2019 KOC Convention: Experience the Magic (UPDATE)
This email was just sent to all KOC Convention Attendees.
Dear KOC Member,
This email is packed with important information and updates to help you Experience the Magic at the upcoming convention so please read it carefully and, as always, let us know if we can be of help.
Event Updates and Reminders
Local Club Dinner Night – Start Planning!
We can’t wait for you to get out and explore Kansas City and our amazing restaurant scene! To help make your dining experience all the more enjoyable, we have partnered with several local restaurants, some of which have agreed to provide a special KOC Convention discount. Click here for a list of participating restaurants and special offers, and please keep the following details in mind as you plan:
- Local Club Dinner Night is completely optional. It’s a great way to kick off the event with friends and family and get a taste of Kansas City local menu’s.
- Your options for dinner on Thursday night are not limited to the restaurants included on the list. These are just a few of our favorite recommendations for you to choose from.
- We recommend that you book reservations directly with the restaurant of your choice. You can book by calling the phone numbers provided or through the Open Table app.
- When you book your reservation, let the restaurant know that your group is attending the KOC Convention.
- As a reminder, Keepsakes is covering dinners on Friday and Saturday evenings as a part of your convention experience. Thursday night dinners will not be paid for. Make sure to take advantage the special offers!
- Seating options, table capacity and menus will vary at each restaurant
- Don’t forget to plan or arrange transportation for the evening! Transportation options include: Uber, Lyft, taxis available from the hotel valet stand, and the Kansas City Street Car. Also, many restaurants are within walking distance from the hotel.
Convention Ornaments – Now, more in your registration bag!
As you may have read in the recent Keepsake Community posting, we have decided to place more goodies inside your registration welcome bag! Now, all three Event ornaments included with your registration will be in your bag when you arrive instead of handed out at the Evening dinners. Now, these ornaments will be available to you in time for the Artist Signatures the following days. We hope to see everyone at both Friday and Saturday evening events. You can expect to enjoy great food and entertainment with friends, plus artist appearances! It’s going to be a magical time.
Local Club Centerpiece submissions are due July 12
Don’t forget! This year, Local Club members can submit a centerpiece for display at the evening events. This is a voluntary and creative way to show pride in your local club, and to share with fellow Collectors what your local club means to you. Centerpieces will be featured on the tables during evening events. There won’t be any prizes but your club’s participation will be considered as part of its submission for the 2020 Keepsake Artist Signing events. Complete this submission form by Friday, July 12, to participate. But first, here’s a quick review of the guidelines.
Want to participate? If so, please have your local club’s designated contact person complete this form. We’re excited to see what you create!
Sincerely,
KOC Convention Team
For questions, call 1-800-Hallmark. Specially trained KOC Care Agents are available 7 days a week to help.
We can’t wait to see you!
2020 Reveal: Keepsake Celebrations
Celebrate special moments, capture important memories, and nurture meaningful relationships as they happen throughout the year with Keepsake Celebration ornaments.
Each of the twenty-five designs makes the perfect unique and customizable gift to commemorate life’s milestone occasions.
Baby & Family
Baby’s First Christmas
Worth the Wait
Photo holder
A Mothers Love
Disney Bambi
Love
Love Just Works
Made for Each Other
Photo holder
A Slice of Love
First Comes Love
Honor & Remember
Forever My Friend
Photo holder
Always with You
Faith & Encouragement
Faith Always
Beautifully Brave
Appreciation & Friendship
Thanks, Teacher!
So Grateful
Love My Tribe
My Mom My Friend
Milestones
Life’s Next Journey
Congrats, Grad!
Photo holder
Welcome Home
Sweet Welcome
Brave and Free
Memories
Sun and Fun
Picture Perfect
Disney Mickey Mouse
Mountainous Memories
Christmas in Canada
Keepsake Celebrations – A collection of year round ornaments designed to celebrate major life milestones.
2020 Sneak Peek: Season’s Treatings Special Edition Series
Each ornament in this new four-part series will help celebrate holidays and seasons throughout the year. Designed by Hallmark Artist Sharon Visker. Catch a new ornament each month, starting in January 2020.
Collect all four to complete the series!
Sweets for My Sweet
Season’s Treatings Special Edition
1st in the series.
Good Luck Sweets
Season’s Treatings Special Edition
2nd in the series.
Easter Sweets
Season’s Treatings Special Edition
3rd in the series.
Patriotic Sweets
Season’s Treatings Special Edition
4th in the series.
2019 Video: The Art of the Craft (Tinkerbell)
Here is a new Keepsake Ornament video showing Debra Nielsen talking about one of the designs she created with Katrina Bricker for 2019.
Designed by Debra Nielsen and Katrina Bricker, this sweet ornament will have you thinking happy thoughts all season long. Featuring a charming likeness of the beloved Disney fairy, Tinker Bell. The pretty pixie is looking her very best in this elegant, metal ornament accented with shimmery enamel finishes and sparkling gemstones.
Announcement: Ken Crow “Graduation”
Dear Local Club Presidents,
After 40 wonderful years, our beloved Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Master Artist Ken Crow has announced that he is retiring from Hallmark in late August 2019. The Hallmark Keepsake ornament team will continue to deliver the very best craftsmanship and magic functioning ornaments, as Ken always embodied. The Hallmark Keepsake Village wishes Ken the best in his new ‘master class of creativity’ and we’re looking forward to celebrating with him at the Keepsake Ornament Club (KOC) Convention August 8-10.
Please read below for a personal remark from Ken.
Ken Crow
Hallmark Master Artist
To be a Hallmarker for the past 40 years has been a magical adventure. Every year has taken me to a place where my imagination could find wonderful places of creativity. I am thankful for every teacher and influence that I have benefited from on each project from greeting cards and stickers to magic mechanical Keepsake ornaments. I have been a student in the greatest creative university that I could ever be a part of.
Now it is time for me to graduate and enjoy the new master class of creativity that I will explore. I gave Hallmark my very best and now I will enjoy the rest of my life going down new wonderful paths of creativity. If I can make one person smile with the artwork that I create, then I will be a happy person.
Thankful and blessed,
Ken Crow
Hallmark Master Artist
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to 1-800-HALLMARK.
Best regards,
The KOC Team
Reminder: 2019 KOC Membership Enrollment
Enrollment for 2019 Keepsake Ornament Club (KOC) membership ends on July 31, 2019. Until then, individuals can continue to enroll online, in store, by mail or phone to receive the benefits of membership. 2020 enrollment will be open in November.
Artist Journal: Sharon Visker
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Sharon Visker Treasure Hunting
When Keepsake Artist Sharon Visker is brainstorming ideas for a new ornament, she’s inspired by a combination of factors. “I first research old sketches and look at images online and in books,” she said, “but my favorite is to get out and about to explore. I love scrounging around antique malls, flea markets and just wandering around stores to look at stuff. I never know what I might see that might spark an idea or get me thinking.” (see treasure hunting image)
Once that first spark of inspiration ignites, Sharon likes to keep the fire going with some of her favorite things. “I have a certain sketchpad I use and music I listen to which varies by my mood,” she said. “But I mainly use tracing paper pads so I can rip things out if I don’t like them or draw over to refine my first sketches. I don’t get very detailed when I’m just sketching. I like to add more detail during the sculpting stage. Once I get going, I really need quiet time to come up with my best ideas so I can really concentrate. I believe the best ornaments always start with a strong concept and if you have that, the sketching, sculpting and painting just complete the process. If I’m excited about a concept, I think it shows in the final product.”
Blue Christmas Sketches by Sharon Visker
Sometimes, those initial rough sketches can morph quite a bit as they become an actual ornament. One great example is Sharon’s 2019 magic ornament featuring Elvis’s song, “Blue Christmas.” “My first sketches looked a lot like Elvis,” she said, “but legally, I wasn’t allowed to do that so the end product is very different.” (see blue Christmas sketches)
Keepsake Artists typically sketch quite a few ideas before landing on one that will make the best ornament. Sharon is no different, and graciously shared some rough sketches of ideas that haven’t made the cut, and maybe even a sneak peek at one or two that will become future ornaments! (see ornament concept sketches)
In her spare time, Sharon gets inspiration by doing other forms of art for herself and for others. “I work on carvings and more crafty stuff on my own time,” she said. “I almost always have several projects going on at the same time. Recently, I painted a violin for a charity auction called Band of Angels, and also carved a cane for my dad.” (see violin and dad with cane images)
2019 KOC Convention: Experience the Magic (UPDATE)
Convention Update!
Now, more goodies in your registration bag when you arrive!
To allow attendees the opportunity to get additional ornaments signed and to support the variety of travel plans our attendees have, you will receive all three Event ornaments included with your registration inside your registration bag when you arrive! These will no longer be handed out at be evening dinners. There are still so many reasons to attend the Friday and Saturday evening events and we hope to see most of you there. Expect good food, entertainment, laughs with friends and artist appearances! It’s going to be a magical time!
Press Release: Hallmark Announces 2019 Event Exclusives for Fan Conventions
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, itty bittys® among items planned at events
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (June 17, 2019) — PopMinded by Hallmark is preparing to greet fans at the nation’s largest pop culture fan gatherings later this year with limited quantities of products and collectibles inspired by iconic characters and developed exclusively for fan events.
PopMinded, which debuted in 2016, is Hallmark’s way to celebrate fandom with gifts and collectibles created and curated with all fans in mind. PopMinded continues and expands on Hallmark’s decade-long tradition of providing event attendees access to Hallmark’s ever popular event exclusive products available only through convention pop-up stores.
Hallmark Keepsake Ornament designs, itty bittys® plush characters, and other gift items will be sold in limited quantities at these events on Hallmark’s 2019 convention calendar. View the calendar at PopMinded.com/Events.
Limited availability items include:
Star Wars™
STAR TREK™
A Wild Ride on Endor
Star Wars™: The Return of the Jedi™
Features Paploo™ the Ewok™ piloting a speeder bike as seen in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. A variation of an ornament featuring a Scout Trooper™ will be available in Hallmark Gold Crown stores starting in July. This event exclusive ornament also plays sound from the film.
Total production run: 3,200.
$40.00 USA
Chewbacca™ Bandolier itty bittys® Carrier
Star Wars™
itty bittys®
designed to hold nine Star Wars itty bittys® to sport around the convention. These one-size-sits all carriers will be sold while supplies last.
Total production run: 2,500.
$18.00 USA or $8.00 USA with the purchase of three Star Wars itty bittys®.
I.S.S. Enterprise™
STAR TREK: TOS
Inspired by the classic episode “Mirror, Mirror” of the original Star Trek television series. The Mirror Universe’s flagship of the Terran Empire is a repainted version of a sculpt first offered in 2016.
Total production run: 3,475.
$40.00 USA
Marvel Comics
Iron Spider
MARVEL
A Marvel Avengers three-pack of PXL8® ornaments inspired by Captain America, Iron Man and Thanos.
Total production run: 1,500.
$39.00 USA
Captain Marvel
MARVEL
PXL8® Enamel Pin
$8.00 USA
Exclusive to Comic-Con International San Diego
(Available while supplies last)
PopMinded’s line of PXL8® style collectible enamel pins will continue to feature 8-bit renditions of favorite characters at 2019 events.
Ghostbusters™
Wizarding World™
DC
The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (Burnt)
Ghostbusters™
itty bittys®
This “toasted” variant (regular version available in Hallmark Gold Crown stores) comes packed in a city scape that celebrates the 35th anniversary of the release of the original Ghostbusters feature film.
Total production run: 1,800.
$10.00 USA
Sybill Trelawney™
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
itty bittys®
Inspired by the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry staff member.
Total production run: 1,800.
$10.00 USA
Wonder Woman
DC
Ice Mold
A silicone mold that shapes ice cubes that look like Wonder Woman’s iconic mode of transportation, as well as the iconic WW logo
Total production run: 1,000.
$20.00 USA
Additional pop culture content:
PopMinded will offer the following Convention Exclusive PXL8® style collectible enamel pins:
BATMAN
Detective Comics
80th Anniversary
PXL8® Enamel Pin
$8.00 USA
Exclusive to Emerald City Comic Con
Ahsoka Tano™
Star Wars™: The Clone Wars™
PXL8® Enamel Pin
$8.00 USA
Exclusive to Star Wars Celebration
The Mandalorian
Star Wars™: The Mandaloriani™
PXL8® Enamel Pin
$8.00 USA
Exclusive to New York Comic Con
A very limited number of 2019 event exclusive Keepsake Ornaments will also be available for sale later this year to members of the Keepsake Ornament Club. Information for joining the club can be found online at Hallmark.com/KOC
At the end of the 2019 convention season in October, any remaining stock of the year’s event exclusives may be made available for sale online. Check for details at PopMinded.com
Additional details about daily allocations for each event exclusive product as well as activity plans for each event will be announced closer to the respective convention dates. Look for additional Hallmark pop-culture products including greeting cards to be available at each event.
UPDATE (03.15.19) – BATMAN™, Detective Comics, PXL8® Enamel Pin
UPDATE (03.27.19) – Added Ahsoka Tano™, Star Wars™: The Clone Wars™, PXL8® Enamel Pin
UPDATE (10.03.19) – Added The Mandalorian™, Star Wars™: The Mandalorian™, PXL8® Enamel Pin
Artist Journal: Tracy Larsen
Friday, June 14, 2019
From the sketchbook of Keepsake Artist, Tracy Larsen.
Tracy Larsen’s Series Ideas List
One of Tracy Larsen’s favorite things to do as a Keepsake artist is come up with new ideas for a series of ornaments. “When it’s time to provide concepts for a new series, I generally grab a few 3X5 cards and just start writing down various ideas,” he said. “I’ll look at what has been done, what has been successful, and what I would like to see done as a series.” (see series ideas list image)
After his initial ideation, Tracy gets out his favorite vellum pad and starts to sketch, which is where his ideas really start to come to life. “I take what I feel are the best ideas and start to do rough sketches of what a few years of that series could look like,” he said. (see North Pole Tree Trimmers #1 concept sketches and Holiday Lighthouse–Santa and the polar bear interaction ideas–sketches). Sometimes, inspiration strikes him in the middle of a meeting and he ends up sketching on scraps of paper, or even his assignment sheet with a schedule of his upcoming work. (see assignment sheet sketches)
Then, when he feels like an idea has legs, he starts to flesh that idea out a bit more to make sure it’s not just a one off ornament and can hold together as a series for years to come. “When an idea is enough to sustain a series, I’ll start to refine sketches for one or two years’ worth of ornaments,” he said. (see North Pole Tree Trimmers #7 concept sketch) “Once I’m satisfied that the sketches portray my idea well, I’ll turn it in and wait to see if it gets the green light or not.”
So what happens to those ideas that aren’t chosen? Well, Tracy has been a Keepsake Artist long enough to know that sometimes, the timing just isn’t right for a certain idea. “If a series concept doesn’t get chosen one year, I’ll put it in a folder full of unused series ideas and I’ll often submit it again at a later time,” he said. (see unused series concept sketches: Santas in regional costumes riding different corresponding animals, Reindeer Games, and Santa du Soleil) Tracy’s perseverance has paid off for a few of his ideas that ended up taking a while to get officially approved. “North Pole Tree Trimmers is a good example,” he said. “It was first turned in as a series concept around 1999 or 2000, but didn’t officially become a series until 2013.”
When his idea is chosen to become the next great Keepsake series, Tracy decides which rough sketch would be best to become the first-in-series ornament. “Every year after that, I turn in a refined sketch based on my initial ideas,” he said. “Of course, those sketches often evolve a bit from the original, but that’s how a series is born!” (see 2019 Holiday Lighthouse, Tea Time! original ideas and 2019 Tea Time! #4 Snowman concept sketches)
