2019 Reveal: Stanley Cup® Champions St. Louis Blues®
Stanley Cup® Champions St. Louis Blues®
Special Edition
Congratulations to the St. Louis Blues®. For their first time ever, the St. Louis Blues® are Stanley Cup Champions. Join the celebration and commemorate this historic win with this special Keepsake Ornament. But don’t wait long – supplies are limited.
PREORDER NOW
Available at participating Hallmark Gold Crown Stores and on Hallmark.com
2019 KOC Convention: Experience the Magic (UPDATE)
This email will be going out to all Convention participants!
Dear KOC Member,
The 2019 KOC Convention is fast approaching and we’ve got some more important information to share with you.
New and Noteworthy: Local Club Centerpieces
Your local club has the chance to show off your local club’s pride by creating a table centerpiece that shares with your fellow collectors what your local club means to you. This is a voluntary chance to let your club’s creativity shine. Centerpieces will be featured on the tables during evening events. No prizes will be awarded, but your club’s participation will be considered as part of your club’s submission for the 2020 Keepsake Artist Signing events.
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!
Ask the Artist!
A few Keepsake Artists were asked: What ornament are you most excited about for 2019 and why?
Cuteness Beyond Measure
Nina Aubé: My #1 fav for 2019 is the measuring spoon Snowman, “Cuteness Beyond Measure”. My inspiration was my grandma’s old aluminum measuring spoons. She passed them on to my mom, so I grew up using them. My mom then gave to me when left for college. I’m still using them! And they still bring back fond memories of baking together with my family.
Runner up fav: My new series, Mini cozy critter. 2 reasons: I’m a huge bird lover; I’ve loved teeny tiny things since I was a kid. (I collect miniatures as a hobby, i.e. “Little Kiddle” dolls).
North Pole Public Radio
Tracy Larsen: For the ornaments I created, I’m most excited for the North Pole Public Radio. One of my favorite ornaments from the past is a cathedral style radio from 2006, created by Nello Williams and some terrific writers, that you can tune in to different stations and hear music and humorous ads. It also comes with that old radio static in between stations as you turn the tuning knob.
The ads are so well done that they still make me smile every time I hear them. I was fortunate to be able to create my own version, fashioned after some of the old bakelite radios from the 40’s and 50’s, using Santa’s belly, with belt and buckle, as a design motif. Our editors and sound people have again done a wonderful job of putting together music with funny ads that I trust will put a smile on the faces of those that “tune in”.
Prince of the Forest
1st in the Noble Nutcracker series.
Sharon Visker: Mine or someone elses? Here’s both: Terri Steiger’s new nutcracker series— Prince of the Forest- I love the old world style combined with the decorative fine details that Terri designed.
Mine – Tiki Tidings- Fun, festive tiki makes me just want to go vacationing somewhere warm and tropical!
Hyacinth
32nd in the Mary’s Angels series.
Robert Chad: Mary’s Angel #32 “Hyacinth” I made it especially for the collectors. Blonde hair, pink dress with butterflies. As feminine (girly) as I could.
Baby Girl’s First Christmas
Debra Nielsen: I have a twofer. The Baby (Boy’s/Girl’s) First Christmas (bear booties). I am excited about the boy and girl baby bear booties because they are full of personality, and I will enjoy gifting them to some special babies in my life this year.
Hogwarts™ Castle Tree Topper
Harry Potter™ Collection
Kristina Gaughran: I’m really excited for all the Harry Potter storytellers with the tree topper!!! I LOVE how they all interact with the castle and the music and light show for Hogwarts is fantastic!!
O Tannenbaum
Club Exclusive
Anita Marra Rogers: I am most excited about the KOC Exclusive, “O Tannenbaum” because it features my little granddoggie, Oreo Scruffles. He is representing my Puppy Love series.
Kringle’s Toy Shop
Ken Crow: Kringle’s Toy Shop is the ornament that I am most excited about. I identify with Santa creating mechanical things for the purpose of making people happy.
Share what ornament(s) you are most excited about for Premiere!
2019 KOC Convention: Experience the Magic (UPDATE)
This email was sent today.
Dear KOC Member,
There are only 62 days until convention and we’re excited to share a few more details with you! Please note: If you are a group leader who registered multiple members using a single email, you will receive this email multiple times—one for each person in your group. Please share these messages with everyone in your group.
FYI: Exclusive Ornaments and Pins
First, we have news about two additional special items available for you from Amy’s Hallmark in Crown Center. Amy’s will be selling an early release ornament and a metal lapel pin created especially for the convention. More details below.
Secondly, we know many of you are curious to find out where and when you’ll get your exclusive ornaments and pins. Wonder no more! Here’s what you can expect:
Ornaments
- Welcome to the North Pole! will be awaiting you inside your welcome bag at check in.
- Frosty Fun Decade repaint will be given as you enter the Winter Wonderland buffet dinner Friday evening.
- Remember the Magic KOC 2019 Convention snowflake will be given as you enter the Magic of Christmas dinner Saturday evening.
- Frosty Friends repaint, North Pole Tree Trimmers repaint and Beer Stein repaint will be surprise giveaway ornaments awarded throughout the event.
- Next Stop Kansas City! Holiday Train 2019 ornament will be releasing early for KOC members. Get your special Kansas City ornament before anyone else! Call Amy’s Hallmark Shop in Crown Center 816-283-0459 and reserve yours today for pick up at Amy’s Hallmark during the convention. See image below.
Lapel Pins
- KOC Event Pin will also be in your welcome bag at check in. See image above.
- KOC Event Pin repaint is available for purchase at Amy’s Hallmark in Crown Center. Call Amy’s Hallmark Shop at 816-283-0459 and reserve yours today for pick up at Amy’s Hallmark during the convention. See image above.
Next Stop Kansas City!
Holiday Train 2019
KOC Event Pins
New and Noteworthy
Onsite this year you’ll be able shop for ornaments and more in Santa’s Workshop Product Shop and get Crown Rewards bonus points for your purchases.
- Beyond convention exclusive ornaments, a specially curated, expanded product selection, including Hallmark Channel themed gifts and convention souvenirs, will be available for purchase.
- To make it easy for you to pick up your pre-purchased orders, the shop will have a separate express lane for pre-purchased product and mystery bags.
- You’ll earn well-deserved Crown Rewards bonus points for your purchases.
- For your convenience, shipping services will be located in the Santa’s Workshop Product Shop.
Reminders
- July 31 at midnight is the deadline for online purchases. In order to earn a $15 Hallmark Gold Crown reward card, you’ll need to make sure you’ve purchased all the available convention exclusive ornaments by then. Simply “modify your registration” on the convention website to make your purchases.
- A convention event app for your smartphone will be available to all attendees. We highly encourage all attendees to download and use the app for easy access to personalized schedules, convention information, a scavenger hunt game and more. To use the app, you will need to make sure you have a unique email. Don’t have your own email? Click here to learn how to set up your own unique email.
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!
Local Club News: 2020 In-Store Artist Signing Event (Local Club Contest)
In 2020, the Keepsake Studio Artists will once again be visiting Hallmark Gold Crown stores around the country. Here are the details regarding how to enter the Local Club Contest to win an In-Store Artist Signing Event.
Reveal: 2019 Keepsake Artist Series Puzzle
Keepsake Artist Series: Ken Crow
Puzzle
Ken Crow, a toymaker at heart, is always looking for new ways to surprise and delight his fans. “I like to learn what has been done before and then put my own twist on it,” he says. When Ken works on a Keepsake, he always approaches it with a “brand-new” mindset so people will experience the ornament in the most magical way possible.
1000 interlocking pieces
30″ w. x 24″ h.
$19.99 USA
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