A Sweet 2015 Sneak Peek
Here’s a preview of some fun in store for next year’s Halloween.
Keepsake artist Nina Aubé has created the first Cookie Cutter Halloween, a companion ornament to her popular Cookie Cutter Christmas series that began with a KOC event exclusive in 2011.
In Nina’s ornament, a mouse dressed as a witch makes her trick-or-treating rounds through a tiny neighborhood created within a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter.
“I love to create worlds that depict characters living in a big world” she says. I added sweet elements to the scene such as candy corn and cookies because I believe that’s part of the charm of the series.”
And the Halloween scene is a familiar one to the artist from her own youth. “Halloween is a favorite holiday of mine. I used to love dressing up and getting candy with my sisters while growing up in Chicago,” Nina says. “I still dress up for parties, but no more trick-or-treating for me. I pass out the candy rather than pick it up.”
Cookie Cutter Halloween
by Nina Aubé
Ornament Insights – “Mr. October”
Revisit the thrilling moment when baseball legend Reggie Jackson became “Mr. October” with Charles Young, Keepsake product development manager.
“With the sports ornaments, we always look for a signature pose or something historically significant. This captures that 3rd home run he hit in the final game of the 1977 World Series.
We wanted to take fans back to that moment in time where you’re wondering ‘Can he do it?’ And sure enough, he did.” — Charles Young, Keepsake Product Development Manager.
“Mr. October”
Reggie Jackson
Artist Insights – Don Palmiter
Cruise down memory lane with Don Palmiter as he shares what drove him to create his tribute to a classic car.
1965 Ford Mustang
“My brother graduated from high school in 1965, and that next year he got a ’65 Mustang GT that looked a lot like this. I graduated in 1967, and on my graduation night he let me drive his car. So it meant a lot to me to revisit this car and relive those memories.” — Don Palmiter, Keepsake Artist
Littleton, CO Presentation (Deb Nielsen and Don Palmiter)
During the Friday night dinner in Littleton, CO, Don Palmiter and Debra Nielsen gave brief presentations.
Deb started off her presentation by talking about Hallmarket, a Hallmark Art Fair which showcases the creative talents of over 100 Hallmark employees’, including: artists, photographers, sculptors, designers, and photo stylists . [This is the artists’ personal work outside their jobs with Hallmark.]
This years fair will be held Saturday, September 27, in Crown Center Square by the ice rink, from 10 AM – 5 PM. Purchases may be made by cash or check, directly to the artist.
During her presentation Deb shared that Linda Sickman has fully retired. As a result of Linda’s retirement, Deb has taken over the ‘A Pony for Christmas’ series. She went on to say that she has always loved horses and is looking forward to working on this series. In closing Deb revealed that next years design features a circus horse.
Don then spoke. While acknowledging his wife Karol, who accompanied him to the event, he shared a interesting piece of trivia: The Victorian Inn (Karol Inn), 19th in the Nostalgic Houses and Shops series, is named after her.
Don then went on to recount about his career with Hallmark. He said he was recruited during his senior year of high school after Hallmark saw the portfolio he had prepared for his college admissions. One week after graduating from North Kansas City High School he started working at Hallmark.
In the late eighties Don came up with the idea for the ‘Classic American Car’ series. Three years after presenting his idea, the series was launched. As a result of having worked on this series for so long, his Hallmark colleagues nick named him the ‘Wheel Guy’.
In addition to liking cars Don also likes architecture. This year’s edition to the ‘Nostalgic Houses and a Shops’ series, ‘Andy’s Cars,’ is named after his wife’s uncle, who owned ‘Andy’s New and Used Cars’. Don also said that we will probably see the name ‘Mollie’ incorporated into the name or design of a future building as this is his granddaughter’s name. [Could this be a hint about what he is working on for 2016?]
Don concluded his speech by talking about his impending retirement. Currently he is working on designs for 2016, after which he will officially retire and then move to Tulsa, OK to be closer to his children and grandchildren. Once retired he may still collaborate with other artists on future ornament designs. Likewise he said he hopes to be included in future KOC events.
*NOTE: Although pictures weren’t shown at the event, I have included a previously released picture of the 2015 ‘A Pony For Christmas’ ornament, that was included in the 2014 Dream Book event Sneak Peek presentation, to help individuals visualize what it looks like.
A Pony for Christmas
18th in the series
Going, Going… GONE! (09/09/2014)
As of August 13, the following ornaments are permanently out-of-stock* and replenishment is not available, as such retailers can no longer re-order them. Once stores sell their existing inventory, they will be SOLD OUT!
pg. 92 (KOC Edition)
FROSTY HALLOWEEN FUN
By Matt Johnson.
QFO5216
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive
SWEET SKULL
By Sharon Visker
QFO5206
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive
HANGIN’ WITH COUNT SNOOPY
By Jim Kemme
QFO5203
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive
The following ornaments have low or no inventory remaining and have been added to the temporarily out-of-stock list:
pg. 20
FROSTY FRIENDS
Special 35th Anniversary Edition
By Robert Hurlburt and Tom Best
QXGO1013
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive
pg. 23
COCOALICIOUS FUN
hoops&yoyo
By Jim Kemme.
QGO1286
pg. 25
SIMPLE GIFTS
1st in the Marjolein’s Garden series
Designed by Marjolein Bastin
Sculpted by Julie Forsyth.
QX9526
Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusive
* Permanently Out-of-Stock/SOLD OUT List – A list of the ornaments that are no longer available for retailers to reorder. That said, keep in mind that any ornaments ordered prior to the sell out will be shipped to retailers. Depending on the quantities a retailer initially ordered, it may be faced with an early sell out. If you are looking to purchases any of these ornaments (especially those that are denoted as Hallmark Gold Crown Exclusives) you may want to do so early in the season.d
Artist Insights – Rodney Gentry and Matt Johnson
Keepsake Artists Rodney Gentry and Matt Johnson offer no apologies for creating a salute to a classic boardgame.
Sorry®
1st int eh Family Game Night series
“We decided to combine both the box and the board in the ornament, and then Matt illustrated it to bring it to life. But I made sure that the red piece was the winner because that was always my color as a kid.” — Rodney Gentry, Keepsake Artist who designed the ornament with fellow Keepsake Artist Matt Johnson.
Anchorage, AK Q&A Session (Tom Best)
To the surprise of many, Tom Best didn’t have a presentation prepared for the Friday night dinner in Anchorage, AK. Instead of giving a personal insight into one of his 2014 Keepsake ornaments and sharing a Sneak Peek of one of his 2015 Keepsake ornaments, the floor was opened up for questions. Here are the questions that were asked, along with his responses.
Q. What can we do to get more Alaskan animals on your Frosty Friends pieces?
“There are many filters for approval in the creative process for ornaments. Some animals may seem like a good idea at first but later in the creative process are disapproved.”
Q. How long does it take from the idea of an ornament till it makes it to the shelf?
“About a year. I am currently working on ornaments for 2016.”
Tom went on to say “Some of my ideas for ornaments that I don’t have time on my schedule to personally work/sculpt/craft myself are given to other artists to bring to life.”
Q. Can you provide examples of those.
“Certain Star Wars figures and some of the older Hot Wheels figures.”
Q. Do all ornaments start as a sculpture?
“No, some start as sketches, or are digital designs.”
Q. Have you seen anything here in Alaska since you arrived for inspiration?
“Yes! However, sometimes you don’t know how you are going to use something until you are in that creative mode and then it just pops into your head.”
Q. What are your favorites series that you have worked on?
“Tin toys, beer steins and guitars”
Q. How long will Frosty Friends continue?
“There is no end in sight at this time.”
Tulsa, OK Sneak Peek (Julie Forsyth)
At the Local Club Dinner event in Tulsa, OK, Julie Forsyth gave a brief presentation and then took a few questions from the audience.
Julie started out by talking about one of her favorite 2014 ornaments, ‘Graceful Ballerina.’ She said, that this ornament was particularly meaningful to her because it reminded her of her daughter when she was younger. She also went on to say that dancing is very special to her, because in addition to her daughter being a dancer, her mother was also a dancer. As for herself, she said, although she isn’t a professional.
For her 2015 Sneak Peek, Julie spoke about a new series, ‘Mary’s Bear’, that she will be collaborating on with Hallmark Master Artist, Mary Hamilton. Similar to the popular ‘Mary’s Angels’ series, Mary will concept the designs and Julie will use Mary’s drawings to sculpt the ornaments. The first-in-series piece features a brown bear, wearing a red sweater and knit hat, on ice skates. Julie commented, that although she has worked with Mary many times, this was the first time they worked together on an ornament.
Julie then went on to talk about her career at Hallmark. She started in 1977. After working in various departments, she took maternity leave in 1983. Upon returning in 1998, she joined the Keepsake Studio and has remained there since. She said she plans to stay in Keepsakes as long as possible as retirement is not part of her vocabulary.
As an interesting piece of information Julie mentioned that she has finished working on all of her 2015 Keepsake ornament designs- they are now in pre-production. Currently she is working on designs for 2016. She also mentioned that once she has completed a design and it is approved for production, she moves on to the next design and rarely revisits past creations.
During the Q & A segment, an attendee asked about retired Hallmark Keepsake artist, Sue Tague, who happens to also be Julie’s sister. Julie replied, Sue is doing fine and working on her home.
NOTE: Sue will be one of the retired Hallmark Keepsake artists signing at the Ozark Collector’s Club annual Show and Sell secondary market event on October 18, 2014 in Springfield, MO.
Another attendee asked Julie what was her most favorite ornament that she herself created. As she had commented earlier in the evening that dancers were special to her, it isn’t surprising that her response was: “Dancer in Flight”, a porcelain ballerina ornament she created in 2003.
Can’t Wait to Skate
1st in the Mary Hamilton’s Bears series
Artist Insights – Orville Wilson
Keepsake Artist Orville Wilson talks about why he loves the new Transformers ornament and hints at things to come.
Optimus Prime
Transformers
“I was always a Transformers kid, and I love Optimus Prime. I remember standing in the store and just studying the packaging and looking at all the details. But let’s just say that I think my real Transformers Keepsake moment is yet to come. I’ll leave it at that.”
September Keepsake Wallpaper
Get an eyeful of a real wise guy with this month’s Free Desktop Wallpaper featuring “Whoooo’s Watching” by Sharon Visker.
Whoooo’s Watching