The Gathering Committee is currently working to provide you with informative and fun seminars.
The following is a list of presenters(*) for the Gathering. We are still working on the specifics of each seminar, but listed is the general topic they will be presenting.
Melinda Seegers -Department 56, Consumer Services
Rick Jackson - Department 56, Creative Director
Tate Yotter - Department 56, Village Artist
D56 Creative Process - from idea to market - On Friday, Melinda will be moderating a Question and Answer session with Tate and Rick on "D56 Creative Process" - from idea to market.
Department 56 Decade by Decade - On Saturday, Melinda will be presenting a seminar that discusses the history of Department 56 through the decades.
Pat and John Ehrenreich - Make It Easy and More Make it Easy - DYI - Unique Amenities for All Villages
Friday's Seminar - They will make a display during the seminar that will be donated to the Gathering for the Charity Auction. They will demonstrate how to make the base and which building tools were used. The display will contain a brand new, current D56 lit building and accessory along with miniatures and other hand-made sculpted items.
Saturday's seminar - they will show you how to easily make unique amenities to enhance any village. The will focus on trees or various sizes, shapes an colors made with simple household tools. They will show you how to replicate flags as well as create them from scratch and how to use these same techniques to make unique signs.
Larry Shughart - D56 Toy Trains - Combining Two Christmas Traditions
Larry will discuss the history of Christmas villages and toy trains under the tree, different toy train sizes and manufacturers, what style and size train fits best with each D56 village, how to blend toy trains into your display and some lessons learned on maintaining reliable operations.
Brandon Taylor - Recycle, Reuse, Rehab - Rehabbing Your Village
This seminar will give your the ins and outs for Rehabbing by sharing ideas and tools of the trade. A slide show will be presented showing several examples of D56 pieces that have been rehabbed.
Ellen Somerwill - Vignette Tidbits
Are you a collector that doesn't display or buy anymore? Aren't there some new pieces that you just fall in love with? Why not make a vignette out of pieces you enjoy? In this seminar you will learn that it doesn't have to take a lot of time or much space to set up a vignette.
Bill Sheldon - LED Lighting Techniques, Creating Amazing Mountains with Shaper Sheets
Friday's Seminar - Bill will be using mini and strip LED lights with both battery and electric controls as well as the new battery eliminators. He will show you how to attach and hide the lights and wires until they are turned on the create a real "wow" factor.
Saturday's Seminar - Bill will be using the new Shaper Sheets to create mountains and landscapes that are realistic, re-shapeable, paintable and glittered. The best part is that they can be flattened and reused.
Susan Olson - Chicago Through the Eyes of Department 56
Department 56 has utilized Chicago historical architecture in a number of buildings in their product line over the years. She hopes to provide you with some interesting information about those buildings and maybe give Department 56 a few suggestions they might want to consider for future items to be added to their list.
Irena Tomova - Put the Howl Back in Halloween, North Pole Display Techniques
Victoria Lohman - Hot Wire Styrofoam Carving Techniques
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(*) Presenters are subject to change
Please check back often, as we will be updating this list as more presenters are confirmed and the specifics of each seminar are finalized.
