Are you a Christmas Village Collector?

[K and K's Mommy]

I've got Dept. 56 Snow Village. My grandma started collecting them, so my mom got me one when I got married - a church.

We try to get one a year. I haven't bought a new one this year though! We get ones that pertain to us. For example, I am a teacher so I have two schools. We have a Starbucks because we love it, a country club because my DH plays golf, a store named Gracie's because that is our cat's name, etc.

My kids love it! My DD 7 likes to make up stories about the people who live there and what they do.

 

[mrsv98]

DH and I started a collection before we even got married...lol We have Dept 56 and then DH's brother gave us a set that went perfectly with what we had. AND it has some fiber optic buildings so DH loves them! Over the years we have added more accessories but not major buildings. We have a Christmas shop not far from us and I will see if they have anything on sale later in the winter.

Here are a few pics (without flash, it looks prettier that way):

I love the detail in some of the buildings. This is my favorite, it is a greenhouse attached to the florist (sorry it is a little fuzzy):

and inside one of the shops:

We really want to find a skating pond but the ones we have seen are too big. I think we need another shop and two more houses so I am keeping my fingers crossed for a good sale!

 

[Diznygrl]

Here are some pictures of my Toontown village. I posted them on the Christmas tree thread but I totally forgot about this thread until I saw that it had been resurrected.

The only place there's room for it is in the entertainment center, and even then poor Donald and Goofy have to have their houses isolated from everyone else's.

My camera takes lousy non-flash nighttime photos, but I had to try anyway so you could kinda sorta see the little Christmas lights on each of the buildings.

 

[JR6ooo4]

We have Dept 56:
North pole series
Disney heritage collection.

Mikeeee

 

[SueM in MN]

I love seeing all the pictures. Here are some of mine. This is the 2007 version. I finished setting up my 2008 version this weekend, but I didn't take any pictures. The buildings are mostly from Kohls.

I have 2 large tables (I think they are 30 by 60), 2 small tables (I think 20 by 30) and what looks like a wider, higher table in the center is actually a set of plastic garage storage shelves. Most of the year, they are put together as a 6 foot tall shelf that the house boxes are stored on. For Christmas display, I split them on half and use them butted up next to each other to make a large platform. The tables have 1/2 thick sheets of styrofoam on them - cheap and easy to shape. I have a thin layer of fiberfill sewing insulation over the top of that for snow.
The bead garland and the big plastic snowflakes are my cat deterrents. The village has not had any 'attacks of the giant cat' visits since I started using it.

 

[tekmom]

My mil started my collection of Dept. 56 Heritage Village---Dickens series 19 years ago when I got married. I don't have alot, Old Michaels Church, Ebenezer Scrooges house, Scrooge and Marley's shop, Fezziwigs Warehouse, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim's house, the Chop Shop and I just got Walpole tailor's from Ebay. I have various characters, trees and wandering townsfolk.

 

[juligrl]

Very fun! My daughter would love that!

My camera takes lousy non-flash nighttime photos, but I had to try anyway so you could kinda sorta see the little Christmas lights on each of the buildings.

Try taking it using a tripod and the timer (if you have them). Pay a trip to the photography board for some good night-time photo taking tips.

 

[Denine]

I love all the pictures!!!!!!!!!!

I have always loved the Disney one, but again that darn money....

Can you mix and match different villages like Lemax and St. Nicholas Square? How do the sizes compare.

I know I can't afford Dept 56, but I may be able to swing some of the others at deep discount prices.

I have Fontanini stuff and I have gotten it all after Christmas at 1/2 price. I only need a couple more things, like more animals and some palm trees and then I am done. It is just the stable and some animals and people.

 

[WildernessBride]

I am hooked as well..... I collect Dickens Village stuff. This is the first year since I had children that we decided to bring them all out. I was always worried the kids would get a little rough with them, so I waited my kids are now 8 and 4.5 and they love them without totally attacking the village!!! I have 15 houses, like The Grapes, JD Nichols Toys and Blenheim Street Bank. I am lacking in the extras though....I would love more people and stuff!!! I haven't gotten any new pieces in several years, but seeing everyone's pictures is getting me to want to go shopping!!!! I love Dept 56 in general, they have lots of cool ornaments and decorations too!!!!


All of the pictures look great!!!!

 

[Denine]

Well, I did it. I bought 2 houses at Kohl's this evening. Michaels had next to nothing in the lemax stuff so I went with St. Nicholas Square. I got a stone cottage and a new england house. At least they were 60% off. I was afraid to wait until after Christmas to see what was left besides gas stations.

 

[Deanne]

Hi,
I found you by using google as I am trying to get a list of all Kurt Adler Snowtown villages. I can not seem to find a website or list of all the houses in this collection. I was hoping you could share any info you have on how many houses in the collection and what they all are. I would greatly appreciate the help. Thanks!

 

[Deanne]

Hi,
I found you by using google as I am trying to get a list of all Kurt Adler Snowtown villages. I can not seem to find a website or list of all the houses in this collection. I was hoping you could share any info you have on how many houses are in the collection and what they all are. I would greatly appreciate the help. Thanks!

 

[Diznygrl]

Haha, I forgot all about this thread...looks like I took my pics down a long time ago. Well, my village has evolved a bit since 2008, how about the rest of you? And now I have Easter and Fall villages as well. The poster who said "villaging is a disease" is so right.

 

[JaneBanks]

DH and I just started collecting Dept. 56 A Christmas Story village.

I'm addicted. I can't wait to collect more villages.

 

[mickeysgal]

Hi,
I found you by using google as I am trying to get a list of all Kurt Adler Snowtown villages. I can not seem to find a website or list of all the houses in this collection. I was hoping you could share any info you have on how many houses are in the collection and what they all are. I would greatly appreciate the help. Thanks!

I collect Snowtown houses. I used to have a full list of all the houses on an old laptop - I'll see if I can find it. I can tell you that it's in the high 40's - plus accessory pieces. I have all of them except for one which I never found. Are you new to collecting them? The older ones were wooden and featured lighted scenes inside the house - the newer ones were made of ceramic with no interior scene. If you have any questions, I can try to help you with them.

 

[The Princess]

 

[wdwgirl03]

Wow, this is an old thread. I haven't looked through it all so I might've already replied. My mom has the Dickens Village (though she hasn't gotten anything new in a long time) and I collect the North Pole village. I haven't gotten a new house in a while but usually get an accessory or two each year. So cute! Here are some pictures from this year's display:

Of course a couple touches of Disney.

Can you spot Mickey Mouse?

 

[SookieStackhouse]

I am not a collector, but I do love Christmas villages. I have the Dept. 56 Christmas Story stuff. I have like 3 houses, the car and the flagpole. (I managed to find it all one December 26th). I have some CVS stuff, but I haven't used it since I got the Dept 56.

I cannot really use a lot of accessories w/villages because I have a cat.