50th anniversary in-store artist signings locations
Norman’s Hallmark Shop
Christiana Center
320 Center Blvd
Newark, DE 19702-3227
(302) 499-3002
Artists: Joanne Wright & Emma Leturgez-Smith
Holly’s Hallmark Shop
Caste Village Shops
545 Caste Vlg Ste B
Pittsburgh, PA 15236-5521
(412) 882-2227
Artists: Terri Steiger & Tim Bishop
Jan’s Hallmark Shops
Green Mount Crossing
3610 Green Mount Crossing Dr
Shiloh, IL 62269-7285
(618) 206-2335
Artists: Kris Gaughran & Simone Mariano
Little Green Apple
Geneva Commons
510 Commons Dr
Geneva, IL 60134-2517
(630) 262-8578
Artists: Debra Nielsen & Gregor Benedetti
Gretchen’s Hallmark Shop
Mansell Crossing
7331 N Point Pkwy
Alpharetta, GA 30022-8254
(770) 643-0701
Artists: Tammy Haddix & Iman Zadrozny
Trudy’s Hallmark Shop
Creekwalk Village
1001 W 15Th St
Plano, TX 75075-8830
(972) 633-5609
Artists: Anita Marra Rogers & Allie Robillard
Amy’s Hallmark Shop
Northpark Plaza
10355 Federal Blvd Unit C
Northglenn, CO 80260-7448
(303) 465-0500
Artists: Tracy Larsen & Jake Angell
Karen’s Hallmark Shop
Grand Village Center
14515 W Grand Ave Ste 120
Surprise, AZ 85374-7195
(623) 975-0044
Artists: Sharon Visker & Rodney Gentry
Allie’s Hallmark Shop
Canyon Crest Town Center
5225 Canyon Crest Dr Ste 68
Riverside, CA 92507-6321
(951) 781-8401
Artists: Orville Wilson & Matt Johnson
Hedges Green Shopping Center
8705 Sw Tualatin Sherwood Rd
Tualatin, OR 97062-7529
(503) 691-0261
Artist:
NOTE: Nina Aubé will no longer be attending the Keepsake 50th Anniversary Celebration Event at Cindy’s Hallmark Shop in Tualatin, OR.
“Signing events are back!.” For Keeps 22 Summer 2023: 3.
Village Insights: Getting to know your Keepsake Village
Getting to know your Keepsake Village
These villagers have some fun passions and hobbies when they’re not busy creating Keepsake Ornaments!

Emma Leturgez-Smith
The Keepsake critter crew
For as long as she can remember, Emma Leturgez-Smith has been an animal lover. “I snuck home turtles, crawdads and frogs as a kid, and we had all kinds of pets. My first bird was a small budgie, who was my best buddy through middle school. He made me fall in love with birds.
“Today I have two parrots, Tequila and Matcha, who have made so many appearances on video meetings, they’re honorary Keepsake team members. They entertain us by mimicking kissing sounds-especiallv if they spot my husband and me kissing. It’s like being teased by kids!”
Emma’s dog, Finley, a 10-year-old Yorkshire terrier, is also a member of the Keepsake team. “He’s a big fan of my work-from-home schedule and also attends meetings as his nap schedule allows.”
Rounding out Emma’s critter crew are two hermit crabs and three roly-poly bugs. She says, “All of our animals love and entertain us in their own ways and they’re all family.”

Jake Angell
A monstrous universe
As early as second grade, Jake Angell was drawing monsters. “My monsters were originally inspired by Jim Henson creations,” he says. “I grew up on Sesame Street, The Muppets, Labyrinth and Dark Crystal and really enjoyed trying to draw all the Muppets.
“Now, they’re starting to become their own little universe. Last year I started working on my own gnomes, too, that live in the same forests as some of my newest creations, meditating monsters.”
So, where can you meet these monsters? Jake explains, “I was at our local convention, Planet Comicon, in March. I hope to start doing some online sales in the future but, for now, with limited time, I just do a couple shows for fun.”
The fun carries over to everything Jake has learned, too. “It’s been a great experience teaching myself how to take these monsters from paper to actual models. l’ve learned a lot about 3D printers, casting and painting to make my dreams a reality.”
Godzilla’s loft
When it comes to pop culture, Art Director Kurt Gaulke will tell you; *You name it, I collect it. I collect toys, monster stuff, comic books and records, just to name a few. But the showstopper of my house is definitely my Godzilla collection.
“As a little kid, I was into drawing monsters, dinosaurs and Godzilla. I’d pore over photos in my Famous Monsters of Filmland magazines and then draw them. Then came 3D model kits and figures and even a robot, and those things were my entry into collecting.”
Kurt still has those Godzillas of his childhood, and his collection has grown exponentially. “We built a loft in my house just for my collection. I recently took a lot of stuff down and was rearranging and dusting, and I can tell you dusting Godzilla toys is not easy! I came to the realization that I need to dial back. But there are definitely worse habits–at least that’s what I tell myself and my wife.”

Tammy Haddix
Mini gnomes, big world
Tammy Haddix has loved gnomes for as long as she can remember, so she thought it would be fun to make them herself! “The artwork in Wil Huygen’s book ‘Gnomes really captivated me, and I started creating my own miniature gnomes in 2011. I love building their worlds in cute little containers, like jars or lanterns. I work in paper clay and paint them with acrylic paint, then I use found objects for their worlds.” After opening an Etsy shop, Work of Whimsy, Tammy’s creations have become so popular that she ships her gnomes all over the world.
“I’ve shipped a gnome necklace to Greece for a bride to wear at her wedding, and my gnome cake toppers have gone to Canada and California, My creations have gone everywhere from Australia to Switzerland, Ireland, New Caledonia, Italy and more.”
Long considered good luck charms, as well as protectors of homes and gardens, gnomes are mythical little spirits, and it’s no surprise that Tammy’s tiny charmers are so popular. “Gnomes can do anything you can imagine,” she smiles. “You just have to believe in their magic.”
“Getting to know your Keepsake Village.” For Keeps 22 Summer 2023: 4-5.
Ornament Spotlight: Lil’ American Trucks
1954 Mercury M-100 rides again
Alex So brings it to life in mini form.
For lovers of pickup trucks, the 1954 Mercury M-100 is a gem. Sold only in Canada, the Mercury M-series was built by Ford and based on their F-series trucks.
One important difference in the two truck brands was the grille, and the Mercury grille is what first caught the eye of Keepsake Artist Alex So, back when he was doing a college research project.
“I fell in love with the design language of the Mercury grille. It really stood out from the others.”
To create the truck Alex fell for in miniature ornament form would not be easy, but he was up to the challenge. “I was passionate about preserving as many details of the M-100 as possible,” he explains, “and our team really pushed the limits of what we could manufacture to capture the essence and beauty of it.”
Alex hopes his passion for vintage trucks comes through in his new Lil’ American Trucks series, which will feature a different classic each year. “I really want to celebrate people who love their trucks,” he says. “The process of seeing my design sketches turn into 3D models and then into mockup samples was exciting. But the most enjoyable part was seeing the finished product ready to go on the shelf-and hopefully land on the tree of a vintage truck lover like me.”
“1954 Mercury M-100 rides again.” For Keeps 22 Summer 2023: 6.
Ornament Spotlight: Sweet Decade, Special Edition
A shining celebration
Tammy Haddix adds some sparkle to her 50th anniversary special edition Sweet Decade ornament.
Our August 8 KOC Facebook Live event will be here before we know it. Join us to celebrate our 50th anniversary with the release of this specially created member-exclusive ornament, available only at Halmark.com.
Putting a fun twist on her Sweet Decade design to celebrate the Keepsake Ornament 50th anniversary was the goal for Keepsake Artist Tammy Haddix. She explains, “I wanted a white and gold theme, so I decided to use white gumdrop numbers. And the hat with the gold icing is inspired by recent trends of dripping the icing over cakes.”
Hoping to pass along a celebratory feeling with her design, Tammy says, “I really wanted this ornament to feel special with all the gold and glitter. I hope you feel that shine come through!”
“A shining celebration.” For Keeps 22 Summer 2023: 7.
Ornament Spotlight: Fan Favorites
Making fan favorites happen
It’s a process, and our art directors are right in the middle of it all.
Did you ever wonder what goes into making all those Disney ornaments? Or Peanuts®, Star Wars™ or-any licensed character? We asked our Keepsake art directors, Kurt Gaulke and Charles Young, to walk you through the whole process.
“Our planning teams start by looking at what’s trending, and then we brainstorm what stories our ornaments will tell. It can get really complicated because we’re working a couple years ahead and we might not know the latest story for a movie or character. Sometimes we can get a nugget of info and, luckily, we’re all fans ourselves, so we’re really tuned in to the pop culture scene.
“Then it’s time for our artists to create visuals that we can share with licensors. Once they give us the green light, we look at a ton of references for characters, poses, etc., so we know we’re going to get it right. That’s really all a preprocess that happens before ornament creation begins.
“When it comes to creating, we work closely with our artists, and we check in often to make sure things are looking good along the way. We have great partners inside Hallmark who serve as liaisons with the licensors. They work back and forth, giving us feedback and then taking revisions to licensors until we get final approvals.
“We know if the licensors are happy with how things look, our customers will be, too. And that’s what’s most important to us.”
“Making fan favorites happen.” For Keeps 22 Summer 2023: 7.
Announcement: Artists Retirement
Celebrate Our Keepsake Village
Here in the Keepsake Village, we’re all about celebrating milestones and memories, and now we’re celebrating some of our dear friends and colleagues.
Keepsake Ornament Artists Joanne Wright, Robert Hurlburt, Tracy Larsen, Anita Marra Rogers, Rodney Gentry and Nina Aubé each has announced their retirement. Collectively, these six artists have a combined 238 years of service, knowledge and expertise at Hallmark. We’re very thankful for the artists’ years of creative work-just as we’re thankful for the great enthusiasm with which it’s been met by our Keepsake fans and consumers.
This isn’t an ending; it’s the beginning of an exciting next chapter. Our retiring artists will have more time with family, more time to travel, more time to pursue the directions that their creative minds always have led them in. And we’ve not seen the last of them! All are invited to continue contributing along with the larger Keepsake Artist community by creating exciting new content, including fan-favorite series and characters. Likewise, we in the Keepsake Village look forward to the next 50 years as we continue to infuse the studio with new talent, artistry and innovation that we can’t wait to share with all of you!
Retiring Artists
“Celebrate Our Keepsake Village.” For Keeps 22 Summer 2023: 8.
Press Release: Hallmark Announces 2023 Exclusive Products for Comic Con Events
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (May 23, 2023) – Hallmark, the iconic greeting card and gift company, is proud to announce its 2023 exclusive product offerings for both San Diego and New York Comic Con. These highly anticipated events bring together fans of all ages to celebrate their love for pop culture and Hallmark is thrilled to be a part of the excitement.
“We’re excited to offer fans exclusive products that showcase their adoration for the Star Wars™, Harry Potter and other fan franchises,” said Meredith McCormick, vice president of global licensing acquisitions at Hallmark. “Our team has worked hard to create unique items that capture the essence of these worlds and the joy that fans feel when they experience it.”
Hallmark For All Fankind
As part of our ongoing commitment to all fans, you will see PopMinded by Hallmark will now be presented at events as Hallmark with the tagline “For All Fankind.” This change reflects our commitment to celebrating all fandoms and pop culture. You will still find the unique gifts, collectibles, and decor from your favorite TV shows, books, movies, comic books and more that you have come to expect from Hallmark.
Online Star Wars Exclusive Hallmark Keepsake Ornament
In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Star Wars: The Knights of the Old Republic and the upcoming comic cons, an exclusive Hallmark Keepsake Ornament will be available online beginning Wednesday, May 24, at 10 a.m. CDT. A very limited number will also be available in person at SDCC and NYCC.
Darth Revan, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic™ Keepsake Ornament – $30: In 2003, Star Wars fans and video gamers were introduced to Darth Revan in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, an epic game set thousands of years before events in the original film. This ornament, featuring the fallen-Jedi-turned-Sith wielding a pair of red and purple lightsabers, is the perfect addition to any tree. Event exclusive—one of just 5,000 issued.
Shop the exclusive at Hallmark.com/EventExclusives.
Comic Con Exclusive Products
Attendees will have the chance to get their hands on highly sought-after Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments and Funko Pop! Hallmark Ornaments exclusively at Hallmark’s booth during the events.
The event exclusives will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis at the Hallmark booth when the convention opens each day. Sales permit one of each exclusive product to be sold per person, per transaction while supplies last.
Krrsantan™, Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett™ Keepsake Ornament – With his towering stature and unyielding strength, Krrsantan survived a career as a gladiatorial pit fighter to become a formidable bounty hunter—one who sought to kill Boba Fett before forming an unlikely alliance with him to keep peace on Tatooine. Relive the Disney+ original series Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett with this Christmas tree ornament featuring the fierce Wookiee mercenary. Event exclusive—one of just 3,000 issued. $30.
Boba Fett™ (Vintage Edition), Star Wars™ • Funko POP!® Hallmark Ornament – This Christmas tree ornament features the most infamous bounty in Star Wars lore, Boba Fett, as a scaled-down ornament version of one of your favorite Funko POP! Designs. Event exclusive—one of just 1,800 issued. $15.
More Event Exclusives
The Tenth Doctor, Doctor Who™ Keepsake Ornament – This beloved tenth incarnation of the Time Lord, portrayed by David Tennant, adventured through time and space from December 2005 – January 2010 with a variety of companions. Celebrate the Diamond Anniversary of the long-running BBC series with this Christmas tree ornament featuring the Doctor holding his sonic screwdriver in his brown suit, a blue-lined tan trench coat, and cream sneakers—a repaint of the 2022 Doctor Who ornament. Event exclusive—one of just 3,000 issued. $25.
Luna Cheers for Gryffindor™, Harry Potter™ Keepsake Ornament – Loyal and supportive with a whimsical sense of self-expression, Luna Lovegood is the embodiment of kindness and encouragement. Bring Luna’s eccentric spirit to your tree with this Christmas ornament that features Harry Potter’s colorful Ravenclaw friend wearing an oversized lion’s head hat while cheering for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Event exclusive—one of just 2,500 issued. $25.
Broly Funko, Dragon Ball Z • Funko POP!® Hallmark Ornament – This Christmas tree ornament of the menacing and powerful Saiyan villain, Broly, from Dragon Ball Z features a scaled-down version of one of your favorite Funko POP! designs. Event exclusive—one of just 1,500 issued. $15.
Allotments will be divided evenly each day of the two conventions. Additionally, a small quantity of some of the exclusives will be made available for Keepsake Ornament Club Members and Canada Customers to purchase. Details to follow. For more information on KOC membership, visit Hallmark.com/KOC.
In addition to the event-exclusive products, the Hallmark booth will showcase upcoming products and sneak peeks from Hallmark’s full line of pop culture-themed products. Visit Hallmark.com/FanEvents for details on how to purchase exclusives and learn about on-site activities planned for each event released closer to the date.
For more information about Hallmark and the pop culture products offered, visit Hallmark.com or your local Hallmark Gold Crown Store.
Artist Insights: 2023 Rocking Horse Memories
Rocking Horse Memories #4 is almost here! Can we get a yeehaw? Because this year’s ornament—featuring beautiful blue, white, red, brown, and silver coloring—has a subtle Americana theme thanks to Keepsake Artist Matt Johnson.


“I look at prior years to see what we have not done before with regards to the color palette. I then narrow down the colors and provide some different views to plan out the patterns on the body,” Matt says.
He also did a deep dive into horse history to ensure that the ornament is not only amazing to look at, but also accurate.
“The Spotted Saddle Horse, as seen on this year’s ornament, is a horse breed from the United States that was developed by crossing Spanish-American type gaited pinto ponies with gaited horse breeds, such as the Tennessee walking horse,” Matt says. “The result was a colorful, smooth-gaited horse used both in the show ring and for pleasure and trail riding.”
After gathering inspiration and digitally designing the ornament based on last year’s sculpt, Matt says he took a trip to his local fabric store to source material for the tail.
“I stand around in the aisle holding the embroidery floss, my Pantone fan books and earlier rocking horses to decide colors. Employees usually are curious about what I am doing so I tell them I am building a rocking horse for my dollhouse!” Matt says.
The ornament is made with a mixture of other materials, too.
“The rocking horse is styrene. The stirrups are bent wire that is plated and the gemstones on the rockers are glass,” Matt says.
The result is a charming chestnut brown rocking horse that delights us with the details- from the little gold crown on the saddle to the flowers on the bridle and harness.
Rocking Horse #4 will be ready to giddy up and go at Ornament Premiere in July.
Rocking Horse Memories
4th in the series.
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. “Behind the scenes with Matt Johnson about his rocking Horse Memories, 4th in the series, that will be releasing at Ornament Premiere!” Keepsake Ornament Club Facebook Page, May 3, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KOCMembers/posts/3404034966503170/
Press Release: The 50th Anniversary of Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments
Kicks Off with Dream Book Launch on April 14
Celebration continues throughout the year with commemorative 50th Anniversary ornaments, artist signing events, giveaways, and more
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (April 14, 2023) – This year marks a milestone anniversary for Hallmark. The nation’s oldest and largest greeting card company is officially celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. Kicking off on April 14 with the annual release of Hallmark’s Keepsake Ornament Dream Book, the 50th Anniversary celebration will include commemorative ornaments, events and activations throughout the year, and more.
“What’s kept our brand strong for 50 wonderful years is our commitment to making memories,” said Theresa McGeehan, senior merchant director of ornaments at Hallmark. “Through artistic expression, technological wonder and a warm embrace of everything Christmas, Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments have played an important role in making spirits bright by reflecting the ways we love, laugh and remember our lives together.”
In 1973, Hallmark debuted its newest product line – a selection of 18 specially designed Keepsake Ornaments, including six decorated glass ball ornaments and 12 yarn ornaments. A new alternative to the standard ornaments offered at the time, Hallmark’s ornaments were designed to be keepsakes. With this simple beginning, a new holiday tradition of ornament collecting was born.
“People might wonder why a greeting card company decided to make Christmas ornaments in the first place,” said Darren Abbott, senior vice president of global product development at Hallmark. “Our Keepsake Ornaments are much more than decorations. Like greeting cards, they can help people preserve memories, commemorate milestones and nurture relationships.”
Hallmark has released more than 10,000 different Keepsake Ornaments since its inception in 1973, with 300-500 new Keepsake Ornaments released each year. The annual collection is first unveiled in Hallmark’s signature Dream Book. With everything from miniatures to ornaments with motion, light and sound, and categories from sports cars to favorite characters, Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments reflect the nostalgia of the Christmas spirit and the ever-changing face of pop culture.
Keepsake Ornament Dream Book
Available now, the 2023 Dream Book highlights five decades of Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments and features an exclusive line of commemorative 50th Anniversary ornaments. Click the Dream Book link above to view the Dream Book and learn more about Hallmark’s rich history while exploring the new collection.
50th Anniversary Ornaments
To honor its milestone anniversary, Hallmark is releasing a special collection of commemorative ornaments for the 50th year, including the following:
- 50 Sweet Years Special Edition Keepsake Ornament, Available Now
- 50 Years of Memories Special Edition Keepsake Ornament, Available in July
- Christmas Commemorative Keepsake Ornament 50th Anniversary Special Edition, Available in July
- The Artist at Work Special Edition Keepsake Ornament, Available in July
- Ring in the Season Keepsake Ornament 50th Anniversary Special Edition, Available in October
50th Anniversary Events
Hallmark is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Keepsake Ornaments with special events and activations throughout the year, in addition to Hallmark’s annual Keepsake Ornament events. Both virtual and in-person activities are scheduled, which include the following:
Facebook Live Dream Book Event, April 14, 11 a.m. CST
Join Hallmark for a Dream Book reveal party on Facebook Live, featuring special guests including Keepsake artists, giveaways and more.
Keepsake Ornament Premiere, July 15-23, 2023
The first, annual Keepsake Ornament event of the year releases over 250 new ornaments in Hallmark’s 2023 collection and gives consumers their first chance to shop select Keepsake Ornaments.
Artist Signing Events, July 21-22, 2023
Celebrate the history of Keepsake Ornaments during artist signing events at select Hallmark Gold Crown stores across the country. Events will include exclusive giveaways for Keepsake Ornament Club members, as well as VIP bags for the first 50 guests in line at each event location.
Keepsake Ornament Debut, Oct. 14-22, 2023
The second, annual Keepsake Ornament event of the year releases over 150 more ornaments from the 2023 collection.
Keepsake Ornament Club Members
As a way for devoted ornament collectors to stay connected, Hallmark formed the national Keepsake Ornament Club in 1987. Today, the club has more than 50,000 members across the United States and Canada. Keepsake Ornament Club members enjoy numerous benefits, including an annual Dream Box, member-exclusive ornaments, Crown Rewards bonus points and additional savings opportunities, behind-the-scenes access to insider information, exclusive giveaways and events, early access to shop and more. Click here for information about 2023 enrollment.
To learn more about Keepsake Ornaments, or to locate a Hallmark Gold Crown store, visit www.Hallmark.com.
About Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments
In 1973, when Hallmark introduced six glass ball ornaments and 12 yarn figures as the first collection of Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, a new tradition of Christmas decorating was started, and a new collectible industry was born.
When the first line was introduced, they were unique in design, year-dated and available only for a limited time — innovations in the world of ornaments. Since 1973, Hallmark has introduced more than 10,000 different Keepsakes Ornaments and more than 100 ornament series, annual releases of ornaments that share a specific theme.
Today’s Keepsake Ornaments reflect the way styles, materials, formats and technology have expanded since they first appeared in Hallmark stores. Once a collection of decorated glass balls and yarn figures, Keepsake Ornaments are now made in a wide array of wood, glass, metal, porcelain and handcrafted formats. Technology has also been incorporated into the world of Keepsake Ornaments through light, sound and motion. The one thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the superior craftsmanship and high quality that ensures Keepsake Ornaments will become family heirlooms and cherished collectibles.
2023 Collection: Miniature Ornaments
Small Wonders
Hallmark’s mini ornaments and trees are perfect for decorating small spaces–and just right for filling them with great big merry.




































































