Home & Family: Debra Nielsen Visit
Debra Nielsen’s Visit
Hallmark Keepsake Artist Debra Nielsen visits HOME & FAMILY to talk about her horse ornament designs this year and share a sneak peek of her 2019 A Pony for Christmas ornament.
Artist Journal: Edythe Kegrize (Creative Processes)
Monday, December 10, 2018
When I start a new concept for an ornament, I usually dive into all types of visual research first. This can be anything from a trip to an antique shop to admire vintage jewelry, pottery or glass to flipping through home décor magazines, spending some time on Pinterest to see what people are liking, or even visiting our huge archive of art here at Hallmark to see if anything “speaks” to me.
Brilliant Butterflies
The funny thing about inspiration is you never know where it will come from. There is a certain amount I pull from my own life experiences and childhood memories (Christmas wonders as a child, Great Grandma’s vintage jewelry or ornately decorated teacups). I am constantly keeping up with the latest crafts as well as trends in home décor. Everything from frames to soap dispensers can suggest interesting material combinations and finishes. You have to always be looking at everything, everywhere to visually stockpile a huge stash to pull when it comes time to submit new concepts. All good excuses to go shopping! If you can imagine all the visual clutter it takes for my creative juices to keep flowing, you might have a pretty good idea of how chaotic my workspace might appear to be. I definitely subscribe to the “out of sight, out of mind” point of view on cubicle organization. Everyone knows “Creativity is Messy”!
Songs of the Season: O Christmas Tree
My creation process is a “whatever it takes” approach to communicate the idea that is in my head. I may start with pencil and paper then move to a bit of clay to fully work out an idea. I have also been known to work out a rough design in paper sculpture. I have always constructed things of paper and I used to design complex folds with paper when I was a greeting card illustrator. It’s a quick way for me to think through a 3D form and how it sits in space. I always finish my creation in Photoshop on the computer, where I draw my ornament from enough different views to fully articulate my expectations for the final look of the piece.
My style tends to be decorative. I often prefer simple forms with ornate surface design, a carryover from my nearly 25 years as a greeting card illustrator, I think. I like to play with a variety of styles from classic to more modern, elegant to cute. Mostly I am known for a pretty and elegant point of view, but it is fun to explore other looks on occasion as well.
2019 Sneak Peek: Keepsake Celebrations (UPDATED)
Life is filled with milestones and extraordinary occasions. Remember them with Keepsake Celebrations ornaments. Here’s is a sneak peek of three 2019 Keepsake Celebrations ornaments.
I Love Us
I Do
Limitless Love
UPDATE (01.03.19 @ 8:30 AM) – Added I Do and Limitless Love.
2019 Sneak Peek: Christmas Cupcakes
Pinwheel Sweetness
Christmas Cupcakes
1oth in the series.
Here’s a look at the Pinwheel Sweetness, 10th in the Christmas Cupcakes series by Ruth Donikowski.
2019 Dream Box Reveal
Wonder awaits
As a Keepsake Ornament Club member, we want to help you create special memories at the holidays. After all, you are at the center of your family’s celebrations. Your love of Christmas is simply inspiring. And it’s our hope that our ornaments make it easier for you to share your family’s stories, capture treasured memories and carry on the traditions that are most special to you for generations to come.
At the bottom of this post, please enjoy a warm welcome from Keepsake Artist Ken Crow, whose club-exclusive Toymaker Santa ornament is inside your Dream Box.
The Keepsake Dream Box ($100 value.) Shipped directly to your home, this year’s membership gift is full of Keepsakes magic. You’ll receive:
The Dream Box will include:
- Member Exclusive Toymaker Santa, 20th Anniversary, ornament with light, sound and motion (valued at $34.99 USA).
- 2019 KOC-exclusive Dream Book (uniquely designed and written)
- $20 KOC Reward Card to use on a future purchase of Keepsake Ornaments.
- Four FREE gifts from the Keepsake Studio
Toymaker Santa
20th Anniversary
Sparkling Ornament Stand
(with snowflake base)
Snowflake Ornament Hooks
5 hooks
Christmas Everyday
An 18-Month Calendar (July 2019 – December 2020)
Festive Favorites
Second Annual Keepsake Ornament Club Cookbook
Recipes from Club Members, Keepsake Artists and Villagers
2019 Dream Box
Thank you for sharing the joy of Christmas with me. My animated Toymaker Santa brings the best of all my skills together in a Keepsake magic ornament. With light, sound and motion I made Santa and his toys come to life.
It was so much fun to create this gift especially for you, our Keepsake Ornament Club family. My hope is that you will smile every time you put this ornament on your tree.
With magic thoughts,
Ken Crow
KOC Benefits for 2019
2019 KOC Membership Enrollment starts on January 29, 2019. This is going to be a year full of member benefits such as exclusive members-only savings and rewards, Crown Rewards Bonus Points, exclusive ornaments, insider looks into our studio with access to the artist, a member gift of the Dream Box, and access to the KOC Convention in August 2019.
Membership at $49.99 USA includes the following:
- A KOC membership card. Use your card to receive members-only perks at your local store, like access to buy event-exclusive ornaments.
- Special offers throughout the year. Look forward to exclusive Crown Rewards Bonus Points opportunities, plus members-only Keepsake event offers and surprises, like a FREE ornament at Ornament Premiere.
- Access to the KOC Product Shop, featuring club-exclusive ornaments and other products at special member pricing. Order in store or online.
- The For Keeps quarterly publication and monthly email newsletter. Get a behind-the-scenes look at Keepsake Ornament creation, exclusive videos, timely announcements and local club and community news.
- Insider access to Keepsake Community, an online social space where you can connect with Keepsake artists and other ornament enthusiasts like you.
- The Keepsake Dream Box (valued at over $100) Shipped directly to your home, this year’s membership gift is full of Keepsakes magic.
- Access to the KOC Convention, Come experience the MAGIC at the 2019 Keepsake Ornament Club Convention, August 8-10, 2019 in Kansas City. Meet friends old and new, chat with Keepsake artists, join in fun workshops and make great memories with us. Registration information will be coming in early 2019.
Enrollment Opens January 29, 2019 at 9:00am CST
*NOTE: In 2019 KOC Members will NOT receive a renewal application in the mail. KOC Members can renew by going to their local Hallmark Gold Crown store, online at Hallmark.com, by calling 1-800-Hallmark, or mailing in an application. Applications can be downloaded from Hallmark.com/KOC beginning on 1/29 or picked up from your local Hallmark store starting in January.
Local Club News: December 2018
Here is the latest Club communication that was received today.
Dear Local Club Presidents and Club Leaders!
I hope this email finds you in good health and spirits for this holiday season. Here in the Keepsake Ornament Village, we love the holidays because we get the chance to express our sincere gratitude for all of you. 2018 has been an amazing year! Thank you for your trust and belief in the Keepsake Ornament Club and providing feedback to us for the future. 2019 is going to be a magical year. I am so excited about the 2019 KOC Membership experience and a year full of benefits. Thank you for choosing to be part of our Keepsake family.
The entire Keepsake Studio gives thanks for a fabulous 2018 and looks ahead to the years to come. To hear this message please go to Keepsake Community by following this link.
As a reminder, we encourage you to forward this email on to your Local Club members and/or print or verbally share at your Local Club meeting. I attached a PDF of this update to the email so that you can forward that if you need to. This Local Club President Email communication will arrive in your inbox five times a year: January, March, June, September, and December. Here are a few important updates we want you to know about:
Read the December 2018 Local Club News
2019 KOC Membership Enrollment
Enrollment for 2019 Keepsake Ornament Club (KOC) membership opens on January 29, 2019.
Earn $5 in future rewards if you join by February 28th, 2019.
Featured Artist: Anita Marra Rogers
Title:
Hallmark Artist
Started at Hallmark:
1987
Started at Keepsakes:
1985
Hometown:
Kansas City, Missouri
.
A talented painter as a child, Anita now sculpts her ornaments by hand. Her attention to detail and use of materials for added charm are partly what define her style. The rest is a knack for warmth and cheer, and preserving tradition in a way that never goes out of style.
Horses, dogs and unicorns—typical subjects for children’s artwork. But Anita Marra Rogers didn’t draw like a typical child. Her mother quickly recognized that early talent, and she signed Anita up for oil painting lessons. At age 19, Anita used those paintings in her portfolio when she applied for a job with Hallmark. As good as those paintings were, she was turned down.
A few years later, a Hallmark sculptor looked at those same paintings of seascapes and landscapes. He saw talent. He told Anita that she simply wasn’t doing the kinds of images Hallmark wanted. He invited her to come in and see what the Hallmark Artists were working on—whimsical animals, warm Christmas scenes, wintry landscapes. Anita tried her hand at one, sculpting a deer and a bunny looking sweetly at each other over a snow bank. As soon as her friend saw it, he told her that her Keepsake Ornament career had begun.
Hallmark wasn’t Anita’s first sculpting assignment. As a child, she made animal shapes out of cotton candy for her brother and sisters. There’s still a touch of sweetness to every Keepsake Ornament she creates.
December Keepsake Wallpaper
Welcome a magical season with this month’s free desktop or mobile device wallpapers featuring “Christmas Lantern,” Christmas table decoration by Ken Crow.
Christmas Lantern