Click above for more BER information

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

The listings here are not sponsors, not spam, and they did not pay to be here. They are here because they have been recommended by TVC, or submitted by villagers in our community. We try our best to keep the listings current and safe. If you have trouble with a link, or wish to share a listing with everyone, please let us know through the "Contact Us" page. Here are many more opportunities for "Inspiration, Information & Fun". After all . . . "It Takes a Village to Make a Village" ™

Explore & Enjoy!

Our only advertising is by "word-of-mouth" and if you'd like to help us, please add a link to us on your website or social media. We've included these logos to help make it easier for you. The first one is a "png" file, and the second one is a "jpg" file. Link to: www.TheVillageCollector.com  We've also included a "QR" file to the TVC website for your convenience. And of course . . . don't forget to tell your friends.

     

Here's the "QR" code for the website.

Thank you - We really appreciate your help!

 

 

https://www.jigidi.com/

Contact: Magnus at:  jigidi@jigidi.com

Jigidi is a free online community for jigsaw puzzle lovers from all over the world. A jigsaw puzzle community that runs on curiosity, creativity and kindness. It is a family-owned business, run by Magnus and Mette. Jigidi was launched in 2007 in Denmark and had just a few active users. Jigidi has since grown in size, with a large number of puzzles within any given category - 4,4 million published puzzles. All created by Jigidiers! We have a vast community of committed and generous Jigidiers, with around 50,000 daily unique user visits and more than 400,000 monthly unique user visits.

Special THANKS to JIGIDI for the help with The Village Collector "Village Jigsaw" page.

 

2025 the "Second Villaging"

The largest independent gathering of

Villagers Worldwide.

Coming Saturday, November 8, 2025.

Click on the Logo above or below for more

information about the Second Mega-Event.

Don't miss it, it's free!

Your village will thank you.

What do you like best about

Christmas?

You'll find it here . . . and much more!

Click above for the best Christmas Forum

anywhere! You won't believe how many

topics could be about Christmas. You'll

​have lots of fun exploring and finding out! 

"Our TVC Forum"

(by MyMerryChristmas.com)

Click on any snowman for Villaging Fun

A great forum for model railroad/villaging fans.

OGF's main focus is on the most popular size

trains used in village displays, O-Gauge. The

discontinued D56Club forum has been absorbed

into this forum, and now has a thread here.

A friendly place to explore.

Lionel Trains Fans

This is the forum for all things Lionel.

A great way to find lots of

"Inspiration, Information & Fun"

 

Our Favorite Blog

(covers all things Christmas, and lots of fun)

by Art Kilmer

If you like Christmas, you'll love these blogs!

TVC has been featured on episodes

November 10, 2020  July 26, 2021 & March 7, 2022

Art also writes the popular TVC Column

"Christmas Corner"

Need help with your model trains?

Blog/Forum/??? - Whatever you call it,

it's a great source of help based in New Zealand.

by Robert Anderson

Covers all kinds of things about model trains,

locomotives, layouts, scenery, wiring, and

more. I've been following this awesome

resource for over a decade.

Highly recommended.

A great travel blog

with incredible photography.

Non-villaging, but you'll be glad you checked

this out. Peter's a great friend who has taken

me around the world vicariously for many decades.

 

My Favorite Publication

There was a time, in the "Golden Age of Villaging", that there were dozens of great magazines, newsletters and books that were hand delivered by "high-paid" government officials. (not allowed to say "mailman" any more) And then . . . there was only one. Fortunate we are, that it is a high gloss, thick paper, well written and colorful quarterly. When I receive my copy, work is done for the day. This is a must read for collectors of Department 56 villages.

"Village D-Lights"

Covering all Dept56 releases and retirements,

displays, collectors, industry news and more.

Back issues also available.

Contact: Polly L. Clark, Publisher

pclark@tandempublishinggroup.com

(800) 765-1690    (319) 240-4595

Everyone who is a collector needs a price guide to help curate their collection. This comprehensive, two-binder reference set is invaluable for collectors of Department 56. I never miss an update. Highly recommended.

"Village D-Tails Price Guide"

Contact: Polly L. Clark, Publisher

pclark@tandempublishinggroup.com

(800) 765-1690    (319) 240-4595

"The O Scale Resource"

Free On-Line Magazine

         

Click on the cover photo above to go to their site.

I've received this magazine, and their free sister

publication "S Scale Resource"  for years. Full

of information, easy read, and many writers.

Includes a lot of articles by Jim Kellow

(who has also written columns for TVC)

Both Highly recommended!

"Model Railroad Hobbyist"

Free On-Line Magazine

Click on the above cover photo to go to their website.

Lots of neat articles, photos, news, tips and more.

I've been getting this for years and really enjoy it.

 

Country N More Gifts

WebSite: https://countrynmoregifts.com/

Contact:  https://countrynmoregifts.com/pages/contact-us

46950 100th Street, Tea, South Dakota 57064

(877) 781-4438

A family owned business in the Village industry since 1979.

"The Best Loyalty Rewards Program in the Business"

Fast Free Shipping Over $25

You'll love your visit to this old-school Christmas shop.

500 Riverside Drive, Clayton, New York, 13624

(315) 686-1906   Peterson@gisco.net

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karlaschristmasshoppe

Highly Recommended

Great Selections - Great People - Fun Place

St. Nick Nicks Christmas Shop

(inside "Callahan's of Calabash")

9973 Beach Dr SW, Calabash, NC 28467

(910) 579-2611

Website: callahansgifts.com

 

 

Want Amazing?  You won't believe this place.

A true vacation destination place

for all Village Collectors.

(and they do overseas shipping)

25 Christmas Lane, PO Box 176

Frankenmuth, MI 48734-0176

(989) 652-9931

Customer Service:  customerservice@bronner.com

Website: www.bronners.com  Blog:  Bronner's Blog

 

 

Southern California's Largest Holiday Store

Large Displays - Fun to Visit

1212 Knoxville Street, San Diego, CA 92110

(800) 262-5335

Website: City Lights Collectibles

Email:  info@citylightscollectibles.com

Facebook:  City Lights

 

 

St. Nick's Christmas & Collectibles

5221 S Santa Fe Dr.  Littleton, CO 80120

(800) 875-8865     (303) 798-8087

Website:  stnicks.com

Email:  admin@stnicks.com

 

 

The Best Choice

for retired Department 56 villages!

Huge selection & hard-to-find items.

Website: www.dept56retirees.com

Email:  dept56retirees@gmail.com

Phone Orders:  (248) 518-0477

 

Website:  www.NorthPoleChristmasShop.com

Blog:  News From The North Pole

Facebook: northpolechristmas

Email: info@northpole.ltd

 

Largest range of

Christmas brands in Australia

Phone:  1300 4 ELVES (35837)

Website:  www.ChristmasElves.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/christmaselves

827 Burwood Hwy. Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia

10 Gower Street, Preston, Victoria, Australia

Christmas in July is Magical With the Elves

 

 

Australia's First Christmas Themed Store

The Christmas Shop

Family Run & Full of Wonder

Website: thechristmasshop.com.au

292-296 Rocky Point Road

Ramsgate, Sydney, NSW, 2217 Australia

Phone: (02) 9529 2512

Outside Australia: +612 9529 2512

Email: christmasmagic@thechristmasshop.com.au

Email:  christmasmagic@bigpond.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/TheChristmasShopSydney/

"Not Just a Shop, an Experience"

The Christmas Shop Location

Entrance 4, Upper Level Shop

Baywest Mall, 100 Baywest Boulevard

Hunters Retreat Port Elizabeth 6017 South Africa

The Christmas Shop Office

20 Weybridge Estate, 19 Dentree Road

Weybridge Park, Port Elizabeth 6070, South Africa

Phone: 082 4430389

Website: www.thechristmasshop.co.za

facebook: www.facebook.com/thechristmasshopZAR

Email Pauline:  pauline@thechristmasshop.co.za

"A tourist destination for the child in all of us"

 

Seeking Recommendations

 

 

When summer gives way to winter and the magic of Christmas approaches, we transform our store into an enchanted kingdom. Our Christmas decorations are a riot of lights, colors and festive atmosphere. From the perfect Christmas tree to sparkling lights, through every type of decoration that allows you to create a magical and unforgettable atmosphere in your home, Gloria Store is here to make your Christmas wishes a reality. 

Website: GloriaStore.it

Via San Francesco a Patria n° 300  (NA)

Tel: 0818395713

Mobile: 3511257314

 

 

 

Seeking Recommendations

 

I find these links helpful. So, selflessly these are here for me. But, of course, you may use them also. You might find surprises as you explore, or just find a convenient location to find your old favorites.  Plenty of Inspiration, Information & Fun!

Click on each logo for their link.

How would you like to set up your village in 30 minutes?

Want to be able to set up and take down quickly for a trade

show, convention or just to change rooms for parties etc.

An active member of our community (from Italy) has

invented a really cool solution. Click on the picture above

to see a neat video. (There is a "translation" button on

the home page). Check it out.

"SPEEDY VILLAGE"

Contact: Cesare

eMail: info.minivillages@gmail.com

A great resource with weekly zoom meetings and

more. Run by Jim Kellow, who's previously shared his

knowledge with us in columns about model railroading.

Awesome Italian website that is chock full

of villaging information. I learn something

every time I go here.

My village of choice. I especially like the

buildings from the late 80s to the mid 90s

in the "Heritage Village" selections.

If you are a fan of Department 56, you need

to explore this site. It covers only Department

56, but has the most information I've seen on

one site. Every collector needs background to

curate their collection, and you'll find it here. 

Email: Chronicler@TheVillageChronicler.com

An association for Department 56 clubs.

The most popular village maker worldwide.

A lot of different villages to choose from.

You'll see many Lemax villages throughout

The Village Collector website.

Erzgebirge is not well known yet in the U.S.

but most in Europe know it well. Absolutely

stunning wooden craftsmanship! Also check

out the Palace's home page to see amazing

items. I love their nutcrackers.

If you build your displays & layouts using

foam, you have to be familiar with these

tools. Your village will be easier to build,

and look better when finished, after

trying these tools and accessaries.

(866) 735-9255   sales@hwff.com

If you like realistic scenes, you need

products from here. This picture tells

you all you need to know.

(573) 346-5555 for more information

Scenic Express is another popular source

for knowledge and supplies for DIYers. You'll

see their products in hobby shops everywhere.

Email: customerservice@scenicexpress.com

Not only is Walthers a neat source of information

about model railroads, but their famous annual

catalog has been anticipated by many, for decades.

1-800-4-TRAINS has been memorized by kids to

seniors for years. Check out this source website.

One of villagers' most famous source for trains.

Also my favorite source. I have three engines

and all are Bachmann. Super quality.

Email: webstore@bachmanntrains.com

Fellow members of the MyMerryChristmas forum.

Good people to deal with. If you like retro, like

I do, check them out. Now they make villages too.

(727) 303-0250