Featured Artist: Edythe Kegrize
Title:
Hallmark Master Designer
Started at Hallmark:
October 1979
Started at Keepsakes:
October 2002
Hometown:
Pennsylvania
Helped along by her family, Edythe’s talent for making art out of anything and everything began when she was young. As she developed as an artist, mastering new techniques and incorporating new materials, she found her way to Hallmark. Now Edythe creates some of the most elegant, ornate, yet cheerful and endearing Keepsake Ornaments around. Read more about Edythe and her 2017 ornaments.
Edythe Kegrize had an in-depth love of three-dimensional art ever since she was young. She remembers making all kinds of creations from scraps around the house, including a tiny paper television with pictures that rotated with the turn of a knob and a crèche fashioned out of laundry detergent and food coloring.
Edythe’s talents blossomed with the help of her loving family. Her grandmother saved tidbits of fabric, trims and pretty papers. Her mother never hindered her daughter’s creativity despite the risks of having holes cut in tablecloths or glue on the rug. From her father, Edythe inherited attention to detail, patience and mechanical curiosity that make her Keepsake designs so intricate.
While in college, Edythe majored in illustration but also was inspired by ceramics and weaving classes. At Hallmark, she would often devise unique folding cards that brought an extra dimension to her designs. Edythe featured needlework and collages in her greeting cards and crafted several original dolls to be photographed for select card collections.
With nearly 25 years of experience illustrating greeting cards, Edythe cultivated an appreciation for a wide range of decorative surface designs, from traditional folk art to classic, elegant scrollwork. This is perhaps most evident in the details of her Santa’s Around the World unofficial series.
December Keepsake Wallpaper
Rev up your desktop or mobile device with this month’s free wallpapers featuring Leader of the Pack by Tracy Larsen.
Leader of the Pack
2017 Local Club Ornament Fall Mailing
Sweet Li’l Santa
The third of four mailings that local clubs will receive from the national Keepsake Ornament Club for 2017 is currently being delivered to Club Sponsors/Club Contacts. The shipment contains the November issue of Collectively Speaking and this year’s local club ornament, a repaint of “Sweet Li’l Santa” by Nello Williams.
Collectively Speaking: November 2017
Collectively Speaking November 2017
To help expedite the receipt of the November 2017 issue of Collectively Speaking, the national Keepsake Ornament Club emailed a copy of it to Club Sponsors and Club Contacts.
Included in this issue are:
- MEET Anita Winter
- Exclusive Gift for All Local Club Members
- Call for 2018 Local Club Rosters
- Last Chance to Renew or Join the KOC in 2017
- 2017 KOC Convention Photos
- Connect, Discover and Share Online
- Elam’s Magical Hallmark Memories Club Donates to Interfaith Community Services
- FRIENDLY REMINDER: 2018 Keepsake Studio Artist Signing Event
- Who is eligible to win?
- What is this year’s theme?
- How do we enter the contest?
- Contest Timing
- Contest Rules
- Limited Quantity Available of 2017 KOC Dream Books … First Come, First Served!
- Happy Thanksgiving
Collectively Speaking – The local club newsletter for the Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Club.
Hallmark on QVC (UPDATED)
Season’s Treatings Miniature Tree Set
QVC Exclusive
Heads up, Keepsake fans! Tune in to QVC on November 12 starting at 9 p.m. (ET) and airing through 9 p.m. (ET) November 13 on TV channel QVC2 when they will feature a repaint of the Season’s Treatings Miniature Tree Set (set of 12 ornaments and tree) as the Big Deal!
UPDATE – Hallmark on QVC schedule
Sunday, November 12 (tonight! on QVC2), 9:00 – 10:00 PM (ET) — “Holidays with Hallmark” (featuring Keepsakes and Heritage Ornaments)
Monday, November 13 “Holidays with Hallmark” will be re-aired on QC2 at 12:00 – 1:00 AM (ET), 3:00 – 4:00 AM (ET), 7:00 – 8:00 AM (ET) and 8:00 – 9:00 PM
Monday, November 13 (on QVC2), 12:00 – 3:00 PM (ET) — “Home for the Holidays” (featuring Sweet Treats Miniature Tree Repaint)
Monday, November 13 (on QVC2), 3:00 – 5:00 PM (ET) — “Christmas Shoppe” (featuring Sweet Treats Miniature Tree Repaint)
Reveal: 2017 World Series Keepsake Ornament
Houston Astros™ 2017 World Series™ Champions
Special Edition
Houston Strong! In a World Series™ full of memorable games, the Houston Astros™ proved as tough and spirited as their hometown. This commemorative ornament is the perfect way to remember an inspiring team and celebrate their first ever world championship. Don’t wait long–supplies are limited.
PREORDER NOW
Available at participating Hallmark Gold Crown Stores and on Hallmark.com
Featured Artist – Sharon Visker
Title:
Hallmark Artist
Started at Hallmark:
September 1983
Started at Keepsakes:
January 2000
Hometown:
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Born into a family of artists, Sharon learned to design and illustrate at an early age. She mastered her art and joined Hallmark, and then, a funny thing happened—she learned to sculpt ornaments. Sharon’s 2017 Keepsake Ornaments turn up the fun to full volume, each one featuring a song and loads of personality.
Her mother seemed to be taking an art class or immersing herself in an art project during every spare moment. Her brother seemed to be able to draw just about anything. And in an atmosphere where art seemed like a part of everyday life, it was only natural that Sharon Visker would want to give it a try.
She quickly discovered she was unusually good at it. So good, in fact, that her friends would offer to buy the bubble gum cards she copied for fun. Which made Sharon realize she had the ability to be an artist who could make people notice her work.
Throughout grade school and high school, the opportunities for Sharon’s work to be noticed occurred frequently and took various forms. She created elaborate bulletin board displays, designed yearbooks, entered—and won—numerous art competitions.
Her exceptional talent eventually brought her to Hallmark, where, after 15 years as an illustrator, she participated in a woodcarving workshop and discovered a knack she didn’t know she had. A knack for sculpting—which she’s been exercising ever since for the enjoyment of Keepsake Ornaments collectors.
November Keepsake Wallpaper
Celebrate the upcoming holiday season with this month’s free desktop or mobile device wallpapers featuring the 4th in the Kringle and Kris series by Kristina Gaughran. This year the darling duo is depicted getting ready to place the final shimmering touch on their tree.
Kringle and Kris
4th in the series.
Reveal: 2017 Mayor’s Christmas Tree Ornament
Skate Away
2017 Mayor’s Christmas Tree Ornament
The 2017 Mayor’s Christmas Tree Ornament, 37th in the series, was made from the wood of the tree which stood at Crown Center Square during last year’s holiday season. This year’s design “Skate Away” is a nod to the Crown Center Ice Terrace’s 45th season. All proceeds from the sale of these ornaments benefit the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Fund which assists thousands of Kansas City’s less fortunate.
PREORDER NOW
Call: (816) 274-7251 or download this order form and either mail it or bring it to Crown Center Customer Service.
TO PURCHASE
Visit Crown Center Customer Service (on level 2 of the shopping center) starting Friday, November 24. (the day after Thanksgiving)
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NOTE: A limited supply of ornaments are available from 2001 (Reindeer), 2003 (Snow Sled), 2006 (Nutcracker), 2007 (Christmas Bell), 2008 (Christmas Candle), 2009 (Gingerbread House), 2010 (Hallmark Centennial Celebration), 2011 (Holiday Mittens), 2012 (Snow Globe), 2013 (Christmas Tree), 2014 (Carousel Horse), 2015 (Woodland Joy) and 2016 (Festive Fox).
2017 Hallmark Employee Appreciation
Thank You Deer
Hallmark Employee Gift
Hallmark retailers will once again have the opportunity to purchase a Special Edition Keepsake ornament to use to thank their employees for their dedication.