‘Department 56’ Archive
Monday, January 3rd, 2011
 Just because the holidays are over doesn't mean that avid Department 56 collectors will be putting their collections away for the winter.
According to NBC Miami, about 100 local Department 56 enthusiasts known as the Village Landlords don't limit their displays to the Christmas season.
Members Jerry and Nancy Fernon told the news provider that they've spent thousands of dollars on their pieces since they began collecting them around 20 years ago.
"I could have bought a nice car," Jerry said.
Besides the artistry and care that all of the members bring to their displays, the Village Landlords actually give back to the community. As a non-profit organization, the group designates two local charities to receive funds that are raised from events each year.
In addition to holding tours of each others' collections, the group's monthly meetings feature guest speakers, demonstrations on setting up displays and wiring villages, display tips, hands-on display workshops and making vignettes using one or more houses.
In the off season, Village Landlords organize bus trips to hunt for new Department 56 pieces together.
Collections include Department 56 Dickens Village, Department 56 Snow Village, Department 56 North Pole and Department 56 Christmas in the City. Each collection features buildings and figurines common during the period the collection depicts.
Whether you're a collector or just looking to add a festive element to your holiday decorations, Department 56 has an ideal collection for you!
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Monday, December 6th, 2010
 Two sisters in Bloomington, Illinois, have turned the two-car garage of their new home into a virtual winter wonderland with hundreds of Department 56 buildings and accessories.
According to the Pantagraph newspaper, Marge Russell and Barbara Strangeway started collecting the lighted buildings and figurines 15 years ago. Since then, the sisters have accumulated a collection of more than 500 buildings and about 4,000 accessories.
"I just love being creative with it," Russell told the news provider.
"It never goes up the same twice," her sister, Strangeway, added.
The duo says that the garage is the perfect space to display their stunning collection, as they've never had so much space. However, all of their pieces are still not being used.
They noted that they began their collection when they lived in a small mobile home in Florida with their elderly mother.
"We didn't have much room, but we'd line the living room with just a path in the middle to walk through," Strangeway told the newspaper.
Whether individuals have a small shelf or mantle or an entire room, Department 56 collectibles can help make holiday décor more festive.
Some people choose to display entire collections, while others choose to pick and choose their favorite pieces to create a smaller centerpiece.
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Monday, December 6th, 2010
 A group of Department 56 collectors known as the Nifty '56ers has donated hundreds of lighted buildings and figurines to be put on display and benefit a charity this holiday season, according to the News-Sentinel.
The display, which features pieces from the Department 56 Snow Village, Department 56 North Pole and Department 56 Dickens Village collections, is being billed as "Indiana's largest snow village."
The holiday collection is being showcased at the Grand Wayne Convention Center through December 23.
While individuals and families can view the display, called "Holiday Houses for Habitat," for free, organizers are encouraging donations to benefit Habitat for Humanity. Visitors can donate at the convention center or by visiting HolidayHousesforHabitat.com.
Department 56 collections feature buildings and figurines depicting Christmas scenes.
Department 56 Snow Village, the original collection released in 1976, is modeled after the 1950s suburban communities that started to pop up everywhere across the U.S. after World War 2.
Department 56 North Pole collection depicts the magical fantasy land of elves working hard to manufacturer toys while Santa Clause overlooks the scene.
Department 56 Dickens Village collection is modeled to depict the time of Charles Dickens and the stories he wrote. Some of the more famous pieces include, The Cottage of Bob Cratchit & Tiny Tim, The Old Curiosity Shop, Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield and Oliver Twist.
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Monday, December 6th, 2010
 A stunning display featuring more than 50 Department 56 lit ceramic buildings and figurines is on display in one New Jersey town.
The Independent Press reports that the Chatham, New Jersey Emergency Squad (CES) has created its Snow Village Winter Wonderland yet again for the 2010 holiday season.
The display, which depicts a quaint, snow-covered village, also features a train wandering through the idyllic townscape.
The CES' Department 56 collection began after member Mark Spinner received a piece as a Christmas gift 20 years ago. Since then, Spinner has added to the collection and the CES has opened its doors for the community to view it.
The emergency squad will hold several open houses throughout the holiday season for both young and old visitors to come and enjoy the stunning, festive display.
Department 56 creates miniature snow villages that capture the essence of Christmas in every display.
Collections include Department 56 Dickens Village, Department 56 Snow Village, Department 56 North Pole and Department 56 Christmas in the City. Each collection features buildings and figurines popular during the period the collection depicts.
Whether you're a collector or just looking to add a festive element to your holiday decorations, Department 56 has an ideal collection for you!
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Wednesday, December 1st, 2010
 While some use the beginning of the holiday shopping season to get into the Christmas spirit, others prefer decoration. These folks typically adorn their homes and offices with trees, lights and figurines.
Department 56 figurines are the centerpiece of these holiday displays, as collectors can use the products to create various eye-catching scenes.
Department 56 Christmas in the City series has been a favorite among collectors and decorating enthusiasts since 1987.
The collection showcases a winter scene in New York City during the 1940s. Best-selling pieces include landmark buildings such as the Flatiron building and the Chinatown gate as well as other city structures such as row houses, firehouses and city shops. In addition, these items are all lighted to create a stunning holiday display.
While many of the structures featured in the series are no longer standing, Department 56 has worked out exclusive partnerships to construct models of many famous buildings of New York City’s skyline, including Yankee Stadium and Rockefeller Center.
The Christmas in the City buildings feature detailed architecture that can be enjoyed by both the young and old for years to come!
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Monday, November 15th, 2010
 Homeowners have the advantage of decorating a large amount of space during the holiday season, but apartment renters typically have a smaller area to work with. Brown and white wire lights can add the finishing touch to Christmas decor, but Department 56 can bring the spirit of Christmas to even the smallest spaces.
Department 56 is renowned for crafting some of the most eye-catching figurines seen in households and apartments across the country throughout the winter. Their snow globes, glassware and lighted buildings have attracted collectors from around the world.
Many of the hand-crafted items Department 56 offers come in different shapes and sizes. Consumers can purchase entire snow villages or simply collect Department 56 figurines. They're perfect for apartment owners who are searching for a few pieces that will make a big impact.
Department 56 is known for its Christmas products, but the company also designs a number of different decorations for other events throughout the year ranging from Halloween to Easter.
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Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
 Though the warm feelings that come from holiday get-togethers can be fleeting, there may be a simple way to mark special visits from the old friends and family members.
For many, this is the time to think back on one's life and to remember where they came from so as to give context to who they are today.
So why not use a unique gift to remember the occasion by?
The Department 56 Christmas in the City collection offers various scenes from Manhattan in the 1940s and is perfect for any group who enjoys a little nostalgia.
The collection includes landmarks such as the Flatiron Building and the Chinatown gate. There are also scenes titled Busy City Sidewalks, which depict children playing in the snow, as well as a man with a sandwich board asking a young boy if he wants a free soda.
But more importantly, gifting these timeless pieces will not only bring joy to those you love, these keepsakes will serve as a lasting memory of an unforgettable holiday.
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Thursday, November 4th, 2010
 This Christmas, Department 56 figurines can make the perfect gift for collectors and people full of holiday spirit alike. Established in 1976, Department 56 has been creating Christmas figurines for home decorating during the holiday season. The company has also expanded its market to cater to other events, such as Halloween and Easter, for those who like to be festive year-round.
Department 56 figurines come in a number of different shapes and sizes. Pieces can either be bought separately or as a set, typically in the form of a scenic village. Lighted buildings and snow villages are some of Department 56's most popular products and must-haves for collectors. A number of the company's creations are limited and seasonal.
Whether its for a collector or just a close friend, these figurines make a unique gift for anyone on your holiday shopping list. Many of the figurines created by the company are hand-crafted by professional artists.
Of course, shoppers can also treat themselves to Department 56 figurines to add the finishing touch to holiday decor around the home. Piecing together an eye-catching winter wonderland scene is as easy as picking out a few of your favorite Department 56 collectibles.
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Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010
 With the holiday season right around the corner, many people are already thinking about the many ways they can begin decorating around their homes. Department 56 figurines have been a popular holiday tradition in households across the country since they debuted in 1976. These collectibles come in a number of different shapes and sizes, offering every home the finishing touch to their holiday decorations.
Department 56 creates miniature snow villages that capture the essence of Christmas in every display. The company not only makes full-sized towns, complete with stores and homes, but separate pieces as well. Customized figurines, such as the Charlie Brown pieces, have grown in popularity and become renowned collector's items.
Winter village scenes are perfect for everything from shelves to long dinner tables. Guests will be in awe over the beauty and craft that goes into displays, such as those created by Department 56. Buyers don't have to be collectors to dive into the tradition of decorating with Department 56 products and wowing their visitors this holiday season.
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Monday, October 25th, 2010
 The Department 56 North Pole series offers collectibles that are perfect gifts for yuletide lovers of any age. Whether it's a young child who is counting down the days until Santa's arrival, or an adult who takes great pride in their home's Christmas decor, these charming pieces mat appease any individual looking to catch the holiday spirit.
The North Pole series is aimed at the dreamers who, when thinking of Christmas, concoct images of Santa Clause, elves and reindeer. The North Pole series may serve as a pleasant reminder of what Christmas is all about, drawing on the joy and innocence that many experienced during the winter season as children.
Some of the ceramic products included in the North Pole Series radiate with a blend of brights colors. The jigsaw puzzle workshop, the karaoke club and the rubber duck factory are miniature buildings that will add ambience to any corner of your home.
There's also plenty of humor in these pieces, including an elf figurine that is collecting coal for the naughty children of the world. The North Pole series shows that life as one of Santa's helpers extends to more than just toy-making. One available piece is a pizza-delivering elf making a sizable delivery, while the "lunch box cafe" hints that elves, just like the rest of us, like to kick-back and convene for a meal and a beverage after a long day's work.
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