Little Villages
Our home is aglow year-round with lighted villages from Dept56. Always a wonderland. Always aglow.
New England Village
Christmas in the City
Alpine Village
Snow Village
Dickens Village
Room Displays
The Dream Continues
New England Village
New England Village Autumn Mantel
Pennsylvania Dutch Barn and Farmhouse, Arlington Falls Church, Harvest Pumpkin
Wagon (Bear's favorite!), Blue Star Ice Co. (Lamb's favorite! Love how the
blocks of ice reflect the light), Bluebird Seed and Bulb. Accessories include
fall trees and the Medium Village Mountain cut in half, with both pieces
placed flush against the wall. Also used in the Alpine Village
mantel with mountain climbers.
New England Village Autumn
Note that a light has been put into the covered bridge behind the carriage.
It makes the entry very beckoning and helps illuminate figures in the display
when the room is darkened.
Christmas in the City
Christmas in the City
(Bedroom Display)
Christmas in the City Mantel
Hollydale's Department Store, Music Emporium, Wongs Chinese Restaurant,
Ritz Hotel, Little Italy Restorante, Potter's Tea Seller, Spring St. Coffee
House, Subway Entrance, Newstand (behind tree), Haberdashery, Red Brick Fire
Station, City Clockworks, First Metropolitan Bank, Ivy Terrace Apartments,
Holy Name Church
There are actually three "squares" in the above mantel:
1. Square bounded by Hollydale's and the Little Italy restaurant , with
a bounding wall in front, a lighted tree in the middle, and filled with holiday
shoppers.
2. Christmas Tree Square. The Christmas tree is very far forward, allowing
activity all around. The newstand with assorted happy patrons is behind the
tree in its own little world, and fully visible in person as your eyes look
around the corners.
3. Square bounded by firehouse and church, with a happy mix of carolers,
vendors, and the firehouse crew.
Alpine Village
Alpine Village Mantel
Danube Music Publisher, E. Staubr Backer, Kamm Haus, St. Nikolaus
Kirche, Sport Laden, Apotheke, Bernhardiner Hundchen
As with Christmas in the City, this mantel is broken up into three squares,
so that in person the eye is drawn into multiple worlds:
1. The Meeting Square (with musicians)
2. The Church Square (with mountain climbers, churchgoers, and we use the
New England sled because the colors and costumes go well with this village
also)
3. Alpine Shops (with vendors and puppies)
Alpine Village
Metterniche Wurst (Sausage Shop), Kukuck Uhren (Clock Shop), Milch-Kase
(Milk and Cheese Shop), Bessor Bierkeller (Beer Cellar), Gasthof Eisl (Guest
House)
When lining up houses across a flat surface it is important to break up the
line with various orientations and vegetation. There are actually little "rooms"
of houses and activities here.
Snow Village
Snow Village Farm
(with a greenhouse, just like my great grandmother's!)
Dickens Village
The Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker
with children playing in the snow
(Left dining room window display)
Welcome to the Inn!
Crown Tree Inn, Jones & Co. Brush and Basket, Blacksmith,
and Ten Year Anniversary Postern Arch
(Right dining room window display)
In both of the above displays each building is at a different level, and
the postern in the second display adds depth as you look through the center..
Room Displays
How does all of this fit into a small home? Villages change seasonally, with
a variety of small and large displays. Here is a recent Christmas dining
room display (including Town of Bethlehem under the tree and a Dicken's Christmas
Carol table centerpiece tableau):
The Dream Continues
In addition we also have the North Pole village, so there is more to come.
By the back door we have a small shelf with various small tableaus we change
seasonally, as well as a summer camp with Fisherman's Nook in summer time.
Disneyland and palaces also abound, and in the kitchen the Snow Village Coca
Cola bottling plant is a permanent fixture. Summer is also the time for lighthouses
and pier scenes.
The dream continues...
Love, from Lamb and Bear Clark
(Kathleen and John)
Write to Kathleen