Showcase Displays

29/06/2024

As the crow in the ogange glow observes, zombies come crawling out of the Crow Creek Covered Bridge to terrorize patrons at the Monstertini’s Nightclub…but the Silverback Bouncer will show no mercy!

15/06/2024

Come visit Millie's Hallmark in Phoenix, AZ where we have just finished new displays and redesigned others! Here’s the redesigned Department 56 Disney Pumpintown Village in a new spot just outside the main Snow Village Halloween Village room 🎃

12/06/2024

A brief fly over of some of the new Department 56 Halloween pieces for 2024! I just made a simple platform with painted foam, moss and sand, all carved with the tools from Hot Wire Foam Factory!

01/06/2024

Come and visit Kris Kringl in Leavenworth, WA to see big changes we have just completed in the Department 56 villages! All licensed brand villages have been moved to new locations and the core villages now all have the new 2024 introductions as well!

26/04/2024

Visit the Dept 56 village display class tomorrow Saturday April 27th at Millie's Hallmark starting at 10:30am for display-making fun and to checkout this village-sized TV that actually works, complete with working volume and channels k***s! Here’s a couple from Snow Village enjoying a Millie’s Hallmark commercial!

01/04/2024

In celebration of International Magic Day, here’s the Department 56 spooky Borgin and Burkes from the Harry Potter village. You know you’re in trouble if you run into Lucius Malloy and Bellatrix Lestrange in a foggy alley! It’s a great day to cast a spell on International Magic Day, April 1 - I would be a fool to miss it!

31/03/2024

Wishing everyone a lovely Easter! Shout out to Hot Wire Foam Factory for their outstanding support with all my foam cutting tool needs!

28/03/2024

If you love fall scenes, the new Department 56 Gather ‘Round for Thanksgiving and coordinating accessory Touchdowns, Turkey & Pie are new 2024 introductions to look forward to! The house includes an interior dimensional scene featuring a beautiful room with a table all setup for a Thanksgiving feast!

20/03/2024

Is it too early to think about Halloween? The Sanderson sisters don’t think so! Looking forward to the Department 56 Hocus Pocus pieces!

19/03/2024

Be sure to check out the latest issue of Village D-Lights Magazine featuring Department 56 Rockin’ At Graceland, and a ton of additional amazing articles! If you’re not a subscriber, now would be a good time to sign up!

03/02/2024

Join us at Millie's Hallmark tomorrow Saturday Feb 3rd at 10:30am to see how to create lit backdrops using LED ligths with acrylic panels, and to brainstorm together on other ways to use lit acrylic. We will cover other topics as well to help enhance your Dept 56 village displays!

02/02/2024

Come see us at Millie's Hallmark this Saturday Feb 3rd at 10:30am to see a demonstration on the materials used to create this decaying road. Fun fact about this photo: I used an AI app to generate the background gate in just a few seconds (I promise the rest is real!)

01/02/2024

Join us at Millie's Hallmark this Saturday Feb 3rd at 10:30am for a preview of a couple of 2024 Department 56 village introductions including the beautiful “A Splendid Fall Landscape” which features trees in a spectrum of autumnal shades and coordinating brown mulch!

17/12/2023

Enjoying the process of making a detailed Dept 56 Harry Potter village display! In this scene, Harry and Ron make their way from Hogsmeade station to the Boathouse, before arriving at Hogwarts.

21/11/2023

A view from the past of the Snow Village fireplace and mantle that used to be displayed in Atlanta. It can now be seen at the Graceland Enesco Gallery and Gift Shop in Memphis, featuring the largest display of Department 56 Villages!

19/11/2023

An example of nautical props for a Dickens scene. I made the freestanding posts from foam, and added rope with the netting. The freestanding approach allows for moving them around, or removing if more space is needed for houses and accessories.

18/11/2023

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas out there! 🎄

17/11/2023

Looking back at a past display setup: an example of how using spotlights and a hidden colored LED bulb can enhance a Department 56 Grinch village!

04/07/2023

Another set of new Dept 56 Halloween pieces featured at Good Things For All Seasons, witch house Trixie’s Tricks & Treats and coordinating accessory The Squirting Frog Trick!

29/06/2023

Installing all the 2023 village introductions at Good Things For All Seasons in Grapevine, TX!
Be sure to check out this wonderful store if you are in the area!

18/03/2023

Working on a Dickens book nook featuring the new Otto of Roses building in the distance with lit windows. It’s a little bit tricky in a box that only measures 7” deep by 5” wide!

20/01/2023

Here’s an example of a North Pole display finished with a double-layer mountain backdrop with an LED light strip between the layers.

19/11/2022

Thanks to the amazing people of the NCC56 (thank you Brandon and Anna!), I had the opportunity to present on the topic of lighting for villages. I had a couple of requests for photos of my shadow boxes after the event, so here are two photos. Each box features a Department 56 Halloween house and accessories, combined with iconic horror movie character in a hazy background, an effect created by using a frosted plexiglass in front of the character, trees and colored LED lights, and avoids seeing the back of the box. Thank you!

17/10/2022

Quick vignette I had the pleasure to make at the wonderful Kris Kringl store in beautiful Leavenworth WA last week. It’s a must-see shop for Dept 56 village collectors!

13/08/2022

So many creepy things lurking in the Department 56 Halloween village! All foam carvings (stairs, arches, brick walls) made possible with the amazing Hot Wire Foam Factory tools!

23/07/2022

Here’s a car dealership themed display using oil cans and other theme-related props. All foam carving work made using the Hot Wire Foam Factory tools - a necessity for all the intricate work!

21/07/2022

If you want to add a bit of special effect to your Halloween display, lay some stacks of foam or books with space between the stacks, then drape them with layers of fabric that is not tightly woven. Sit the houses and accessories on the stacks, then place a fog machine with the stacks under the fabric. Do short bursts of fog and it will slowly seep through to the surface. Really fun spooky effect!

30/06/2022

Halloween is fast approaching! 🎃

30/06/2022

Something lurking in the swamp! 💀

13/01/2022