How to have a good time at The Christmas Place

Pick a day of perfect weather – sunny, high in the 70s to low 80s.  Add several artists from well known companies like Ne’Qwa Art and Department 56.  Set up a tent in the courtyard for long-time collectors to bring out their favorite retired pieces.  Add a family of entertainers wandering the courtyard and store.  Serve up a taste of homemade fudge (all flavors!).  Top it all off with a basket full of treats delivered by a character in a puffy white Snowbaby suit, and everyone’s enjoying the party!

Trieste of Ne Qwa signing an ornament

Kristi Jensen Pierro signing a SnowbabyEntertainment by Team Kirkwood

It was a beautiful day for a Secondary Market

Department 56 collectors selling retired pieces

A portion of the proceeds from the sale was donated to Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Medical Clinic in Sevierville, Tennessee.

The pièce de résistance, Snowbaby on Santa-s knee

Okay, yes, there was a bit of competition as to who has the rounder belly, but Santa claims his is the only real one in the photo!  We just have to share a couple more photos with you.

Our Snowbaby handing out treats

Kristi Pierro with Christmas Place Staff

It was a terrific day, thanks to all of you who came to the store and joined in the fun of having an ornament, Snowbaby or village house signed by one of the artists.  Pebbie Mott was on hand, too, signing her painted backgrounds for Department 56 villages.  She’s added quite a few for the new year, including a Snow Village Halloween backdrop.

Although the leaves are changing more slowly than I would like, the crisp mornings and evenings are so lovely in the mountains this time of year – arriving home around sunset one night last week, the wood fire smoke was hanging blue in the air, skimming the valley – a site that makes me very happy, and is not to be missed!  If you haven’t yet, come on down to the mountains and take in a little early fall for yourself.  It’s almost Wednesday!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

We have them dancing in the – well, the courtyard!

We weren’t quite dancing in the street, but we had several rousing rounds of The Chicken Dance in the courtyard today, along with a few Polkas ~ courtesy of John & Becky Lowery and friends who entertained the crowds on two German street organs and an accordion.

The hand-crank organ was custom-made in Germany, and the performers were even able to select the paintings that decorate the case.  The pipes in front are carved, and tunes are played by a punched-paper music roll run through rollers.  The sound is similar to a calliope or hurdy gurdy.

The crowd really enjoyed dancing along with the music!

Along with the two organs, one performer entertained on this beautiful accordion.

It was great fun to watch, sing, and dance along with the group ~ no lederhosen required! ~ and a great start to our very busy weekend.

We’ve packed Saturday’s schedule with artist signings and activities:

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pebbie Mott of Pebbie Art is signing her delightful Department 56 Village backdrop prints.
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Trieste is in the store to demonstrate the Ne’Qwa technique of painting mouth-blown glass ornaments – on the INSIDE surface!
• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Kristi Pierro, the creator of Snowbabies, will be signing Department 56 Snowbabies and Village houses (and we’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Snow Village Halloween collection).
• Opening at 9 a.m., five vendors will be in a tent in our courtyard participating in the Department 56 Secondary Market, selling retired village houses and collectibles.  The Secondary Market continues on Sunday.
• Team Kirkwood will be in the courtyard from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. entertaining with clowning and balloon animals.
• Parrot Mountain will be here all day with a selection of exotic birds.
• Singing Santa will be in concert several times during the day, as well as available for visits and photos.

I need to get some rest before all the fun begins in the morning ~ and I believe it’s scheduled to be another spectacular fall day in the Smokies!  Come join us!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

A very busy weekend to start October!

We’re filling the schedule for the first weekend in October – here is a list so you can plan your day.

DEPARTMENT 56 SNOWBABIES AND VILLAGE SIGNING

Department 56 Snowbabies designer Kristi Jensen Pierro will be at The Incredible Christmas Place on Saturday, October 4th, 2008, for an exclusive signing of Snowbabies and Village collectibles*!

Order today and we’ll hold your items for the signing and ship them to you the following week.  The deadline for preorders is the end of the day on Thursday, October 2nd, 2008.  Click here to begin shopping!

Come by the store to meet Kristi and enter drawings for door prizes and complimentary memberships in the Christmas Place Department 56 Collector’s Club.  Club members receive exclusive benefits including free catalogs, priority access to certain limited edition pieces, free shipping on orders over $200, and gift cards valued at ten percent of purchases that may be redeemed at the store or at The Inn at Christmas Place.  You may also purchase club memberships online.

Kristi has been drawing and creating Snowbabies for over 20 years, in designs inspired by childhood memories and friendships through the years.  This year, she introduced the “Babies Got New Clothes” line, looking quite cozy in their hand-knit stocking hats, scarves, and mittens of red or green.  As a representative of Department 56, Kristi will be signing Village houses* as well. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet the creator of the delightful Snowbabies collectibles and have your treasured pieces* signed by Kristi Jensen Pierro!

 SECONDARY MARKET FOR DEPARTMENT 56
COLLECTOR’S CLUB MEMBERS 

On Saturday and Sunday, October 4th and 5th, 2008, we’ll be hosting our annual Secondary Market for Christmas Place Collector’s Club members.  Members may rent a table for two days (tented outside area, overnight security is included) for only $145, to sell retired Village and Snowbabies collectibles.  Here is a great opportunity to purchase that exclusive – and elusive – house or figurine that you missed when it was first released!  Vendors at the Secondary Market will be able to authorize some pieces* for signing by Kristi on Saturday in the store. 

Only a few tables remain to be rented for the Secondary Market, so call 1-800-445-3396, extension 110, today to reserve your table with Teresa Hughes.  If it’s a local call for you, dial 865-453-0415. 

*Kristi will not be able to sign accessory pieces. 

PEBBIE ART CHRISTMAS VILLAGE BACKGROUNDS SIGNING 

Many collectors have completed their Department 56 village displays with one or more of the colorful and detailed paintings of town and country village backgrounds by Pebbie Art.  Pebbie Mott will be in the store from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, October 4th, 2008, to sign her backgrounds. 

Printed on heavy, durable paper, Pebbie’s backdrops are designed to compliment Department 56 village houses, and can be easily trimmed to fit a book or display case.  Halloween backdrops have been very popular this year.

If you’d like to add a truly professional finishing touch to your scenes, purchase an original creation by Pebbie Art, and have your backdrops signed by the artist in our store.  While you’re here, be sure to register for the door prize drawings we’re holding that day.

Ne’Qwa Art Signing

Trieste of Ne’Qwa Art will be in the store from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturday, October 4th, 2008, for an exclusive painting demonstration and signing of their hand-painted glass ornaments.  Utilizing the centuries-old Chinese art technique of reverse painting on the inside surface of mouth-blown glass ornaments, only a handful of artists have the skills to bring Ne’Qwa art objects to life.  More than 25 artists are featured on Ne’Qwa glass.

This special ornament featuring the charming image of Santa communing with a reindeer is the highlighted ornament for this year’s signing event.  Purchase this or any other ornament in advance and we will hold them for signing and shipment directly to you after October 4, 2008!

 Due to the popularity of this line, we ask that you bring no more than four ornaments (purchased at The Christmas Place) through the signing line.

In addition to the signings and tent sale, local artists Team Kirkwood will be here to entertain our guests with costumes, balloon characters, and performances.

After visiting each of our signers, take a leisurely tour of the store and enjoy all the trees that have just been completely redecorated, and end the day with an ice cream and candy treat from Mrs. Claus’ Candy Kitchen.  It’s going to be a spectacular weekend to kick off October!

Have a great one, and don’t forget that it’s almost Monday…heh heh heh!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Two for Tuesday

Two things in the store this week:

Hand-painted on the inside of the glass, an incredible ornament from Ne’ Qwa.  Each of these unique ornaments is signed by the artist, and packaged in a velvet box.

Crafted to look like wood, this resin angel has wire wings and holds a twinkling star.  From the Willow Creek line, she will surely enhance your Christmas tree ~ and you might want to keep her on display all year long.

Have a beautiful day!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place