Sneak Peek of Three of Don Palmiter’s 2011 ornaments (Plus a Bonus)
Hallmark’s second Keepsake ornament Sneak Peek for 2011 includes pictures of 3 ornaments designed by Keepsake Studio Senior Sculptor Don Palmiter.
Decking the Door
Joyful Angel
Simply Beautiful Collection
Arts and Crafts Bungalow
28th in the Nostalgic Houses and Shops series
This year’s Nostalgic House ornament, the 28th in the Nostalgic Houses and Shops series, hits pretty close to home for one member of the Keepsake Studio, Meg Hilburn.” I had been wanting to do an arts-and-crafts style bungalow for awhile,” Don said. ” I took a sketch into a product review meeting, and afterward, Meg came up to me and said she lived in just that style of house. She brought in some photos and I ended up doing an ornament very close to her exact house.”
Meg, an Editorial Strategist for Keepsake Ornaments, was very happy to cooperate with his artistic process. The ornament features interior furnishings as well as exterior architectural stylings of the arts-and-crafts movement, which made the bungalow one of the most popular home designs in 1910s and 1920s America.
“The ornament has her stone fireplace and her roof. I painted the ornament the same as Meg’s home, inside and out,” Don said. “I took a little license with things, too, so I could add the arts-and-crafts feel. I added a ceramic chimney cap because a lot of those bungalows had them, although hers didn’t.”
And one other aspect of the bungalow has special significance for Don. “I grew up within a mile of where Meg’s house is,” he said. “I used to ride my bike all over that area when I was a kid, and those are some great memories for me.”
Don is already at work on the 2012 ornament in the series, and while he is not able to divulge any details, he did say that he got a lot of help from photos shared by Keepsake Artist Anita Marra Rogers.
In Addition to spotlighting Don, the latest Sneak Peek also revealed UP, 1st in the Disney/Pixar Legends series.
Up
1st in the Disney•PIXAR Legends series
2010 KOC Exclusive Ornament Still Available
The 2010 KOC Exclusive Frost Fun Decade repaint ornament is still available for purchase directly from the club. If you were a KOC member in 2010 and have not already taken advantage of this special offer, you can still order it by calling 1-800-HALLMARK.
Frosty Fun Decade
KOC exclusive
repaint of 2010
1st in the series
Possible New Series Debuting in 2011
Ireland
1st in the Angels Around the World series
By Katrina Bricker.
Here is a concept sketch for what is believed to be the 1st in a new Angels From Around the World series.
Additional Historical Information
In 2007 Hallmark released Joy to the World Angels (QSR8167), a set of 6 miniature ornaments designed by Edythe Kegrize and sculpted by various Keepsake studio artists. Each angel in this set depictes a different country including: Mexico, Germany, Africa, Ireland, Sweden and Russia.
Wreath of Memories Commemorates the KOC’s 25th Anniversary
The Wreath of Memories theme, which was depicted in the club’s first membership ornament, will be reinterpreted and updated to serve as the Club’s 25th Anniversary commemorative ornament. This piece will be one of the event exclusive products offered at this years KOC 25th Class Reunion, national event, which will be held in Kansas City, MO on August 5 & 6.
Wreath of Memories
1987
Keepsake of Membership ornament.
The club’s first ornamant, an elaborate handcrafted wreath, was designed to welcome Charter Members and celebrate the tradition of decorating with Keepsake ornaments. It marked the first time that tiny reproductions of favorite Keepsake designs from previous years were used on a new ornament.
Features (clockwise):
- ’84 Wooden Lamb, 1st in the Wood Childhood Ornaments series (QX4394)
- ’82 British Soldier, 1st in the Clothespin Soldier series (QX4583)
- ’85 Wooden Train, 2nd in the Wood Childhood Ornaments series (QX4722)
- a Rocking Horse.
The caption “1987 Charter Member” appears on the back, along with the official Club logo engraved in brass. Handcrafted. 3⅛” H QCX5809
Wreath of Memories
2011
KOC 25th Class Reunion event exclusive.
Features (clockwise):
- ’05 Forsythia, 18th in the Marys Angels series (QX2315)
- ’10 Snow Buddies, 13th in the series (QX8103)
- ’05 Toymaker Santa, 6th in the series (QX2205)
- ’99 House on Holly Lane, 16th in the NH&S series (QX6349)
- ’11 Irish Angel, 1st in the Angels From Around the World series
- ’05 Northern Cardinal, 1st in the Beauty of the Birds series (QX2135)
- ’89 Frosty Friends, 10th in the series (QX4572)
$19.95 USA QXC5034
Good Treatings Come in Three’s
Three different versions of the 2011 Seasons Treatings, 3rd in the series Keepsake ornaments have been produced. In addition to the regular ornament that will be released during Ornament Premiere on July 16, 2011, two different alternative color variations (altor-ations) have also been produced.
The first was given away to retailers who attended the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market® (Atlanta Market) held this past January.
The second altor-ation will be exclusively available for purchase during the KOC 25th Class Reunion (national) event held in Kansas City, MO. on August 5 & 6, 2011.
Regular
National Event Exclusive
Atlanta Market
2011 Dream Book Cover Revealed
The cover of the 2011 in-store Dream Book has been revealed. It will feature the 8th in series Father Christmas, by Joanne Eschrich.
Additional Historical Information
Although the first booklet containing a pictoral review of the then current Keepsake ornament line was released in ’79, it wasnt until ’90 that the “Dream Book” name was first included on the cover of the annual Keepsake ornament catalog
Sneak Peek of three of Sue Tague’s 2011 ornaments
Hallmark’s first Keepsake ornament Sneak Peek for 2011 included pictures of 3 ornaments designed by recently retired Master Sculptor and Keepsake Studio artist Sue Tague.
Milk Chocolate
One Colorful Sled
Buttoned-Up Snowman
Simply Beautiful Collection
2011 Holiday (Celebration) Barbie
At the International Toyfair held in New York, NY (Jacob Javits Center), Mattel revealed the 2011 Holiday Barbie™ Doll that this years Celebration Barbie™ Ornament will be based on.
Celebration Barbie™
Special 2011 Edition
Inspired by the Holiday® Barbie™ Doll
12th in the series
Handcrafted and fabric.
By Patricia Andrews.
In Memory of – Donna Lee (Hill)
Donna Lee
December 2, 1937 – February 8, 2011
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of beloved Hallmark Keepsake Artist Donna Lee. Please click on the attached links to see her full obituary or sign her guest book.
Here is an article I found at hookedonornaments.com that eloquently summarizes Donna’s career.
Hallmark Keepsake Studio Artist, Donna Lee sculpted hundreds of Hallmark Keepsake ornaments before her retirement in 1993. At the time of her retirement Donna had sculpted all of the Nostalgic Houses and Shops, one of Hallmark’s most popular series. The ornaments that Donna designed for Nostalgic Houses and Shops were inspired by the buildings, the people and her memories from childhood; as were many of the ornaments that she designed.
One of the original four artists chosen to begin the Keepsake Ornament department, Donna Lee joined Ed Seale, Peter Dutkin and Linda Sickman as the artists responsible for giving life to the Hallmark Keepsake ornament line that we still love today. In 1975 Hallmark introduced the first ‘handcrafted’ ornaments to the Keepsake line. There were twelve handcrafted ornaments that first year and Donna Lee was responsible for the six Adorable Adornment ornaments.
Besides the Nostalgic Houses and Shops series, Donna created many more of Hallmark ornaments most memorable designs. Before the beginning of Keepsakes, Donna was working in Hallmark’s Specialty Design Department. During her time there she brought in a prototype of a goofy looking reindeer; that reindeer became one of Hallmark’s all time best selling properties, Rodney Reindeer. In 1982 the Musical Angel became the first in an unofficial collection of angels that Donna calls the ‘mischievous angels.’ Collectors simply call them the Donna Lee angels. Donna Lee also championed the miniature ornament line. Original market research caused Hallmark to reject the idea of the miniature line. Donna Lee was instrumental in persuading some of the other studio artists to help her create a small tree complete with miniature ornaments. When presented with the result and shown the concept the miniature line was approved.
In 1993 Donna Lee retired from Hallmark primarily due to her health. But after a couple of years of retirement Donna pleased collectors by introducing the short lived Starry Eyed Ornaments. The Starry Eyed ornaments were only produced for a short period of time, but the detail of these ornaments is extraordinary and like most of Donna’s Hallmark designs, each had a story of its own.
Some information for this article came from: “Still Following Her Star – The Story of Donna Lee and the Ornaments She Creates” by Donna Lee with Deborah Shouse.
Related Story Kansas City Star Tribute | Donna Hill, She truly followed her star
2011 Sneak Peek: Susan G. Komen For the Cure Ornament
Two dollars from the sale of this ornament will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to support breast cancer research.
Angel of Inspiration