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Artist Interview, Ken Crow – Lionel Train: Santa Express

All Aboard! Ken Crow talks about his BIG collaboration for this year. Reserve your seat now as this masterpiece will not be sitting in the train station long. The next train departs in November in conjunction with Holiday Open House.

September 15th, 2015|0 Comments

Reveal: Christmas Cupcakes

Here is a Sneak Peek of the inspiration for the 2016 Christmas Cupcake. Yes, next years cupcake will be based on Petit Treat, this years KOC Special Offer Ornament.

“This is a sneak of the full sized one i’m making for The Christmas Cupcakes series in 2016. I constantly explore new techniques. For next year’s full-sized cupcake, I rolled two pieces of felt together and cut them to make the Peppermint effect on top.” — Ruth Donikowski

Christmas Cupcakes
7th in the series
Inspired by Petite Treat, the 2015 KOC Special Offer

September 9th, 2015|0 Comments

Artist Interview, Debra Nielsen – A Pony for Christmas

Debra Nielsen talks a little bit about continuing the A Pony for Christmas series for Linda Sickman.

September 8th, 2015|0 Comments

2016 Sneak Peek: Merry Miniatures

More merry to come! Be on the lookout for more lovable, collectible characters coming your way. Final designs may vary.

HEDGEHOG WITH A BASKET OF APPLES
Available beginning September 2016

WITCH OWL
Available beginning September 2016

TURKEY EATING PUMPKIN PIE
Available beginning September 2016

RHINO PLAYING HOCKEY
Available beginning September 2016

PENGUIN SKIING
Available beginning September 2016

REINDEER WITH JINGLE BELLS
Available beginning September 2016

Merry Miniatures – a collection of small, handcrafted figurines featuring fun characters and relevant themes. Fresh yet traditional styling and seasonal imagery

September 2nd, 2015|0 Comments

Live Chat Recap: Tammy Haddix

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Tammy Haddix
Master Keepsake Designer

On Monday, August 31, Hallmark Senior Artist, Tammy Haddix chatted with collectors via Facebook. Here is a synopsis of that chat that highlights most of the questions and responses. Please note the chat is not in chronological order and has been grouped by subject and edited for brevity.

Snow Buddies

Richard Gehrke: Will we be seeing Snow Buddies for many years to come still? Do you still have ideas on what you would like to see in this series?

Tammy: We hope to continue Snow Buddies and yes I still have many ideas!

Ann Noles: What future animals can we expect in the Snow Buddies series?

Tammy: Can’t tell you just yet for 2016 but he is a little critter (hedgehog)! Beyond that I don’t know yet.

Renee Micallef: Tammy do you think you will ever have a snow buddy that features a cat?

Tammy: For Snow Buddies I tend to do Woodland or Polar animals, not household animals. So could do a feline, but not necessarily a cat.

Curtis Heavrin: Would you ever do a Canadian themed ornament?

Tammy: A Few years ago Snow Buddies featured a goose which was initially inspired by Canadian Geese.

Curtis Heavrin: They may look nice but they are very vicious birds! Lol

Tammy: We actually debated about it because of their reputation.

Snow Buddies
18th in the series.

Santa’s Sweet Ride

Santa’s Sweet Ride
9th in the series.

Marc Mirabal: Can you share with us what sugary treats you envisioned when creating the various parts of this years Santa’s Sweet Ride?

Tammy: For this year I used an ice cream cone for the back of the helicopter and fruit stripped gum for the propeller. I used a jaw breaker as my inspiration for the body of the helicopter and lined it with licorice and it is topped off with a yellow gum drop.

Marc Mirabal: During the Sneak Peek at the KOC event it was revealed that next year Hallmark will be issuing limited edition piece called Santa’s Sweet Reindeer that will coordinate with next years piece. What sugary treats is he composed of?

Tammy: The reindeer is a cake roll with gumdrop feet and candy stick legs.

Marc Mirabal: Initially the Santa's Sweet Ride series was following the land, air, sea pattern. Why did it veer off this pattern last year?

Tammy: There are so many ideas for Santa’s Sweet Ride and we had some that we were really excited to do so we broke the pattern.

Johnny Van Osch: I notice that the next year ornament Santa's Sweet Ride is a sleigh. I know next year is suppose to be water. Will that be change to Ice or snow in 2019?

Tammy: We didn’t stick with the pattern because we really wanted to do something special for the 10th anniversary, so not sure what 2019 will bring!

Dee Frygirl: How long do you envision your Santa's Sweet Ride series lasting?

Tammy: I have no idea how long it will last, but it is one of my favorites and I have lots of ideas.

Jennifer Brady-Connor: Do you keep a variety of sweets as inspiration and to play around with when working on Santa's Sweet Ride?

Tammy: I don’t keep real sweets, but I do keep photos. It is not safe for me to keep real sweets around, it would either be me or someone else in the studio that would eat them! There used to be a Cookie Jar by me and when ever I heard it clink I would look up and see Don Palmiter! He has a sweet tooth!

Other Work

Kathy Armstrong and Darlene Evans Stoudt: I love the retro look of your ornaments. Have you ever considered making an ornament that looked like from the 50s or 60s? Something old fashion.

Tammy: I love snowflakes and anything vintage inspired. My new (A World Within) 1st in series mini was actually inspired my grandmother’s vintage ornament collection.

Marc Mirabal: Thanks for the A World Within Sneak Peek. Which one will be available next year?

Tammy: Actually none of the sketches are next years series ornament, just my doodles. So still a secret so far!

Debbie Fisher: Are you involved with the new Merry Miniatures?

Tammy: I haven’t sculpted any yet but I’m working on sketches for some of the future ones.

A World Within
1st in the series.

Career

Joy Levinson: How did you know you were good in this career. What was first sculpture that you did?

Tammy: I sculpted in high school. And in college I sculpted in plaster of Paris. Messy stuff! I would pour plaster of Paris and carve away at it, paint it with pastels and then photograph it and use that as the artwork. I did a Chili’s menu poster, a calendar series, and a self portrait. At Hallmark I didn’t get to sculpt until I was here 7 or 8 years. My first projects here were lapel pins and salt and pepper shakers.

Cynthia Zimmerman Short: What was the first ornament you created for hallmark?

Tammy: The very first one I worked on was with Robert Chad I did the elf and he did the reindeer. Snow Buddies was also one of my first ornaments.

Curtis Heavrin: Have you ever wanted to work on a licensed ornament? If so who would you want to create.

Tammy: I have done some licensed ornaments like Rudolph and Pepe Le Pew, I don’t think action figures are in my forte, but I do think Winnie the Pooh would be fun!

Renee Micallef: This year I think you have 20+ ornaments that you have been credited with, which one was your very favorite to sculpt and why?

Tammy: My favorite this year is the Toy Store Dreams, because I finally got to do another girl and the little girl is based off me when I was little and one of my favorite childhood toys.

Skye Haas and Diana Michelle Tidlund: What is your favorite ornament you have designed.

Tammy: Toy Store Dreams from this year is a new favorite, but Snow Buddies holds a very special place since it is my first series and I have worked on it my whole time in Keepsakes. It was actually inspired by one of my gift wrap designs before I joined the studio.

Marc Mirabal: Are you excited that your Work of Whimsy designs have inspired several Keepsake Ornament designs like Home For a Gnome and Sly and Sweet?

Tammy: Yes, it is always fun to use my other designs in Keepsakes.

Renee Micallef: Can we expect any new series in 2016 from you? If yes, will they feature glitter.

Tammy: I don’t have any official new series in 2016, but do have a lot of fun ornaments planned!

Other

Diana Michelle Tidlund: What do they do with the drawings you do for the ornaments?

Tammy: I actually keep them all. I love to reference them and look back and my original ideas.

Julia Ree: What mediums do you enjoy working with and as an artist, is there a skill you would like to develop?

Tammy: I would love to get to do more porcelain. I think it would work really well with some of my sweet faces.

Debbie Fisher: Do you get to select the names for your designs?

Tammy: No, I do not name them, some times I don’t even see the names until they are in Dream Book. The only ornament I have ever named is, Santa’s Sweet Ride. But I do work with our editors on the text on the ornaments.

TA Allen: If you were asked to do a collection of Christmas ornaments all with the same color scheme, and it had to be a new color scheme... what would colors would you pick?

Tammy: I am a big fan or Red and White. I love gnomes and mushrooms and love the color contrast.

Renee Micallef: Would you consider a cake themed ornament to honor your mom/brother? Especially with how popular baking themed ornaments are today.

Tammy: Many of my ornaments are inspired by them, especially Santa’s Sweet Ride. I also did Marshmallow World a few years ago based on my mom and sister’s decorating and a trip that we took and heard that song playing while shopping.

America Thomas: I know you have used your children in you work in your past ornaments. Where else do you draw your inspiration from?

Tammy: In addition to my kids I get a lot of inspiration from other life events and the holiday. Last year the mom-to-be snowman was inspired by my niece who was expecting.

Renee Micallef: You have featured your sons in several of your ornaments, do you plan to ever feature Rick or your family dog?

Tammy: Would love to do the dog, but not quite sure how to work in my husband! But my husband has inspired concepts over the years.

Holly Kringle: I saw a picture of your dog Baxter and he is soooooo cute! He almost looks like a little polar bear! Are there any plans for Baxter to appear on any of your upcoming ornaments?

Tammy: Thanks! Baxter is a Labradoodle. I don’t have any official plans but would love to be able to work him in.

Diana Michelle Tidlund: As an artist do you put anything other than hallmark on your Christmas tree?

Tammy: All Hallmark! Except snowflakes.

Melissa Conrad: Who is your favorite ornament designer? And if so would you want to collaborate on a special ornament with him/her?

Tammy: Kris Gaughran is! She is my neighbor here at Hallmark and we work really well together. We just worked on a mini set (Frosty Fun For You) together! Hope to do more in the future.

Renee Micallef: Were you excited to collaborate with the other Keepsake artists on the monthly series in a year cupcakes? The designs are all darling by the way!

Tammy: Yes, it was very fun to work with everyone and see how they interpreted their cupcake theme.

Michele Jackson: Is it easier for you to work on a group piece like the signing event piece or on one of your own designs that you do all the work?

Tammy: It is so much fun to work on the studio piece, I look forward to it each year. I love to collaborate with the studio. Edythe usually does the main concept and then we sign up for our pieces and there is usually a line on sign up day and Anita is always first in line!

Michele Jackson: I bet that is how she got the dog running next to the train!

Tammy: It is, and that’s why I ended up with the baseball and glove!

Jennifer Essad: How do you get fresh ideas for ornaments?

Tammy: I go shopping a lot! I love antique stores and magazines. I also draw inspiration from my own ornament collection and decorations.

Sarah Ackerman: If you could revamp any of the past ornaments you worked on, which ornament would it be, and what change or new aspect would you add?

Tammy: If I were to change any thing I would go back to one of my first ornaments. It was a jester in a jack-in-the box that looks like a dice, I would love to go back and change his face so he is a bit sweeter.

Susan Strawn Hargrove: Have you ever created an prototype that you loved but was not produced?

Tammy: Yes, but in some cases they get used later.

Diana Michelle Tidlund: Do you have any ideas for future series in the works or does hallmark tell you what they want you to do?

Tammy: I always have tons of ideas for future series! We always get to participate in big projects and ideation sessions where we show our sketches and talk through ideas.

Skye Haas: What would you love to design that you haven't already done?

Tammy: Just a wish, but would love to expand on some of my ornament series with companion gifts.

August 31st, 2015|0 Comments

2016 Sneak Peek

Here is a sneak peek of the one of the 2016 Keepsake Ornaments created by Hallmark Keepsakes Studio Intern, Byron David.

Seasoned Greetings
by Byron David

August 28th, 2015|0 Comments

Tammy Haddix Live Chat

The date for the next Keepsake Ornament Artist LIVE CHAT has been set. Hallmark Senior Artist, Tammy Haddix will be on the Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Facebook page next Monday, August 31 at 2 p.m. CST.

Tammy Haddix
Hallmark Senior Artist

Location: Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Facebook page
Date: Monday, August 31, 2015
Time: 2:00 p.m. CST

During this time, you can chat with Tammy, ask questions and learn more about her.

To participate simply set up a Facebook account and click on the Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Facebook page link on the set date.

August 26th, 2015|0 Comments

Artist Interview, Ken Crow – Disney Mickey’s Fire Brigade

Coming off of D23, Keepsake Ornament Artist Ken Crow talks about Disney’s Mickey’s Fire Brigade.

August 18th, 2015|0 Comments

2016 Sneak Peek: Merry Miniatures

Cow Gardening

Lamb

Mother’s Day Elephant

Graduation Owl

Dancing Monkey

Soccer Turtle

Merry Miniatures – A collection of small, handcrafted figurines featuring fun characters and relevant themes. Fresh yet traditional styling and seasonal imagery

August 17th, 2015|0 Comments

2016 Sneak Peek

The Keepsake library will continue to grow in 2016 with a new title from the beloved Little Golden Book collection.

Do any of you have fond memories of The Shy Little Kitten?

The Shy Little Kitten
Little Golden Books

August 14th, 2015|0 Comments

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