Exciting News from Department 56!
"I fear you most of all I've seen!"
by Deanna Pietrzak on 09/11/18"Spirit! Hear me! I am not the man I was...I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year...oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!" Charles Dickens ~ A Christmas Carol
For 2018, Department 56 has incorporated the glowing ghost of Christmas' yet-to-come into their "A Christmas Carol" collection in the "Dicken's Village" series! Brilliantly captured is the moment when Scrooge learns his fate and makes the life-changing decision to improve his ways which, in turn, will alter his fate.
This outstanding boxed set features a singular base with the lighted cemetery shed, lighted spirit, Scrooge figurine, headstones, gate, fence, and a bare branch tree all permanently attached. To add the finishing touches to this scene, a sisal tree and bag of snow are also included in the set! The price for this extraordinary piece is only $135...a true bargain (and great Christmas gift idea) when you consider all that's included! Hurry in and claim yours today!
Attention All Harry Potter Fans!!!
by Deanna Pietrzak on 08/13/18The Village Shoppes is now taking pre-orders for Department 56's newest collection...the Harry Potter village!
These highly detailed, lighted buildings are crafted using the exact specifications from the movie studio to create an unbelievably lifelike experience for the Harry Potter fan. From the majesty of Hogwarts Castle to Hagrid's Hut, Ollivander's Wand Shop, and a good game of Quiddach, Department 56 has truly brought the movie to life.
Order today for guaranteed delivery before Christmas!
Winter Magic in the North Pole
by Deanna Pietrzak on 07/17/18Introducing the new (and economical) Silver Series for the North Pole collection!
These three wonderful designs come as convenient sets and include everything you need. The Silver Series is made of durable resin that allows the light from within to fill your home with a warm glow. Priced for gift-giving and collectors on a budget, this is the perfect opportunity to start a new tradition!
Christmas Surprise in Dickens' Village
by Deanna Pietrzak on 06/19/18Introducing the Silver Series for Dickens' Village. These three wonderful designs come as convenient box sets and include everything you need...a lighted building, an accessory piece, and a bag of snow!
The Silver Series is made of durable resin that allows the light from within to fill your home with a warm glow.
Start a tradition for someone special...even if that someone special is YOU!
The Curse of the Hope Diamond! Muahahah!!!
by Deanna Pietrzak on 05/22/18
Senator Robert Reynolds served in the U.S. Senate from 1932-1945. While he was in Washington, Senator Reynolds became acquainted with Evalyn Walsh McLean, owner of the 45 carat Hope Diamond, and he eventually married her daughter, Evie.
The year following her purchase of the Hope Diamond in 1911, Evalyn Walsh McLean's mother-in-law died of pneumonia. A few years after that, Evalyn's little boy was hit and killed by an automobile. Not long after, Evalyn and her husband separated, he later dying in a mental institution from an alcohol-related affliction. Just five years after her husband died, Evalyn's only daughter and wife of Senator Robert Reynolds, Evie, died of an accidental overdose of sleeping pills at the age of 24. The following year, in 1947, Evalyn herself died at age of 60. Robert and Evie's daughter, Mamie, was the heir to the Hope Diamond. She sold it in 1949 to jeweler Harry Winston (YOU BET SHE DID!!!) who donated it to the Smithsonian Museum, where it is still on permanent display.
Are all of the tragedies experienced by Evalyn Walsh McLean a result of the curse of the Hope Diamond? You decide. Muahahah!!!
The Senator Robert Reynold's family home, Reynolds Mansion, is located in Asheville, North Carolina. It opened as a Bed and Breakfast in 2010.
