2019 KOC Convention: Experience the Magic (UPDATE)
This email communication went out to those registered for the 2019 Convention.
Dear KOC Member,
The 2019 KOC Convention will be here before we know it and we’re so excited to share more about the fun that awaits you. From now on, leading up to convention, watch for updates and exciting previews via email every few weeks. Please note: If you are a group leader who registered multiple members using a single email, please share these email messages with your entire group.
FYI: Important Things For You To Know
We wanted to make sure you’re aware of a few artist participation changes at the event.
- Retired Artist Signings – Retired artist Don Palmiter is no longer able to participate in the convention. However, we’ve been able to add retired artist Sue Tague to this group.
- “Trim Your Home” Activity Session – Keepsake Artist Joanne Eschrich has been added to this session so now either Joanne or Keepsake Artist Ken Crow will share their holiday expertise alongside Hallmark Channel’s Maria Provenzano. More information to come about the exact session times that Joanne and Ken will each be attending.
New and Noteworthy
We heard you in 2017! Here are a few more details on improvements we are making for this year’s event.
- Enhanced Evening Dinners – Friday’s Winter Wonderland buffet dinner will provide choices to please everyone’s taste buds. Saturday’s Magic of Christmas dinner will be a slightly more formal plated dinner. All meals will accommodate known dietary restrictions. If you have special dietary needs, be sure to let us know by clicking “modify your registration”on the convention website.
- More Opportunities to Connect – Plan time to meet with new and old friends! With flexible time to explore North Pole Village, Local Club dinners on Thursday and two optional movie nights on Thursday and Friday, you’ll have plenty of time to catch up and make memories with your fellow collectors. Watch for more information about Local Club dinners and the North Pole Village in upcoming convention email updates.
- Less Lines, More Fun – With your registration, you’ve reserved your spot for the artist signings and activity sessions you want. The artist signing line process has been improved. You will have an assigned place in line during your time slot. Everyone will get through in their time slot, and we’ve built in a passing period to get to your next signing with plenty of time if you’re signing back-to-back. Also building your own schedule means no waiting hours in line to participate in activity session fun. We’ll simply scan your badge and you’re in. Doors to activity session rooms will open 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.
Reminder
- If you haven’t already, there’s still time to purchase all the available convention exclusive ornaments and earn a $15 gift card to Hallmark Gold Crown. Simply “modify your registration” on the convention website to make your additional purchases.
We can’t wait to see you in August!
Sincerely,
KOC Convention Team
For questions, call 1-800-Hallmark. Specially trained KOC Care Agents are available 7 days a week to help.
Press Release: Hallmark Releases New Harry Potter™ Collectibles
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (May 15, 2019) — In partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Hallmark has delighted fans with Harry Potter ornaments for nearly 20 years. In August 2000, Hallmark announced their first line of Harry Potter products giving fans a new way to display their fandom.
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments once again will also make it possible to celebrate Christmas in the Wizarding World. This year’s offering includes three new interactive Hallmark Keepsake Storyteller Ornaments and a coordinating Christmas Tree Topper that recreate an epic scene from the iconic film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone using light and sound. Two additional ornaments featuring the book cover from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ and one inspired by Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes will be available in 2019.
Harry Potter™ Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments will be available beginning this July during the annual Ornament Premiere event in stores and online.
About Wizarding World
More than two decades ago, a young Harry Potter was whisked onto Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station, and readers everywhere were swept along with him into a magical universe, created by J.K. Rowling. In the years since, the seven Harry Potter bestsellers have inspired eight blockbuster movies, an award-winning stage play, and, more recently, the start of the Fantastic Beasts five-film series. People of all ages have been enthralled by these extraordinary adventures, set within an expanding universe, inspired by the vision of J.K. Rowling.
For today’s growing worldwide fan community, and for generations to come, the Wizarding World welcomes everyone to explore more of this magical universe — past, present and future. The Wizarding World also provides fans with an instant, trusted kite-mark of quality and authenticity.
“Hallmark Releases New Harry Potter™ Collectible Gifts.” Hallmark Corporate, May 15, 2019. Hallmark Cards, Inc. https://corporate.hallmark.com/news-article/hallmark-releases-new-harry-potter-collectible-gifts/.
Artist Journal: Robert Chad (Never Produced Ornaments)
Wednesday, May 09, 2019
Here are photographs of a couple of Keepsake ornament designs created by Keepsake Artist, Robert Chad, that were never produced.
The first picture is of Santa’s Nightstand, an original hand-painted prototype created in 2003. One of these original pieces was included in the Keepsake Live Auction at the 2009 Keepsake Ornament Club Event.
The second and third pictures are of the original sculpt and hand-painted prototype Robert created in 1989 to commemorate Baby’s First Christmas.
Artist Journal: Kristina Gaughran (Kris’ Penguins)
Tuesday, May 7, 2017
Keepsake Artist, Kris Gaughran loves penguins—a fact that’s easily seen in her “Petite Penguins” miniature series and the trio of penguins she sculpts every year as a full-size ornament. “It seems that I’m sketching penguins most of the time,” she says. “To get one idea, I’ll sketch up a number of things before landing on something I like. Sketching is probably one of the things I struggle with the most, but that just means I need to do it more often!”
It’s Kris’s sketches that help her larger Keepsake team to understand the idea behind her next ornament. “Sometimes the sketch helps to convey the idea to the team,” she says, “But most of the time, it’s just a sketch. The sculpt always evolves as I’m working on making it the finished product.”
Kris’ Penguins Sketches
Kris also likes to bring her penguins to life in other ways that help her come up with ideas for her ornaments. “I’m always trying to come up with fun situations for the penguins in my ornaments,” she says. “I currently have many little projects in the works,” she says. “I’m even working on some needle felted penguins!”
And lucky for Kris, she has some inspiration at home as well. “My oldest son, Finn loves to do art with me,” she said. “I hope he’s inheriting a sculpting talent. I’m not biased or anything, but I think he’s the best little sculptor around!”
Other Gaughran Penguins
2019 KOC Convention: Experience the Magic
August 8-10, 2019
Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center and Westin Crown Center Hotel
Kansas City, MO
The 2019 Keepsake Ornament Club Event, is almost sold out!
Don’t miss your chance to hang with the artists, along with hundreds of fellow fans, at this year’s convention in Kansas City.
2019 Videos: Short Stories
Here are links to several Keepsake Ornament videos showing the artist talking about some of the designs they created for 2019.
Keepsake Master Artist Tammy Haddix waves goodbye to this decade, but is always looking forward to all the memories yet to come.
Keepsake Master Artist Ken Crow has been busy in his workshop building an elaborate toy train village! Ken delight’s in the joy that trains and toys bring to young and old alike with his merry tabletop display piece that features Santa at the controls of a train set.
The holidays are even sweeter for Keepsake Artist Debra Nielson and her grandson Henry, with her Bake Up Some Yum Miniature Tree Set.
2019 Videos: Artist Insights
Here are links to several Keepsake Ornament videos showing the artist talking about some of the designs they created for 2019.
Keepsake Artist Nina Aubé’s adorable Miniature Cozy Lil’ Critter, 1st in the series, features a cute little bird with a matching scarf and stocking cap perched on a snow-capped branch.
This beautiful angel from Keepsake Master Artist Joanne Eschrich will fill your heart with peace this holiday season.
Eye-catchingly handsome, this brightly plumed Summer Tanager with gem details and metallic gold embellishments is 15th in Keepsake Master Artist Edythe Kegrize’s the Beauty of Birds series.
Pull up a toadstool with Keepsake Artist Sharon Visker and enjoy the sounds of bluegrass music with this charming Dueling Gnomes Ornament.
Whether your musician is just starting out or a seasoned violinist, they’ll appreciate the details of Keepsake Artist Nello Williams’s Ode to Joy Violin.
Hear from Keepsake Artist Nina Aubé, as she provides some of the inspiration behind her adorable Cuteness Beyond Measure Ornament.
This miniature Christmas tree ornament, from Keepsake Artist Matt Johnson, which features a quaint little country church with a snow-covered steepled roof.
2019 Videos: The Art of the Craft
Here are links to several Keepsake Ornament videos showing the artist talking about some of the designs they created for 2019.
Keepsake Artist Tammy Haddix relied on the fond memories of working on old trucks with her father when crafting this delightfully-decorated little pickup Holiday Parade Ornament.
Bring nature indoors with this woodland styled nutcracker crafted by Keepsake Artist Terri Steiger.
Crafted by Master Keepsake Artist Edythe Kegrize, this luminous green and aqua-toned butterfly is 3rd in her Brilliant Butterflies Series. It features metallic and clear jewel accents with embossed design on the butterfly’s body and bead-tipped antennae add grace and charm.
This fun piece by Tom Best, harkens back to vintage German beer steins with intricate craftsmanship and a lid that really opens.
Designed by Debra Nielsen, this porcelain ornament is reminiscent of a vintage pull-behind toy and features a horse adorned in festive saddle gear with a lush yarn tail, mounted on a wheeled platform.
Discover the Magic: Joanne Eschrich’s Father Christmas #16
Go behind the scenes with Keepsake Artist Joanne Eschrich as her 2019 Father Christmas comes to life.
This old-world Santa, with a globe in his hands, and the scroll in his pack, reminds us of the community spirit that the holiday season brings.
Member Exclusive Offer: KOC Flash Sale – 2019 Comic Con Ornaments (UPDATED)
We are excited to share that on October 7, 2019 KOC Members will have the opportunity to purchase three of the 2019 Comic Con Keepsake Ornaments online only.
A Wild Ride on Endor™
Star Wars™: The Return of the Jedi™
I.S.S. Enterprise™*
STAR TREK™
Iron Spider
*NOTE: Will also be available at The Official STAR TREK™ Convention to be held July 31 – August 4 in Las Vegas,
UPDATE (10.07.19 @ 9:00 AM CDT) – Added the three 2019 Comic Con Ornaments are now available for purchase on Hallmark.com.
UPDATE (10.07.19 @ 10:29 AM CDT) – Added A Wild Ride on Endor™ and Iron Spider have sold out.
UPDATE (10.07.19 @ 11:24 AM CDT) – Added I.S.S. Enterprise™ has sold out.