2012 Dream Book Covers Revealed
There will be two print versions of this years Dream Book. In addition to the in-store Dream Book, which will be available at local retailers in early April, Hallmark has once again produced a Keepsake Ornament Club Edition.
As previously reported, this Special club edition will be mailed directly to KOC members starting at the end of March.
The cover of the in-store Dream Book spotlights the 13th in series, Toymaker Santa, by Ken Crow on it’s cover. This year Santa is standing up (stepping forward) holding a Jack-in-the box in one hand while he cranks it with his other hand.
The Keepsake Ornament Club Edition Dream Book showcases “Trimming The Tree”, the 2012 Magic-Cord Frosty Friends ornament. Frosty and his pals (penguin and polar bear cub) are depicted decorating a Christmas tree. The ornament features a round circular snow topped base and surrounded with an underwater scene.
Additional Historical Information
Although the first booklet containing a pictorial review of the then current Keepsake ornament line was released in ’79, it wasn’t until ’90 that the “Dream Book” name was first included on the cover of the annual Keepsake ornament catalog.
Announcement: Mattel properties (Barbie and Fisher-Price) to end in 2012
Hallmark takes pride in offering all of the top five licenses for their product categories, and seven of the top 10 licenses. Having contracts with companies like Disney, Warner Brothers, Lucasfilm and many others means they can create products that their customers look for in their stores.
Unfortunately, in the highly competitive licensing arena, the game is constantly changing.
That is the case with Hallmark’s 20-year relationship with Mattel. In the past couple of years, Mattel changed its licensing strategy, which means Hallmark’s licensing requirements no longer align with Mattel’s approach. Hallmark and Mattel wished to continue to work together on ornaments, but because Mattel had changed its long-standing approach to licensing, it was not possible for Hallmark and Keepsakes to remain in the relationship. As a result, 2012 is the last year Hallmark will have any Mattel properties – most notably Barbie and Fisher-Price. And the place where this will be most evident is in Keepsakes.
In the 2012 Dream Book that mails in mid-March, two series Barbie ornaments are noted as “final in series.”
2012 Sneak Peek: Thanksgiving Keepsake Ornament
A Thanksgiving Feast
The PEANUTS® Gang
Later this year, Hallmark will be releasing it’s first ever Thanksgiving Keepsake ornament.
This ornament will feature Snoopy, sporting both a Pilgrim hat and jacket, serving his infamous toast, candy and popcorn meal. Woodstock who is also dressed for the occasion, is wearing an Indian headband complete with a single feather, is perched on the brim of Snoopy’s hat.
2012 Sneak Peek: Halloween Keepsake Ornaments
The 2012 Halloween Keepsake ornaments will once again focus on The PEANUTS® Gang.
In addition to having three individual figural ornaments featuring various characters standing on a patch of grass, holding their pumpkin counterparts, there will be a fourth ornament that captures the iconic moment when Lucy, bobbing for apples, bites down on one only to find Snoopy at the other end while Charlie Brown cheers on in the background.
Charlie Brown o’Lantern
The PEANUTS® Gang
Snoopy and Woodstock o’Lanterns
The PEANUTS® Gang
Lucy o’Lantern
The PEANUTS® Gang
Bobbing for Apples
The PEANUTS® Gang
ADDITIONAL HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Halloween Keepsake ornaments debuted in 2003. Among the introductory offerings were 8 coordinating ornaments: Van Ghoul (QFO6007), Sneakaboo (QFO6009), Mr. Tap Happy (QFO6017), Zephyr (QFO6019), Acrobats (QFO6029), Mesmerelda (QFO6039), Midnight Serenade (QFO6047), Stack O’Lanterns (QFO6049) and a display piece, 1300 Oak Road (QFO6037) for this collection.
2012 Reveal: Dream Book/Wish List Event Exclusive Ornament
Stargazer Lily Fairy
Fairy Messengers
Special Edition
New this year! The “Stargazer Lily Fairy,” a repaint of the 8th in the Fairy Messengers series, will flutter into stores in April. She is a KOC member’s only Keepsake Ornament that has been added to generate excitement for early Wish List collection and KOC membership enrollment/renewal.
This Fairy features long dark-brown loosely flowing hair and darker skin. She is wearing a fuschia dress with a close fitting speckled skirt made from inward folding white trimmed petals.
Look for her during your Local retailer’s “Dream Book/Wish List Event,” slated to be held between April 28 and May 12.
NOTE: This is the first time ever that a limited-quantity ornament repaint is available for purchase prior to the core-line ornament that it is based on. The Tiger Lily Fairy (8th in the Fairy Messengers series by Kristina Gaughran) will be available at Ornament Premiere.
Dream Book/Wish List Event – An in-store event held in the spring, in which local Gold Crown stores invite collectors to an informal get-together in order to have them create and turn in their “Wish Lists” for the upcoming Keepsake ornament line. First held in 2011.
2012 Sneak Peek: Snowman Techno Plush
Swooshin’ Duo
Musical Plush Snowmen Collection
9th in Series.
Here is a sneak peek of this year’s Snowman Techno Plush which features a snowman and penguin skiing.
Press the button to hear a fun duet version of “Jingle Bells” while the snowman and penguin swoosh back and forth on their holiday joyride. Features Sound, Light, and Motion!
2012 Reveal: In-Store Artist Signing Exclusive Product
Get an early look at two Keepsake Ornaments created especially for in-store signing events: Mrs. Claus’s Stove and Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen Table.
As in past years, each features work by multiple artists under the art direction of Keepsake Artist Edythe Kegrize.
Each is an imaginative glimpse into the kitchen of the North Pole’s most beloved residents. Mrs. Claus’s Stove features more than two dozen objects, from freshly baked bread to wooden spoons, all created by Keepsake Artists. The kitchen table takes the same approach with retired artists contributing to the piece.
The pair of ornaments continues a theme established in 2010 with the release of Santa’s Armoire as that year’s in-store signing ornament. Last year, Mrs. Claus’s Cupboard was created for artist signings at the KOC 25th Class Reunion event—but those of you who missed it can get a repainted version when you renew your KOC membership for 2012.
These special-edition Keepsake Ornaments will be available at each location of a 2012 Keepsake Artist In-Store Signing.
“Locations to be announced for In-Store Signings.” For Keeps 11 Winter 2012: 5
Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Each of the sixteen In-Store Signing Event retail hosts will have the option of purchasing a maximum of 324 Mrs. Claus’s Stoves. Additionally, each local club host will be given one fully signed stove, to be used at the event, for either a charity raffle or silent auction with the proceeds to be donated to a charity of each clubs choosing.
Each of the four In-Store Signing Event Grand prize winning retailers will have the option of purchasing a maximum of 324 Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen Tables. Each of the other twelve In-Store Signing Event winning retailers will have the option of purchasing a maximum of 294 pieces. All of the 16 locations (local clubs/stores) hosting an event, will receive two fully signed tables for an event Register-to-Win drawing.
Announcement: 2012 KOC Dream Book Scheduled to Arrive Earlier This Year!
In response to collectors requests, Hallmark is working hard to get the 2012 Keepsake Ornament Club Edition Dream Book to club members earlier this year. As such, the KOC Dream Book will be mailed out earlier so that it will begin arriving in homes in late March! The on-line version of the 2012 Dream Book will be posted on KOCmembers.com in late March as well.
NOTE: Once again this special edition Dream Book, will have some club exclusive features that you won’t get anywhere else.
Merry Chris-moose Becomes First Collector Influenced Ornament
Merry Chris-Moose
Collector-influenced ornament
During the KOC 25th Class Reunion “Sneak Peek” seminar, held last summer, Hallmark announced it’s first ever collector influenced ornament on-line survey.
In the survey, ornament fans were asked to select one of six characters (chosen for their iconic connection to the holiday season) as the bases for a 2012 Keepsake ornament. Survey questions also asked about a seasonal theme for the character chosen, as well as for props or activities the character should be engaged in.
At the conclusion of the survey (October 15, 2011), all the votes were counted and the winner was none other than Tracey Larsen’s iconic moose.
Collector-influenced Ornament – Co-created ornament, designed by a Keepsake studio artist based on feedback from Keepsake ornament fans.
Keepsake Artist Katrina Bricker Retires
Katrina Bricker
After working for Hallmark for 17 years, 16 of which were in Keepsakes, Keepsake Artist Katrina Bricker has retired from her full time role (last Summer) in order to devote more time to her family.
Although Katrina is officially retired, she will continue to create future Keepsake ornaments, as her schedule allows.