Crystals return to the Birds
Last year, in an attempt to keep manufacturing cost down, and thus be able to maintain the $14.95 price point of the Beauty of Birds series, Hallmark decided to replace the stylistic rhinestones with glitter spots.
Almost immediately collector began to voice their discontent with this substitution. In addition to posting on Hallmark’s Facebook page and in on-line forms, collectors took their upset with them to last years “KOC 25th Class reunion” national event. In both the Sneak Peek and Artist seminar’s they asked both the artist (Edythe Kegrize) and the Retail Merchandise Manager about the change and pleaded for the return of the crystals.
As a result of this overwhelming response, Hallmark has restored the gems on this popular series. Look for them on this years Painted Bunting which will arrive in stores in time for Ornament Premiere.
Painted Bunting
8th in the Beauty of Birds series
Last year, in an attempt to keep manufacturing cost down, and thus be able to maintain the $14.95 price point of the Beauty of Birds series, Hallmark decided to replace the stylistic rhinestones with glitter spots.
Almost immediately collector began to voice their discontent with this substitution. In addition to posting on Hallmark’s Facebook page and in on-line forms, collectors took their upset with them to last years “KOC 25th Class reunion” national event. In both the Sneak Peek and Artist seminar’s they asked both the artist (Edythe Kegrize) and the Retail Merchandise Manager about the change and pleaded for the return of the crystals.
As a result of this overwhelming response, Hallmark has restored the gems on this popular series. Look for them on this years Painted Bunting which will arrive in stores in time for Ornament Premiere.
Sweet Seas Ahead
For the second time in the history of the Santa’s Sweet Ride series, Santa takes to the sea to deliver his colored sugar cube gifts, with icing bows. As with each new edition, I am always eager to find out just what sugary snacks Keepsake studio Senior Sculptor Tammy Haddix has imaginatively used to create his latest vehicle. As such I contacted her. Here are the details she shared with me.
Santa is maneuvering his lemon drop (head) submarine with Lime Jelly Slice fins, when he happens upon a Jelly (Swedish) Fish. There is red licorice vines around the hatch, white icing around the port holes and Mike and Ike’s fruit chews on the bow. An orange gumdrop and Red (Hot) hard candy propeller completes the design.
Now if that doesn’t ignite a craving in you, I don’t know what will!
Santa’s Sweet Ride
6th in the series
The 2012 On-line Dream Book Goes Live
KOC members can now see the 2012 Dream Book on-line at www.kocmembers.com.
As always you will need your KOC membership number along with your zip code in order to log into this members only section of Hallmark’s website.
Ornament Reveal Clue #1
This year, four Keepsake Ornaments will be revealed during Ornament Debut Weekend. You can get a head start guessing what those ornaments might be by watching our series of video clues right here.
Here’s the first official clue to one of the four Keepsake Ornaments that will be revealed during Ornament Debut Weekend, October 6 & 7, at your Hallmark Gold Crown store.
Click on the image below to play the video.
Voice over: Parents all say that it’s not fun to tease, but some girls will sure disagree. For forty years now they’ve proved mom and dad wrong, as you will most certainly see.
Let’s see if we can collectively figure this out. Enter your best guess in the comment section of this post.
Hints in the Clue
The word “tease” (in the voice over) possibly a play on words
“For forty years now” (in the voice over) reference to 1972
UPDATEThere is much speculation that this piece will be a Barbie Beauty Center, Barbie Styling Head.
Barbie Beauty Center
Barbie Styling Head
(Ornament Debut Reveal #2)
3¼” w.
$17.95 USA QXI2711
Joplin Gets A Signing!
On this, Dream Book Eve, as we mark the final hours in anticipation of the on-line release of the 2012 Keepsake ornament catalog, what better time to hear the heart warming news that Joplin* has been awarded one of the sixteen In-Store Artist Signing events that will be held this Fall. Congratulation to both the Bright Christmas Dreamers Collectors Club and Amanda’s Hallmark for winning a signing event and for also being selected as one of only four Grand Prize winners.
Here is the information for the Joplin Artist signing:
Grand Prize Winner
Amanda’s Hallmark
1651 W. 7th St.
Joplin, MO 64801
(417) 623-1997
Date: August 4
Artists: Kris Gaughran & Ruth Donikowski
Retired Artist: Linda Sickman
Hosted by: Bright Christmas Dreamers Collectors Club
Additional Information
*On the afternoon of Sunday, May 22, 2011 a catastrophic tornado struck Joplin, Missouri devastating the southern part of the city and leaving hundreds, including five members of the Bright Christmas Dreamers Collectors Club, with their belongings in ruins.
Reveal Ornaments Clues
The 2012 Wish List offers up the first set of clues regarding the identities of this year October Debut Reveal Ornaments.
Ornament Debut Reveal Ornament #1
Non-property Magic ornament
$34.95 USA QXG3241
Ornament Debut Reveal Ornament #2
Licensed property ornament
$17.95 USA QXI2711
Ornament Debut Reveal Ornament #3
Disney ornament
$17.95 USA QXD1071
Ornament Debut Reveal Ornament #4
Licensed property ornament
$17.95 USA QXI2074
Delivery of KOC Dream Book to be Slightly Delayed
Although Hallmark has been making every effort to get the KOC special edition Dream Book to it’s membership earlier this year, due to printing issues, there will be a slight delay.
Unlike previously announced, Dream Books will not begin arriving in homes in late March but instead a week later during the week of April 2nd, which is still 2 weeks earlier than normal.
In the mean time, KOC members will be able to view the Dream Book on-line at www.kocmembers.com starting March 19th. That’s next Monday! Yeah! As always you will need your KOC membership number along with your zip code in order to log into this members only section of Hallmark’s website.
Update
Canadians started receiving their KOC Collectors Edition Dream Books on March 21. A little less than a week later, on March 27, it was also reported as being received in the US.
2012 In-Store Register-to-Win Prizes
Once again participating Hallmark Gold Crown store will be giving away several limited-quantity ornaments as part of two in-store register-to-win drawings. The first drawing will be held in conjunction with Ornament Premiere weekend (July 14-15, 2012) and the second will coincide with Ornament Debut weekend (October 6-7, 2012).
NOTE: All prizes will be limited to 2 of each ornament per participating Hallmark Gold Crown store.
Puppy Love
Repaint of 2012
22nd in the series.
Ornament Premiere
Christmas Cardinal
Special Edition
Ornament Premiere
Season’s Treatings
Special Edition
Repaint of 2012
4th in the series
Ornament Debut
Heavenly Friends
Special Edition
Ornament Debut
Additionally three “Countdown to Christmas” tabletop pieces (one for each day of the event) will be given away during a R-T-W drawing held in conjunction with a new December event.
2012 Wish List
2012 Wish List
Ever since Hallmark announced in the January issue of Collectively Speaking that the Collector’s Edition Dream Book would begin arriving earlier this year (late March) KOC members have eagerly anticipated this new yet somewhat ambiguous date. Now that we are close to half way through the month, excitement is building as we turn our attention to counting down the days that remain, in much the same way that a child counts the days til Christmas, while waiting to hear of someone receiving their copy as somehow this will hasten the delivery of our own copy.
In any case, in order to pass whatever time remains, here is a copy of this years Wish List. If nothing more read over the titles and imagine what the ornaments might be!
Download a PDF of the 2012 Wish List
Once again, Hallmark will be awarding 500 (Crown Rewards) bonus points when you complete your Wish List, take it to your local Hallmark Gold Crown retailer and pick up your order by July 22, 2012.
Wish List – A request form listing each ornament in the Dream Book by page number. The wish list enables customers to specify in advance which ornaments they want to purchase. It is important to understand that this is a request form, not an order form. Completing the wish list does not guarantee a customer will receive each of the ornaments requested.
Local Clubs Receive First Mailing for 2012
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 January 2012 issue of Collectively Speaking, the local club newsletter for the Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Club and a “Peace, Goodwill to All Angel”. This beautiful angel was pictured in the 2008 Dream Book (as a tree topper) but never available for purchase at retail.**
Previously it was only available to attendees of the 2009 “Memories for the Making” KOC event as part of the event gift bag. Hallmark recommends that it NOT be used as a tree topper as originally intended but instead as a display piece.
Peace, Goodwill To All Angel
* That’s two more mailings than previous years and twice the excitement!
** The “Peace, Goodwill to All Tree Topper” was pulled during production, due to issues with it’s weight distribution. It has since been given away under the Name “Peace, Goodwill to all Angel”.