McAfee Secure sites help keep you safe from identity theft, credit card fraud, spyware, spam, viruses and online scams
Guarantee Privacy Policy About Us Site Map

‘Department 56 Dickens Village’ Archive

Department 56 collection turns Illinois garage into a winter wonderland

Monday, December 6th, 2010

Illinois women create a winter wonderland in their garage, thanks to Department 56 collectiblesTwo 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.
 

Indiana group displays Department 56 villages for charity

Monday, December 6th, 2010

Indiana Department 56 collectors donate their pieces to benefit charityA 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.
 

Department 56 decor perfect for apartment residents

Monday, November 15th, 2010

Department 56 can add to the holiday spirit.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.

Dickens era brought to life in Department 56 Christmas village series

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

Dickens era brought to life in Department 56 Christmas village seriesWhere could one find a Charles Dickens book signing? Considering that the Victorian novelist died more than 140 years ago, such an event seems unfathomable.

The Department 56 Dickens Village series specializes in bringing the unimaginable to life, including a ceramic figure of Dickens himself signing copies of his books. The collection is modeled to depict the time of Dickens and the stories he wrote, but with a Christmas twist. Introduced in 1984, the 19th century London-inspired series is the fastest moving of all the villages sold by Department 56

Some of the unique ceramic pieces include a tea-trading shop, a Persian rug merchant, boat houses and the office of a scrivener (who was responsible for producing written copies of documents long before copy machines were invented).

The series includes many era-appropriate figurines, such as a horseshoe-fitting station, a roadside tea time table and a street salesman hawking lanterns.

Individuals who are throwing a Christmas party this season will invoke the holiday spirit with these timeless and festive pieces.

Put a new twist on Christmas with the Department 56 Dickens Series

Monday, September 20th, 2010

Put a new twist on Christmas with the Department 56 Dickens SeriesCharles Dickens’ novels are considered by many to be some of the best literature ever penned, so it makes sense that a collection modeled after his work is a top seller.

Of the holiday village series that are available, the Department 56 Dickens Village is among the most popular. Every piece in the Dickens Series is inspired by the characters from the Victorian author’s stories, such as The Cottage of Bob Cratchit & Tiny Tim, David Copperfield and Oliver Twist.

This series provides a glimpse of what the holiday season looked like in 19th century England, from horse-drawn carriages to lantern-lit footbridges. The figures populating the streets in Dickens’ novels are represented in this series: A master and apprentice work on a saddle, a violin-backed choir croons Christmas carols and a street salesman pitches Persian rugs.

One of Dickens’ most recited quotes is “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” the opening lines from his novel, A Tale of Two Cities. This holiday season, you can celebrate the best of times by creating your own winter wonderland with the Department 56 Dickens Village series.


Home    |    Contact Us    |    About Us    |    Privacy Policy    |    Checkout
Copyright © 2009, Hard to Find Items.
Visa PayPal MasterCard Discover American Express