More S(pring) Stuff

Spring also means new fabrics and styles from Vera Bradley, your favorite bag collection.  They always come up with the niftiest ideas – check out their new laptop bag for frequent flyers – this is in Ellie Blue, a nod to their classic elephant pattern of past years.

Here’s another example of this pattern, in a simple tote bag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rosie Posies shades of red, in Eloise and a couple of accessory pieces.

My personal favorite and a very classy pattern, Camellia, in the new Abby bag.

And a bright and colorful choice appropriately called “Island Blooms,” in the newest Bowler bag.

We have a great selection of all the current fabrics and bag styles, so come visit The Boutique and check them out!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

The S(pring) Word!

It’s on the way!  I know you may be thinking winter has just begun, but keep hope in your heart!  We’ve just added two spring displays in the store, and it has perked us up quite a bit.  Enjoy this early breeze…..

It’s the invasion of the bunnies!  Department 56 released an adorable collection of bunnies this year, similar to those cute Snowpinions snowmen.  We have Dottie bunnies in small, medium, & large, each sporting a pink-and-brown polka dot grosgrain collar or skirt.  Notice that Dottie has either blue or brown eyes – we have some of both.  Large Dottie is the perfect size to be the centerpiece for your holiday decorations.

There’s also a darling little Dottie bunny basket, perfect for filling with petite chocolate eggs & Easter treats!

In the middle of the picture above you can see the small Dotties wrapped up in plastic like the delicious little goodies they are!

Of course, there’s also a collection of limited-edition Snowbunnies collectibles for the season, like this pink-cheeked charmer, “Sheepish.”

Who could say “no” to that face??  Check out the Double Bunny Hop, too – love those rainbow colors.

Did you also notice the colorful silk flowers, Easter baskets, and decorations we have available for a limited time?  These are in-store purchase only right now, but you can place an order with our customer service team at 1-800-445-3396, extension 2.

These peonies went home with me shortly after this picture was taken!

Also, take a look at these hanging flower vases in the tree – two sizes, and they could hang just about anywhere, thanks to their long attaching loops.  We’ve filled them with silks, of course, but the sturdy glass sleeve inside holds water for live blooms.  I found the small vase in our on-line store, so click on the photo – it’s on sale for only $2.97.

So join us in thinking SPRING already!  The sun has come out after a few rainy days, and we’re planning a fabulous weekend, whatever the temperature may be.

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

P.S. Up next – spring colors from Vera Bradley, too!

Happy 101st!

We get to celebrate some pretty special times at The Inn with our guests – and last weekend it was the 101st birthday of Ms. Bill from North Carolina.  She was here last year for her hundredth, and we expect she’ll be back next year, too.

We didn’t get a picture of her, but here’s a celebratory candle in her honor.

Happy Birthday, Ms. Bill!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Santa’s On T.V.!

Coming Monday, January 9th, 7 PM, to your very own living room (or possibly your mobile viewing device of choice)!  Find the RFD Network (Charter Cable chanel 147, Dish Network channel 231) and the Shotgun Red Variety Show from Nashville, Tennessee.  Enjoy The Singing Santa’s guest appearance on the show.

Several months ago, Santa spent a day in Nashville, taping his segment for the show, and we’ve been waiting anxiously for the air date.  Christmas Place is happy to bring The Singing Santa to all our guests in the store and at the hotel, and now to your television!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Then & Now

I just came across a 2003 photo of the courtyard – before our hotel and Bullfish Grill and all the rest – too fun not to share!  Then (2003):

This morning before opening:

What a big change in scenery!  (That’s our after-Christmas sale tent taking up the courtyard right now – the sale continues only thr0ugh Sunday.)

It’s a beautiful day in Pigeon Forge, and we’re going to have a beautiful weekend, so come and see us.  And, if you happen to live in the area and are at home between 4 and 5 pm this afternoon, tune it to WBIR TV 10 for Live at 5 at 4 – they filmed a little story with us this week.  We’re all looking forward to seeing it today.

Happy New Year – and we wish all our readers and customers and families many, many blessings in 2012!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Ugly Christmas Sweaters!

We had the opportunity priviledge thrill of hosting Ugly Christmas Sweater Night for the Knoxville Ice Bears last week – and I can prove it!  Prepare to be .. underwhelmed?  Is underwhelmed a word??

Brilliant move – turn an ugly garden sweater into a Christmas prize with the right turtleneck and a jaunty Christmas tree hat.

This gold-and-green wonder was actually the prize winner of the night!

As you’ll see, more than a few men were willing to appear in a wife’s-mother’s-mother-in-law’s ugly sweater.  Points for the poinsettia embellishment!

Poor girl, confused ugly sweater night with crazy pants night!  That’s not til February, dear.

A sweater pattern composed of various doors, including an elevator door?  GENIUS!  I’m not sure what makes this ugly.  (Kidding!  I’m kidding!)

I hope Grandma doesn’t catch me in this!

Chess Club or Cheerleaders?  You decide.

A two-part entry: notice the dove on her shoulder.

And notice the dove poop on her back.  Bold move.

Own it, baby!

I’m not sure this is a first for these guys .. just sayin’.

 Snaps for coordinating the mock turtleneck with Mom’s 3/4 sleeve sweater!

 Mad glue-gun skills with the red garland – so evenly placed!

 

Extremely Honorable Mention: This playa’ added photos of the Ice Bears team to her adornments!  How was she not the winner?! 

Aaaaawwwwwww!

 

We’re going bowling after ice hockey!

 

Yes, there are still more to come….how about this hand-painted creation:

She even brought the gingerbread man!

Just off the plane from Aspen.

Dontcha think they should have swapped sweaters?

My personal favorite – look at that arts-and-crafts touch with the braided necktie.  A truly original touch!

So, no judgement, but that’s a whole lotta ugly!  Everyone had a lot of fun – and I’m sure I didn’t even get pictures of all the contestants.  I heard there was also a hockey match that night .. and the Ice Bears won!  Congrats to the team!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

The Inn at Christmas

I was at The Inn for a meeting this morning and took a few pics of our 2011 decorations – in purple, red, and gold this year.  Looks like we are very ready for the Big Day – and we’re full through the weekend.  If you can’t stay with us, at least you can enjoy the view!

I almost made it around the corner - just as Santa was disappearing into his house after chiming the hour.

Even a drain pipe can be beautiful at Christmas!

And I leave you with a photo of my favorite spot – the bench by the pond.  Even though we are right on the parkway, this spot manages to be serene and quiet and restful, always.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Letters to Santa

Just a few to finish off the season!

Dear Santa,
We would like to have Jaelin, Parker and Lexi be on the “GOOD” list.  If you do visit us, can you please bring us the following items.
For Jaelin, “(a series of unintelligible hash marks, with maybe a Z, D, J, and W)”
For Parker - ”I am thinking.”
For Lexi: – “Beanie Boos, Monster High, pengeuin iglube (sic).”

Dear Santa,
Our names are James, David, Allen, & Kaleb (names changed).  We are brothers in foster care & we are so excited to have a visit from Santa for the first time!  I hope to see your reindeer and feed them carrots!  My mom says you will know where we live now and won’t forget us.  You can bring us anything you want to!  We just love toys because we never had any new ones!

Dear Santa:
I want a batman with a big house.  Everything you have.
I love you,
Blake

Dear Santa,
I’d love some locks and keys for Christmas.  I love you!
Bladen

Dear Santa,
How are you.  I have been sick.  I just go from one thing to another different (thing).  People have been praying for me.  Do you think you can find me where I live?  I live near Bardstown, the next little town over.
By by,
Latisha

Santa has mailed and e-mailed (hey, he’s a 21st century dude!) all his letters back to the kids – all those that will arrive in time for Christmas – thanking them for their thoughts and good wishes and love.  As always, Santa reminds us to remember the reason for the season, and to keep saying “Ho Ho Ho!”

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Misty Morning

I just wanted to share a couple of pictures with you – they are not called the “Smoky” Mountains for nothing!  Leaving for church early Sunday morning, I was captivated by the mists rising in my little valley.  Even as I sat in the car, the mists were shifting and lifting – it was beautiful.

Do you see the chimney smoke rising on the other side of the valley?

It looked as if a painter had lightly stroked the scene with a brushed dipped in white.  What a beautiful start to the day!

(No, you’re not seeing a UFO in the last photo.  The grayish teardrop shape is not an alien craft hurtling over the range .. it is actually a drop of pine tar on my windshield.  I parked under the trees at my parents’ house on a hot summer day – and this was my reward.  It won’t come off for anything.  Well, except maybe a bottle of pine tar remover.  Which I should use on my hood, really.  And thank you for not mentioning the leaves on the lawn which should have been mulched already.)

Have a wonderful week – it’s finally Christmas week!  I hope we don’t get so busy that we fail to take time out to be thankful for the blessings we enjoy every day and for those to come.

Be blessed, my friends.

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Angel Mischief

November 5, 2011

The corner where The Inn, the restaurant, and the store come together features mannequin-like carolers, their air-brushed faces frozen in concert, holding their songbooks.  They are grouped together facing the street, standing in their winter clothes.  Today I slipped in amongst them, standing stock still, with my feather wings and gossamer garb.  A group of visitors was approaching the corner to cross the street, paying no attention to the silent choir.  When they came close, I stepped out and said “hello!”  They all started laughing loudly, reacting to the unexpected.  How fun!  Now I’m occasionally doing this for the traffic stopped at the light on the corner.  Surprise!

Inside the store, one of my favorite things to do is to “hide” behind a free-standing display of merchandise.  Standing still, I blend in from one side while people look at the music boxes, floral arrangements, and ornaments in a row from the other side.  Then they see my face or I’ll wave at them, they realize I am “real” and have a good laugh!

As people enter the store, there is a large white tree draped with lights.  There is a contest to see if anyone can guess how many lights are on the tree.  As customers slowly gaze upwards, concentrating on estimating a number, sometimes they will see me looking back at them from my perch halfway up the stairs behind the tree!  Sometimes someone will spot me first, then stand back and wait to see if the others see me or often they will point out the half-hidden angel above  them.  They all seem surprised and delighted!  I love my job.

It IS a job.  Costumes can be hot and cumbersome.  I must constantly and unobtrusively hold the wings with one hand so they won’t fall awry and to guide them through the store without knocking down the fabulous displays.  Knowing how and when to pose effectively for pictures can be trying, and often the requests for pictures come one right after another, very quickly.  Sometimes I am bombarded.  When it’s slower, I’ll offer to take pictures of the entire group with their camera, which is appreciated.  (I’m a fairly good photographer.)

When I wave, it’s not the unfeeling, automatic, mechanical wave of the person holding the pizza signs out by the curb.  I single out guests and look them in the eye until they wave back or at least smile (which is usually almost immediately).  My goal is for them to come away with a little bit of that feeling of having been “touched by an angel.”

I rarely take my scheduled breaks – I love what I am doing and feel that I should be present when the crowds are there.  I have great stamina, relatively comfortable shoes, and a strong constitution.  And some functions are a bit tricky while wearing wings and flowing, sequined sleeves…

~Joy the Angel