BLOG: Christmas planning in July!

[Bob Keller]

In the Community section.

[Flintlock76]

Great blog, Bob!

Read it everyone!  That's an order!  

[Penny Trains]

Aye aye! 

[fifedog]

My lovely wife and I have set up a Christmas layout under the tree, ever since we moved to WV.  We live relatively close to Deep Creek Lake (Oakland, MD), which means we live relatively close to the Christmas Challet.  We love to chech out all the new Dept 56 offerings, and we've purchased quite a few North Pole Village items to go on our layout, over the years. 

For those of you who have the Hogwart's train, D56 has finally came out with buildings and figures in the Harry Potter series. 

Also, the floral stores like JoAnn's and Michael's are starting to stock holiday items, and we are always on the look out for the whimsical sprigs and Lemax lights (they seem to get scooped up first). 

Even at train shows, I'm looking for long ago "retired" North Pole items that can be bought far cheaper than when first released.

So, the search never really stops.

[Flintlock76]

For Department 56 (and other similar articles) you may want to check out flea markets, antique malls, thrift stores and second-hand shops.

I get the impression the market's dropped for D56.  Where a few years back they were going for exhorbitant prices (collector frenzy, you know) the prices are a lot more reasonable now. 

I picked up a number of D56 "Dickens Village" buildings for under $35 each a few years back, just for under the Christmas tree.  

[Penny Trains]

Got one done this week....

[Flintlock76]

Penny Trains

Got one done this week....

 

Cool!  Looking forward to seeing it!

[Rene Schweitzer]

Flintlock76

For Department 56 (and other similar articles) you may want to check out flea markets, antique malls, thrift stores and second-hand shops.

I get the impression the market's dropped for D56.  Where a few years back they were going for exhorbitant prices (collector frenzy, you know) the prices are a lot more reasonable now. 

I picked up a number of D56 "Dickens Village" buildings for under $35 each a few years back, just for under the Christmas tree.  

 

I think the market has dropped for a lot of "collectible" items. I found some D56 figures in a bag at a nearby thrift store yesterday for less than $2! Check those thrift stores--many have Christmas items out year round.

[Flintlock76]

Ah, a woman after my own heart!

Rene's right, thrift stores, second-hand shops, you see one pop in for a look.  You never know, do you?

[Penny Trains]

I don't have any D56 but I do have a schoolhouse and a nice fiber-optic cathedral at my garage sale cheap.  So don't overlook your neighbors either!