2015 Sneak Peek and Wallpaper
Smile every time you look at your desktop with this months Free Wallpaper, featuring the 25th anniversary Puppy Love ornament by Keepsake Artist Anita Marra Rogers. This special anniversary edition, which depicts three new lovable puppies happily frolicking, is the the only one in the series to feature multiple puppies.
Puppy Love
25th Anniversary
Special Edition
Available September 6, 2015
Throwback: Shuttlecraft Galileo
It all started with the words, “live long and prosper.™”
“We considered several popular phrases from the original STAR TREK® television show for the lighted ornament’s voice message,” says Tina Hacker, senior editor. “We selected Mr. Spock’s words because they seemed especially fitting for Christmas,” she adds.
“Once we had the message, it was a quick decision to choose the shuttle for the design. We liked the fact that it belonged to the U.S.S. Enterprise™, and gave Spock a logical place from which to transmit a holiday message.”
Sculptor Dill Rhodus created the model for the spacecraft. “I didn’t know what it looked like at first,” he says smiling. “I watched the episode ‘The Galileo Seven’ 15 times to see how the shuttle was detailed and what parts were lighted. And Paramount Pictures sent us photos and diagrams.”
Rhodus’ first challenge was creating technical drawings for the staff in Hallmark’s Specialty Tooling department. They milled out the craft’s magnesium shell using a computer milling machine. “The machine was able to cut all the difficult angles perfectly,” Rhodus explains.
The artist, who has 20 years of engraving experience, hand-engraved each detail into the model. “Authenticity was our first priority,” he says, “and, of course the clarity of Mr. Spock’s voice. You’ll understand every word.”
Excerpted from: Special Ornaments to Fill Fall With Plenty of Collecting Excitement: “Shuttlecraft Galileo™”
Collector’s Courier: Volume Six, Number Three 1992
Leonard Nimoy
March 26, 1931 — February 27, 2015
Watch the Shuttlecraft Galileo commercial from 1992
New Series Prequel
Terri Steiger’s 2015 Club exclusive ornament, Steeped in Spirit, is a prequel to a new whimsical “Tea Time!” series which will debut in 2016.
Steeped in Spirit
Local Clubs Receive First Mailing for 2015
The first of four mailings that the national Keepsake Ornament Club will be sending to Local Clubs this year is currently being delivered to Club Sponsors/Club Contacts. The shipment contains: the February 2015 issue of Collectively Speaking* and a free Keepsake Ornament for your club to use as a raffle prize, register-to-win prize or however it chooses.
NOTE: We have reports of Clubs receiving: “Sprinkle the Merry!” and “Santa’s Busy Season” both from 2010. What ornament did your Club receive? Please let us know in the comments section below.
* Collectively Speaking – The local club newsletter for the Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Club.
Sprinkle the Merry!
Santa’s Busy Season
2015 Dream Book Release Dates (Updated)
The 2015 KOC Edition Dream Book will be arriving in-homes beginning April 13, 2015! This members’ only version will include a few ornaments Hallmark couldn’t picture in the in-store Dream Book and stories highlighting inspirations behind some of your favorite ornaments and the stories they tell.
The on-line version of this year’s in-store Dream Book will be posted on KOCmembers.com on Monday, April 20th. One week later, on Monday, April 27th, the on-line version along with a downloadable version of this years wishlist will be accessible to everyone on hallmark.com.
In preparation for this year’s Dream Book party, Hallmark Gold Crown stores will be receiving their copies of the in-store Dream Book in late-April.
UPDATE (3.10.15): The 2015 In-Store Dream Book will begin shipping to Hallmark Gold Crown stores on April 20.
2015 Reveal: New Kiddie Cars Classics are rolling your way!
Coming exclusively to Hallmark Gold Crown stores this May (and again in September) – Hallmark Kiddie Car Classics! Inspired by the classic automobiles that start car enthusiast pulses racing, and first introduced in the 1990’s, Hallmark’s line of Kiddie Cars Classics quickly became a successful and highly collectible venture. Two decades later, with the quality and craftsmanship only Hallmark can deliver, these scale replica pedal cars are cruising back into stores.
Kiddie Car Classics (pedal car scale replicas)
1965 Ford Mustang
Kiddie Car Classics
1958 Chevrolet® Corvette®
Kiddie Car Classics
Don’s Street Rod
Kiddie Car Classics
THE CUSTOM Collection
1949 Gillham Sport
Kiddie Car Classics
THE CUSTOM Collection
1957 Chevrolet® Bel-Air
Kiddie Car Classic
1949 Gillham Police Car
Kiddie Car Classics
THE CUSTOM Collection
1965 Ford Mustang
Kiddie Car Classics
THE CUSTOM Collection
NOTE: Each car is individually numbered as part of a limited-run quantity and includes a collector card inside the packaging with the artist story behind the product. Additionally, each design features a coordinating Keepsake Ornament.
Keepsake Ornaments
1965 Ford Mustang
Kiddie Car Classics
1958 Chevrolet® Corvette®
Kiddie Car Classics
Don’s Street Rod
Kiddie Car Classics
THE CUSTOM Collection
1949 Gillham Sport
Kiddie Car Classics
THE CUSTOM Collection
1957 Chevrolet® Bel-Air
Kiddie Car Classic
1949 Gillham Police Car
Kiddie Car Classics
THE CUSTOM Collection
1965 Ford Mustang
Kiddie Car Classics
THE CUSTOM Collection
Possible 2015 Sneak Peek
Here is a picture that Hallmark posted last November of a vintage cupcake tin displaying some of Keepsake Ornament artist Ruth Donikowski’s crafted cupcakes.
Looks like there are at least a few more designs planned for the future including a cupcake topped with a Christmas tree created from frosting.
Could this possibly be a hidden sneak peek of this years cupcake? Post your thoughts in the comment section of this post.
Christmas Cupcakes
Artist Insights: Toy Store Dreams
Take a walk down memory lane with Tammy Haddix as she recalls her inspiration for this years magic Christmas Window.
“I am so excited for everyone to see the magic Christmas window ornament I created that goes with the KOC membership ornament! The little girl is sculpted to look like me when I was that age! I had a bouncy horse that I loved to ride, so that memory inspired this ornament! This lights up, the rocking horse rocks and it plays “Toyland.” It will be available in the stores for everyone to buy!”
Toy Store Dreams
It’s All In the Details
There’s more than meets the eye with Christmas Window 2015, the KOC Membership ornament designed by Hallmark Keepsake Artist Tammy Haddix.
The ornament incorporates the guitar from the 2012 Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree ornament that was created by Tom Best. You may also recognize the boy and dog—they are from the third in the Christmas Window series, the Pet Shop from 2005. And if you look closely, the sheet music on the back of the ornament, “Toyland,” was chosen because it plays on this year’s Christmas Window Toy Store ornament. Tammy said it was fun to incorporate other ornaments into this KOC piece.
Plus, on this ornament and the past few window ornaments she’s done, Tammy turned the child around so the viewer can engage with him more.
“It’s been fun to give the boy more attitude and gesture. It brings him to life and gives him a personality!” Tammy said. “You can also see the emotion on the dogs face. He’s embarrassed by the boy playing air guitar!”
Christmas Window 2015
Reveal: Sweet Love
Here is an extra-sweet double dipping’ Valentine’s Day sneak peek of a 2015 Keepsake Ornament. Do these delectable little treats melt your heart?
Sweet Love