Drunkle Billy

This might upset some people, but I had fun doing it, so I'm going to share it.

I make beer. I've made several batches so far. I give each one its own unique name. So far, I have bottled:

• Swamp Juice
• Wobble Water
• Corduroy Road
• Howling Fantods

For those who don't know, I live in what used to be the Great Black Swamp, and I was heavily into David Foster Wallace (Yes, I have read Infinite Jest, but it's not my favorite. That award goes to The Broom of the System). 

The most recent batch, five gallons, which I bottled on April 1, 2017, is a honey ale. I called it Drunkle Billy. I know.....offensive, right? Oh well. I thought it was funny. If it makes you feel any better, I screwed up the label. At the bottom, I wrote the tag line: "Sweet, but a little...." I should have finished the sentence so it read "Sweet, but a little alcoholic." But I refuse to peel, redesign, and and re-label all of the bottles.

Before you ask, no, I don't sell it. I do this for fun!

So here it is: Drunkle Billy. Ta-Da!!

The label

"I'm gonna' hit him over the head with a bottle!"

My Collection - Christopher Radko Ornament

This Christopher Radko ornament is titled "James Stewart as George Bailey." It's beautiful artwork features an image not seen in the film. I have since found the stand for this in order to safely display it.

My Collection - Polonaise Ornament

This Polonaise ornament from Kurt S. Adler, Inc., is called "It's a Wonderful Life," stock number AP 910. It is a beautiful hand-blown, hand-painted piece featuring Mary, George, and Zuzu Bailey. I have since found the stand to safely hang it on.

My Collection - Wrapping Paper

These two rolls of Cleo-branded wrapping paper were available in 1996. I bought one roll of the red and two rolls of the green, and kept one of each. I bought these, in all places, at Community Markets in Bluffton, Ohio, when I was in college.

My Collection - Target Facial Tissues

When Target sold the ceramic village pieces, they also released these Target-branded facial tissues featuring scenes from the film. However, without licensing, they had to change the name of the town to Northport, and the welcome home sign says "Welcome Home Jackson Moore" instead of "Welcome Home Harry Bailey". The box features the Granville House, the chapel set, Anderson's Store, City Hall, the Bijou Theatre, the train station, and the welcome sign. The buildings on this box were clearly drawn to look like the ceramic pieces that Target sold.

My Collection - Holiday Cards

A few years ago, Big Lots sold It's a Wonderful Life-themed Christmas cards. There were two designs. These are those cards, both inside and out.

Walgreens - Bedford Falls Express

I did not put up the entire train set, but here is a picture of it in the box. This is part of the Walgreens collection.

Walgreens Collection - Bedford Falls Bandstand

This Enesco set was released by Walgreens, but I do not remember what year. I had several pieces, but since they were so large (about 150 percent larger than the Target village), I sold them. I kept this bandstand piece, though, which is very cool.

You can see the bandstand in the film when Uncle Billy walks through town  on his way to the bank.

Target Village - Money Basket

During the run on the bank, the residents of Bedford Falls freaked out and created a mob to get all of their money back from the bank and the Bailey Building and Loan. At the end of the film, the residents redeemed themselves by creating another kind of mob that gives back to the family that has helped them thrive in Bedford Falls. This is that scene. I am not sure who these characters are.

This is the last piece in my collection. I know I am missing several characters, scenes and cars (a total of 14 pieces, I believe). If you have any you want to sell, please message me!!

Stay tuned, because tomorrow, I will continue posting other collection pieces I have.

Target Village - Boys Sledding

Near the beginning of It's a Wonderful Life, a young George, Harry, Sam and Marty go sledding near the river and near Potter's house. This event plays an important role in George's fate. Here, three of those boys sled down the hill...two of them without sleds or shovels.