Spring 2015 by Pioneer Communications, Inc.

D-LIGHTS Serving Department 56TM Village Enthusiasts

75 NEW VILLAGE INTRODUCTIONS 16 Pages of Display Ideas You Can Use

Village D-Lights

Winter 2014

SPRING 2015

CONTENTS 4 NCC Update National Council of 56 Clubs President Mike Goode delivers

the latest club news.

5 Collector’s Corner A roundup of interesting product offerings on the new and

secondary markets.

6 Village Views Reader-submitted photos of their vignettes and displays. 8

A Little Light on the Subject

some of the new Department 56 village pieces.

First Impressions

January Department 56 introductions, reveals his favorites.

Melinda Seegers (Ms. Lit Town) provides backstories on

NCC Vice President Richard Puckett, after examining the

14 January Village Introductions Eight pages and 80 photos of the new Department 56

village pieces—all from the January 2015 introductions.

22 Village Workshop Stephen Pepin shows how to build a village display

from start to finish.

26 State of the City Phil Renninger is building a Brooklyn, New York, display.

Here’s the fourth installment documenting its construction.

Lights, Camera, Action

for your village display.

A step-by-step guide to building a real water feature

36 London’s Frost Fairs Learn about London history that inspired the

new “Frost Fair” Department 56 pieces.

Just So You Know David Spears’s display ideas, hints, and opinions.

43 Authentic Village Art Department 56 is now offering lit wall hangings that

depict village scenes.

Village Word Search

Department 56 building.

Complete the puzzle for a chance to win a retired

ON THE COVER

New Department 56 pieces from The Original Snow Village: “The Black Forest Restaurant,” “Black Forest Oompah Band,” “Brats Mobile,” and “Sidewalk Brat Stop.” See more beginning on page 14. Spring 2015

Village D-Lights

FROM THE EDITOR

A NEW CHAPTER In this, our first issue of 2015, we’ve placed the emphasis on the new product offerings from Department 56. Once you’ve looked through the January introductions (shown on pages 14-21), I think you’ll agree that there are lots of fabulous pieces in each collection. In these pages you’ll also find Department 56’s own Melinda Seegers and NCC Vice President Richard Puckett both weighing in on their favorite pieces. As I mentioned in this column last issue, Richard will be editing the new edition of Village D-Tails, a reference source and secondary market guide for Department 56 villages. We’ve been busy updating information, photos, and prices. We’re also transitioning the guide to a three-ring-binder format, which will allow you to rearrange pages and add future updates. We’ve heard from many of you with ideas and corrections for the new book. It’s still in production, so please keep those comments coming. We would especially like to hear your opinions about whether we should add Department 56 licensed brands, such as Grinch, Disney, and Peanuts, to the book. You can contact me at the address below. We hope to have the new edition of Village D-Tails available for sale at the California Gold Gathering, Sept. 10-13, in San Diego. The local NCC members hosting this event have all the details worked out, so visit their website, californiagoldgathering.com, to register and book your rooms. I hope to see you there! Erich Gaukel Editor egaukel@pioneermagazines.com

CORRECTION: In the Winter issue’s “Honoring His Heritage” article about collector Richard Coyne, we accidentally omitted the last name of photographer Jean-Marie Côté. We like his photography so much that we couldn’t resist showing you another of his beautiful village views.

D-LIGHTS

Editor Erich Gaukel

Creative Director Ann Donohoe

Associate Graphic Designer Cameron Peterson Copy Editor Paul Soucy

Account Executive Ronda Jans

CEO Jim Slife

Publisher Polly Clark

Production Twilla Glessner

Accounting Manager Allison Volker

Volume 11 / Number 1 TreasuresMagazine.com

Phone 877.899.9977 / 515.246.0402 Fax 515.246.0398

VILLAGE D-LIGHTS (ISSN 1555-2918) (USPS 024-048) is published quarterly. Periodical Postage Paid at Des Moines, Iowa and at additional mailing offices. $24.00 per year in U.S., $44.00 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 ©2015 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 or 515.246.0402, Fax: 515.246.0398. ADVERTISING: Call Polly Clark at 515.246.0402, ext. 209 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. Phone: 319.234.8969, Fax: 319.234.8518.

Proudly printed in Iowa by Pioneer Graphics, Waterloo, Iowa “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.

Village D-Lights

Spring 2015

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18065 Harwood Ave. Homewood, IL 60430 Ph: 708-799-2810 Fax: 708-799-1475 Gold Key Dealer for Department 56. Some of the brands we carry: Hallmark, Department 56, All Villages and Accessories, Snowbabies, Jim Shore, Precious Moments, DaVinci Beads & Jewelry, Willow Tree, Foundations, Fontanini, Lolita glasses, Roman, Yankee Candles, and much more. All purchases receive points on your Gold Crown Card. Find us on Facebook. 2013 pieCes are now in stoCk!

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Spring 2015

Village D-Lights

NCC NEWS

BY MIKE GOODE, NCC PRESIDENT

A Busy Year Awaits

Above: New Region 8 Representative Brandon Taylor from Arkansas. Left: Department 56 artist Tom Bates.

ith the holidays behind us and with spring well on its way, it’s time to continue the work of the National Council of 56 Clubs—and that is exactly what your NCC Board of Directors has been doing. Elections will be held for president, vice president, secretary and treasurer this summer, as well for regional representatives in Regions 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. A nominating committee will be appointed to receive nominations and facilitate the election of NCC officers. Regional representatives will oversee the elections in their assigned regions. This is a wonderful opportunity to serve collectors throughout the United States and Canada. Serving as a regional representative is an opportunity for members to be the voices of collectors in their region and also to communicate the work of the NCC to the clubs and collectors. The NCC began its new year with

Village D-Lights

Spring 2015

three new regional representatives. Nancy Mattson is the newly elected representative for Region 2. She is a member of Heritage Treasures Collector’s Club of Long Island. Pam Orman now serves as the representative for Region 4 and is a member of the Magnolia 56ers in Clinton, Mississippi. Brandon Taylor was elected to serve in Region 8 and is a member of Arkansas Villagers. All three have had an impact on our organization, and we look forward to their continued contributions. During the board of directors meeting held in October at the Region 8 Gathering in San Antonio, the board approved the consideration of a 25th Anniversary Celebration Gathering to be held in 2017. We’ve already begun searching for the best venue for that event, as well as considering various event pieces. No doubt, this will be a “must attend” gathering. More information will be forthcoming

through your regional and club representatives. NCC membership invoices were mailed to clubs in December and January with a due-back date of March 1. This year there was a new incentive to encourage clubs to return their membership invoices by this date. Each club that responded before March 1 had the opportunity to win a Department 56 Downtown Abbey piece, complete with accessories and signed by artist Tom Bates. What a beautiful addition this will make for someone’s village collection—and with Tom Bates’ signature, it will be even more incredible. Finally, I must say thank you to so many of you who sent me holiday greetings and photos of your village displays. All of you are such positive examples of our organization and the joy that is shared in collecting those little lighted houses.®

COLLECTOR’S CORNER

BY VILLAGE D-LIGHTS STAFF

Platinum Key Dealer Exclusives

Above Left: Can you tell the difference between the regular and Platinum introductions of “Frost Fair Pavilion”? The Platinum release (on the right) has slightly different trim, flag, and signage coloring. Left: Platinum (on the left) and standard “Sledding At The Fair” introductions also use different colors, most notably on the sled and gentleman’s overcoat. Above: The “Many Thanks” note that is included with Platinum items.

ver the years, Department 56 has had special classifications for its retailers. Department 56 works with these retailers to offer early-release or exclusively designed—sometimes limited edition—items. Based on their use of creative displays and merchandising, as well as their buying and selling power, these retailers fall into one of several categories: Silver Key Dealers, Gold Key Dealers, Club 56 Dealers, and

Concierge Dealers. In 2014, Department 56 added a new classification, Platinum Key Dealers. Last fall, Platinum Key Dealers offered collectors exclusive, early-release and/or re-release items for Dickens’ Village, A Christmas Story Village, Disney Mickey’s Village, and Peanuts Christmas Village. In some cases, these items included a special bottom-stamp and/or a color variation that sets them apart from the general-release

pieces of the same names. Included with these pieces, collectors received a small “Many Thanks” card. There are a limited number of Platinum Key Dealers, and there are a limited number of these special items. Be sure to visit the Department 56 website (department56.com) to view the complete list of Platinum dealers. You might just get lucky and be able to grab one of those “feather in your cap” items!

Kenilworth Castle Revisited

n 1987, Department 56 released “Kenilworth Castle,” at the time one of the largest village pieces. This majestic structure was based on actual castle ruins in Warwickshire, England. Back in the day, to get a piece like this, you had to spend $100 or $200 (depending on the retailer) on other products just to have the option to purchase the castle for $40. There were two very distinct variations. The first production run was much larger and lighter

than the second. You can quickly determine which one you have by measuring the rear tower. The first version’s is 9 inches tall, while the second version’s second is 8½ inches tall. The smaller version is also considerably darker in color when lit due to the thicker porcelain used in its manufacture. Due to the tremendous popularity of the Dickens’ Village series, Kenilworth Castle also was released in 1987 in two other miniature forms: Cold Cast Porcelain (CCP)

and as a village clip-on ornament. Today, all of these items do quite well on the secondary market.

The Village D-Tails secondary market guide puts the value of “Kenilworth Castle” as ranging from $150 to $390.

Spring 2015

005_collectorspotlight_VDLSpring15.indd 5

Village D-Lights

3/2/15 8:47 AM

VILLAGE VIEWS

COMPILED BY PHIL RENNINGER

Let it Snow! Wintry scenes from village enthusiasts

Adam Harrel, vice president of the Arkansas Villagers, has gradually acquired a complete set of the Department 56 Pine Isles collection that was sold at Kohlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stores around 15 years ago. Some of the pieces are quite rare.

Mille Warner of the San Diego FiftySixers in California created this Department 56 Seasons Bay village. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a spring scene, with all the folks enjoying the sun and warmth. Email your best photo, your name, your location, and a description to villages@pioneermagazines.com. 6

Village D-Lights

Spring 2015

Above: Myriam Pettex-Sorgue of France placed this delightful vignette in a shallow basket. It contains pieces from the Department 56 Bucks County collection. Right: Once featured in Village D-Lights, Valerie McFadden of Ohio added this warm and cozy North Pole village to her large array of Department 56 displays. The lighted backdrop and Lionel’s “The Polar Express” train complement the buildings and accessories perfectly. Below Right: Taking advantage of a vaulted ceiling in his kitchen, Rob Labossiere of Connecticut constructed a magnificent lighted snow village on top of his upper cabinets. Below: Rod Sutherland of North Carolina has included many Department 56 Snow Village pieces in his large Lionel train layout, which features all four seasons, a large roundhouse and turntable, and plenty of train action.

Winter 2014

Village D-Lights

A LITTLE LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT

BY MELINDA SEEGERS

From the desk of Ms. Lit Town at

A Preview of What’s New

appy 2015, everyone! Winter seems to be in overdrive in several parts of the country —the northeast really knows what “Fresh Fallen Snow” feels like! Or is your snow more like “Real Plastic Snow”? Speaking of which, do you know which of our realistic snow products has been around the longest? (Currently there are four different Department 56 snow products. See the end of this column for the answer.) Why do we offer different types? Ask anyone who lives in a cold climate, and they will tell you that snowflakes are as different as people. Don’t they always say that no two snowflakes are alike?

Village D-Lights

Spring 2015

By now, many of you have had the chance to see the new pieces for this year. (If you haven’t, see many of them starting on page 14, and visit dept56.com.) So, what do you think? Let us know which introductions are winners and which are not. If there are some that don’t hit the mark, let us know why. We always welcome constructive criticism—after all, how can we make changes and improvements if you don’t let us know? You have great ideas—keep them coming! You can email me at mslittown@dept56.com, or you can post on our Facebook page. The 2015 Village, Snowbabies, and Possible Dreams brochures also are available now. While everything

new is available to look at online, sometimes it’s nice to have a hard copy to browse at your leisure. These can be ordered by visiting dept56.com. Go to the “shop” section and look for “brochures.” Our artists have come up with great designs for 2015. While we have had castles in several of the villages over the years, the new “Neuschwanstein Castle” for Alpine Village is a showstopper! Village artist Tom Bates did a fabulous job with the design, but he had a little help from our in-house sculptor, Kiri Namtvedt. The original design did not include the landscape features at the base, and Kiri offered to sculpt the rocks and trees to make the piece

Opposite left: “Neuschwanstein Castle,” a January 2015 Department 56 introduction. Opposite right: “Old Joe’s Beetling Shop,” a January 2015 Department 56 introduction. Left: “Fresh Fallen Snow,” one of four Department 56 snow products (shown with tree and cobblestone accessories).

appear to rest at the crest of the mountain—just like the real thing. Both Tom and Kiri love the results! When talking to collectors, many tell me that they have visited the real-life Bavarian landmark. Ludwig II built it starting in 1869, paying for it out of his personal fortune and by means of extensive borrowing. The palace was intended as a personal refuge for the reclusive king, but it was opened to the paying public immediately after his death in 1886, even though much of the interior was still unfinished. Since then, more than 61 million people have visited Neuschwanstein Castle. More than 1.3 million people visit annually, with as many as 6,000 per day during the peak tourist season. The palace has appeared prominently in several movies and was the inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. People always ask which pieces are my favorites. This year, I love the new Frost Fair subseries from Dickens’ Village. Two lit buildings and three accessories have been introduced. What I love about them is the history and the story behind the pieces. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, there were times when the part of the Thames River that runs through London actually froze over. To celebrate this unusual occurrence, a Frost Fair was held

on the banks of the river, with some events occurring right on the river. Tents and temporary structures were built for sporting activities, and booths went up where merchants sold food and wares. Both Henry VIII and his daughter, Elizabeth, attended Frost Fair activities during their reigns. The last recorded full freeze of the Thames occurred in the winter of 1962-63. Dickens’ Village artist Barbara Lund spent a lot of time doing research on this, and the pieces she designed are quite detailed and authentic. Look for something to add when the mid-year pieces are introduced in late spring. (Read more about Frost Fair starting on page 36.) A Christmas Carol, a lovely little Dickens’ Village subseries, tells the story of the miserly old Scrooge and his Christmas Eve reformation into a kindhearted citizen. New pieces do not come along very often, so each one is special and has a story to tell. Village artist Barbara Lund did extensive research when drawing “Old Joe’s Beetling Shop,” a new piece that portrays part of Scrooge’s dream sequence, when he has died and the servants take everything from his house. That ol’ Scrooge didn’t pay them a decent wage, so they felt entitled to the bedclothes, curtains, and such. They took these to Old Joe, who had a beetling shop, which, by definition, was a business

that took rags and old garments and made new fabrics with them. Sounds like 19th-century recycling! A beetling shop would most likely be found in one of the poorer areas in London, so Barbara created the building to look old and run-down. Since it is so cold and snowy here in Minnesota this winter, it’s always nice to have something warm to look forward to—like attending the collector gathering in California in September. These events are great whether you are a newcomer or an old friend of Department 56. There are always interesting seminars and workshops and plenty of new and old friends to meet. I will be attending with one of the Department 56 artists. It’s too early to know who will be accompanying me, but everyone always has a good time! And it’s in San Diego, where the sun shines most every day. As always, happy collecting!

Ms Lit Town Department 56 Consumer Services (Answer to question in first paragraph: “Real Plastic Snow,” first made in 1977, is the longest continuously produced product by our company!)

Spring 2015

Village D-Lights

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

BY RICHARD PUCKETT

First Impressions Highlights of the January 2015 Department 56 introductions

Left: Dickens’ Village Series, 4044809, “Essex Road Fencing Academy,” $100. Right: Alpine Village Series, 4044781, “Neuschwanstein Castle,” $185.

s an avid collector, I still get very excited by the latest Department 56 announcements of product introductions and retirements. This year, I have taken a close look at each individual collection and scrutinized which pieces stand out the most to me. While everyone has that certain something that strikes their fancy, these are my first impressions.

Village D-Lights

Spring 2015

Original Snow Village

This is the only village in which I feel that there is a tie for best new item. As a good ol’ southern boy, I love me some Dairy Queen. Even in the Original Snow Village, one can never have too much ice cream! “The Snowflake House” is truly captivating with its LED lighting feature and is ideal for the Christmas Lane subseries.

The movement of the light show impressively draws your attention and keeps it. “Santa Comes to Town, 2015” wins as the best new accessory—hands down! The addition of Mrs. Claus and the elves is great. As a collector of this ongoing subseries, I have grown to favor these latest indoor moments.

Dickens’ Village

This is a tough one for me, no doubt! When I first heard the name “Essex Road Fencing Academy,” I had a certain expectation, and when I saw the piece, it absolutely lived up to that expectation. It is a stately piece whose size, coloring, and design would make a great focal point with the addition of a fencing courtyard. I highly suspect that the new addition of birds chirping in “Four Calling Birds” may just be the beginning of a new feature to the villages! The coloring, fashion, and movement captured in “London Town Crier” says “Hear, Ye! Hear, Ye!” in my mind! It is has been hinted that the actual crier who shouted the news of the latest royal birth (Prince George) may have had an impact in this design.

Christmas In The City

“Jacobs’ Pharmacy” is a clear standout for Christmas In The City. As a big fan of Coca-Cola, as well as its history and impact on Christmas, I can say this piece is true to the original Atlanta building and will make a great corner addition to any city block. The new “Church of the Advent” runs a very close second. The intricate window feature adds to the majesty of this building. It would make a perfect migration into Dickens’ Village for those who share that vision. “Caroling In The City” perfectly captures the spirit of holiday caroling. Can’t you just hear the voices spreading cheer to the shoppers on the city sidewalks? They could be caroling in front of “Hollydale’s” or any one of the other businesses in an effort to draw customers.

North Pole

While I strongly favor “Gnome Pub” (a very close second as a root beer fan!), “Bob’s Sled Thrill Ride” excites me the most. Can’t you just feel that strong gust of cold winter air going down that slope as Bob watches on? “North Pole

Town Tree” and “Face Plant” tie as winners for best accessory. The action of the elves and the crane decorating the tree is perfectly captured. I could be the one with the megaphone giving directions! “Face Plant” could definitely be me as well. That would be my luck having just come down the bobsled chute after a frosty root beer from the pub!

New England Village

“Mason’s Maple Syrup” is a great piece. All parts of the process appear to be present in this design, and you really sense the smell of the syrup brewing. “The First Tap” is a natural coordinating accessory for it and would work well with the previously released maple harvesting items of old. “Joyful Carols” is a close second for accessory—I can just hear the carolers laughing and singing while the dog barks. This would make a great crossover piece for Christmas In The City or Dickens’ Village.

New England Village Series, 4044829, “The First Tap,” $47.50.

Alpine Village

Without a doubt, “Neuschwanstein Castle” and its coordinating accessory “Plein Air Painter” are spot-on for this collection. The castle really should be perched high on a mountaintop in an Alpine display, though, as it is in real life. While attending the recent NCC gathering in San Antonio, collectors were treated to a sneak peak of the design process and early pictures of this piece. As with his other designs, Tom Bates has done an awesome job of capturing the majesty of the original structure. This is a true must-have for Alpine collectors and a great stand-alone piece as well.

North Pole Series, 4044849, “Face Plant,” $27.50.

Original Snow Village Halloween

OK, I confess: This is the one series that I don’t collect. A lot of it for me is that my kids are all grown and sometimes you just have to draw the line when collecting. I do

The Original Snow Village Halloween 4044877, “Black Cat Shack,” $90.

Spring 2015

Village D-Lights

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

BY RICHARD PUCKETT

like the “Black Cat Shack” for its true-to-nature design. Can’t you just hear the cats howling outside? “The Scream,” though, is an ideal ride and natural fit for the Creepy Carnival subseries. The “Headless Harley Rider” accessory best portrays its name for me and adds a little humor to the madness of it all. It’s an exciting village, and I have said it time and time again: Department 56 designer Scott Enter and his cohorts are having way too much fun with Halloween!

Downton Abbey

For this big fan of the show and of anything British, “The Dower House” edges out “Crawley House” in terms of design. There’s just something about it that 12

Village D-Lights

Spring 2015

reassures me that the Dowager Countess Grantham is truly in residence there. On the other hand, the accessory “Lady Crawley And Gentleman Friend” instantly throws me into the series. I think that this is a great portrayal of Lady Isabel and her suitor.

Disney Frozen Village

Everything is captured in very exquisite detail from the characters of “Elsa” and “Anna” to “Elsa’s Ice Palace.” Pictures do not do this actual lit piece justice. Trust me when I say that, as the grandfather of a 5-year-old, I have seen the movie enough and can speak from a place of authority! Curiosity is killing me, though, as to which of the Department 56 artists is

responsible for these? The price point is a little steep, but the majesty and lighting support it. For grandpa’s sake, I can only hope that guys will be joining the ladies a little later in the spring!

Cross Products

With North Pole and Dickens’ Village closest to my heart, the “Tudor,” “Peppermint” and “Gumdrop Park” accessories are awesome in every way. I can taste the candy depicted in each of those North Pole accessories. “Peppermint Gazebo” is rich in every detail and will surely find its way into many North Pole displays. I also like “Lit Soldiers Yard Decor.” They are very true to my own memory of what the lighted ones were like on our front

Opposite: Downton Abbey introductions from 2014 and 2015. Above Left: Frozen Village, 4048962, “Elsa’s Ice Palace,” $220. Above right: The Original Snow Village, 4047579, “Peppermint Gazebo,” $47.50.

porch “back in the day” and will be great fillers for The Original Snow Village and even North Pole.

Something’s Missing

There are two subseries buildings missing in the 2015 introductions, and I will be curious to see what happens in the spring. There are no third pieces for the Christmas In The City Historic District Row Houses or The Original Snow Village Catalog Home subseries. If you missed it, the quantities of the two hand-numbered, limitededition row houses are smaller than the elusive “Dickens Village Mill.” If you don’t have them, you

might want to add them—if you can find them! The Winter’s Frost and Williamsburg collections are also notably missing from the product catalog. In a nutshell, there are many real winners in this year’s village lines, and in most cases it was very difficult to pick just one favorite item. The craftsmanship, design, and painstaking attention to detail captured in the majority of the items continue to differentiate these pieces from brands of lesser quality. While there have been several comments that “Town Trees” are not lit, I think they will fit quite well in the heart of all

of the series for which they were designed. I can hardly wait until spring to see what the artists have up their sleeves. There definitely could be music in the air—hint, hint! Knowing that Department 56’s 40th anniversary is coming in 2016 excites me even more! Could the ruby color somehow make it into the lines? Many of these introductions are shown in this issue beginning on page 14. Be sure to visit dept56.com for more information, or visit your local retailer to get a copy of the Department 56 2015 Village Book. ® Spring 2015

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Village D-Lights

3/2/15 8:48 AM

VILLAGE INTRODUCTIONS

JANUARY INTRODUCTIONS

Department 56 January Village Introductions

wice a year, Department 56 unveils new products. The designs reflect market trends and input from collectors and followers. These exquisitely crafted Village collections allow you to showcase idyllic, realistic worlds that reflect your personal style, express your creative flair, and bring delight to holidays, special days, and every day. Impeccable artistry and exacting detail bring the Department 56 Villages to life. You can view the complete line, including accessories, at dept56.com.

Alpine Village Series® 4044781, Neuschwanstein Castle, $185.00

Alpine Village Series® 4044782, Violin Maker, $100.00

Alpine Village Series® 4044785, Plein Air Painter, $27.50

Alpine Village Series® 4044786, Christmas Market Musicians, $35.00

Alpine Village Series® 4044787, Christmas Market Dance, $25.00

Christmas In The City® Series 4044789, Checker City Cab Co., $135.00

Christmas In The City® Series 4044790, The Grand Hotel, $150.00

Christmas In The City® Series 4044791, Jacobs’ Pharmacy, $130.00

Christmas In The City® Series 4044792, Church Of The Advent, $160.00

Christmas In The City® Series 4044794, First Star I See Tonight, $28.50

Village D-Lights

Spring 2015

Christmas In The City® Series 4044795, Checker City Cab, $35.00

Christmas In The City® Series 4044796, The Sign Of Good Taste, $28.50

The Original Snow Village® 4038815, Christmas Lights Sisals, $40

Christmas In The City® Series 4044797, Good Company, $30.00

Christmas In The City® Series 4044798, Caroling In The City, $37.50

Christmas In The City® Series 4044799, City Town Tree, $59.00

Christmas In The City® Series 4044800, Hot Knishes, $40.00

Dickens’ A Christmas Carol 4044811, Old Joe’s Beetling Shop, $85.00

Dickens’ A Christmas Carol 4044812, A Bundle For Old Joe’s Consideration, $30.00

Dickens’ A Christmas Carol 4044813, Waiting In The Parlor For Old Joe, $27.50

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044784, Frost Fair Pavilion, $95.00

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044788, Sledding At The Fair, $32.50

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044805, Frost Fair Sled & Sleigh Rental, $90.00

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044806, Olde Vine Cottage, $80.00

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044807, Four Calling Birds Shoppe, $115.00

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Village D-Lights

JANUARY INTRODUCTIONS

The Original Snow Village® 4038814, Twinkle Brite Trellis, $25

JANUARY INTRODUCTIONS

VILLAGE INTRODUCTIONS

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044814, Frost Fair Skaters, $32.50

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044808, The Sword & Shield, $90.00

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044809, Essex Road Fencing Academy, $100.00

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044810, Lily Bros. Gazing Balls, $90.00

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044816, Warm And Cozy Tonight, $26.50

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044817, An Evening Stroll, $26.50

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044818, Touché, $32.50

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044819, Lovebirds, $26.50

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044820, Dickens’ Town Tree, $59.00

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044821, Lighting The Lane, $26.50

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044822, London Town Crier, $20.00

Dickens’ Village Series® 4044823, Gazing Ball Reflections, $26.50

Downton Abbey 4043909, The Dower House, $110.00

Downton Abbey 4043910, Lord Grantham’s Limousine, $35.00

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Spring 2015

Downton Abbey 4044803, Lady Crawley And Gentleman Friend, $25.00

Frozen Village 4048962, Elsa’s Ice Palace, $220.00

Frozen Village 4048963, Anna, $30.00

Frozen Village 4048964, Elsa, $30.00

Frozen Village 4048965, Olaf ’s New Nose, $24.00

Frozen Village 4048966, Olaf In Summer, $24.00

The Original Snow Village® 4038875, Picket Lane Hedge, $15

The Original Snow Village® 4038876, Sleigh Tracks, Straight, $15

The Original Snow Village® 4038877, Sleigh Tracks, Curved, $15

The Original Snow Village® 4041181, Woodland Creek, Straight, $16.50

The Original Snow Village® 4041183, Woodland Creek, Bridgewater, $32.50

The Original Snow Village® 4041186, Woodland Creek, Curved, $27.50

JANUARY INTRODUCTIONS

Downton Abbey 4044802, Dowager Countess And Young Friend, $25.00

Downton Abbey 4044801, Crawley House, $100.00

New England Village® Series 4044824, The Lincoln Bank, $95.00

New England Village® Series 4044825, Mason’s Maple Syrup, $100.00

Village D-Lights

JANUARY INTRODUCTIONS

VILLAGE INTRODUCTIONS

New England Village® Series 4044826, Echo Glen Little School, $85.00

New England Village® Series 4044828, The American Dream, $30.00

New England Village® Series 4044829, The First Tap, $47.50

New England Village® Series 4044831, New England Town Tree, $59.00

New England Village® Series 4044832, Joyful Carols, $37.50

North Pole Series™ 4044833, Santa’s Little Cakes, $75.00

North Pole Series™ 4044835, The Original Ugly Sweater Co., $95.00

North Pole Series™ 4044836, The Happy Gnome Pub, $100.00

North Pole Series™ 4044837, Mickey’s Pin Traders, W/ Pin, $120.00

North Pole Series™ Trading Pin 4044837, included with Mickey’s Pin Traders (left)

North Pole Series™ 4044838, Bob’s Sled Thrill Ride, $110.00

North Pole Series™ 4044839, Sven’s Swell House, $80.00

North Pole Series™ 4044840, Northern Lights Tree Car, $60.00

North Pole Series™ 4044843, Pin Trading With Mickey, $22.50

North Pole Series™ 4044844, Santa’s Little Baker, $27.50

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Spring 2015

New England Village® Series 4044830, One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, $32.50

North Pole Series™ 4044847, Heading Home On The Double, $30.00

North Pole Series™ 4044849, Face Plant, $27.50

North Pole Series™ 4044850, Selfie #Happy Gnome, $22.50

North Pole Series™ 4044851, Tiny Lumberjack, $30.00

North Pole Series™ 4044852, North Pole Town Tree, $59.00

The Original Snow Village® 4042407, Harley Big Tin Drive-In, $125.00

The Original Snow Village® 4044854, The Snowflake House, $140.00

The Original Snow Village® 4044855, Dairy Queen®, $95.00

The Original Snow Village® 4044856, The Black Forest Restaurant, $100.00

The Original Snow Village® 4044858, Santa Suits For Santa’s Helper, $135.00

The Original Snow Village® 4044859, Root Cellar Canned Goods, $75.00

The Original Snow Village® 4044857, Holy Family Church, Set Of 2, $115.00

The Original Snow Village® 4044861, Big Chill Supply & Service, $110.00

The Original Snow Village® 044861, Big Chill Supply & Service, $110.00 Spring 2015

Village D-Lights

JANUARY INTRODUCTIONS

North Pole Series™ 4044846, Perfect Conditions For Takeoff, $32.50

North Pole Series™ 4044845, The Perfect Party Sweater, $27.50

JANUARY INTRODUCTIONS

VILLAGE INTRODUCTIONS

The Original Snow Village® 4044863, Harley Road Fuel, $35.00

The Original Snow Village® 4044864, Return Nose & No One Gets Hurt, $30.00

The Original Snow Village® 4044865, Ice Sculptor In The Making, $37.50

The Original Snow Village® 4044867, Happily Ever After, $28.50

The Original Snow Village® 4044868, Suit Up For Santa, $28.50

The Original Snow Village® 4044869, Winter Fun At The Market, $30.00

The Original Snow Village® 4044870, Coke Adds Life, $32.50

The Original Snow Village® 4044871, Snow Village Town Tree, $59.00

The Original Snow Village® 4044872, DQ Treats For Two, $25.00

The Original Snow Village® 4044873, Cool Treats To Eat, $30.00

The Original Snow Village® 4044874, Brats Mobile, $35.00

The Original Snow Village® 4044875, Sidewalk Brat Stop, $27.50

The Original Snow Village® 4044876, Coca-Cola Service Truck, $35.00

The Original Snow Village® 4044884, Santa Comes To Town, 2015, $55.00

The Original Snow Village® 4049034, Dairy Queen® Billboard, $35.00

Village D-Lights

Spring 2015

The Original Snow Village® 4044866, Black Forest Oompah Band, $37.50

The Original Snow Village® Halloween 4044877, Black Cat Shack, $90.00

The Original Snow Village® Halloween 4044882, Roadkill Grill, $110.00

The Original Snow Village® Halloween 4044887, Headless Harley® Rider, $35.00

The Original Snow Village® Halloween 4044889, Tonight’s Special, $25.00

The Original Snow Village® 4041181, Woodland Creek, Straight, $16.50

The Original Snow Village® 4041183, Woodland Creek, Bridgewater, $32.50

The Original Snow Village® Halloween 4044879, The Scream, $145.00

The Original Snow Village® Halloween 4044880, Last Chance Hotel, $100.00

The Original Snow Village® Halloween 4044885, Black Cat Snack, $32.50

The Original Snow Village® Halloween 4044890, Scarecrow Fun!, $25.00

The Original Snow Village® Halloween 4044892, Midway Punks, $22.50 Spring 2015

The Original Snow Village® Halloween 4044886, Ghost Rider On The Road, $35.00

The Original Snow Village® Halloween 4044891, Painted Ladies, $25.00

The Original Snow Village® Halloween 4044893, Halloween Town Tree, $59.00 Village D-Lights

JANUARY INTRODUCTIONS

The Original Snow Village® Halloween 4044881, The Scarecrow House, $130.00

The Original Snow Village® Halloween 4044878, H-D® Ghost Riders’ Club, $135.00

VILLAGE WORKSHOP

BY STEPHEN PEPIN, SHOWCASE DISPLAYS

Start to Finish How to build a complete village display

t may still be months before the busy holiday season—from Halloween to Christmas—begins, but it is never too early to start planning your next display. In this column, we will go through the process of creating a new display, taking it from an empty space to a display complete with wall decoration.

Village D-Lights

Spring 2015

The Space

First, let’s take a look at the space we are using for our display (Photo 1). It’s a recessed area of wall, which lends itself well for a display scene. However, it isn’t very large—just 40 inches wide—and the sidewalls are of different depths: 15 inches for the left wall and 21 inches for the right wall. With this in mind, we will have to optimize the use of the depth.

Display Base

Sometimes we don’t have an existing table available to use (or we don’t have the right size). Since the display is near a doorway, it’s important to stay within the available depth rather than protrude outward, thus blocking passage. To fit that need, I decide to use a simple stand made of PVC pipe (Photo 2). This type of base is inexpensive, and the pipes can easily be cut to build any size needed. By itself, this base has a wobbly feel, but it can easily support the weight, and it gains stability once it is nestled into the three walls. I’m using a height of 36 inches, as I prefer my displays near the height of a counter rather than a table. Folding banquet tables, for example, are typically 29 inches tall.

Display Fascia

The display fascia is often an afterthought, and many collectors use a simple table skirt. Since this is a small scene, my thought is to make it as interesting as possible. Given that I am building an “Old West” scene, I thought I would add visual interest by creating a rock-cliff fascia. Using 2-inch insulation foam sheets and the handheld router tool from Hot Wire Foam Factory, I create various fascia depths and elevations (Photo 3). The bottom 12 inches of the display fascia will consist of a simple black band, also made of foam. The very bottom of the display will likely be hit by people’s feet, and it is much easier to retouch a flat black panel than the rock cliff fascia.

Spring 2015

Village D-Lights

VILLAGE WORKSHOP

Main Display Area

The main display area is also built with layers of foam. Playing with the design, I decide to fit four buildings and a train-track scene long enough to hold Department 56’s “Rickety Railroad” engine piece. Photo 4 shows the basic layout and elevations. On the upper left of the layout, you can see a piece of a previous display that experienced rough times as I used it for presentations. That piece is nicely carved and landscaped, however, and it can easily be touched up for integration into the scene.

Key Display Features

It is always good to have a few key features planned for a display. I planned to landscape this one realistically using real sand, small rocks, and a variety of landscaping products (Photo 5) that I found at hobby stores and even local gift shops. Another key feature is the rusticlooking train tunnel (Photo 6). It took less than an hour to build, and it really makes a difference.

Installation

First, I install the display on the PVCpipe stand and pass all electrical cords required for the scene. As you can see in Photo 7, I use the space under the display to store the empty boxes. The power strip is connected to a remotecontrolled outlet device, allowing me to turn the entire display on and off without touching the display. Next, I install the rock-cliff fascia and bottom black band (Photo 8).

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Spring 2015

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Finishing the Decor

To finish the job, I install a coordinating piece of artwork on the wall (Photo 9), which is a poster from the 2011 “Happy Trails to Arizona” collectors gathering.

Fine-tuning the display

At this point, I am what I call 98 percent complete. I need to install more accessories, add more ground material to blend the bases of the buildings and accessories, perhaps add a sky backdrop, etc., but for now it’s time to dim the lights, turn on the display, and enjoy! If you have any comments or questions, contact me at stephen@showcasedisplays.com. To view some of my display creations and a great selection of Department 56 products, please visit Millie’s Hallmark in Phoenix or the Market Place Emporium at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California.

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Spring 2015

Village D-Lights

BY PHIL RENNINGER PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRALAINA A. BLANKENSHIP

STATE OF THE CITY

Reaching New Heights

Brooklyn, New York, December 22, 1945: Part Four

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Spring 2015

Opposite top left: A view of the fictitious Gowanus Canal Viaduct with the Wallabout Channel bascule bridge and tugboat quay in the background. Opposite top right: An overall view of the old neighborhood. Opposite bottom right: This is a partially finished street pavement made of very fine, thin cork sheeting with one coat of black paint. Opposite bottom left: I used a folded paper towel to dab paint on the sidewalk sections. You can see the black grooves and the mottled gray finish. Above: I used plain copier paper to create a template for each section of sidewalk.

he area of Brooklyn that I am modeling is known in New York-speak as “Dumbo,” an acronym for the area “Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass,” an area between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. Traders of the Dutch West India Company settled this area of Long Island, adjacent to the East River, in the early 1600s, and it evolved into a cluster of six villages. The largest village was called Breuckelen after a city in the Netherlands. Over 200 years later, in 1898, the city

of Brooklyn officially became a borough of the metropolitan area chartered as New York City. Dumbo has been undergoing a major transformation over the last forty years, but in 1945 the area still retained much of its 19th-century infrastructure. Cobblestone streets were common. Warehouses and piers lined the East River. The Fulton Ferry plied the river to Manhattan. Block upon block of brownstone row houses lined the streets of the “heights.” And, above the city, the Brooklyn Bridge soared.

Even though my platform is 2-inch-thick foam insulation, I have used 3 16 -inch Masonite (a hard, wood-fiber-and-glue product produced in sheets of varying thickness) to represent the sidewalks and alleys of Dumbo. To determine the size and shape of each section, I used pieces of plain copier paper (cut and taped together) to fashion an accurate template, which I transferred to Masonite sheets. I then cut the sheets to shape using a small bandsaw. I placed the buildings

Spring 2015

Village D-Lights

STATE OF THE CITY

Above: This is the stage where I cut the cork for Fulton Street where it passes the old neighborhood.

on the cut Masonite, then traced the buildingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bases, which enabled me to see the layout of the neighborhoods and where the sidewalks and alleys would be located. I hand-carved the cobblestones and concrete sidewalk blocks using a small Dremel-style carving tool with a 1 16 -inch ballshape cutting bit. Using a paintstirring stick as a straightedge, I pretty much eye-balled the cuts, not wanting things to be too perfect. After I completed all the carving, I sanded the Masonite to remove the feathers caused by the carving

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Spring 2015

head, and I then painted it black. When the paint dried, I used several shades of gray acrylic craft paint and a folded paper towel to color the sidewalks and cobbles, taking care not to fill in the black gaps. Dabbing the paint onto the Masonite gave the mottled finish of stone and concrete. I colored the church plaza a grayish mottled Spanish-tile orange, just for a break from all the gray. Next came the streets. I decided that painting the foam-insulation platform surface black (to represent the street pavement) would not

give me the look and texture of the macadam-type surface used in those days. So I ordered sheets of 1 16 -inch fine-textured cork from a hobby supply store. I cut them to fit the street areas and then painted them flat black with a bit of gray mottling. Voila! Paved streets! At the time I placed the railroad tracks, I put an odd zig-zag into the center of the outer loop just to shift the parallel roadbeds closer together to create a point of interest. Doing so gave me room to add a fictitious Gowanus Canal Viaduct representing the head of the real

Above: Here are the completed sidewalks and streets of Fulton Landing. Right: The shopping plaza that will feature the 1945 Fulton Street Merchants’ Association Holiday Fair.

Gowanus Creek Canal. The two-mile canal is a water highway serving the many industries along the banks. My opening article about this project promised “lights, lights, lights everywhere.” And, indeed, that will be the subject of State Of The City in the Summer issue of Village D-Lights. Until then, let’s enjoy a warm and sunny springtime. ® Contact me on Facebook or at villages@pioneermagazines.com.

Spring 2015

Village D-Lights

BY J. MICHAEL SANDERS

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

Water Runs Through It Creating a water feature that’s designed to get wet

s I look through the many publications I have in my files related to Department 56, I see many village displays with simulated water features. The water is created using paint, mirrored or colored glass, epoxy resins, colored rocks, acrylic stones, foil, plastic wrap, and other means, but there have been very few, if any, that I recall using

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Spring 2015

real water. I’m not talking about the various little fountains, or even the Department 56 “Village Waterfall” that looked a bit like a volcano. I am talking about a real babbling brook. Well, if you have the space, and the inclination to “just add water” to your display, read on! I built this display for George Hacker in Scottsdale, Arizona. Now, I realize that this is a bit of a

departure from my regular topics, as this display is permanent, located outside, and has nary a Deptartment 56 item or village on it. However, the building techniques I used could well be incorporated into your own village creations. So follow along with the photos and see if you can get your village display streaming.

Most of the larger village displays I construct these days start with a wood framework, with EPS sheets applied directly to the wood frame. I realize that this display is probably larger (14-by8- foot) than most of you would build indoors. The area with running water is much smaller. To facilitate a

couple of waterfalls, there is a 28-inch change in elevation from where the water begins to where it ends.

I used EPS sheets varying in thickness from 1Â˝ to 6 inches. Where the water was to run, I had to prevent leaks, so the EPS sheets were

overlapped considerably and sealed with a water-based waterproof caulking. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll notice that this display features a G-scale cog train and a scratch-built truss bridge. Continued on the next page.

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LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

I carved most of the EPS using a Hot Knife made by Hot Wire Foam Factory, then I sprayed on two coats of white elastomeric roof coating. This coating is what roofers use to seal a foam roof. I used a hopper sprayer, normally used to spray texture onto drywall, to create the pockmark effect. To ensure there would be no leaks, I brushed three additional layers of white roof coating to areas where the water was to run.

After the white roof coating had thoroughly dried, it was time to do a test with real water. I took particular care to always maintain a small drop in elevation in the waterway so the water would run downhill and not pool in low spots. I added blue food coloring to the water to make it more visible for the test. This photo shows the water flowing out of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;springâ&#x20AC;? near the top of the mountain, just in front of a footbridge I built from plastic garden edging I bought at Ace Hardware.

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Spring 2015

Water is flowing down the canyons toward the natural bridge, which I modeled after the Rainbow Bridge National Monument in Utah.

Looking downstream, under the natural bridge.

At the end of the run, the water splits at a fork in the river, exiting the display under the carved EPS rock in the center. The water drops into a 20-gallon storage container, located under the display, which acts as a reservoir and holds more than

enough water needed to fill the waterway. The storage tank also holds a submersible pump, which recirculates the water back up to the top through Â˝-inch tubing. Continued on the next page. Spring 2015

Village D-Lights

After a few tweaks in the riverbed, and with the test water thoroughly removed and the surface dried, I sprayed the entire carved EPS rockscape with two coats of exterior-grade flat black house

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Spring 2015

paint. Besides the extra protection afforded by two coats of house paint (remember, this display lives outside), having the dark color applied first helps create depth in the finished painted landscape.

I dry-brushed successive coats of house paint, starting with darker shades then gradually moving to almost white, onto the carved EPS to create the illusion of weathered rock.

Finally, small volcanic rocks and sand, as well as small pebbles, were glued in place with either waterproof carpenterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glue or black acrylic caulking. I shopped for vegetation by browsing the faux-flower selections at both Michaels and Hobby Lobby. I used flowers that had elements that could be trimmed in such a way that they would look the proper scale on the landscape. I also used plastic grasses. I attached all with galvanized nails and/or silicone adhesive.

The buildings you see in this photo are not Department 56 products. They are custom made of metal and were fabricated and powdercoated at Eagle Wings Ironworks in Phoenix. I then painted and detailed them so they would survive the brutal Arizona summer sun.

Have a question, comment, or a photo of your display that you would like to share? Please write to jms56villager@aol.com. Until next time, Happy Villaging! Spring 2015

Village D-Lights

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

BY RICHARD PUCKETT IMAGES COURTESY OF THE MUSEUM OF LONDON

Frost Fair Icy Fun on the Thames

epartment 56 Dickens Village Artist Barbara Lund and I had the opportunity to visit when we both appeared at the Christmas Place store in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, during its Retirement Weekend festivities last year. Barbara told me she was having an interesting time researching Frost Fairs in London and asked if I was familiar with them. After

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Spring 2015

hearing what she had learned, how she would be incorporating it into Dickens’ Village, and that it would involve specially designed pieces for Platinum Dealers, I knew I had to learn more. My research set the perfect stage for me to connect with a friend who works at the Museum of London. In so doing, I learned that in early 2014, the museum had

organized two mini-exhibitions to commemorate the 200th anniversary of London’s last Frost Fair in 1814. The museum’s staff provided valuable information, and they were most gracious in granting me permission to use the images that appear with this article. A Frost Fair is best described as an icy carnival that most often took place on an approximately

Opposite page: Frost Fair by Temple Stairs, 1684, by Abraham Hondius. Top: Frost Fair on the River Thames, 1814, by Luke Clennell. Bottom: Frozen Thames, 1677, by Abraham Hondius. Images ÂŠ Museum of London

Spring 2015

Village D-Lights

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

Above: Gingerbread bought at the last Frost Fair, 1814. Right: The frost fair on the river Thames, 1715-1716. Images © Museum of London

¾-mile stretch of the frozen Thames River between Old London Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge. While it is recorded that the Thames froze over for nine weeks in the year 250, records indicate that some events took place on the icy Thames as far back as 1309. The Thames has frozen over 23 times since the 12th century, and Frost Fairs were held on six of those occasions. The Museum of London collection houses items from Frost Fairs held in 1683-84, 1715-16, 1739-40, 1789, and 1814. The first officially recorded Frost Fair was in 1608. The most celebrated and largest one occurred during 1683-1684 when the Thames was frozen solid for two months. Back then, the Thames did not know today’s water traffic, and the river was quite shallow with no embankments. Old London Bridge had buildings on top of it and some 20 piers below that also contributed to the slowing of the river. All of these factors allowed the area near and around Old London Bridge to freeze solid, and that is when the fun took place. As with our familiar snow days of today, it was a way for Londoners to shake off the doldrums of a harsh winter and let their hair down. Merchant activity from London’s streets moved to the ice during

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Spring 2015

this time and brought life to the frozen city as well. It is said that even watermen who worked on the Thames converted their frozen ships into temporary stages for plays and puppet performances. This frozen river playground featured everything you could imagine of that time: shopping, printing, and cooking done in popup portable booths and tents. You could witness the roasting of an ox and visit coffee houses and even pubs that served gin. Gingerbread was a featured treat of the day along with every type of food imaginable. In its collection, The Museum of London has an actual piece of iced gingerbread preserved from the last Frost Fair of 1814. It is wrapped in a handwritten parchment and dated February 1-5, 1814. Many printing businesses moved from London streets to the ice during Frost Fairs to generate revenue. The most common and sought after souvenirs during the festivities were commemorative cards, etchings, and engravings that documented the event. For most people, this was a once-in-a-lifetime event, so they wanted keepsakes. Entertainment of all kinds added excitement to the event. Just like a modern day state fair, there were games and activities for all ages. These included skittles (a form of

10-pin bowling), swings, horse and coach rides, football, shooting at marks, and ice skating. A notable event from the 1814 Frost Fair: witnessing an elephant walk across the frozen river at Blackfriars Bridge. With the new London Bridge in place, along with fewer arches to slow the much-deepened present day river, it is very unlikely that any of us will witness a Frost Fair in our lifetime. I am told that if you are in London, however, you can go to a pedestrian tunnel under the south bank of the Southwark Bridge and see five slabs of gray slate, sculpted by British artist Richard Kindersley, that depict a Frost Fair. Until the time that I can make it there, my mind is already swirling with ways to incorporate the new Frost Fair pieces into my Dickens’ Village display. I can even picture a great vignette that incorporates the recently retired “Punch & Judy” accessory and previously released “mongers” of Dickens’ Village, along with some New England and Alpine accessories to recreate the revelry. ® View the new Dickens’ Village Series “Frost Fair” introductions starting on page 14 of this issue, and you can view them at dept56.com.

Top: A View of Frost Fair on the Thames, looking upstream toward Blackfriars Bridge and St Paul’s, 1814. Above: Frost Fair on the Thames, 1684. Images © Museum of London

Spring 2015

Village D-Lights

DISPLAY IDEAS, HINTS, AND OPINIONS

BY DAVID SPEARS

JUST SO YOU KNOW

. . . Amazing! Two readers of this column in the Fall 2014 Village D-Lights made the connection. The mime/clown in the photo on page 27 of that issue is the same one I referred to in words on page 29. He has a red balloon. Thanks for so thoroughly reading what I write. . . . The garage sale ad in the newspaper said “Christmas items, including village figures.” I had to go take a look. They were lit, animated, and life-size. It’s incredible how I have these preconceived notions.

. . . Petco can still be a source for fun village display items. I found a stack of mushrooms, maybe six or seven, sharing a single base (7 inches tall). They are flat on top. I can see a Dept. 56 North Pole elf sitting or standing on each mushroom. They’re brown with white edges. They’d be better if they were white—maybe some snow will help. If not, I could paint them. Note: The mushrooms are intended for aquarium use. The same shelves also had some ancient Greek temple walls, pagodas, and castles. . . . Dept. 56 Alpine Village “Rüdesheim Turmbrücke”— I don’t know why, but I still find the bridge/tower interesting. Rüdesheim is a town on the Rhine River in Germany. . . . I finally have a Kenworth W900 (1:43 scale) car transporter in my hands. I’ve been able to place seven models of “real” cars I’ve owned on the truck, which is made by New Ray Toys. It’s going to be great place to display my automobiles. Linda says, “It’s cute!” Thanks to Mr. Bill for selling it to us.

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Spring 2015

. . . I was reminded that “La Fiesta Restaurante” was the first in a new Dept. 56 Snow Village group called Chow Town. In May 2014 they also introduced “La Fiesta To Go Truck,” a food truck (above); “Fiesta Al Fresco,” a table; and “La Fiesta Feast,” a waiter carrying an order, to go with the “Restaurante.” I like food trucks!

. . . O Gauge Railroading magazine (December 2014 issue) has an article by John Rapacz. The title is “Buildings for the Holidays and Beyond.” The subtitle, “Easy ways to customize porcelain structures.” This article is about using Dept. 56 buildings in a model railroad layout. Most of his suggestions and ideas don’t harm the buildings. Linda and I have a ski jump, bridge, advertising signs, and fireplaces that John built. Some of you may remember him. He sold at a couple of Dept. 56 gatherings. John is from the Twin Cities. . . . How many times have I said, “We don’t do Halloween”? So how can it be that we did a Halloween vignette and we have a 33-gallon tub full of Halloween buildings and accessories? I must not have been paying attention.

. . . Linda found a small “Ice Cream Truck,” made by Kinsfun, at the Menards store in West Duluth, Minnesota. It’s cute, not fancy, and fairly well done. Most important, it looks like the ice cream truck I remember seeing as a kid. And it was only $4. I’m guessing 1:43 scale. . . . I saw many small villages and model trains in Christmas ads on TV this past season. However, I found few trains, and even fewer houses, for sale in stores. . . . Pier 1 Imports in Duluth, Minnesota, had some shiny airplanes in a couple of different sizes. You’ll have to use your imagination—and maybe some paint—but one or two of them might work with one of the Dept. 56 airport buildings.

. . . I thought they might be beads when I purchased them at a garage sale. Linda informed me it’s more than likely they are Christmas tree garland. Either way, they look like ½-inch gold, green and red beer cans. I can see them in a Christmas In The City display (maybe along a parade route). Or, more likely, with the elves in/at the North Pole. Whoa, my string is 6 feet long. That might be a bit much for a display. Or, I suppose I could cut the string.

. . . You gotta check all the stores for those special accessories. Holiday Time had one item for me: a cute teddy bear, in a policeman’s uniform, pulling a little red wagon full of toys! It was one of the Toys for Tots figurines offered at Walmart. Your comments and ideas are welcome. Contact me at spears.duluth@juno.com, 105 E. Toledo St., Duluth, Minnesota, 55811-2356, or (218) 724-6148.

. . . A deer ran into our car at 55 mph. We were doing 55, not the deer. I’m sure the poor animal came out worse than our Subaru Outback. The car spent a week in the body shop. Linda and I are just fine. . . . Kurt Adler “Budweiser Clydesdales” Christmas decorations/ ornaments cost approximately $15 on eBay. Maybe 4 inches tall. I’m going to have to take a second look at them. I thought they were larger than that. . . . Dept. 56 “Let’s Have a Little Fun,” a Snow Village clown, $20. I’m going to have to see him in person before I decide to buy him. We have a whole lot of clowns and, well, can you have too many clowns?

. . We purchased “That’s The Spirit,” New England Village accessory for the “Spirit of ’76 Root Beer” building. It was our first purchase of a 2014 Dept. 56 introduction. We were very lucky—this was one of the few accessories that the remaining Dept. 56 dealer in our area ordered this season. It’s much easier to spend $40 when you can see the piece in person. Spring 2015

Village D-Lights

Gathering’s Up Dude!

Make your next harbor stop in San Diego at the

California Gold Gathering September 11 -13, 2015

Kringles is overflowing with great Christmas ideas via accessories, collectibles and more! New Christmas decor arriving weekly. Kringles is filled with ornaments and decor for every decorating theme and features a variety of your favorite collectibles including Pipka, Dept. 56, Possible Dreams, Fontanini, Christopher Radko, and so many more!

Paddle your board on over to the Sheraton Hotel and Marina Bay Tower which is close to the airport and offers a free airport shuttle. Rooms will be $119 per Paddle your3board on over theafter) Sheraton Hotel and Mari-and $10 night (good days before and 3todays with free internet service roomsis have a water view! So getand “amped” (surfing terminolonaparking—and Bay Tower all which close to the airport offers a free gy for getting excited) and come early and stay late to “hang ten” at the gatherairport shuttle. Rooms will be $119 per night (good 3 days ing events and all that San Diego has to offer.

before and 3 days after) with free internet service and $10 Hotel Info: Sheraton San Diego & Marina parking—and all rooms haveHotel a water view! So get “amped” 1380 Harbor Island Drive | San Diego, CA 92101 (surfing terminology for getting excited) and come early and 877-734-2726 stay late to “hang ten” at the gathering events www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/booking/ and all that reservation?id=1403286435&key=14E8202A San Diego has to offer. California Gold Gathering website: www.californiagoldgathering.com

www.christmastreehill.com 1-800-222-6173

Hotel Info: Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina Bay Tower 1590 Harbor Island Drive | San Diego, CA 92101 Click on reservation link from the home page of California Gold Gathering website

Visit our website for special offers on Department 56 Villages and many other gifts and home accents at great prices. Join our e-mail list for monthly specials and information on new village arrivals. SuziesHallmark_Winter2014.pdf

California Gold Gathering website: www.californiagoldgathering.com

Questions: contact Michele Brown @ Vbrown47@verizon.net

Donate your Dept. 56 Collectibles and make a difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities.

11/18/14

8:52 AM

We welcome you to visit our 9 Christmas Tree Hill Stores in York, Camp Hill, Lancaster, Gettysburg, PA and more! See our website for all store information and pictures. Store pictured is in York, PA.

Family owned and operated for 44 years!

suzie’s hallmark shop

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, Yankee candles, Willow Tree, Puzzles, Scarves & Purses and much more. All purchases receive points on your Gold Crown Card.

Find us on Facebook.

Special thanks to readers who have donated!

The 26th Annual Long Island Festival of Trees will take place Thanksgiving weekend 2015 at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, Garden City, New York

Crystal Aerie

SuziesHallmark_Summer2014.indd 1

8/18/14 8:50 AM 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!

The Dept. 56 Shoppe donates 100% of the profits raised to the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County, Inc.

Call for details, 516-378-2000,ext. 651 Assisting individuals with disabilities since 1948 www.ucpn.org

www.facebook.com/ucpnfestivaloftrees

302 Mill Street, Occoquan, Va. 22125 703-‐494-‐4964 www.goldgoose.com goldgoose@verizon.net A Platinum Dept. 56 dealer with all Villages shown in award winning displays. Snowbabies, Possible Dreams, Byers’ Choice Carolers, Pipka, Jim Shore, Mark Roberts, Karen Didion, Fontanini, German Nutcrackers & Smokers, Old World Christmas, and thousands & thousands of ornaments.

Village D-Lights

Spring 2015