Hallmark Live
An exhibit at the Hallmark Visitors Center called “Hallmark Live” provides a behind-the-scenes look at the creativity and artistry that go into the making of Hallmark’s most popular products, including Keepsake Ornaments.
If you will be arriving in Kansas City a few days before the Keepsake Ornament Club event, be sure to stop by the Visitors Center between 1-2 p.m. to experience this unique place and visit with a different Keepsake Ornament artist each day. Although signing is not allowed, this is a great opportunity to meet the artists in a more intimate setting.
Here’s is the schedule of the Keepsake Ornament artists that will be featured during the week leading up to the event:
- Tues., August 4 – Kris Gaughran and Tammy Haddix
- Wed., August 5 – Anita Marra Rogers
- Thurs., August 6 – Joanne Eschrich and Sharon Visker
Home & Family Tammy Haddix Interview
On Friday, July 10, Keepsake Ornament artist Tammy Haddix appeared on the Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family”. During the segment she talked about her career as a Hallmark Keepsakes sculptor and shared the inspiration behind several of her 2015 Keepsake Ornament designs.
In case you missed it, here it is. Click on the image below to see the interview.
Live Chat Recap: Orville Wilson
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Orville Wilson
Hallmark Production Artist
On Tuesday, July 7, Hallmark Production Artist, Orville Wilson 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.
Star Wars™
C-3PO™ and R2-D2™
Star Wars™: A New Hope™
19th in the Star Wars™ series.
Crayola®
Color Me Happy
Crayola®
Other Work
Shoe-sational!
Barbie™ Ornament
Career
Other
Throwback: Merry Miniatures
Earlier this week, Hallmark announced big news for miniatures collectors…Merry Miniatures are making a big comeback! In celebration of the the return of Merry Miniatures, this week’s Throwback Thursday takes you on a journey that highlights the evolution of this collection.
In 1974, an appealing group of small, handcrafted figurines made their Hallmark debut. These miniatures have had several names throughout the years but most collectors know them as Merry Miniatures.
Merry Miniature characters celebrate every day occasions and favorite holidays, especially Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. They add a charming touch to seasonal decor and are often displayed year-round. Their popularity inspired the introduction of Mini Merry Miniatures in 1983.
Merry Miniature Milestones
1974
- Introduction of a new line of plastic “Party Favors.” Original offerings included figurines for Everyday, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- Property figurines introduced (Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy)
1976
- Manufactures mark added to figurines (©Hallmark Cards, Inc., ©HMK CDS)
- Betsey Clark introduced
- First St. Patrick’s Day figurine included in product
offerings (white pipe)
1977
- Collection renamed Merry Makers
1979
- Collection renamed Party Favors
- First Valentine’s Day figurine included in product offerings (LOVE)
1980
- Collection renamed Little Treasures
1982
- First container included in product offerings
- Micey Mouse and Muppets introduced
1983
- Collection renamed Merry Miniatures
- Mini Merry Miniatures introduced
- First dated Merry Miniatures (Cupid, Valentine’s Day and polar bear, Christmas)
1984
- Merry Miniatures Greetings, the first boxed set was released. (8 piece set featuring cute animal figurines each with a different messages)
- Hugga Bunch introduced
1986
- First Graduation Merry Miniature figurine included in product offerings (owl)
1987
- Merry Miniatures become a Keepsake product line. Previously they had been created by the Hallmark specialty group as a gift offering.
1988
- First Merry Miniatures historical brochure published
- First commemorative Merry Miniature (snowman “For Teacher”)
1990
- Merry Miniatures series debut (series pieces denoted by a small heart-shaped symbol with a number in it.)
- Containers discontinued
1993
- First Merry Miniature display stand included in product offerings (formed plastic base with cardboard seasonal backdrops.
- First Independence Day Merry Miniatures included in product offerings
1996
- Merry Miniatures are offered in themed sets with decorative gift boxes
- PEANUTS introduced
1997
- HERSHEY’S introduced
1998
- Madame Alexander introduced
1999
- Winnie the Pooh introduced
2000
- First annual collection (Happy Hatters) included in product offerings
2001
- Merry Miniature repaints included in product offerings (The Magic of Childhood collection). Figurines available in Blonde, Brunette and Auburn hair colors.
2002
- Merry Miniatures line discontinued
2015
- Merry Miniatures line relaunched
Fun Facts
Merry Miniatures started as party favors and sold for a dollar or less.
Many older Merry Miniatures are not marked as such collectors may not realize that certain pieces are Merry Miniatures.
Five of the Merry Miniatures produced in 1976 and 1977 are similar to the Hallmark “Adorable” ornaments. These are the Betsey Clark (holding star), Santa (with kitten), Drummer Boy and Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy.
Two Merry Miniatures have been Keepsake Ornament Collector’s Club exclusives. In 1988 Seal of Friendship (a white seal pup balancing a red Christmas ball ornament on it’s nose) was given to KOCC members as a member-get-member gift. And in 1995 “Cinderella’s Stepsisters” (complements the Cinderella collection), was given away as a gift membership bonus.
None of the Merry Miniature series lasted longer than three years.
July Keepsake Wallpaper
Enjoy fun in the sun with this month’s Free Wallpaper featuring Fun in the Sun, A summertime companion to the Kringle and Kris series by Kristina Gaughran. Only available at the Keepsake Ornament Club event.
Fun in the Sun
Companion to Kringle and Kris series.
Tammy Haddix to Appear on the Hallmark Channel
In Celebration of Ornament Premiere, Keepsake artist Tammy Haddix will appear LIVE on Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family” on Friday, July 10, at 10 a.m. (ET)/9 a.m. (CT). Tammy will share stories behind some of the Keepsake Ornaments she created for this year’s collection.
The encore of Tammy’s interview will run on Monday, July 13 at noon (ET)/11 a.m. (CT).
Location: Hallmark Channel
Date: Friday, July 10, 2014
Time: 10 a.m. (ET)/9 a.m. (CT)
2016 Sneak Peek
Here is a sneak peek of the 3rd in the unofficial Musical Soldier series. According to Keepsake Artist Anita Marra Rogers, the design was inspired by her son, who plays the sousaphone in marching band.
Musical Soldier
Special Edition
by Anita Marra Rogers
Missing Series Symbol
The Keepsake Ornaments team recently discovered that the 2015 Christmas Window, 13th in the series is missing its numbered series symbol. However, the appropriate series identification is present and correct on the ornament packaging.
Christmas Window 2015
13th in the series
Although Hallmark understands how important these symbols are to collectors, they are unable to add them at this late date, but be assured that this ornament is still an authentic edition of the series.
Orville Wilson Live Chat Rescheduled
The date for the LIVE CHAT with Hallmark Production Designer, Orville Wilson has been prosponed one week, as such he will now be on the Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Facebook page on Tuesday, July 7 at 1 p.m. CST.
Orville Wilson
Hallmark Production Designer
- Location: Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Facebook page
- Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2015 (New Date)
- Time: 1:00 p.m. CST
During this time, you can chat with the Orville, ask questions, learn more about him, and there will be giveaways!
To participate simply set up a Facebook account and click on the Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Facebook page link on the set date.
Throwback: Beauty of Birds
Earlier this week, Hallmark Master Designer, Edythe Kegrize served as the guest artist for the first of two Hallmark Keepsake Ornament live chats. One of the topics she chatted about was her popular “The Beauty of Birds” series. This week’s Throwback Thursday takes you back to a story that was written in 2007 (just a couple of years after the series was hatched), which talks about the inspiration behind and creation of these fine-feathered friends.
Beauty of Birds
Inspired by Nature’s Charm and Elegance
Designer Edythe Kegrize loves birds, so it’s only natural she’d bring this passion to the Keepsake Ornament series, The Beauty of Birds.
Northern Cardinal
The Beauty of Birds
1st in the series.
The series began in 2005 with the handsome Northern Cardinal ornament and followed up in 2006 with Black-Capped Chickadee. In both ornaments, Edythe goes beyond a naturalistic rendering to stylize the birds’ most dramatic and elegant features.
“I fancied them up,” she explains. She notes that her birds are decorated with gemstones and design stylings inspired by the cloisonné enameling technique. Each bird bears a small holiday gift of nature. The cardinal holds a sprig of mistletoe, while the chickadee carries holly.
Before joining Keepsake in 2003, Edythe was a Hallmark illustrator known for her decorative mastery. If someone needed a design with elegant sophistication and beauty, Edythe often got drafted. She brings to the Keepsake studio a fascination for surface design and an encyclopedic knowledge of handcrafts.
As a Keepsake designer, she thoroughly researches and illustrates her ornaments in two dimensions, leaving the actual sculpting to others. The first two ornaments in The Beauty of Birds were sculpted by LaDene Votruba, who has since retired.
Edythe says she plans to choose birds with dramatic markings and plumage for the series as well as widely recognizable birds with large North American ranges.
Though every bird has its charms, Edythe is especially fond of her chickadee ornament—a subtly ornate little bird perched on a small holly branch. “He’s a very stylish and dapper little fella, with his black cap and throat and white cheeks,” she says. “It’s just the kind of ornament I’d hang on my Christmas tree.”
With The Beauty of Birds, Edythe can now celebrate her feathered friends both indoors and out.
Reprint of: “Beauty of Birds, Inspired by Nature’s Charm and Elegance.” Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, The Inside Stories From the Artists Who Create Them by John Peterson.