We Ship Worldwide! Mon.-Sat. 10-6, Sun. 11-5

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Denny’s Gift Den

Hunt’s at Silver Lake Drug & Gift 1510 North Broadway • Silver Lake Shopping Center Rochester, MN 55906 • Ph: 507-289-3901 (800) 552-7197 • Fax: 507-289-2934 E-mail: huntdrug@att.net • www.huntdrug.net We carry the following brands: Hallmark, Enesco, Department 56, Willow Tree, Precious Moments, Demdaco, Baggallini. At this time of year we would like to thank all of our customers for your patronage! Like us on facebook!

The Gift Korner

2583 Pacific Coast Hwy. Torrance, CA 90505 Ph: (310) 539-5011 • Fax: (310) 539-8622 E-mail: giftcorner62@gmail.com Department 56 Retired Villages & accessories at 60% off!

FOR SALE: Original Snow Village Mission Church 1979-80 Bell intact. No box.

480-945-2163

gatifrost@netzero.net

www.chestertonmanor.com We carry most of the Department 56/Lenox Group product brands including all Villages, Snowbabies, Krinkles, Blackshear, and a number of the seasonal product lines– Halloween, Easter, Christmas, Nativity, etc. New Village Pieces in Stock!

Mother’s Day

Father’s Day

1-877-4 DEPT 56 or (1-877-433-7856) 4th oF July

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BirthDays

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213 Keystone Drive Montgomeryville, PA 18936 Ph: 215-257-1003 • F: 215-257-1004 www.4dept56.com

“We Purchase Retailer Inventory” Secure On-line Ordering • Free Shipping over $50 + Registered Member Specials fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

village Workshop

by stephin pepin, showcase displays

Grouping and Elevation: Halloween Example In this issue of Village D-Lights, we will look at the two key concepts

when displaying miniature villages: grouping and elevation. Grouping Some collectors focus on a single village series, but within each village series are many natural groupings. Some groupings are by design from Department 56 and advertised as such, like the Devon County Series in the Dickensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Village Series or the Christmas Lane Series from The Original Snow Village, just to name a couple. However, every collector can decide to create groupings as they see fit, grouping restaurants or specialty shops, for example. The concept, of course, is all about creating a scene or area in your village, where a concentration of your buildings and accessories have something in common. The main benefit of the concept of grouping is that it allows a viewer to get immersed into that particular scene and better relate to it, just as groupings of similar nature establishments are often the way it is in real life as well. Elevation The concept of utilizing elevation and vertical displays is separate from the concept of grouping, but can be a great help when combined with grouping, to offer a better view of each piece in the group and to minimize space. Halloween Display with Grouping and Elevations Scene To demonstrate the concepts, we will look at a Halloween display that includes two groups, a carnival scene and an Old West scene. During the design stage, a list of the pieces to be displayed was used to plan the appropriate size of each scene. Photo 1 shows the overall display in progress. The left side (Photo 2) will be used to display carnival pieces and the right side (Photo 3) will be used for the Old West scene, including a train. 36

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8 4

Photo 4 shows the display, which is now carved. A creek is included in the scene, which will better visually separate the two scenes. The tall foam pillars are becoming rock formations. Note: the use of overhangs on the upper level of the carnival side will allow us to fit more pieces in that scene. On the carnival side, every building will sit at a different level, with staircases reaching each building. In the Old West scene at the lower level, the saloon and jailhouse will sit on the same level; not only because typical Old West towns are like that, but also to further differentiate the two scenes. Elevation is also used for the train in order to get a better view of it when the buildings are setup on the lower level (Photo 4). Now the display becomes more interesting where it is all painted and landscaped (Photo 5). Here again, some techniques are utilized to make each side different. The carnival side contains some gray in the painting work and the Old West side does not have any moss areas and has desert landscaping. Finally, we get a view of the display all setup (Photo 6), where the two groupings are now seen. The new “Crow Creek Covered Bridge” is a great piece to link the two sides over the creek. Photo 7 shows the left side, giving the clear impression that once you cross the bridge you have arrived at a carnival area. Similarly on the right side (Photo 7), the Old West scene is clearly represented. Again note, the train track is sitting above the buildings for a clear view, going out of sight through the rock formations. The “Haunted Rails Grain Elevator” building is also placed at a higher elevation than the train track, taking advantage of the elevation technique. The eye level view (Photo 8) is a perfect example of the benefits of using elevations, offering a great view of the various pieces as you go up in elevation. I hope this gives you some ideas for your displays. While I used a Halloween example in this column, the same concepts can be used for any village. Have fun and experiment! u If you have a comment or question regarding this topic, please email columstephen@showcase-displays.com. fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

2013

Village Mid-Years

2013 Village Mid-years

ontinuing the Village introductions for 2013, Department 56 is now aligning their mid-year introductions with those of their parent company Enesco. They introduced some in April, May, and early June to their reps, to give them time to meet with their accounts before Department 56 formally introduced the new intros on the consumer website. This year the mid-year introductions went live to the public in June. Here are the buildings and accessories most recently released. Have fun adding to your collections! u

Alpine Village Series® 4035564 • Christmas Market, The Bier Stein Booth, Set of 2 $50.00.

Christmas In The City® 4035917 • On Top Of The World $25.00 38

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Christmas In The City® 4030342 • The Chrysler Building $250.00

Christmas In The City® 4035565 • Harley-Davidson® Garage $125.00

Christmas In The City® 4035918 • The Perfect Exhaust Note $28.50

Christmas In The City® 4036084 • Steeplejacks Heading Home $22.50

Christmas In The City® 4036091 • Shooting History • $17.50

Dickens' Village Series® 4035570 • Bringing Dickens Home • $22.50

2013 Village Mid-years

Dickens' Village Series® 4035569 • Ewart Public Library • $80.00

Dickens' Village Series® 4035566 • Holiday Special Tegan's Toy Shoppe • $89.00

Dickens' Village Series® 4035567 • Holiday Special Tegan's Accessory Set of 4 • $49.00

The North Pole Series® 4035571 • Holiday Special The Jolly Fellow Toy Co. • $89.00 fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

The North Pole Series 4035574 • Harley® Pump & Go Diner • $95.00

The North Pole Series® 4035572 • Holiday Special Jolly Fellow's Accessory Set of 3 • $49.00

2013 Village Mid-years

The North Pole Series® 4035575 • Rebel With A Dog • $22.50

The Original Snow Village® 4035577 • Holiday Special Toy Town Toys • $89.00 40

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The North Pole Series® 4035576 • Knucklehead On A Mission • $17.50

The Original Snow Village® 4035580 • Harley-Davidson® Detail Shop • $120.00

The Original Snow Village® 4035582 • Bob's Truck Stop • $95.00

The Original Snow Village® 4035578 • Holiday Special Toy Town Accessory Set of 4 • $49.00

The Original Snow Village® 4035583 • Keeper Of The Flame • $25.00

The Original Snow Village® 4035584 • Wild Pair • $37.50

2013 Village Mid-years

The Original Snow Village® 4035581 • Ed's Diner • $90.00

The Original Snow Village® 4035585 • A Harley® Legend • $17.50 fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

The Original Snow Village® 4035587 • Coke® Is It! • $30.00

2013 Village Mid-years

The Original Snow Village® 4035586 • Coca-Cola® Delivery Truck • $35.00

The Original Snow Village® 4035588 • A Coke® For The Holidays • $40.00

The Original Snow Village® 4030744 • Animated Flaming Sleigh • $70.00 42

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The Original Snow Village® 4036083 • Travels With Ed, Arizona • $30.00

Snow Village Halloween® 4035589 • Haunted Rails, Jack & His Lanterns Car • $60.00

Snow Village Halloween® 4035590 • No One Rides For Free • $20.00

Cross Product: Trees 4035919 • Holiday Special Landscape Set • $14.00

2013 Village Mid-years

Cross Product: General 4030892 • Hang Tags, Clock • $7.50

Simpsons Village 4032215 • Springfield Elementary School • $65.00

Simpsons Village 4032214 • Simpsons' House • $60.00

Simpsons Village 4032427 • Kwik-E-Mart • $60 fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

Simpsons Village 4032221 • Hathy Holidayth • $19.00

2013 Village Mid-years

Simpsons Village 4032220 • Ay Caramba • $24.00

Simpsons Village 4032222 • How Not To Build A Snowman • $24.00

Simpsons Village 4032223 • Shop, Don't Drop Maggie • $19.00

Simpsons Village 4032224 • Mutually Assured Destruction • $19.00

Simpsons Village 4032429 • Snowball Scores A Squishee • $19.00

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

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Village D-tails Price Guide & Village Handbook Combo

Village D-TAilS

t 56 Serving Departmen sts sia thu En e lag Vil

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Order both the Village D-tails Reference Source and portable Village Handbook and save! The new 3rd edition reference books are the perfect companion to your Department 56® Village collection.

The Village D-tails Reference Source and Secondary Market Guide, 3rd Edition is complete with full color photographs of each item, an alphabetical index by name, and item number index. It is the only complete reference to list all buildings and accessories for all Department 56 Villages from their inception to January 2013. $29.95 value. Use the Village Handbook on your shopping trips as a record of your purchases to avoid duplications. Each item is listed with the Original Sale Price and Retirement Year to help value resale pieces, sorted by the Village series and release date. $4.95 value.

Don't delay, order the 3rd edition of the Village D-tails and Village Handbook today! Please note: All orders begin shipping June 10th. • Canadian Pricing: $39.95 for Both! fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

image provided by Kelly's Boutique, PHONE: 714.524.7917, website: kellysboutique.com

image provided by salem creek, Phone: 866.760.1717, website: salemcreek.com 46

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

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IMAGE provided by bronner's, PHONE: 800.361.6738, website: bronners.com

IMAGE provided by city lights, PHONE: 800.262.5335, website: citylightscollectibles.com fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

image provided by all things fine, PHONE: 866.509.3463, website: allthingsfine.net

image provided by seasons, PHONE: 415.398.2944, website: seasonssf.com 48

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

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image provided by good things for all seasons, PHONE: 817.251.3673, website: goodthingsforallseasons.com

image provided by country n' more, PHONE: 877.781.4438, website: countrynmoregifts.com fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

17901 Imperial Hwy. Yorba Linda, CA 92886 714-524-7917

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VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

fall 2013

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS

Pioneer Communications, Inc. 300 Walnut Street, Suite 6 Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone 877.899.9977

Country N More Gifts.CoM Toll Free: 877-781-4438

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We’ve carried Department 56 collectibles since 1983! Visit our website at www.CountryNMoreGifts.com for the largest selection and best prices online. We offer great rewards, free shipping and no sales tax on all Department 56 Villages, Snowbabies, Possible Dreams, Precious Moments, Fontanini, Lladro, Willow Tree, Jim Shore & much more.

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