$4.95 USA $5.95 Canada
April/May 2013 www.TreasuresMagazine.com
april/may 2013
VILLAGE D-LIGHTS
1
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 Most New Intros Available In All Lines Are 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.
Contents Designing Displays 6
Care tips for your village "The Village Workshop" by Stephen Pepin
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Just So You Know… Display Ideas, Hints, and Opinions by David Spears
14 It's all about the details "Train Skein" by Phil Renninger 20
The dynamic duo
"Collector Spotlight" on Martha and Barry Jack By Stephanie Finnegan
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Celebrate Throughout the Year: Part II April/May "On Display" by Leigh Gieringer
26
Adding Animation "Lights, Camera, Action" by J. Michael Sanders
Pg. 8
Pg. 14
Department 56 Details 13
2013 Product exclusives "A Little Light On the Subject" by Melinda Seegers
16
Creative channeling, artist Jeff Junkins "From Inspiration to Creation" by Steffie Lederman
28
2013 Village Introductions Comprehensive Listing and Pictorial Review of Original Snow Village, New England Village, and North Pole
Miscellaneous Musings 4 From the Editor 12
Christmas In the city Word Search
“Puzzle” by Linda Kruger
19
the gift of volunteering
"News From the NCC" by Mike Goode
Pg. 23
on the Cover
These buildings and accessories are all found within the Farmer's Holiday Market sub-series, in The Original Snow Village. New for 2013 are "The Sweet Spot" and the coordinating accessory (center front) "Spoiled By Grandma." For more 2013 introductions, see page 28. (Photos courtesy Department 56®)
from the editor
Editor Advertising Manager
Editor Linda Kruger can be reached at Cell Phone: 319.415.5839, or lkruger@pioneermagazines.com
Art Director Circulation Director
Linda Kruger Ronda Jans
Alicia Fryslie
Katrina Brocka
Village D-tails update I am pleased to announce that the completion of this project is within sight. Village D-tails is being updated to include all buildings and accessories from the first product in 1976 through the latest releases January, 2013. This Third Edition is the only complete guide of Department 56® Villages on the market and proves valuable for tracking collections, researching the histories of specific lines, and valuing replacements for insurance purposes. In this edition you will find… pictures for visual identification of every piece, product numbers and accessories, current market values for insuring your collection, the chronological order of each Village, listings for tracking what is in your collection, a place to record the price you paid, interesting variations and little known facts, both an alphabetical and numerical index.
James Slife
Production Twilla Glessner
Accounting Manager Allison Volker
Volume 9 / Number 2 www.TreasuresMagazine.com 1.877.899.9977 Fax 319.824.3414
Pre-orders are now being taken, both online at www.TreasuresMagazine. com and by phone at 1.877.899.9977. Delivery is projected for May 2013. Order your copy today!
From our readers
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.
“In the February/March issue, page 12, is the Alpine village display article. In the upper right corner on page 15 is a picture of a footbridge. Which piece is this so I can buy it?” — W.C., email. VDL checked with the author and learned that the bridge was purchased at Jo-Ann’s. The name of the line was Holiday Inspirations, model #RN-35055, manufacture date 04 2009, batch # 0609, and lot 592. Our thanks to J. Michael Sanders for providing this information.
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.
Also in the February/March issue, page 32, the caption states "figures from the Streets of Hong Kong resin groupings." A reader has brought to our attention that these figures are metal, not resin, by King and Country, the company that created the Streets of Hong Kong series. Our thanks to this reader for the information.
POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to Village D-Lights, 300 Walnut St., Suite 6, Des Moines, IA 50309.
Village D-Lights is now on Facebook. You'll find fun conversations with collectors, interesting trivia that didn't make the pages of the magazine, and peeks at upcoming information to be published in Village D-Lights. Please visit our page, and "like" us, so you'll receive notice of the activity as it is posted. Join in the fun and leave a message on our Village D-Lights Facebook page. —
Linda
VILLAGE D-LIGHTS
april/may 2013
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
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.
Village D-Lights and social media
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CEO & Publisher
“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.
ColleCtibly yours
NORTHEAST
www.collectiblyyoursgifts.com Retired, secondary market collectibles
i ng G at her Oct 25- 27, 2013 • Windsor Locks, CT
Dept. 56 Villages and accessories SnowbabieS • SnowbunnieS Merry Makers • all Through The house WinTer silhoueTTes • upsTairs Bears
Lladro, Armani, Swarovski, Kinkade, Dolls, Wee Forest Folk, Lilliput Lane, David Winter, Lowell Davis, Seraphim, Plates, Disney Classics, JRS, Ebony Visions, All God’s Children, Harmony Kingdom, Charming Tails, PM, AND MORE! Phone (845) 352-8968
Mail: 119 Rockland Center, Suite 239, Nanuet, NY 10954
Wanted:
• People selling collections/pieces • People buying houses & accessories • People looking for display ideas • People who want to see the Northeast www.northeastHarvestGathering.com
For Sale:
Collection of Department 56
®
Houses & Accessories from 1984-2001+ Snow Village (166 Bldgs.), Dickens’ Village (87), Christmas In The City (55), North Pole (43), New England (39), Alpine Village (19), Halloween (7), Disney (6) and more!
Frank Quillin (WV) 304-525-7081 • Call For Information
Check Out Our Events Calendar On Our Website
TreasuresMagazine.com
showcase displays
By stephen pepin
Village Workshop Caring tips for your village
W
hether you own a few pieces or a large amount of them, caring for your village buildings and accessories is an important aspect of preserving their beauty and their value. Some basic tips can help accomplish that.
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Dusting and Cleaning Off Landscaping Material At the very end of setting up my displays, I like to sprinkle my buildings and accessories with loose snow when I make Christmas displays. Similarly, for Halloween displays I like to sprinkle them with blended turf or moss material. Before boxing away my village after displaying them for a while, I like to give each building and accessory a little bit of a cleaning so that it is ready and looks perfect for the next time I display them. These landscaping materials of course tend to get lodged in hard to reach features of each piece (photo 1). My favorite method to clear them is generally to use a can of compressed air (photo 2). I find that it typically provides enough "force" to clear dust and landscaping material, without making damage or blowing away items that should be affixed (unless these items are already loose and about to detach). Other methods may also work, such as using a feather duster or a mini-vacuum (photo 3) designed for electronics like computer keyboards. If you own an airbrush, you can also use it like a compressed air can, but it may not be powerful enough to clear off some of the well-lodged material. Now be careful to ensure that your
airbrush is entirely clear of paint or solvent, or you will have an unpleasant surprise! Protecting the Base of Buildings and Accessories The buildings and accessories of collectors' villages are often placed on display platforms that I have painted or that have had adhesives (craft glue, spray adhesives, etc.) used on them to affix landscaping material like snow and moss. Often times, especially after a piece has been sitting at the same spot for a period of time, it may lightly stick to the display, leaving residue or even paint on the underside of the building or accessory. While the underside of a piece isn't anywhere close to being as important as the rest of the piece, most of the collectors I know would prefer to keep it as nice and clean as possible. Even more crucial to protect the base is when placing a piece like a boat on a simulated water feature. Depending on the materials used to create the water feature (epoxy and resin mixes, Woodland Scenic速 Realistic Water, or others), heavy pieces may stick to the simulated water feature, sometimes even to the point that damage will occur to the piece and/or the display platform when the piece is pulled off. For these situations above, I suggest the use of thin foam pads, such as those pictured in photo 4. These thin foam sheets can be found at Michaels速 or similar craft stores and come in a variety of sizes and colors. Select the color that best fits a particular piece and trace its out-
line on the sheet. The sheet can be easily cut with scissors, to give you a perfect match of the footprint of you piece. Additionally, a hole can then be cut through it in order to pass a light cord through. See an example in photo 5. These thin foam outlines almost always fit in the storage box of each particular piece, making it easy to use it year after year. Storing Package-less Pieces Occasionally we find ourselves owning pieces for which we do not have the packing material, like the custom-formed foam shell and illustrated sleeve for Department 56 pieces. Maybe they were destroyed by accident or it was a deal too good to pass, even knowing that the packaging material was missing. In any case, it is important to properly store these to minimize potential breaks in storage. While it may be tempting to created custom foam shell pieces with carving tools, I find that a simple method works as well, if not better. Simply put all detachable items like building signs in a small zip-lock bag and do the same for the light cord or adapter as applicable. Then cover the building with a plastic bag and find a cardboard box (double-walled is preferable) that will allow for at least three inches of additional space around the building on all sides, including top and bottom. Fill the bottom of the box with one to two inches of foam peanuts, then place the plastic bag with the building in it (this will avoid having static-charged foam bits everywhere on your building) in the center of the box. Place the zip-lock bags around the edges of the box, away from the building (photo 6), then fill the rest of the box completely with more foam peanuts, ensuring that all space around the building gets filled. This will give you protection as good as the original packaging and preserve your piece for years to come. Until next time, have fun planning your 2013 villages and take care of your wonderful pieces! If you have any comment or questions regarding this topic, please don’t hesitate to contact me at stephen@showcase-displays.com. u
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Display ideas, hints and opinions
We have four small groups of village musicians on a window sill. I placed musical stickers on the window. It was noticed/mentioned often during our village open houses.
. . . I kept seeing a note on the bulletin board, “Take photos of our stuff!” It was there to remind us to take pictures of our displays. We always need a picture or two to share with friends. Also, it doesn’t hurt to take a look to see what you did last time. We’re still not good at taking “in progress” pictures, but we were better this year. . . . We Tacky Wax™ or pin accessories and people, that are close to the front edge, in our displays. It helps keep them safe from falling and/or being pushed off the display. We also place throw rugs on our hardwood floors in case something does make it to the floor. It can’t hurt. . . . Have you tried “cable ties” to hold together all those electrical cords used to light all the items in your displays? They 8
VILLAGE D-LIGHTS
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By david spears
Just So Y ou Know. . are easier to use, and neater than “twisties.” You can find them at places like Radio Shack® or the electrical department of home improvement stores. In some stores, you will find “clips”that hold the “cable ties” to the bottom of the table. Ask about them, if you think they are something that might interest you (and in case I didn’t explain well). . . . Linda and I use Post It® notes for special reminders. You will find them
inside and outside the “boxes” that our Department 56 houses and accessories come in. They say “breakable,” “easily lost,” “remember signs,” and things like that. The notes have saved us a lot of casualties, frustration, and even time. . . . It always helps to dust and clean Tacky Wax™ off before storing your houses and accessories. This keeps the boxes clean inside, and makes it a lot easier when you take them out next time.
. . . We always keep all the village stuff we can in their original boxes. It probably takes up a bit more room, but we feel it’s a lot safer. Linda makes “insulation” liners and finds boxes to fit the houses we buy that are not in the factory containers. We add a photo or a copy of the brochure page to the outside the homemade box (for ID purposes). . . . Cake topping people! We found seven football players plus a goal post for $5.00 (2.5-inches tall, multi-uniform colors). They also had five baseball players, of the same size, for $5.00. Both sets are plastic. These might be good for a child’s display, or maybe in the background of one of yours. There were also other “people” available, but most I saw were too large (and not too well done). These were at the bakery in the Duluth, Minnesota at the Kenwood Super One store. . . . Little metal umbrella “freebies” were our find at Gordy’s Gift & Garden in Hermantown, Minnesota. They must have bought a million of them, and they’re back! We now have four in red/ green and five in red/white versions. We used a couple in our carnival last year, and I’m sure we’ll find a place for more this time around. They are small for Heritage Village people (but there is a use for most everything). . . . CVS Pharmacy had a musical, “Nutcracker Stage” for $19.99. In the picture, it looks like the one we have, and we paid a bunch more than that for ours. They also had an animated “Ferris Wheel” and a “LED Revolving Tree” for the same price. . . . Leigh Gieringer and Sue Chretien are doing a Village Display Tips book with “vignette ideas.” Their plan is to have it published by mid-year 2013. You can contact Leigh at: villagedisplaytips@cox.net or watch Village D-Lights for progress updates. . . . Finally, I found a Department 56 Disney Park Series “Silversmith” to purchase. We’ve wanted it since we first had the idea for our first zoo. Why that building? It looks the way I remember the original building at our local Duluth Zoo.
We also bought the “Balloon Seller” for our carnival. . . . We have four small groups of “village” musicians on a windowsill. I placed “musical stickers” on the window, mostly “notes” in black — a nice addition. The stickers came from Michaels™. The windowsill proved to be a good location for our extra musicians. It was often noticed and mentioned during our village open houses. . . . We purchased two sets of different trees by Woodland Scenics®. We found them on sale; $7.00 for each set of three. The trees are seven to eight inches tall, with no snow and are skinny). They were at Menards™ at Christmas. I also found them at model railroad shops (for a bit more money). One set is called “Standing Timber,” and the other “Forever Green.” . . . We have six animated pieces (some Lemax®, some Department 56) in our living room display. They seem to be making more noise than I remember. I haven’t yet figured out why. . . . We discovered that we don’t have a Santa that will work in our parade — walking or sitting on something, fits in the back of a truck, and looks like it belongs there. How can we have all of these Santa’s, and none look like parade material? Note: I began counting “villagesized” Santa’s; I’m close to two dozen, and I’m not done yet. . . . We miss looking for new Department 56 at local stores. We used to have almost a dozen stores that carried them, now one remains (hopefully). Also, we missed Lemax “Christmas” at Shopko™ and Lemax “Coventry Cove” people that were available at local Kmarts®. . . . My latest fortune cookie said, "Your graceful qualities make difficult things seem easy." Linda says “graceful” might not be the operative word (for me). . . . We bought the Lemax “Kringle’s Air Field” and “Santa Swing” for 70 percent off at a Michaels®. The “Kringle’s Air
A note on the bulletin board, “Take photos of our stuff!” was there to remind us to take pictures of our displays. We’re still not good at taking “in progress” pictures, but we were better this year.
Field” is animated, but I’m not sure if I want it going around in circles. What we both like is all the kids riding with Santa in the sleigh under the blimp. . . . Linda found a bi-wing airplane (6-inches x 5-inches), a golf cart, and a railroad train engine (4-inches x 4.5-inches) at Pier 1™ in Duluth, Minnesota. Very sparkly and colorful! The engine looks good in the North Pole. The airplanes colors are a bit tame for the april/may 2013
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Display ideas, hints and opinions
The backlight’s in “The Nog Pub” were appreciated by more than a couple folks. They made the beads on the floor/ground look like they were lit from within.
North Pole; but when high in the sky, it works just fine. I didn’t see the golf cart (except in a photo). They were classified as Christmas ornaments (originally $5.99, but on sale for $3.00 each). . . . The blacklights in “The Nog Pub” were appreciated by more than a couple folks. Sort of fun the way they made the beads on the floor/ground look like they were lit from within. They sort of absorb the blacklight and appear to glow. The packaging says, “For Brilliant Spotlighting UV Reactive Coated Surfaces.” We look forward to doing more with them. The blacklight LED glow bars, 4.5 VDC power supply, and power split cables all came from Insight Technology in Cincinnati, Ohio. Visit insight56@aol.com . . . We had a smaller carnival display this year. I say smaller because it only had 13 animated pieces instead of the usual 16 or 17. . . . We’re thinking, after all these years, that maybe we can have too many trees. 10
VILLAGE D-LIGHTS
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Well maybe not too many, but we were not able to use them all. We seem to have a whole bunch leftover this year.
radio-controlled “flyers,” or very small, plastic versions. I’m sort of looking for something in between.
. . . The quality of the 2012 Lemax “Drag Racers” is poor. The paint, detail, and almost everything that could look bad, does. This includes tires that came flat from their molds. In spite of this, folks still enjoyed the cars in our ’50s display. Lemax calls their ’50s series “Jukebox Junction.”
. . . “But who’s flying the plane?” was the question/reply received when I posted the following message on an Internet group. I was looking at the Department 56 intros and spotted the new Christmas in the City “Deerfield Airport.” I found it interesting — a new idea, almost exciting. It has two accessories; “Flying Home For Christmas” (a DC-3 style airplane, 7.28 x 6 x 4.21 inches) and the “First Class Flight” (a flight attendant). I think they’re a nice, new combination. And, I seem to like airplanes. My reply to the question? “I believe we have a ‘cartoon’ pilot and I have several race car drivers, that folks sometimes think are pilots. Of course, Department 56 could always solve the problem with a mid-year pilot intro.”
. . . Small pinwheels for North Pole were discovered at a friend’s New Year’s Day party. She used them as “picks” in little meat wraps. I’m using them as a fence in North Pole. They are actually 1.25-inches pinwheels on top of a 2.5-inch toothpick. The pinwheels come in various colors and actually go around when our forced air furnace comes on. . . . We had a blimp over our “Christmas in the City” display, a bi-plane over North Pole, and a hot air balloon (with Santa) over our ski hill. I think I may have spotted a trend here. I’ve also been reminded that models of Cirrus™ airplanes are available, in several sizes, from hobby shops. Cirrus is our local aircraft manufacturer. Unfortunately, they are either large,
. . . I also liked the new Department 56 North Pole “Spin Art Master,” costing $15.00. It’s an elf putting color on those red and white candies, usually a mint of some sort. Your comments and ideas are welcome! Contact David at: spears.duluth@ juno.com. 105 E. Toledo St., Duluth, MN 55811-2356 or call 218.724.6148. u
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. CheCk out our spring speCials!
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 now aCCepting orders for 2013 new releases!
Denny’s Gift Den
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!
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.
Crystal Aerie
Always Christmas
2369 Joslyn Court Lake Orion, MI 48360 1-800-442-9627 ext 243 Canterburyvillage.com We are a Club 56 and Gold Key Dealer for Department 56. Specializing in all new, current and some retired Village pieces. We have one of the largest 56 displays in the country and help customers year round with classes to construct the village of their dreams. Villages, Snowbabies, Snowpinions and Possible Dreams!
Suzie’S Hallmark SHop
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!
Village Hot SpotS
Hunt’s at Silver Lake Drug & Gift
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
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 D56 Villages, Enesco's new Mickey and Tinkerbell Birthday Figures and Ne'Qwa Ornaments and much more! Paid advertisement
april/may 2013
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Christmas In The City Word Search By Linda Kruger
Find and circle the Word List names of Christmas In The City速 series buildings and accessories in the Word Search (excluding punctuation). Good Luck!
Word List
Oxford Shoes Deerfield Airport Fulton Fish House 7400 Beacon Hill Soho Shops A Classic Find Merry Janes For Christmas Flying Home For Christmas City Nativity
Winner of the Feb/mar 2013
This puzzle is sponsored by:
Puzzle: Jill Meyer, Central Valley, N.Y. Congratulations, Jill!
Prize for the apr/may 2013 Puzzle: "Printing Office and Post Office" #4025417, from the Williamsburg village, Department 56, website (www.Department56.com). Deadline for Entries: Entries must be received by Village D-Lights no later than May 6, 2013. One winner will be randomly selected from the valid entries.
February/March 2013 Solution
To Enter: Complete the puzzle. Send it or a photocopy to: Village D-Lights / Word Search P.O. Box 2516, Waterloo IA 50704 Or Fax: 319.824.3414.
Submitted by: Name Address City ST
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.
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VILLAGE D-LIGHTS
april/may 2013
By Melinda Seegers
A Little Light
On The
Subject
Dear Collectors: This is probably the hardest column to write each year. We are between seasons, between holidays, and between introduction periods! So what to talk about? Plan Ahead There’s always planning ahead for next year’s display, taking stock of what you need in the way of new trees, roads, and other landscaping materials, and what replacement parts, bulbs, and adapters you may need. This is a good time of year to call and get those replacement parts from us. The biggest advantage is that there is usually zero wait time!
A Sears exclusive for the Peanuts Village is “Woodstock’s Warming House.”
on our Facebook page, we invite you to check us out. You can log in through our Home Page at www.dept56.com. 2013 Product Exclusives Occasionally Department 56 will produce products that are exclusive to certain retail stores or a small group of retailers. I have two exclusives to share with you. First, there is “Yankee Candle Company” for The New England Village. The piece is sold only through Yankee Candle flagship stores and their website (starting in fall, 2013). Another special edition piece is the Original Snow Village “Lynnhaven” in
A Christmas Story exclusive for 2013 — available online at the A Christmas Story Museum — is "Ralphie's Backyard Shed."
Social Media I would like to take this opportunity to tell collectors how much I am enjoying talking to you through the various social media sites you are using! I am impressed with the comments. You really know how to help each other out! Sometimes I see a question and think that I need to respond, and there on the next line is a great response from another collector! I usually put my two cents worth in as well, but sometimes even that is too much! I have received many good ideas for display, repair, and sourcing items from you! If you have not joined the hundreds of collectors
Another special edition piece is the Original Snow Village “Lynnhaven” in grey.
grey. (The regular issue piece #4016902 is yellow.) This will be an exclusive offering to select Village dealers. Check with your favorite retail store to see if they will be receiving the grey version later this spring. The grey coloration is our salute to an American institution, the catalog and pre-manufactured home. Today, many think of a trailer home or prefab home, Continued on page 15 april/may 2013
Ô
“Yankee Candle Company,” for The New England Village, is an exclusive piece sold only through Yankee Candle flagship stores and their website (starting in fall, 2013).
Another planning event might be to look at your calendar and plan what events you are going to make this year. As you already know, there is a great event taking place in Connecticut this fall (the Northeast Harvest Gathering) and there will be other events planned by local clubs and retailers. These will start showing up on our Event Calendar this summer.
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trains
By Phil Renninger Local photography by Marianne Bakker, Pam Wheat and Tralaina A. Blankenship
It's All About the Details
D
etails, details, details. Yep, that’s what this stop on The Train Skein is about. Now, I did say before that we are about trains in Department 56 Villages, not model railroading. But there are certain details that “plant” the railroad in the village display. Sure, you placed your buildings and people after you put the track down. And of course, you checked to make sure the cowcatcher on the front of the locomotive didn’t smash a building corner or injure any citizens. But does your train look like it is really part of the village? At your station, are there people waiting for the train? Are there benches for them to sit upon? Perhaps there
is a porter with a cart full of luggage standing by. Does anyone remember the “Railway Express Agency (REA),” the predecessor to UPS® and FedEx®? Lots of packages on a loading platform can pass for REA. Is there a clock in your station’s passenger area? How about flashing signals at each grade crossing along the track? And even if you don’t have any sidings, you can include a service area along the tracks somewhere. Steam engines need water and coal. You could place a water tower and a coaling station along the track and tower lights in the service area. And taxis always frequent train stations. Department 56 has created a variety
Crossing the high trestle on a fine autumn afternoon.
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of accessories that will enhance your railroad experience within the village and of course you can create your own details. Here are some of the railroadassociated accessories that have been produced by Department 56. There is no limit to the kinds of folks that may show up at a train station. Enhance and enjoy! I have enjoyed my opportunity to visit with the readers of Village D-Lights. I am thrilled and proud to be included in the company of these fine contributors. Let me pass along a few more photos of trains in our villages. That’s it for now. See you all next time somewhere along The Train Skein. u
Crossing signals, people hurrying, and a cart full of luggage populate a marvelous display by Marianne Bakker.
Ô
Pam Wheat features moving autos and a monorail in her fascinating holiday display.
"A Little Light" Continued from page 13
but manufactured homes have been available for over 100 years. They started with catalog homes, like those available through Sears, Aladdin, and others in the early 20th century and continue to be popular here in the United States, throughout Europe, and in Asia. One of the many advantages of a home like this is the majority of the construction occurs in climate controlled factories where the crew is never slowed down by the weather. Once the home is shipped to the building site, the home goes up quickly with little trouble with either a local crew, or one hired from the manufacturer. In the beginning, the catalog home was ordered by mail and the components were shipped to the nearest train depot on two box cars — everything from lumber, shingles, windows, paint, varnish
and nails. One home listed 750 pounds of nails were included! With the Sears, Roebuck and Co. homes, financing could be arranged directly through Sears. Now that’s what I call one stop shopping! And speaking of Sears, they will also have exclusive introductions in 2013. There will be pieces for several of our Classic Brands — A Christmas Story, Mickey’s Merry Christmas Village, and the Peanuts Village. With this column we show “Woodstock’s Warming House.” The others can be seen by visiting the Department 56 website (www.dept56. com) and looking for Product Exclusives in the Collecting/ Village section. There are also a couple of exclusives for A Christmas Story available online at the A Christmas Story Museum – www.redriderleglamps.com
Mid-year Tease Now maybe I can tease you with some hints about what is coming in midyear. When I talked to Creative Director Rick Jackson, he gave me this hint, “From below the trees to the top of the clouds, we’ll have you covered.” Now the deciphering is up to you! u Till next time, happy collecting!
Ms Lit Town, Department 56 Consumer Services, 800.548.8696
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inspiration to creation
Creative
By steffie lederman
Channeling
J
eff Junkins has fond memories of his childhood years spent in Iowa. Raised on a hobby farm in the middle of the agricultural Midwest, he grew up respecting nature, appreciating his siblings, and enjoying what he calls “the simple but sweet” times. The youngest in a family of three — he had two older sisters, Debbie and Cindy — Jeff adored spending time with his family. His parents, David and Deanna, worked hard to give the kids a great life, so he often spent time with his grandmother, Bessie. His grandma played a pivotal role in his evolution as an artist. “She encouraged me to draw and helped me to develop my imagination. I learned to love drawing while sitting at my grandma’s kitchen table,” Junkins recalls. “She also taught me to love and respect animals. I remember hiking through her woodlands, playing on the old farm machinery, helping her gather eggs, feeding the animals, and watching the baby chicks in the incubator. It was a great way to grow up! Even though I’m really a city guy now, I still have the same sort of sensibility of my farm roots.” Feeling connected to both the landscape of his grandmother’s rural home and his current city dynamics, Junkins is a natural for his role as a freelance designer at Department 56. He is able to create buildings that define a thriving metropolis (“Empire State Building”) as well as houses that smack of a country, rustic vibe (the “Mountain View Cabin”). “I love the charm of that cabin. It was based loosely on the house in which I lived at the time I was designing it, as well as memories of growing up in Iowa,” he states. “Whenever I’m stumped for an interesting
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Jeff Junkins draws upon his imagination and his boyhood experiences in designing landmark attractions and TV sitcom locations.
As a kindergartener, Jeff Junkins looked mischievous, but he admits he was no Bart Simpson. He likens himself to Bart’s best friend, Milhouse Van Houten. “I’m a nerd at heart,” he proudly states.
gles. It took hours to accomplish, but it was fun. I was a total nerd!” proclaims Junkins. Identifying himself as a bit of a geek, Junkins admits that there is very little Bart Simpson in his soul. He readily confesses that he is much more like honor student, Lisa Simpson, or Bart’s bespectacled best friend, Milhouse. “I, at least, try to be the voice of reason and I probably give my friends way too much advice. I am a total nerd. I always have been,” he laughs. “I think that’s one of my best personality traits.” Today, Junkins has morphed into an undeniable outdoorsman, enjoying
The “Mountain View Cabin” was inspired by a house in which Jeff lived. “The slope of the roof, the way it curves, the window that is at a higher level, where the staircase was placed — that influenced me. I combined it with the old cabins where I grew up. I mixed the ideas together to create ‘Mountain View Cabin,’” says Junkins.
"Pillsbury Doughboy™ Bake Shop" set of two includes accessory "The Pillsbury Doughboy™." Introduced December, 2003, retired December, 2005.
detail around a window or an awning — maybe a great design for a door, for example — I think of something that I’ve seen before or parts of different doors or windows. You see, I have a good memory for little details, so that helps. Traveling quite a bit helps me too, because there are so many styles of architecture to take in.” For Junkins’ most recent project, the designer was not asked to leave home at all. In fact, the request was just the opposite; he was encouraged to steep himself in television, primarily episodes of The Simpsons. “I have the great fortune to be one of the artists on this series of buildings,” he recounts. “I’ve collaborated with Department 56 and the licensor to create the village buildings. I’ve created the Simpson family’s house, Moe’s tavern, the elementary school, and the Kwik-E-Mart. These are all based on the locales from the program and we tried as hard as possible to
make them look like the actual buildings.” A self-proclaimed fan of the animated program, Junkins has been watching the episodes since they first aired as a short subject on the Tracey Ullman Show. “I think almost everyone can relate to the show. It’s brilliantly written. It’s timely, yet timeless. The characters are funny and sweet, and you can’t help but love them.” Translating the familiar cartoon shapes and silhouettes of the buildings was a challenge for the artist. It also tapped into his strength of being able to make 2-D designs spring to life as 3-D models. “During my 15 years at Department 56, I have illustrated village houses and created all elevations of the piece. I provide a paper production model for each of my pieces. Then, a sculptor takes my model and creates the sculpted piece from that model.” Junkins’ impressive ability to create paper mock-ups began in his youth. “As a little boy, I learned to work on three-dimensional pieces. I didn’t have a lot of money to buy buildings for my model railroad, so I made my own buildings out of balsa wood. They took a lot of time to complete. I’d cut clapboard for siding and little balsa shinapril/may 2013
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inspiration to creation
“There is always an opportunity to put yourself into any of the pieces, especially when they’re based on something as tangible as an illustration or a historic landmark, like the Empire State Building,” Junkins explains.
Junkins admits that his favorite pieces are ones, like the “George Wythe House” (above), which he designed for the Williamsburg series.
camping, kickboxing, weight training, biking, and kayaking on the lakes in Minneapolis. He also balances his active side with a stay-at-home preference for baking, spending time with family and friends, and playing with his two dogs, Mouse and Boo. He shares his home with his partner of nearly 20 years, Mike. “At home, I collect my own pieces and I have them displayed, very simply on shelves, year-round. A ballpark estimate — I think I’ve designed about 170 pieces by now,” he marvels. Because he has worked on so many different village series, he has learned to do extensive research and make painstaking “trial-and-error” attempts at getting every detail just right. During his tenure at Department 56, he has been called upon to illustrate and build paper models for Christmas in the City, Original Christmas Village, Christmas Story, Historic Landmarks, and Literary Classics. He has also done a great deal of work for Williamsburg, which is his favorite milieu. Junkins remarks, “I love the actual village of Williamsburg. Getting to visit there, I fell in love with the charming buildings and the wonderful people. I think the Department 56 village captures that same spirit of warmth, charm, and history. If you haven’t been to 18
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Williamsburg yet, put it on your list!” The artist also has deep affection for Williamsburg because he attended two signing events in that city. “The collectors are so kind, so genuine, and they really love the pieces. They say exactly what you hope they would feel when you design a piece. You want them to love it, to hand it down to their kids, to treasure it. You hope that they will make the village setup a tradition every year. You want to hear that they add a couple pieces each year and to hear the excitement about what might be coming next. All of that happened when I met the collectors.”
After Jeff Junkins earned his bachelor’s degree in graphic design, with an emphasis in business management, from the University of Northern Iowa, he felt that his college education “paved the way for my career and for many of my opportunities.” His association with Department 56 has given him something that he couldn’t have predicted: “Seeing how devoted the collectors are, and realizing the care they take of their collections, in a way, I know that a little piece of me will live on.” That realization gives him pride and warms his heart. u
news from the ncc
The Gift of
E
ach year I hear Melinda Seegers share with NCC members about the money we have donated to charities over the years. It measures into the millions. Along with that, there are thousands of hours of volunteer service provided by our members to a wide variety of charities. It comes as no surprise when I visit with collectors or read their newsletters, I learn that they are involved in a wide variety of services that aid their communities. These are individuals who may be retired, work out of their homes or perhaps are "stay at home" moms and dads. Whoever they are, they provide the gift of volunteering. Very often these individuals were volunteers as youth and carried over this desire to serve into adulthood. Living in the United States and Canada, we have many opportunities to share our time and talents with others. Many of our clubs construct displays at Ronald McDonald Houses; yet, there are many who serve in retirement communities and hospitals. Several clubs volunteer as a group to donate blood, to work
By mike goode, ncc president
Volunteering
at Goodwill facilities and Community Health Departments. One couple who are good friends of ours and who are members of our Sunday School class volunteer to take members of our church to DFW Airport when they are flying to other destinations. I think that is a very creative approach to volunteering. So many of us have skills that we don't get to use very often. I know that many of us have construction skills and often volunteer at various Habitat for Humanity sites. I also know that a number of you support this program financially, which also is a way of demonstrating your support, not only of this organization but others. I personally enjoy supporting our church's Village Garden. We grow fresh produce year round for Mission Central which is a facility that provides a wide array of programs to help those in need. This is a volunteer group of 12 individuals that plant, cultivate and harvest the vegetables throughout the seasons. Trisha
and I both volunteer at Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport, assisting passengers with information and gate locations. We have served at DFW for approximately 11 years, and we both never tire of the unusual questions and situations that arise. One of my favorite all-time volunteer groups that I recently learned about was a group of ladies referred to as the "Soup Sisters." These women gather together to cook casseroles, soups and frozen meals for those who might need some assistance in cooking and planning meals. What a wonderful concept and way to bring people together. Finally, I would like to remind each and everyone you of the volunteer opportunities at the upcoming Northeast Harvest Gathering, October 25-27, in Connecticut. Randy Miller and his committee will be seeking volunteers to work various venues throughout their gathering. The 2014 Texas Gathering had its first official organizational meeting in February. Additional information will be forthcoming along with other volunteer opportunities. u april/may 2013
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collector profile
c i m
a n y D e h T
Martha and Barry Jack delight in creating lit-up and animatronic holiday displays By stephanie finnegan
D
epartment 56 enthusiasts always appear animated when they are conversing about their collection. For Canadian aficionados Martha and Barry Jack, their sprawling villages are animated in return. Within their Christmas setup, Kris Kringle schools a reindeer in how to take flight — and sure
enough, the four-footed animal aviator soars high above Santa, who is proudly beaming below. The movement and the merriment are courtesy of the Jacks, who bring their talents and imagination to the frolicking vignettes. Barry is a retired mechanical designer, so the science
Photo Above: Canadian collectors Martha and Barry Jack are committed to lighting up the holidays with their moving displays.
behind these seasonal setups is second nature to him! He is able to devise clever ways to have characters twist and turn, and to have the village spring to dazzling life. Wife Martha, a semi-retired R.N., is the heart and soul of the duo. She dreams up the storylines and always has a new holiday goal for Barry to achieve. (For Christmas 2013, she hopes that their ski lift can actually navigate up and down their Styrofoam™ slopes.) Married for “about 22 years”— this is a second marriage for both partners — Martha and Barry began their devotion to Department 56 together, back in 1990. “We started collecting soon after we were married,” Martha details. “We had
The placement of people, places, and accessories present a challenge to Martha Jack. She loves to tell a tale with her arrangements. 20
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an old set of cardboard houses from the wartime, which had been Barry’s dad’s. We set up a little scene with them our first Christmas. Shortly after, we were at a Christmas store and saw some early Department 56 pieces. We started collecting them. They were Dickens,” Martha recalls. Those early pieces, purchased in 1990, were also on sale — a point that Barry stresses. Little did the duo know when they first bought those discounted items that their hobby would soon grow to be time- and space-consuming. By Barry’s calculations, the pair has “several hundred pieces — houses and accessories. It fills a basement!” Currently, the North Pole constitutes the Jacks’ main Christmas village, but they also arrange a Dickens and a Christmas in the City display, “which just keeps growing, too,” the couple acknowledges. “We have been collecting seriously since 1992,” Martha recounts, “and we have fallen in love with the whimsy and magic of the North Pole items.”
In addition to the large setup in the family room, the Jack family also exhibits smaller arrangements around their home, in curio cabinets, armoires, and on fireplace mantelpieces.
And the magic is reinforced when the visiting grandkids are told to clap their hands to turn on the display. Handy Barry has figured out a way to have everything light up and dazzle via remote control. When the grandchildren visit, Barry has to wind his way through the house with the remote control craftily
tucked away in his pocket. When he hears any sounds of applause, he has to make sure the button is pushed immediately . . . and the magical charm is maintained. “Our grandkids love the villages,” Martha enthuses, “and when they visit, they enjoy helping to redecorate them.” In addition to their children and grandchildren, the Jacks are also holiday heroes to the neighborhood schoolchildren who can’t wait to be invited inside for a gander. Once the students see what is happening at the North Pole, it dominates their conversation for days. “Over the years we have hosted many open houses for our collectors club, which is the Trillium Village Collectors. We’ve also hosted for the Probus Clubs and all of our neighbors,” the couple explains. “We love watching people see a village for the first time. In fact, we were written up in a local kid’s magazine after one of the contributing authors saw our Halloween display.” Yes, Virginia, besides there being a Santa Claus, there’s also a wildly, wickedly wonderful Halloween setup that the Jacks
A touch of sinister black Styrofoam adds the right bit of creepiness to the Jacks’ Halloween display. The October arrangement is their favorite, because it always invites new methods of creativity.
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o y c i u D d m e Th yna uo d D e o h du o u The animals congregate to enjoy their own “take” on the Christmas holiday. The merry menagerie is festive and idealized as they enjoy a peaceful celebration.
coordinate in the fall. The Halloween display is actually the one that the couple has the most fun pulling together. “The collections are displayed on a large table built by Barry, especially made for it. It’s set up in our family room. We use the same table for both the Christmas North Pole and for the Halloween displays.” What’s the difference? The Styrofoam, of course! “It’s white for Christmas and black for Halloween,” Barry answers. “At Halloween, we open up so the trick-or-treaters can come through,” Martha shares. “We usually get about
300 in all. Last year, a lot of the kids went home and got their parents. Then they brought them back to see it and to take pictures! People really are astonished the first time they see any of the villages set up.” Seconding that emotion, Barry points out that he is most challenged by Halloween because “the creative elements never end.” Being able to spread Christmas cheer or Halloween fear is important to the Jacks, and they show no signs of stopping their arranging or their acquiring. More than 20 years ago, Martha
and Barry bought their first pieces, and Barry felt they were getting “a good deal” because they were on sale. He thought it was a bargain, and now he realizes it was the ushering in of a lifetime passion. “We have bought items from eBay®, at garage sales, and at swap meets. We have picked them up at Gatherings in the marketplace, and from other collectors whom we know. We buy them at our favorite stores in the United States, and we are always on the lookout for the next needed piece,” they proclaim. “Being a part of the Department 56 collecting community has been great for both Barry and me,” Martha states. “Every year, we say there is no more room for anything else, and then we see something we just have to have! We try to buy pieces that have moving parts, for the kids this is much more interesting.” Plus, for all of the friends, family, and first-time visitors to the Jacks’ Collingwood, Ontario, home, their reaction to the sights, the sounds, and the scintillating scenery is well worth all of the preparation and expense. “This has been a wonderful experience for us,” Barry and Martha sincerely state. Their legions of grateful guests agree. u A viewer can almost feel the cold wind and sense the chill in the air when they witness this tribute to the collecting and boiling of maple for syrup.
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ON DISPLAY
By LEIGH GIERINGER
Celebrate Photo Above: Although there is still snow on the peaks, the village below is beginning to see signs of spring. Much of the snow has melted on the slopes behind the buildings, but remnants remain where it was once piled up. Thus, the patches on the buildings do not look out of place. Some of the spring flowers are beginning to pop up. And, what better place to spend a few days until summer is once again here? April in Paris, of course. Or, Munich. These travelers are ready to board the train from the German Alps bahnhof to the lower elevations of Gai Parée. The tiny vintage travel posters were downloaded from www.allposters.com/, then framed with balsawood strips. Further information on the development of this display will be found in the new vignette book, currently in production.
Part 2:
April/May
S
everal smaller holidays were bundled up during the first two months of this year, but one doesn’t have to celebrate only holidays to enjoy the hobby. Here are some ideas to feature smaller village displays in the spring months.
Throughout the
Year
Select a theme to create a small vignette When you think of spring, there are many things that come to mind. April showers bring May flowers. Spring glows represent a new awakening from winter’s drab surroundings. The excitement of spring training for the new baseball season is on the minds of many sports afficionados. And, who can resist expanding their horizons with travel opportunities such as April in Paris. april/may 2013
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ON DISPLAY
A work in progress. Alpine buildings were placed in front of a wall mural. The end of season has snow on the slopes, but melted almost everywhere else. Grass is starting to grow on the flat areas above the stone streets. Small piles of snow can gather near the white building bases to cover them, and a few additional patches can be added to balance the snow on the buildings where it looks natural. (Credits: Mural by J. Michael Sanders. Display owner Edwina Snyder. Display builder Leigh Gieringer.)
The key to any spring display is in its color palette. Whether the display is a realistic interpretation of a building’s setting, or a stylistic concept, the pastel palette will prevail. Numerous silk flowers are available after Christmas to assist in creating a spring masterpiece. The selection of silk flowers in your area could also become a factor in your choice of buildings used. The scale of the flowers is important to look balanced in a realistic display. Usually, there are several good choices for flowering trees while others are more suited for ground cover or garden plants. Although one color may be prominent, other colors can accent the display or it becomes too monochromatic. Typically, the choice of buildings should determine which hues will dominate. A building such as the “Benjamin Bowman 24
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Violin Maker,” New England Village (NEV), is best with tones of yellow and corral since those hues blend best with the yellow siding of the building. While pinks and violets will enhance “Verna Mae’s Boutique” (NEV) as this building is trimmed in the pinkish tones. If you’re drawn to a certain family of colors, or find the perfectly-sized silk flower you want to use, obtain them first, then place them next to your building(s) to see how they compliment each other. Most collectors will select the building(s) first, then look for the accessorizing accents. In either case, positive results should follow. Snow patches or not? Here are some considerations in the building selections. • Emphasize the white patches of snow During April and even May, many parts of the country still have or have the potential for a spring snow storm. The powder dump of a late snowfall typically doesn’t last very long, however, the remnants in the form of snow piles can remain after the majority of the snow has melted away. Thus, just about any favorite building(s) can be
appropriate for a spring display since snow patches are included in the design of most of the Department 56 buildings. Using Styrofoam™, create a display in the usual way. It can be left white depicting that recent blizzard, or if it was a warm winter, there’s a good chance most of the snow will have melted away and some of the foliage might begin to pop out of the ground. Analyze the buildings bases. Often the bases are white indicating snow all around them. Thus, the adjacent areas should remain white, and dusted with some “real plastic snow” to soften the edges. Periodically, the bases will depict a rocky landscape or include a water element in at least a part of the base. It is recommended to develop a similar pattern to blend the base to the display platform. A winter base is easiest since snow is expected and the Styrofoam can be left white. A seasonal display will take a greater artistic effort to incorporate snowy areas with the natural turfed landscape. Make a determination which will dominate: the snowy terrain of winter or the exposed earth tones of spring. Will the display be mostly white or just patches of mounded snow to balance the snow clumps on the buildings? In either case, the white patches have become part of the design and are not out of place. • Use the sans-snow buildings There are several buildings that do not have snow patches incorporated into their design. Several in New England come to mind. In addition to the ones already mentioned, “The Cranberry House,” “Wm. Walton Fine Clocks & Pocket Pieces,” “Breakers Point Lighthouse,” “Springfield Studio” and several more are perfect for a seasonal display. The “Aldeburgh Music Box” Limited Edition Gift Set in Dickens’ Village is also an excellent choice. The entire Season’s Bay Village is sans-snow. And, Snow Village has several as well. Please refer to the Village D-tails secondary market book for other non-snow choices if you do not wish to deal with the built-in snow patches. With the pastel-colored budding
Some buildings have more white patches than others. You can ignore the snow patches or use Woodland Scenics® Foliage — or other materials — to cover the patches. Examples of both are on these buildings.
flowers and blossoming trees, spring displays are fun to make, and beautiful to look at. By changing out the trees, both color and style, the display can have an entirely different appearance. The building choice(s) will also provide numerous detailing ideas. For instance, the “Hale Tale Pub and Inn,” part of New England’s Seaside Series, could have a pier setting or a highly detailed outdoor dining area with tables, ivy- or flower-covered structure over the patio, nearby flower gardens, streams, and nautical accessories. As the seasons advance through summer and fall, the coloration and accessories could change to keep it current. Even when the wind blows come late November and December, these non-snow laden buildings can fit into a winter setting. Department 56 made some add-on patches of snow. An alternative would be to simply pile a small amount of flaky real plastic snow on the eaves, roof line, or other select areas to represent patches similar to the ones on other buildings. Or, mix up some Plaster of Paris. Pour small amounts on to a sheet of waxed paper. Let set and remove. Place on the roofs, and nearby ground.
• Ignore the snow patches Spring and summer temps can rise to uncomfortable levels, especially in the desert. It’s amazing how a cool, winter display can phycologically lower the room temperature for cooling relief. Even a small display can provide a lift. Those with permanent displays know how wonderful it is to enjoy their village all year around with the snow patches intact! As an extra benefit, the layout can be reworked as new introductions are acquired, and time permits. • Hide the snow patches Woodland Scenics® Foliage can be a village collector’s best friend! It’s easy to stretch and pull this material to hide the snow. It’s available in several different colors such as light green for spring, dark green for summer and fall tones for autumn. For a spring display, it’s most realistic to use the light green, with limited use of the dark green for dimension and contrast. Tiny colored beads can represent little flowers, if desired. Create a trellis from Balsawood for the foliage to attach as it reaches the roof tops. Or, pretend it is growing from the rear of the building as it extends forward. I’ve also seen the patches covered with paper leaves, sand, or merely covered with paper colored to match the roof which looks OK from a distance, but closer up, it has its limitations.
• Create your display! A bit more on theme selection. This will reflect your favorite building(s), a hobby, a passion, your profession, space and budget. Most of us know exactly which buildings have significant meaning or which ones we favor. Some non-holiday favorites include an English country garden using thatched roof cottages, Season’s Bay displays, and lighthouse scenes with rocky coasts and slapping waves. Vignettes using one of the available baseball team pieces usually can be found on or near the entertainment center. There are numerous ethnic restaurants which would dress up the space above the cabinets if your passion is fine dining. Coastal/water settings, religious scenes, and Harley displays are always popular. These displays reflect your own personalities. And, they should be unique. However, there have been numerous displays ideas sent in to be included in the new book on creating simple — and somewhat more complex — vignettes, now in production, to give collectors a wide variety of additional ideas for creating their own stunning vignettes. Or, the book will give you new starting points to expand upon. Look for it soon. u
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lights, camera, action
By j. Michael Sanders
1
2
Adding Animation
Anywhere Department 56® Didn't
I
was recently asked to add the “Christmas Market Pyramid Booth” to Jeanne Freeman's Alpine Village display, and was surprised to discover that the horizontal wind vanes on the top were not motorized. Ah, I thought, animating this piece would make a fine afternoon project. If you would like to give it a whirl (pun intended), here is a step-by-step description on how it was accomplished. (Jeanne's Department 56 displays have been featured in several past columns.)
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First, a warning: Making this modification could damage this piece; possibly even shatter it into pieces. So unless you are a risk taker, I would not try this project. But if you are careful, you can be the envy of other Alpine collectors. To begin, carefully cut the metal rod that holds the faux-wood blades to the top of the piece (photo 1). Remove and save the round ball from the top of the rod, as well as the clear washer. Push the original wire rod (that is left protruding
3
from the top) into the piece. Now, here is the first tricky part. Using a sharp, 1/8 of an inch ceramic tile drill bit, enlarge the hole at the top (photo 2). Rest the piece on a thick folded towel or foam rubber piece. Drill straight down into the old hole on the top. If you have a drill press, use it —you will have better control and are more likely to drill the hole straight through and stay level. Apply minimal pressure. Do not force the drill. Once you have made it through
7 4
5
6
the top, there is an intermediate ceramic piece inside, about 3/4 of an inch down, that you cannot see. You have to drill through this too. Again, apply minimal pressure and make sure that you keep the drill bit straight, so you do not damage the rounded area on the top. Once
you make it through this hidden piece of ceramic, turn the unit over, locate the center, and drill a hole through the bottom (photo 3). Take care not to allow the drill bit to go too deep inside, lest it get tangled up with the wires for the light. While I was drilling the top, the smaller ball shape chipped off. So, I used a Dremel rotary grinding disc to even the top (photo 4). Then I mixed up a bit of ceramic paint to match the top and touched it up. With the three areas drilled through, I took an 18gauge metal rod and passed it through from top to bottom. Wait to cut the rod to length when you know how long it needs to be, to connect it to the motor. Locate where (on your display) the Pyramid Booth is to be located. Spot where you drilled a hole in the bottom of the piece and cut a hole through the base material, so the holes lineup. Devise a way to support the motor under the display at this time. All this should be easily accomplished if the display top is made of Styrofoam™, as I have often recommended in this column. Now, remove the motor so you can work with it. Cut a 1 inch length of plastic or rubber tubing that will fit snugly over the motor shaft. Wrap the metal rod with electrician’s tape until the rod (wrapped with tape) can be inserted
into the tubing and fit snugly (photo 5). With the metal rod secured to the motor (photo 6), insert the motor with the attached rod from underneath the display, through the hole you provided earlier, and secure the motor. Place the Pyramid Booth over the metal rod where it protrudes up through the display base. It may be a challenge to get the rod to go through the second and third hole, but be persistent. It may help to shine a flashlight down the hole so you can see the metal rod as you thread it through. Once the booth is settled on its base, turn on the motor to verify that the rod does not bind on anything, especially the Styrofoam™, as it will make an annoying squeaking sound. When you are satisfied with the placement, turn off the motor. Cut the metal rod so only about 5/8 of an inch protrudes above the top finial. Next, push the clear washer down about 1/2 of an inch from the top of the rod, then the vanes. Finally, place the round ball cap at the top of the rod. Use a touch of hot glue to secure. Leave adequate space between these elements so the metal rod won't bind (photo 7). That is it. Now go impress! Have a question or comment? Please write to me at jms56villager@aol.com. Until next time — Happy Villaging! u
april/may 2013
VILLAGE D-LIGHTS
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2013
Village Introductions
C
ontinuing the Department 56 Village introductions for January 2013 in this issue of Village D-Lights, the buildings and accessories will be presented for The Original Snow Village Series, designed since 1976; New England Village Series, designed since 1986; and North Pole Series, designed since 1990.
new england village
Come along to Main Street, U.S.A., as Snow Village takes us to shops and neighborhoods that continue to prosper and grow. The New England Village portrays a simpler time when America was beginning its great traditions. Then let Christmas magic bring dreams to life for the young-at-heart in the buildings and accessories of the North Pole Series. You can't miss when you make your next Village additions from these new products!
4030701 "Tucker Point Light" Coastal Lights sub-series, 6.4 x 5.95 x 7.32", $95.00
4030702 "Peekytoe Crab Shack" Coastal Lights sub-series, 5.71 x 5.12 x 5.51", $80.00
4030705 "The Lightkeeper's Hobby" Coastal Lights subseries, 2 x 1.625 x 2.375",
4030706 "Another Crabby Christmas" Coastal Lights sub-series, 2 x 2 x 2.5", $20.00
4030703 "The Dirty Owl" 4.1 x 4.3 x 6.7", $85.00
4030707 "To A Good Day's Fishing" 2.25 x 1.25 x 2.5", $20.00
4030704 "Corwin House" Salem Willows sub-series, 7.2 x 4.5 x 5.9", $85.00
4030708 "Salem Willows Gate" Salem Willows sub-series, 4.53 x 3.54 x 1.97", $25.00
For information about these Department 56速 products and more, 4030709 "Another Cat For Mrs. Corwin" Salem Willows sub-series, 2.25 x 1.25 x 2.25", $18.50 28
VILLAGE D-LIGHTS
visit www.Department56.com 4030710 "New England Nativity" 3.03 x 2.64 x 1.57", $25.00 april/may 2013
4030712 "Star Brite Glass Ornament Shop," animated ornament rotates, 5.3 x 5.1 x 5.7", $95.00
4030721 "Countdown To Christmas" 5 x 2 x 4.5", $37.50
4030725 "Spin Art Master" Santa's Sweet Shop sub-series, 1.875 x 1.75 x 1.75", $15.00
4030717 "Snowflake's Snow Cone Shop" Santa's Sweet Shop sub-series, 4.5 x 4.6 x 5.5", $70.00
4030722 "Nice Save" 2.125 x 1.125 x 1.625", $15.00
4030726 "Another Perfect Snow Cone" Santa's Sweet Shop sub-series, 2.25 x 1.125 x 1.625", $17.50
4030714 "Northern Lights Express Engine" North Pole Express subseries, 8.66 x 3.74 x 2.17", $70.00
4030715 "Katie's Candied Apples" Santa's Sweet Shop subseries, 6.1 x 5.12 x 5.2", $75.00
4030718 "The Polar Plunge Warming House" 6.1 x 4.9 x 7.1", $85.00
4030719 "Jack B. Nimble Candle Shop" 5.39 x 4.72 x 5.31", $65.00
4030723 "Christmas Toys On Schedule" North Pole Express subseries, 2.375 x 1.875 x 1.625", $20.00
4030724 "Santa's Little Dipper" Santa's Sweet Shop subseries, 2.25 x 2 x 1.75", $15.00
4030727 "Santa's Polar Plunge" 4.5 x 3 x 2.75", $27.50
north Pole
4030716 "Pop's Peppermint Barrel" Santa's Sweet Shop subseries, 5.4 x 4.1 x 5.7", $70.00
4030713 "Northern Lights Depot" North Pole Express sub-series, 5.7 x 4.3 x 7.7", $95.00
4030728 "Jack Be Quick..." 2 x 1 x 1.375", $12.50
april/may 2013
VILLAGE D-LIGHTS
29
north pole
4030733 "The Griswold Holiday House," National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, © Warner Bros. Entertainment, 11.02 x 6.89 x 7.48", $150.00
4030734 "Cousin Eddie's RV," National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, © Warner Bros. Entertainment, 7.87 x 2.76 x 3.54", $75.00
4030736 "Deep Blue Car Wash" 7.7 x 6.3 x 5.7", $120.00
4030737 "Sophia's Pizzeria" 5.04 x 4.92 x 7.48", $100.00
4030738 "The Sweet Spot" 6.02 x 5.3 x 5.43", $65.00
4030741 "Cousin Eddie In The Morning" National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, © Warner Bros. Entertainment, 3.35 x 1.97 x 2.95", $22.50
4030742 "Fire It Up Dad!" National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, © Warner Bros. Entertainment, 3.15 x 2.17 x 1.38", $22.50
4030743 "The Griswold Family Tree" National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, © Warner Bros. Entertainment, 8.66 x 3.54 x 3.15", $40.00
4030746 "Harley® Ever After" Harley-Davidson Motor Co., 3.54 x 2.76 x 1.57", $35.00
4030747 "Support Your Polars!" 2.95 x 2.95 x 1.57", $23.50
4016902 "Lynnhaven" 8.5 x 7.8 x 7.8", $85.00
The original snow village
4030729 "North Pole Nativity" 2 x 1.7 x 2.3", $25.00
4030735 "Harley® Roadside Cabins, Set of 2", Harley-Davidson Motor Co., 6.69 x 5.91 x 4.92", $140.00
4030739 "Loon Lake Bait Shop" 7.9 x 5.9 x 5.9", $85.00
4030745 "Harley® Campfire" Harley-Davidson Motor Co., 3.74 x 2.56 x 2.95", $37.50 30
VILLAGE D-LIGHTS
april/may 2013
4030748 "Loon Lake Champion" 4.13 x 2.56 x 2.36", $27.50
4030750 "Spoiled By Grandma" 3.15 x 2.17 x 1.18", $23.50
4030752 "Let's Show Mom" 2.76 x 1.77 x 1.57", $23.50
the original snow village
4030749 "Hot Pizza, Fast!" 3.94 x 2.95 x 1.57", $23.50
4030753 "Santa Comes To Town 2013" 4.33 x 3.94 x 5.12", $45.00
Check Out Our Events Calendar On Our Website 4030754 "Checking The Weather" 3.94 x 2.99 x 4.09", $22.50
4030755 "Snow Village Nativity" 2.76 x 2.95 x 1.57", $25.00
TreasuresMagazine.com
april/may 2013
VILLAGE D-LIGHTS
31
Pioneer Communications, Inc. 300 Walnut Street, Suite 6 Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone 877.899.9977
The Book Collectors Are Talking Village D-tails A Reference Source and Secondary Market Guide for Department 56® Village Enthusiasts 3rd Edition, 2013
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