A Quirky Take on Christmas

If your Christmas style tips to the non-traditional side of the scale, have you discovered the Patience Brewster collection?  No surprise, I happen to love these crazy Christmas ornaments and decorations!  We’ve just received the new 2012 pieces – here are a couple of cuties.

Cupid's Heart Elf

 

French Maid Hen

To add to the fun, through the end of April we have a sweepstakes going to win this Shepherd with Lambs figurine set:

Shepherd with Lambs

 Click here to enter the contest.  The set is valued at $89.99; one entry per person per day, please, and there are some other Important Legal Notifications, but you’ll see them on the contest link page.

Okay, one more cute ornament before I go:

Dasher Elf

So cute it’s nutty!  Or did I get that backwards??

Wait – wait – wait – I just got an update – FREE SHIPPING on the 2012 items, too!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

P.S. When you search our site, notice when there is a field on the left side that says “Release Date.”  If you’re looking for something brand new, or something a little older, you can try that filter to narrow your search.

Christmas trees! More Christmas trees! (part C)

.. did you run out for a cup of hot chocolate or cider?  Because more trees -coming at you now ..

A white ballerina tree, glittering with white crystal-like leaf sprays and sparkling ribbons.  (I think guests may be harvesting ornaments from this tree already!)

Right next to it, our ‘tween tree, a lavender dream filled with Hello Kitty lights, texting cell phones, Converse All Stars, high heels & Uggs.

Y’all, I am just mad for these pink and blue flowers!

Are you more of a traditionalist?  Here’s a spectacular red-and-green composition.

What the..?  Alright, who’s the smarty pants who thinks they should be rewarded with a big slice of cake after all that tree-decorating inspiration??  Calling The Partridge & Pear for take-out, are you?!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

P.S. That cake number is 865-868-0575 ..

P.S.S. Sorry about the “y’all” – I was just over in The Boutique and they have a cute new collection of Southern Sass T-shirts!

Are you ready for the weekend?!

We sure are!  It’s going to be super busy here at Christmas Place.  I think we’ll have something for everyone this weekend.

• Department 56 Signing with Barbara Lund, lead building designer.  Have you checked out the exclusive Partridge & Pear?  The design was based on our very own restaurant!  The signing is Saturday from 12:30 to 3:30 - the first 50 customers to purchase a Department 56 collectible will receive a free gift!  We’ll also have two door prizes – a set of 5 mini Dickens village houses (ornaments) that have been introduced and retired this year, signed by Barbara; and a copy of “A Christmas Carol” signed by the great-great-grandson of the author, Gerald Charles Dickens.  Total value – $250!
• Department 56 Secondary Market, Saturday & Sunday in our courtyard.  56 collectors will be selling retired pieces from their own private collections – it’s a good way to fill in the gaps with your village collection.
• TrollBeads Trunk Show – The Boutique at Christmas Place is holding its second fall trunk show – lots of bead, clasp, and bracelet specials.  They offer a universal bead, too, that fits many popular bracelet styles.  Shop today through Sunday!
• Radko Ornament signing with Mario Tare.  Christopher Radko, the founder, has been gone from the company for several years, and Mario was his designer for several years even before Christopher left.  Mario is a really charming and delightful designer – you’ll love this opportunity to meet him and get his signature on the newest Radko ornaments.  Meet Mario from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Byers’ Choice Carolers – Bob Byers, current president, will be here on Sunday & Monday for a signing of his company’s collection of delightful caroler figurines.  He’s also bringing a very exclusive giveaway with him – a Polish Star Santa caroler that is not available in the market place, and is signed by Joyce Byers, the founder & Bob’s mother.  Meet Bob on Sunday between 3 and 5 p.m., and on Monday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• Meet Gerald Charles Dickens, the great-great-grandson of the literary master Charles Dickens!  Gerald will be in the store on Sunday and Monday to sign copies of “A Christmas Carol.”  He is also performing in 3 shows at The Inn at Christmas Place.  Sunday and the Monday matinée shows are sold out, but we still have tickets available for an 8:00 p.m. Monday night performance – call MJ Pappas at 800-465-9644 to purchase show tickets.  Better yet, purchase Dinner & Show tickets!  Have dinner at The Partridge & Pear Restaurant then enjoy Gerald’s one-man enactment ofA Christmas Carol.  It’s an evening you will not want to miss.  This is Gerald’s second appearance at The Inn at Christmas Place – and we plan to welcome him again next year for the 200th anniversary of A Christmas Carol.
• Floral Demonstration – on Saturday afternoon, our amazing floral design team will host another demonstration session, on how to decorate a mesh box.  I think they include a little tutorial on bow-tying with this demo.  Get ready for Christmas decorating!

We’re also having two sales here at the store right now – Decorative Christmas Lights – buy one, get a second for half price; and Decorative Garland – buy two, get a third strand free!  Also, while they last, every purchase over $100 receives a free gift.

If you’re anywhere in the area this weekend, be sure to come on in – you know, we’re also giving free steam engine train rides on our miniature train in the parking lot this weekend – I almost forgot!

Okay, after all that, I’m gonna need about a pound of fudge to regain my strength .. the Candy Kitchen is now making their famous Pumpkin flavor .. See y’all later!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it is nice to see how many vendors participate by adding special products to their collections, and donating a portion of sales to the cause of finding a cure!  Here are two of the items we carry in the store.

Jim Shore’s beautiful carved angel ornament, with his signature quilted-looking details, is a lovely piece.

 I’m a fan of these two personalized ornaments – if you’re participating in a walk or run, what a great way to remember the event, with names and dates.

Check out the other items we have on our website in commemoration of the fight to survive and conquer this disease!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Two for Tuesday

So, just so we’re clear, I can almost never limit myself to just two items – it’s a catchy, alliterative title only, not a meaningful description of the actual content of the post.  And it’s usually a day late, as you remember.  We’re good on all that?

New ornaments!  We’re getting in a bunch!  Here are a few inspired by some of the most iconic childhood tales. 

Beautiful Cinderella, waiting for a prince to help her with that glass slipper.

Her sparkling pumpkin carriage – what more could a young girl dream of?

Who doesn’t remember the thrill and fear of watching “The Wizard of Oz” as a young child?  I remember once being bad on the day of its annual t.v. presentation, and being banished to a porch from which I could only hear bits of sound – and when they found me listening at the window, they closed it.  That was a dark day!  This Cowardly Lion sports a magnificent and fierce mane.

How about his cheerful & carefree companion, the Scarecrow?

Are there any Peter Pan fans in the house?  We call him Tick-Tock the Croc, but he doesn’t actually have a name in the story.
In this case, he wears his clock on the outside.

Each of these glass ornaments is about 4″ tall, painted in jewel colors and decorated with fine glitter and jewels.  For a whimsical tree that will delight the kids, you can’t beat this collection!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

P.S.  Labor Day Weekend Tent Sale coming up!  Saturday through Monday in our courtyard – biggest tent we’ve yet had, filled with bargains – you won’t want to miss this one.  Opens at 9:00 am each day.

Pretty Stuff! (Part II)

As promised, here are the rest of my pictures .. for now!

In our nativity area, we’ve updated the large tree in front of the stained glass window with a collection of lush purple, burgundy, green and gold decorations, along with all the other colors of the rainbow.  Here are close-ups of some of the highlights.

 

In the next shot, I wanted to highlight for you another peacock feather we have – this delicate gold one is just amazing!  Also notice the perky little green bird with the extravagant tail feathers – a real charmer.  (So, his tail is mostly hidden ~ oops!)  The camera’s flash makes the peacock feather appear a little bolder than it is in natural light – it’s a very subtle, light gold shade with a pretty aqua, brown and tan eye.

 

Now, take a look at this stunning tree – decorated by our floral team.  This one literally touches the ceiling.  Again, the camera’s flash is making those green blooms jump out a lot more than they do in reality – they are tart, but not blindingly so!  Notice the giant gold butterflies positioned on the tree and above it – without the lead of a designer, would you think to put something so large on your tree?  Yet they work beautifully.

 

 

Velvet Magnolia Wreath

The petals of this magnolia are velvet, and there is also a mesh petal layer woven into the bloom.  This is a very champagne-colored wreath, and a striking way to incorporate metallic leaf sprays into an arrangement.

Also in the floral department is this tree featuring a 3′ tall golden herald angel.

 

I also love that orange-and-gold-colored glass ball just to the side of the angel.  I love how you can work orange, burgundy and red into the same scheme – just like nature does in the fall, of course!  Here’s a close up of some of the other items on this tree – including a hanging votive candle holder, which would be perfect with a battery-powered votive candle or tea light.

 Wow, that’s a lot of serious decorating!  Next time, I’ll take you through some of the more whimsical decorations we have to offer – think Peter Pan, the Wizard of Oz, and Cinderella.

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

 

Pretty Stuff! (Part I)

We’ve been so busy around here that I’ve hardly had time to take pictures and explore the new Christmas decorations & ornaments filling the store right now.  Yesterday I took the time to make a tour, and here are some of the things I’ve found inspiring, including our new crystal entrance, the tree in the nativity area, a couple of beautiful under-the-sea wreaths, and a few other highlights.

Are you shivering yet??

We’re showcasing a new style of LED light strand called “Angel Tear” lights.  These lights resemble tear drops or water drops on a strand, and are attached in a branch-like form that is shape-able – you can bend the strand and it will mold to the shape that you want without having to be secured.  They are so beautiful, lightweight and functional, you’ll find many different ways to incoporate them into your decor – maybe even year-round.

Angel Tear LED Lights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the left, you can see how we’ve tightly entwined a strand with silver branches.  On the right, you can see the strand draped more loosely with the same silver branch.  I love it both ways!

We also have in the store a pre-lit, 3′ tree that is entirely white and fuzzy ~ and our decorators suspended four of them from the ceiling and iced them with sparkling birds and ornaments – what an interesting and beautiful result!

Check out this colorful, glittering wreath - a handsome turquoise reindeer and sparkling “Merry Christmas” sign, enhanced by iced pine branches and silvered leaves – breathtaking!

Just around the corner from what I’m calling our “crystal entrance” is the new undersea area, and though the tree hasn’t been decorated yet, here are a couple of wonderful & whimsical wreaths already on display.

I particularly like the seafoam effect from the white guaze used in this wreath.  These are each one-of-a-kind creations, so we don’t have the opportunity to feature them on our shopping site, but phone orders and shipping are available.  Just call Guest Services at 1-800-445-3396, press 2, and they’ll take care of you.

Tucked into a corner I found a small yet brilliant peacock tree – so very colorful!

Here are a few closeups of two of the peacocks on this silver, slim-line tree.

Okay, I’m kind of afraid to put more photos into one post, so I’ll do a Part II for the rest of my finds!

Have you started planning for Christmas 2011?  Tell us how it’s going – and remember to check out our Themes area on the shopping site – get some help from our designers, whose selections will show you how to creatively build a theme or a color plan for your most fun holidays yet!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Dad’s Dozen

Father’s Day – it’s coming up fast!  If you’re blessed to have a wonderful father in your life, have you planned a special day for him on June 19th?  Maybe giving him the opportunity to buy lunch for everyone??

Of course, we have to give cards and gifts themed to Dad’s hobbies and interests .. I just haven’t seen anything in recent (recorded) history representing a slide projector or a slide carousel – that’s my dad’s hobby, mixing and remixing slide shows of everything from Jefferson County gardens & historical buildings to “The United States as seen from 35,000 feet, pictures taken from airplane windows coast to coast.”  He has taken thousands of slides over the years, and we, yes, I mean “I”, have enabled him by providing some of the hundreds of slide carousels into which he sorts them.  His fascinating collection truly covers the globe – if he ever learned to scan them into computer files, several gigabites of storage would be jammed with color and texture and life!

I’ve been digging around our site and come up with a dozen ideas for Dad recognition:

First Time Dad – a hand-painted ornament – we can personalize this one.

Another hand-painted ornament, this one to help ensure
your place in Dad’s heart (ahead of your siblings)!

For the ‘Legend in His Own Mind’ Dad

Personalize me, Seymour! (Sorry, obscure Bill Murray movie reference.)

Possum is in a food group, right?

For Dad who introduced you to a love of sports – my dad taught his daughters to love football – when someone asked him why, he replied “well, all my sons were daughters, so they were the ones around to learn football.”

If duck hunting is his thing, I just think this is a very clever & stylish ornament!

Here’s a very sweet Willow Tree figurine for dads & daughters.

Handy-man Dad could use some props on the Christmas tree!

Ah, one for the dreamer…. (we can personalize this for a really special Dad! with a name, I mean, not with flames or anything like that, silly…)

 

For the Dad that lifts you higher!
(You just have to go with Awwww!)

Is Dad a current or past military person?  We have commemorative items covering all branches of service - even a stars & stripes Christmas tree!

So, there are a dozen ideas for Dad – and there are plenty more where they came from.  I guess this is the modern-day equivalent of a slide show, yes?  Here’s wishing you and your dad an early Happy Father’s Day!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

P.S. Fathers at Christmas Place on June 19th will receive a free cookie & soft drink at Mrs. Claus’ Candy Kitchen.

Our First-Ever On-Line Tent Sale!

Did you know you can have a tent sale on-line??  We sure are!  They took a lot of items from our site to put into the Labor Day tent sale here at the store, so we took a bunch back and are doing our on on-line tent sale!

Christmas ornaments, figurines, floral stems ~ garland, ribbon, stockings ~ an angel tree topper ~ we’ve got a great selection at tent sale prices. 

Designers, it’s the perfect time to stock up on decorations in volume ~ enough to use all around the house!

Prices are straight from the tent sale, and won’t go any lower, so shop early to get just the items you want.

Pick up a few strands of long-lasting, low-energy LED lights in red & green, multicolored, or beautiful blue.  Add punch to a pre-made wreath, garland, or candle ring with a selection of leaves & silk flowers keyed to your own color theme.  Snag an old world Santa for your mantel.

Only 102 days left til Christmas!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Two for Tuesday

….shhhhh….no one will notice that it’s really Friday….just focus on the pretty pictures….

Sorry I’ve been away so long!  I’m using the old broken leg & restaurant opening excuse again .. and I promise to have a cookbook and a recipe on Monday.  I’m on a slow catch-up loop, but I’ll get there!

Here are a random selection of new items I’ve seen around the store this week.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season Ornament

 The beautiful decoration you see is repeated on the other side of the ornament.

Wedgewood Blue Ornament

We have a collection of several ornaments in this attractive blue color, perfect for a frosty tree theme.

Here’s another frosty ornament from the same tree – it is a little more sparkly than this picture shows, but not flashy.  I love the feeling this invokes of snowfall on a winter’s night.

Not quite ready to dive into winter?  Fall is my favorite season of the year, and this handsome wreath puts me right into it – a cool evening around the campfire, a morning when the leaves are touched with frost.  This wreath, a one-of-a-kind decoration, is lit with small white lights (yes, I erased the electrical cord for the sake of the photo!).  Call the store if you’d like to purchase this special piece.

It’s definitely time to think about cooler days!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place