Department 56 Retirement Day

It’s the end of the year, and that means Retirement Day for Department 56 collectibles.  When a piece is retired from production, they literally break the mold so that no more pieces can ever be made exactly like the original.  This limits the collection, adds value to your favorite pieces, and gives the artists space to create new designs.

We’re updating the Christmas Place Department 56 collection right now with retirement information, and soon you’ll be able to see all the retired pieces – but once we’re sold out, these pieces will disappear from the site.

Stop by tomorrow for the signing, and you can see the retired pieces in the store as well!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

P.S.  Secondary Market sales of previously retired pieces start at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning!

Department 56 & Mark Roberts Signings!

This weekend, November 7th, we’re hosting two talented and creative artists for signings here at the store!

Barbara Lund, a designer of the classic Dickens’ Village series of collectible, lighted houses and accessories, and whose father originated the series many years ago, will be in the store from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. to sign Department 56 houses.  She will be happy to sign any of the village collection pieces we offer.  This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Dickens’ Village collection.

Candle Shop Anniversary Edition

In addition, our annual Secondary Market sale for retired Department 56 collectibles will be taking place in the courtyard on Saturday and Sunday, November 7th and 8th.  We are expecting no fewer than six collectors in the sale, so you’ll see a nice variety of retired pieces – a great time to fill in your personal collection.  We’ll be making a donation to the Women’s Care Center in Sevierville, Tennessee, for this event.

Although some people only choose to set up their villages at Christmas, we know many of you proudly keep them on display all year round – and we’d love to have you share photographs with other collectors.  When you have time, check out forums.christmasplace.com, where you’ll find a forum on Christmas Village Displays. 

Holly Jolly Fairie

Also on Saturday, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., America’s favorite maker of Christmas fairies and elves, Mark Roberts, will be in the store for a signing of his charming collection.  In addition to figurines, Mark also offers some very whimsical purses with fairies attached, for those who go all out at Christmas time.

Fairy Prince Purse

 It’s all happening for you here at Christmas Place this Saturday & Sunday!

 ~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Garden Party Fun

As announced briefly on Facebook, we had a great Father’s Day weekend here – a little steamy, but we kept the air conditioning going, and were able to give away all 14 door prizes this year – yipee!  We gave away a prize each hour from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it’s so much fun that the folks were here to claim them – we only had to use one back-up name. 

Here are some pictures of the card-making, face-painting, and cookie-decorating fun we had on Saturday.

Kids of all ages enjoyed making Father’s Day cards!

And then came cookie decorating.  Choose your icing color and your topping favorite first…

Then get to work…

And somewhere in between, add a butterfly or a bear paw to your face.

The associates in Department 56 decided to get in some fun with a 50s theme – Root Beer Floats for only 5 cents!  They raised over $60 in donations for our Relay for Life team.

A genuine poodle skirt, pedal-pushers, and a jaunty, polka-dot neck scarf set the stage for the day!

We also made bows and wreaths, demonstrated setting up a small village with your Department 56 houses, and had guests racing around the store answering our Scavenger Hunt questions – where do you go at Christmas Place to create your own beach?  Good question!  Evelyn Smith from West Virginia, winner of the Scavenger Hunt, can tell you.  I will tell you that you must go to Mrs. Claus’ Candy Kitchen for a really refreshing ice cream cone on a hot summer day…

Hope you enjoyed a marvelous weekend and Father’s Day, and that you’ll be able to join us this time next year for more fun and prizes!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Two for Tuesday

It’s a beautiful day here in the foothills of the Smokies – a cool and sunny spring day.  I hope you’ve had a wonderful day in your part of the world.

Today, I’m showing you a couple of very clever new displays that are coming to the store.  Do you, like me, enjoy watching 24 hours of “A Christmas Story” each December?  (well, maybe more like 4 or 5 hours of…) Department 56 has a collection of houses and accessories recreating the scenes and characters of that iconic film, and we’ve created our own display in the store – including the famous and fragile (we all know it’s pronounced fra-gee-lay) Major Award!

New for 2009, D56 has added The Fire House, The Bumpus House, and Pulaski’s Candy Store.  One of my favorite pieces is included in this scene, Pink Nightmare, poor Ralphie in the pink bunny suit!

Singing Santa’s new performance stage is really looking great!  A local artist and former Christmas Place employee, Andrea, has been adding elves and decorations all over the walls around the stage area.  I want you to be among the first to have a glimpse of the new area, which should be open by this weekend, if all goes well.

Singing Santa Performance Stage at Christmas Place

It’s going to be a truly grand space in which Santa will perform and greet visitors.  I don’t think you’ll find any stray paint cans around when Santa is in residence!

Only 220 days til Christmas – it’s really time to start organizing your gift lists for December…I’m just saying…oh, and thinking about replacing your old Christmas tree and adding some energy efficient LED lights this year.  They have a new style that is flat on the top of the bulb, no more sharp pointy bits to avoid!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

 

Date Set for Christmas Place Artist Signings

November 7th – mark your calendar! 

We have not one, but two important and popular artists visiting the store on the first Saturday in November.

Timberland Woods Fairy

Mark Roberts, creator of the beloved line of Fairies and Elves (and lots of other beautiful things) will be at Christmas Place for a signing – we had such a delightful time meeting Mark last year, and cannot wait to welcome him back to the store!

 

 

Candle Shop, Dickens Anniversary Edition

 Barbara Lund, daughter of Nieland Lund, originator of the Department 56 Dickens’ Village Series, will be here to sign D56 buildings and collectibles.  This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Dickens’ Village Series, so you know we’ll be putting on quite a party.

 We haven’t yet set times for the signings, so  please stay tuned for further information.  Watch for a special offer in conjunction with The Inn at Christmas Place and the Dickens anniversary celebration.

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Two for Tuesday

Calling all Peanuts fans!  Here’s a cute cute cute figurine that includes Linus and the faithful Snoopy, raiding Santa’s chocolate chip cookies under the tree – are you sure you want to be on the naughty list, Linus??

Share Christmas Joy

I guess I’m on a cute theme today………

Snowbaby is decorating his favorite moose for Christmas in this chilly scene – glad everyone is warmly bundled!

Festive Attire

Not to mention that I just love those red sisal trees.  I will definitely have some of these among my decorations in December.  And check out the green tinsel trees, too – these are so fun!  Have I mentioned before my mad love for things on a small scale??

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Food for Friday

You’re reading it for the first time here.

LA’s Soon To Be Famous Original Pizza

Naan bread (plain, garlic, or whole wheat)
Bertolli’s Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo sauce
Diced ham
Pineapple wedges
Sliced hearts of palm
Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Reduced-fat shredded mozzarella
Slivered almonds

Layer the ingredients onto the naan crust in the order listed.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes.

By all accounts, it is to die for!  This particular Bertolli sauce has half the fat content of their regular Alfredo sauce.  I have the sauce, I’m just looking for the naan ~ I wonder if they carry it at Kroger’s?

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Two for Tuesday

I just have to show off our newest Department 56 display ~ our designer, Kristy, has been working on it for several days.  Three tiers and a grand double staircase lead up to The North Pole Palace, and an upside down tree filled with icicles is suspended above.

Dept. 56 North Pole Village 2009

I also recorded a short film that shows the flashing lights and animation of the scene ~ see if you can spot the skiers enjoying a day on the slopes!

If you happen to have an attractive wooden étagère like this one in the store, you need to add this striking sleigh to your holiday decorations. It’s positioned right under a spotlight where it catches my eye every time I pass by. I long to fill it with some red and green decorations ~ or maybe something in light blue and cream and gold. Very handsome!

Santa's Sleigh

It’s about 2 feet wide and 18 inches tall ~ it could hold an array of gifts or party favors for a special gathering.

We’re continuing to enjoy an onslaught of spring break guests in the store this week ~ if only the spring weather would return, too!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Food for Friday

If you live in the Knoxville, Tennessee area, you need to check out the newest Indian restaurant on the west side of town, Taj.  Had dinner there last night with family, and I can’t wait to have my leftover Chicken Makhani for lunch today!  The makhani isn’t even on the menu, but the chef at Taj was happy to cook up the three dishes we wanted that weren’t listed.  The naan bread was hot and buttery and light and delicious.  The samosas, both veggie and meat (lamb) were terrific.  I could go on…..

I haven’t found an Indian cookbook in Christmas Place yet, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed!  Until then, how about a recipe from Ruby Ann’s Down Home Trailer Park Cookbook, by Ruby Ann Boxcar.  Ruby Ann’s smokin’ hot on the cover here!

Cooking’ so good, folks will be turnin’ off the wrestlin’ channel just to come ‘n’ get it!

Beautician, international entertainer and singer, and syndicated columnist Ruby Ann Boxcar lives with her husband Dew and their three dogs in a two-story double-wide pink trailer home at the High Chaparral Trailer Park in Pangburn, Arkansas.

Let me just say, these trailer park folk don’t know from low cal – you have to get to Chapter 12 on page 171 to find a main dish (past appetizers, drinks (featuring gallons of grape soda), bread, cookies, candy, desserts, and helpful hints – it’s all about priorities!).  Here’s one to entertain the kids.

Grill Master & Friend, Department 56

Chihuahuas

10 hot dog buns, toasted
6 oz corn chips
10 hot dogs, grilled
1 lb chili
1/2 head iceberg lettuce, shredded
1/4 lb Government cheese, melted

Line the buns with the chips, add the hot dogs, and top with a large spoonful of chili, lettuce, and cheese.

Look, this one included lettuce – what can I say, I tried!  This book is quite a hoot – it includes a map of the trailer park and a history of each of its residents.  Call and ask for item 285076 (couldn’t find it on the site).  A great gag gift or stocking stuffer for the right person!

We’re planning on a warm and sunny early spring weekend to welcome Daylight Savings Time here in East Tennessee – hope it’s fantastic for you, wherever you are!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Last Two Weeks for 20% Off!

Just want to remind everyone that there are only two weeks remaining in our on-line sale ~ 20% off almost everything!

Plenty of people have been shopping early and getting some great deals on Christmas ornaments, trees, and all kinds of decorations.  My guess is that they are buying things now to pack up along with last year’s things, instead of having to find a place to store new stuff and remember where it is next December.  That’s what I’ve been doing, anyway.  That is, assuming I do get around to putting my stuff away.  Some of the bits and bobs that I’ve picked up this year I want to keep out year round!

Also, for our Department 56 collectors, we have just introduced free shipping on all orders over $100!  That’s a wonderful savings, especially if you’re buying a house or two and the accompanying accessories.  The 2009 new releases are up on our site for pre-ordering (the inventory doesn’t come in until late spring or early summer).

This is your chance to enjoy saving money on next Christmas!

Life is good – it’s a gorgeous, sunny day, a tad chilly, but something to celebrate nonetheless!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place