There is a department store here that used to be called Foley's (now it is part of Macy's) that I used to visit because they had beautiful furniture and kitchen stuff (that I couldn't afford, but I'd walk around the mall with my toddler getting exercise and looking. There was an antique huge Japanese black lacquer screen in their furniture deptartment that I adored and would visit whenever I was out there.) They always set up a discrete corner of the store with holiday stuff right after Labor Day (early Sept. in the US) because they had a few customers who shopped early and mailed stuff overseas. That was enough to get the creative juices flowing, gave me time to think of small things I could make at home with my daughter (and then my son, when he came along) or items I liked I'd save for or go get on the day after christmas for half price. I don't care for the massive displays of ornaments and such, they all blend together and are just too much.

SRS