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What's Happening in the Attic

Dept. 56 Snowbunnies

Snowbunnies add a festive touch to the kitchen shelves and windowsills in early spring. With pansies in the windowboxes outside as a backdrop, the Snowbunnies on the sills are especially festive.

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Pumpkin Pancakes

Oct 23, 2009 Kitchen Magic 2 Comments 935 views   

On a crisp Autumn monring when the leaves are falling, what better to warm your inners than a comforting breakfast of pancakes and sausage? For an autumnal twist to this standard breakfast fare, add in some spice and pumpkin puree.

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The Fete of Halloween

Sep 29, 2009 Seasonal Celebrating No Comments 1,093 views   

It’s twilight and the brisk autumn air is filled with the fragrance of waning leaves and bonfires. Off in the distance, lantern-light is seen dancing in the darkness. People have gathered to celebrate the end of the harvest and to honor the dead. Guided by the light glowing from within carved turnips, they leave apples and other scraps of food for spirits.

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Autumn Dept. 56 Displays

Sep 24, 2009 Department 56 No Comments 3,268 views   

At one time Dept. 56 houses were just for Christmas, but with the introduction of the Haunted Mansion into Snow Village, a whole new holiday was targeted for haunting. In our fall displays we combine pieces from Dickens’ Village and Snow Village to make frightful scenes.

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Halloween Handiwork

Aug 16, 2009 Crafting No Comments 1,190 views   

The craftiness becomes creepy at Halloween time here at The Old House Attic when the acrylic paints and wreath making supplies come out.

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A Glorious Victorian Christmas

Jan 2, 2009 Seasonal Celebrating No Comments 3,064 views   

Outside, the air is cold and crisp, and the trees rest silently in their slumber against snow-laden hills. The family busily gathers evergreens in the countryside and places them atop a giant log that’s tugged on a long journey home. Inside, the air is incensed with gingerbread and freshly cut evergreen. Father places the Yule log on the hearth and soon a roaring fire begins to crackle.

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Caroling by the Byers’

Dec 30, 2008 Seasonal Celebrating No Comments 1,533 views   

Byers’ Choice carolers are festive and addictive to collect. Ours find a home on the piano every year in several variations.

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Trees of Many Types

Dec 30, 2008 Seasonal Celebrating No Comments 1,538 views   

Christmas trees come in all shapes, sizes and methods. Here are some of ours that were artificial, bought at the local garden center, shipped to the door via FedEx and just plain old curly willow twigs decorated for the season.

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Christmas Time Illumination

Dec 30, 2008 Seasonal Celebrating No Comments 1,266 views   

There is nothing more magical on a snowy night than the glow of Christmas lights. Truly, the effect is magical as the snow covers the ground it transports you to another world filled with magic and beauty.

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Christmas Sweets for Gifts

Dec 2, 2008 Kitchen Magic No Comments 1,169 views   

One of the best gifts you can give for the holidays is something you make yourself. We always make extra sweets and wrap them up to give as holiday gifts. Last year we presented this whole tray as a single gift.

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A Dept. 56 Centerpiece

Nov 28, 2008 Department 56 No Comments 1,051 views   

With a little bit of effort, you can use Dept. 56 houses for a table centerpiece and have them lit as well! Your table must be able to separate in order to insert leaves. Feed your wires through the gap and gently close so that there is as little space as possible, without pinching the wires. Using a tablecloth especially for the display, cut a hole in the center to feed the wires through. You can opt to assemble on a platform or directly on the table.

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Egg-cellent Endeavors

Apr 1, 2008 Crafting, Featured - Nooks and Crannies No Comments 1,109 views   

The egg is the eternal and quintessential symbol of springtime. Here are some of our favorite egg crafts using blown eggs. Blowing an egg is very easy and creates an empty palette to do any number of wonderful things with.

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The Quintessential Workstation

Mar 1, 2008 Decor, DIY, Etc. No Comments 919 views   

There’s a small corner in my living room that conceals my home office. Masked by old-fashioned charm, it’s a fully functional computer workstation, complete with printer, scanner and other ubiquitous computing-related paraphernalia.

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