Keepsakes Head to Comic-Con in 2014
This year Hallmark will return to Comic-Con International in San Diego (July 24-27, 2014) and New York Comic Con (October 9-12, 2014) with sneak peek previews of 2015 Keepsake Ornaments as well as three limited-edition ornaments available only at those events:
- Wampa™ (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™)
- Arkham’s Avenger (Batman: Arkham City)
- War Machine™ (Iron Man™)
Merry Makers Continuity Collection
The Merry Makers collection features favorite characters from these popular series-North Pole Tree Trimmers, Kris’ Penguins, Seasons Treatings and Frosty Friends. Collect all 4 to create a sweet holiday display! Only at your Hallmark Gold Crown store.
Dandy Candy Elf
Inspired by the new North Pole Tree Trimmers series
Sweet Treat Penguin
Inspired by the popular Penguins unofficial series
Jolly Gingerbread House
Inspired by the popular Seasons Treatings series
Frosting Frosty Friend
Inspired by Frosty Friends, the longest-running series.
2014 Final in series
NEWS FLASH! …SANTA TO STOP VISITING WITH ANIMALS – While the North Pole may be a magical place, that doesn’t mean it isn’t effected by the global economy.
An inside source, who wishes to remain elfnonymous, has reported that Santa Claus has been forced to make cuts, and not just in milk and cookies… The source went on to say that Santa has come to the realization that making a single Certified piece each year isn’t enough to correct for the faltering demand for traditional toys as more kids are wanting electronic media.
Late last year Santa was reportedly faced with having to cut back on his elfin staff budget and assume greater responsibility of the day to day operations of the workshop, including making many of the toys himself. As a result of having to take on these increased responsibilities he will no longer have the time to visit with the animals.
A Visit from Santa
6th and Final in the series
In preparation for this eventuality, last fall the Jolly Old Elf gathered five of his closest animal friends to mark the anniversary of the start of these visits and share with them that they shouldn’t be expecting a “Visit from Santa” every year anymore. He softened the news by telling them that he would do one final visit in 2014, but after that, his new duties would make future trips impossible.
Santa left the animals with treats and in a hopeful sentiment said, “I will always be with you in spirit.” Upon departing, he suggested that maybe in the future he might be able to visit with them again, just perhaps in a different setting.
2014 Sneak Peek & Wallpaper
This month’s Free Desktop Wallpaper, features “Pansies Stand for Thoughts” by Matt Johnson. This ornament which is based on the best-selling Hallmark greeting card will be available beginning May 3rd in limited quantities at participating Hallmark Gold Crown stores.
Pansies Stand for Thoughts
Save the Date (2015 National KOC Event)
The next national KOC event is scheduled for August 7-8, 2015 at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center in Kansas City, MO.
Event registration will open in early 2015.
A limited number of rooms are available at a discounted rate ($136.00/night) for August 5, 6, 7 & 8 at the Sheraton as well as ($134.00/night) at the Westin Crown Center Hotel, which adjoins the Sheraton via an enclosed walkway.
Reserve your room early and mention the 2015 Hallmark KOC event to get the discounted rate.
- Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center
reservation line: 1 (866) 716-8134Hotel: 1 (816) 841-1000 - Westin Crown Center Hotel
reservation line: 1 (800) 228-3000
Reveal: 2014 All-Stars
Two All-Stars, one baseball and one Hockey, join Hallmark’s 2014 Line-up!
“Mr October”
Reggie Jackson
Claude Giroux
Philadelphia Flyers®
Featured Artist – Julie Forsyth
Julie Forsyth
Hallmark Artist
Julie Forsyth has loved dance her entire life, so it’s only natural that she’s the go-to sculptor for the twirling beauties that emerge from the Keepsake Ornament studio each year. Her true passion for dance is woven throughout each step of her creative life—from designing costumes alongside choreographers to studying the various poses in her free time. She admits that some of her best years have been spent watching her own daughter dance.
Only a true dance aficionado would pick up on the proper turn-out pose in Julie’s various ballerina Keepsake Ornaments—as a collector noticed. And that’s that kind of collector comment that really brings a smile to her face. As Julie puts it, “We’re the only species that does anything like dance on the planet! That’s something to be proud of.”
Julie’s family picked up on her natural artistic abilities in the first grade when she sculpted the spitting image of the family dog. She continued her creative pursuits throughout high school and went on to work at an animation studio in New York. Following in the footsteps of her sister, a fellow designer, Julie made the move to Kansas City and started a job at Hallmark. The two siblings eventually worked side-by-side in the Keepsake Studio where Julie continues to bring her delicate designs to life each year.
Simple Gifts
1st in the Marjolein’s Garden series
Fans of Marjolein Bastin’s wonderful watercolor designs have come to Hallmark for years to see her classic florals in gift books, home décor and Keepsake Ornaments. Bastin’s work has made an appearance on a few Keepsake Ornaments over the years, but this year’s new series features a hand-sculpted three-dimensional design by Julie Forsyth.
Julie and a few other artists in the Keepsake Ornament Studio were able to take a very special trip to see the home and personal studio space of painter Marjolein Bastin. “She passed around some of her original artwork and we got to see her work a little bit,” Julie recalls, “It was so fun to meet her.” The beautiful style and warmth of Bastin’s home was an instant source of inspiration for Julie’s work on this first ornament in the Marjolein’s Garden series.
Collectors interested in this series should keep an eye out for the intricate details that Julie has incorporated in her design. She used new materials to keep the flowers light and lovely, while hand-painted petals and a delicate hemp rope tie the whole look together. Upcoming Keepsake Ornaments in this series will feature all kinds of wintery woodland friends, like the black-capped chickadee perched on this painterly watering can.
2014 DREAM BOOK PARTY Keepsake Ornament Sneak Peek
Hallmark has put together a presentation for local retailers to use in conjunction with their May 3rd Dream Book Party event. In addition to revealing five new 2014 ornaments (one of which is the first addition of a new series), and sharing updated images of the four other previously released First-in-series pieces, the presentation also previews a limited-quantity piece designed to commemorate the anniversary of a popular series, the three 2015 KOC membership ornaments and seven 2015 continuing series pieces.
Canadian Exclusive Ornaments
Later this year Hallmark will be releasing a Canadian Exclusive limited edition repaint of Patriotic Pals, 12th and final in the Happiness is PEANUTS® All Year Long monthly series. This must-have for Patriotic Peanuts fans, features Snoopy and Woodstock teamed up to provide a flag-waving Canada Day finale to the yearlong tribute to PEANUTS®.
Patriotic Pals
Repaint of 12th and Final in series
Available June 2014
Additionally in 2015 Hallmark will also be releasing a Canadian Exclusive limited edition repaint of Yankee Doodle Mickey, 12th and final in the A Year of Disney® Magic series.
Patriotic Mickey
Repaint of 12th and Final in series
Available June 2015
2014 Sneak Peek & Wallpaper
This month’s Free Desktop Wallpaper, features the 35th Anniversary edition of the Frosty Friends series by Tom Best and Robert Hurlburt.
Frosty Friends