Father-Husband-Marketer-Geek

Thanks to all for the wonderful suggestions for my son's first North Pole piece. I'm not sure which one we are leaning toward, but I will certainly let everyone know. It's funny, because we are space challenged in our condo, and I am going to have to part ways with some Snow Village pieces to give us some extra storage room. I'd gladly exchange Snow Village for North Pole pieces, but I'd definitely have to give up 2 or 3 pieces for 1 so that we end up with more storage space. Here are some of the suggestions which came in: "I have every piece of the village. My recommendation for your first piece would be Santa ’s original house with the two accessories. One accessory is of Santa and Mrs. Claus with an elf and the second accessory is Santa’s sled and eight reindeer. I would follow with the Yummy Gummy Factory. It's a cool piece and has gummy tree accessories that accent the factory." "The one you can find at the greatest discount! By the time he

As most of you know, this blog has been a creative outlet for me at times, allowing me to write about my favorite holidays and collectibles. I know lately I've been mentioning our first child - a boy - and how excited we are to bring him into the world, teach him right and wrong, help him through different decisions and circumstances, and watch him develop his own interests and hobbies. We'll certainly introduce him to many things, one of them being the joy of Department 56 , of seeing a village collection grow and take form. We've decided to get him started on the North Pole Series - we love it's whimsical themes and colors. Now the question is: Which piece to get the collection started? I'll be gathering suggestions and ideas from the many readers of this blog and the different D56 groups of which I participate. I'll then post a poll of the top suggested pieces. Can't wait!

Shipping costs will be covered by the buyers. Money Order only. Contact BOYLEBEAR@aol.com to discuss any and all pieces! NORTH POLE : Santa's Lookout Tower $20.00 Santa's Workshop $80.00 Reindeer Barn $20.00 Elf Bunkhouse $20.00 Santa's Post Office $20.00 Santa's Woodworks $20.00 Sleigh and Reindeer $10.00 (damages box and sleeve, accessory perfect) Toy Maker Elves $15.00 Baker Elves $15.00 Letters for Santa $15.00 Testing the Toys $15.00 Trimming the North Pole $12.00 Santa and Mrs. Clause $12.00 Woodsmen Elves $20.00 HERITAGE VILLAGE: Town Tree (5565-4) $15.00 Winter Sleighride $10.00 Village Porcelain Pine (Large) $ 5.00 Village Porcelain Pine (Small) $ 5.00 Village Chain Link Fence woth Gate $ 8.00 Village Chain Link Fence Exstensions $ 8.00 Wrought Iron Gate and Fence $ 9.00 Churchyard Iron Gate and Fence $ 9.00 Churchyard Fence Exstensions $ 9.00 W

I've got some select Snow Village pieces which we are willing to part with. We simply have no storage space for these. We are going to keep our Halloween and A Christmas Story sets, and we're going to start a North Pole Series set for our forthcoming son (68 days and counting, estimated!). Here is a quick list of the collection. All are in great shape, and we are looking to give you a great deal, so make an offer and we'll respond accordingly. Please feel free to email me your offers . You can also call the phone number to the right and it will reach me. Campbell's Soup Counter and Mm-Mm-Good! Accessory Gus's Drive In Dinah's Drive In Pillsbury Bakeshop Long Haul Truckstop News Gazette Christmas Crafts Cottage Let's Play House Village Station Stardust Movie Theater Mighty-Fine BBQ

Bill Laughlin has been an avid Department 56 village collector since 1993. He spent his first $5,500.00 in 2 weeks and has never looked back. He completed the entire village in 2003. His store, Christmas, Etc. is open all year in Florida. Bill Laughlin is now releasing " THE VILLAGE REGISTRY ", a way to keep written records and values of your collection. It will be in a binder format so that information can be easily added every year. This will be the first book to have all 3 types of introductions at each year's publication: January, Mid-year and Specialty pieces. Each book will come with 2 custom Burgundy, D-ring binders, corresponding pages and village tabs. You will be able to set the book in the format that best suits you, the collector. Each year after, there will be a supplement. There will also be available extra binders, due to many special requests. There is a bonus for the NCC and for the collectors attending the gathering in June. THE VILLAGE REGISTR

A reader wrote in about a new auction site with free basic listings: Insider Auctions has free basic listings, low fee optional features and a flat 2% selling fee. There are several department 56 items already listed as well. The auction site also has a supporting blog . Here is a link to the page of search results for " Department 56 " items on Insider Auctions.

Dick Stull said would like to sell these pieces as a complete set. You can contact him by email and request his phone number to discuss the pieces/pricing. He also has a Dickens' Village collection up for sale as well as many accessories. 56340 Beard Barber Shop $45.00 56393 Christmas Bread Bakers $60.00 56384 Elfin Forge & Assembly Shop $65.00 56332 Elfin Snow Cone Works $50.00 56398 Elsie's Gingerbread (Limited E.) (smokes) $125.00 56387 Elves' Trade School $100.00 56394 Glacier Gazette, The $55.00 56392 Hall of Records $60.00 56359 North Pole Dolls & Santa's Bear Works (3/set) $110.00 56278 North Pole Express Depot $65.00 56388 Popcorn & Cranberry House $110.00 56391 Route 1, North Pole, Home of Mr. & Mrs. Claus $150.00 56389 Santa's Bell Repair $50.00 56397 Santa's Light Shop $65.00 56294 Santa's Lookout Tower $75.00 56386 Santa's Rooming H

The seller is Dick Stull and he would like to sell these pieces as a complete set. You can contact him by email and request his phone number to discuss the pieces/pricing. Dickens' Village: 55557 Ashbury Inn $80.00 (pictured to the left. Image credit goes to http://andys-villagetrees.com ) 58305 Ashwick Lane Hose and Ladder $55.00 58324 Barmby Moor Cottage $48.00 55670 Bishops Oast House $85.00 58330 Blenham Street Bank $60.00 58731 Barley Corn Manner $85.00 58338 Butter Tub Barn $55.00 58337 Butter Tub Farmhouse $40.00 58339 Christmas Carol Cottage (magic smoke) Christmas Carol Revisited $75.00 59242 Cobblestone Shops $0.00 59242 T. Wells Fruit and Spice Shop (Booter and Cobbler inside box) $132.00 59242 The Wool Shop $195.00 55832 Cobles Police Station $154.00 58304 Crooked Fence Cottage $65.00 57509 Crown and Cricket Inn (Lmt. Ed.) $182.00 55506 David Copperfield $0.00 55506 Betsy Trotwood's Cottage $68.00 55506 Mr. Wickfield Solicitor $100.00 57725 Dedlock Arms (Lmt. Ed. $

It's called "Village D-tails" and it's coming this summer (2008). This will pick up for the original Greenbook price guide. From Teri's site : "The Greenbook Guide to Department 56 Villages was widely respected by collectors, retailers, and insurance agents worldwide for its breath of collectibles information and value guide. Updated annually, the Greenbook contained color photographs of each building and accessory, year of introduction and retirement, original selling price, interesting facts about many designs including variations and mistakes, and current secondary market values. Similar in format to the 2006 edition of the Greenbook, Village D-tails will include the same trusted information that has been the industry "bible" for years, featuring updates on all the villages, 8.5" x 5.5", full color, soft cover, approx. 480 pages. Published by Pioneer Communications, Inc., the same company that brings you Village D-Lights magazine."