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Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
Be it known that in accordance with the introduction of the Williamsburg
Village Series, Department 56 will summon all collectors to participate
in a special event in Williamsburg, Virginia on Saturday, October 23, in
the year 2010.
 Department 56 is pleased to announce a very special signing event to
introduce the new “Williamsburg Village Series” of porcelain lighted
buildings and accessories in Williamsburg, Virginia. This is the first
new Department 56 Village to be introduced since 1998.
The event is scheduled to take place the weekend of October 22nd at the
“Woodlands” hotel and conference center in historical “Colonial
Williamsburg,” Virginia, amid the very places that inspired this new
series. Village artist, Jeff Junkins, along with Department 56 personnel
will be on hand to visit with collectors who choose to attend this
special one day event.
The complete event package price will include an exclusive “Williamsburg
Village Series” accessory with special bottom stamp and packaging. It
will be signed by the artist. Each attendee will also receive an
eco-friendly cloth event bag filled with goodies, one adult admission to
“Colonial Williamsburg” exhibits and a special private luncheon hosted
by Department 56. This complete package will cost $79.95. To reserve
your spot, please call Melinda Seegers at Department 56 Consumer
Services (800/548-8696) any weekday between 11 AM and 2 PM central time.
We accept all major credit cards for payment.
The adult unlimited admission ticket to all Colonial Williamsburg venues
for the entire weekend includes one day prior to and one day after the
weekend event where visitors can view all exhibits, craft demonstrations
and historical talks. Convention attendees will be able to tour several
of the actual buildings that are now part of this wonderful collection.
Hotel accommodations at the “Woodlands” include complimentary
continental breakfast each morning in the spacious lobby as well as free
shuttle transportation from hotel, to conference center, lodge, historic
sites and shopping areas. To make hotel reservations for this
event, please contact the “Woodlands” PASSKEY reservation line at
800/261-9530. The reservation code to receive the group hotel rate of
$119.00 per night is 12589. (Reservations must be made by
September 24, 2010 to receive this group rate.)
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Jeff Junkins
Department 56 Village Artist
Working with
Department 56 since 1998, Jeff Junkins has designed over 100 different pieces for
Department 56 Villages. He
has worked on “The Original Snow Village®,” “Christmas In The City®,”
the “Literary Classics® Collection”, “Legendary Ballparks,” “American
Pride,” the “Historical Landmark” Series®” and the new “Williamsburg”
series.
When we sat down to talk recently, Jeff shared a little on how he approaches
each design project and which pieces he enjoys working on the most. “I
enjoy designing both real and inspired pieces. The ones that are
inspired by actual buildings like the
Empire State Building,
Ellis Island or the
Legendary Ballparks are a
challenge to see how close I can get to the real piece and make it
detailed and interesting. The pieces that I have more freedom with like
the “Christmas In The City”
Consulate which was my first design for
Department 56, are fun
because I have the opportunity to use a variety of design styles to make
an original piece.
Jeff
meets with the Creative Director and learns as much as he can about the
piece before he begins to work on a piece. He needs to know how the
piece will fit into the series, what size restrictions might exist,
accessories that will accompany the piece and color palette.
When
he’s not working Jeff enjoys hunting for primitive antiques and baking.
His specialty is his mother’s recipe for Apple pie.
Department 56 the leader in lighted collectible Villages, is part of the Enesco family
of brands and is located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
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