Featured Artist: Tammy Haddix
Title:
Hallmark Senior Artist
Started at Hallmark:
June 1988
Started at Keepsakes:
November 1996
Hometown:
Kansas City, Missouri
.
For over 20 years, Tammy Haddix has been creating illustrations and ornaments that capture the hearts and imaginations of Hallmark fans and collectors. Learn more about the artist who brings the beloved “Snow Buddies” series to life.
Tammy Haddix has been drawing for as long as she can remember. Her mother was the first to discover Tammy’s talent at an early age. Unfortunately, her mom found it on countertops and in closets. The kitchen projects were washed away, but the closet creations were another story. Her mom, an artist herself, loved them so much that the artwork stayed up for decades.
It didn’t take long for little Tammy to decide on her career goals. When she was 5 years old, her mother took her along to a Hallmark store. Tammy was so impressed by all the beautiful artwork that she declared her intention to work for Hallmark right then and there.
Tammy inherited her artistic abilities from her mom. After Tammy’s colleagues saw her mother’s intricate cake-decorating talents, the Keepsake Studio Artists decided to use the designs in the 2005 Spring Keepsake Ornaments.
Tammy joined the Illustration Studio, and that’s when her interest in sculpting began. In addition to her regular drawing assignments, Tammy did freelance work for Keepsake Ornaments, which eventually won her a spot on the Keepsakes staff. Her work can still be found in closets, but only because they’re in storage until next Christmas. (more…)
August Keepsake Wallpaper
Create good vibes that will have you grinning from ear to ear every time you glance at your desktop or mobile device with this months free wallpapers featuring “Happy” by Sharon Visker.
Happy
2019 Sneak Peek: The Official STAR TREK™ Convention: Las Vegas
In conjunction with the official STAR TREK Convention in Las Vegas, August 1-5, 2018, Hallmark is sharing a sneak peek of their 2019 Star Trek Keepsake Ornaments.
STAR TREK™
U.S.S. Enterprise™ NCC-1701
STAR TREK: The Motion Picture™
40th Anniversary
Commander Saru and Michael Burnham
STAR TREK: DISCOVERY™
Tribble
STAR TREK™
Save the Date: 2019 Keepsake Ornament Club Convention
What was that? The tiniest whiff of peppermint? The faintest sound of sleigh bells? A split second of a frosty breeze? It’s coming. Can you feel it?
It’s the 2019 Keepsake Ornament Club Convention. Your chance to connect with your fellow collectors, make new friends, get to know your favorite artists and more.
The magic happens August 8-10, 2019, in Kansas City, MO.
Registration information coming in early 2019.
Member Exclusive Offer: KOC Flash Sale (UPDATED)
The repainted version of the 2017 Season’s Treatings Miniature Tree Set (that was formerly a QVC Exclusive) is now listed in the club-exclusive Product Shop on Hallmark.com.
Season’s Treatings Miniature Tree Set
UPDATE (08.04.18 @ 11:04 a.m.) – FLASH SALE: The 2017 Season’s Treatings Miniature Tree Set repaint is available only to club members at a special price $16.99 USA (regularly $59.95 USA). But don’t wait long – supplies are limited.
ORDER NOW
Available on Hallmark.com or
by calling 1-(800)-HALLMARK
Hallmark History: LOONEY TUNES
The Blushing Bride
Tasmanian She-Devil – LOONEY TUNES
Over the past 30 plus years, Hallmark and Warner Bros. have created thousand of products based on characters from DC Comics, Hanna-Barbara, Harry Potter, The Wizard of Oz, and, of course, Looney Tunes.
The licensing partnership first began when Mike Harp, vice president of Sales – Licensing Company of America and Chuck Jones, animator – Warner Bros. visited Hallmark on August 1, 1985. Harp and Jones met with Hallmark Properties to discuss the development and history of Looney Tunes, and answer any questions or concerns on how to best adapt the beloved characters into Hallmark cards.
While Jones provided early design and editorial advice, it quickly took the efforts of dozens of artists and writers, including Senior Designer Richard LaPierre and Keepsake Artist Robert Chad to translate Looney Tunes into hundreds of products each year.
As a child, Chad watched a lot of Saturday morning cartoons, and Looney Tunes quickly became a favorite, as it inspired him to start drawing. Shortly after joining Hallmark in 1987, Chad began pitching Looney Tunes as a potential ornament series. “For the longest time I was pushing the idea of doing Warner Brothers’ characters,” Chad recalled. “The first idea that I handed in was Marvin the Martian. I didn’t even bother to suggest Michigan J. Frog because I thought no one would recognize him. He was only in one cartoon.” Chad’s pitch was eventually approved and several popular characters made their debut on Keepsake Ornaments in 1993. Much to Chad’s delight, supporting characters, including Michigan J. Frog, were soon added and have been included off and on over the years. “I really like the characters that don’t show up much in the cartoons, the secondary characters,” said Chad, “so the Tasmanian She-Devil, coming out in October, is a personal favorite.”
2018 Sneak Peek: Comic-Con International: San Diego
The Sneak Peek at Comic-Con International includes four Star Wars Keepsake Ornaments that are set to be released in 2019. For those attending San Diego Comic-Con, be sure to stop by Hallmark’s booth (#2913-K) in the Lucasfilm Star Wars Pavilion, where these ornaments and a collection of 2019 product will be on display.
Star Wars™
Y-Wing Starfighter™
Star Wars™ Collection
Storytellers
Imperial Star Destroyer™
Star Wars™ Collection
Storytellers
Luke Skywalker™
Star Wars™: A New Hope™
23rd in the series.
Medal of Yavin™
Star Wars™: A New Hope™
Limited Edition
A Wild Rid on Endor™
Star Wars™: Return of the Jedi™
Artist Sketchbook: Tom Best
I want to share some details around the Once Upon a Christmas series.
O
Once Upon a Christmas series
Every ornament starts as an idea and sketch.
I have been responsible for providing that since the beginning of the Once Upon a Christmas magic series. Our small team of artists, writers and engineers have been moving Santa along chronologically through preparation, preflight and midnight ride of Santa and his reindeer. Not every year is represented here in these photos, but they offer a peek at each ornament’s original inception on paper, as well as its final result as an ornament.
Though some adjustments were made, most look pretty much as they did when I first put pencil to paper. On the ornament of Santa dressing in the mirror, I also provided a bit of 3D computer sculpting by modeling the mirror structure with hat on the post. It was prototyped and handed over to artist Julie Forsyth to be covered on the back side with wax and night sky scene sculpted in bas relief.
Enjoy the views and look for what’s next in the series!
Ho Ho Ho,
Tom
Home & Family: Tammy Haddix & Edythe Kegrize Visit
Tammy Haddix and Edythe Kegrize Visit
Hallmark Senior Keepsake Artist Tammy Haddix and Hallmark Keepsake Master Designer Edythe Kegrize visit HOME & FAMILY to talk about 2018 Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. The two women also discuss the holidays and their own favorite family traditions.
Artist Journal: Sharon Visker
Thursday, July 12, 2018
I would describe my style as playful, fun, and sometimes humorous—with a bright color palette. I’m not sure my process is different from other artists, but I like to look for inspiration in things I do and places I go. I never know when something I see might spark an idea. I love flea markets, antique malls, bookstores and shopping in general. Random things I see somehow pop up later in things I’m working on. In general, looking at pictures of old vintage ornaments, cartoons and images, and getting out and about is always inspiring to me.
I look at toys for movement ideas, listen to music for sound ideas, and watch movie clips, too. Sometimes just going for a walk to clear my head helps inspire me. And sometimes it takes time to “brew” an idea—it might take several days of thinking about it before I start to sketch and jot ideas down.
When I start working, I usually pin lots of images up at my desk, and you’ll see books, tracing paper, pencils and any other research I’ve gathered to spark ideas sitting out and about.
