Save the Date!: 2023 Dream Book Facebook Live Event
In Celebration of the launch of this years 50th Anniversary Dream Book, Hallmark will be hosting a special Facebook Live event at 11 AM CST on April 14th, 2023. The event is completely free – all you have to do is go to the Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Facebook page from 11:00 p.m.-12:00 p.m. CT on April 14.
Kristina Gaughran
Matt Johnson
Debra Nielsen
This special Facebook Live event will feature Keepsake artists Kristina Gaughran, Matt Johnson and Debra Nielsen, as well as Art Director Charles Young. Be sure to tune in live with us to hear all about the Dream Book and for the chance to win some special giveaways!
Location: Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Facebook page
Date: Friday, April 14, 2023
Time: from 11:00 p.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT
To participate simply set up a facebook account and click on the Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Facebook page link on April 14 from 11:00 p.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT.
2023 Reveal: Dream Book Cover
2023 Dream Book Cover Reveal
Let’s get this countdown started! In three days, we’ll be revealing the 2023 Keepsake Dream Book cover for Hallmark’s 50th anniversary year. The Dream Book will be available online and in your Hallmark Gold Crown store in mid-April. We’re so excited to share it with you!
Ornaments Featured on the Dream Book Cover
Front Cover
Cute as a Button
1st in the series.
Ring in the Season
50th Anniversary
Special Edition
Young Santa
2nd in the series.
Disney Mickey’s Christmas Carol
40th Anniversary
Sega Dreamcast Console
Front Cover
Back Cover
A Sweet beginning
Grogu’s Jetpack Adventure
Star Wars™: The Mandalorian™
Gnome for Christmas
3rd in the series.
Sweet Decade
4th in the series.
The Cousins’ RV Funko Pop!
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
UPDATE (03.02.23) – Just TWO days now until we reveal the 2023 Keepsake Dream Book cover! (Updated image added to the carousel)
UPDATE (03.03.23) – ONE. MORE. DAY! The 2023 Dream Book cover will be fully revealed tomorrow— don’t miss it! It’s almost time- YAY!
UPDATE (03.04.23) – Happy Saturday, heeeere it is! We hope you love the special 50th anniversary Dream Book cover as much as we do.
2023 Reveal: Spring Keepsake Ornaments
Do you think the thrill of collecting Keepsake Ornaments begins in July? It will start a lot sooner than that as Hallmark kick’s off the 2023 Keepsake Ornaments season by releasing six popular Keepsake Ornaments early, including Steller’s Jay, 19th in the Beauty of Birds series; Lady Western Tanager, miniature by Keepsake Artist Emma Leturgez-Smith; Brilliant Butterflies 7th in the series; and Little Purple Butterfly, miniature by Keepsake Artist Terri Steiger and Carnation Fairy, 19th in the Fairy Messengers series; and Petite Pansy Fairy, miniature by Keepsake Artist Kristina Gaughran. All six designs will be available at participating Hallmark Gold Crown Stores beginning March 1, 2023.
Brilliant Butterflies
7th in the series.
Little Purple Butterfly
Miniature
Carnation Fairy
Fairy Messengers
19th in the series.
Petite Pansy Fairy
Fairy Messengers
Miniature
Steller’s Jay
The Beauty of Birds
19th in the series.
Lady Western Tanager
The Beauty of Birds
Miniature
2023 Sneak Peek: SHAZAM!
In anticipation of the theatrical release of “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” on March 17th, here is a sneak peek of this year’s Shazam Keepsake Ornament featuring the iconic Super Hero in his vibrant red and gold uniform.
SHAZAM!
Artist Insights: Grandma Got Runover By A Reindeer
Hallmark: Here in the Keepsake Studio, we know that inspiration can strike in all sorts of places and all kinds of ways. We also know that, sometimes, inspiration doesn’t strike at all…it sideswipes. At least that’s what artist Gregor Benedetti tells us anyway!
Gregor says one day, around the time he was planning 2023 ornaments, he was crossing a small side street in his downtown Kansas City neighborhood. A delivery truck came whipping around the corner, nearly sideswiping him! Some people might be upset by that interaction, but not Gregor.
“I was like eureka! Thanks for the inspiration, Mr. Delivery Truck Driver!” he says.
And just like that, the Grandma Got Runover By A Reindeer Keepsake Ornament was born. Well⏤not just like that. There was also some sketching, sculpting, painting, and collaborating that happened, too.
“I sketched the rough concept with a regular fine-point pen in my sketch pad,” Gregor says. “From there I scanned the doodle and further fleshed out the idea digitally, adding color and lettering. Then, once the final concept was approved, I sculpted and painted in all the finishing touches in 3D.”
Gregor also spent time brainstorming (and joking around!) with a few other members of the Keepsake team, until they had every detail just right.
“Coming up with the initial concept was fun but collaborating with our editor Lindsay Evans and art director Charles Young for the delivery truck’s signage was an even bigger hoot. From the ‘Reindeer Express’ logo to the ‘How’s My Driving? Call 1-800-SANTA’ bumper sticker on the back roll door, we had a blast,” Gregor says. “I love the part of my job that both allows and reminds me to never, ever take life too seriously.”
You can find this adorable ornament delivering smiles at Ornament Premiere in July.
Grandma Got Runover By A Reindeer
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. “Behind the scenes with Gregor Benedetti and his Grandma Got Runover By A Reindeer ornament!” Keepsake Ornament Club Facebook Page, February 21, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KOCMembers/posts/3213458958894106/
2023 Sneak Peek: Puppy Love
Terrier
Puppy Love
33rd in the series.
It’s National Love Your Pet Day, and that’s a doggone good excuse for a sneak peek of the 33rd ornament in the Puppy Love series, designed by Anita Marra Rogers. This terrier cutie will be available in July.
Message to KOC Members
50 years old and just getting started
It all began with a what-if moment. What if we could create ornaments that would bring people together around their Christmas trees every single year, connecting them with love, laughter and shared memories? In 1973. we launched our little what-if idea with the first collection of what would soon become Keepsake Ornaments. They were classic in their design, beautifully crafted and festive. And they were just the start of a tradition that’s lasted half a century.
Keeping our history in mind, we decided to kick off our 50th year with another question: Now what? Well, the answer is quite simple. We’re going to make ornaments that celebrate all of life’s moments. We’re going to make ornaments more innovative and more sustainable. Most of all, we’re going to make it an amazing year for you, our Keepsake Ornament Club members. Keep vour eyes open throughout the year for fun, engaging content, including a dedicated website. Watch for some very special ornament releases, exclusive online events and giveaways.
In other words, prepare for a year of celebration like you’ve never seen. Because, truth be told, without the support of our Keepsake Ornament Club community, there wouldn’t be 50 years to celebrate. We might make the ornaments, but it’s your love for what we make and the memories you connect with them that got us here. We believe our greatest what-if moments are still ahead of us. And we can’t wait to get started.
“50 vears old and just getting started.” For Keeps 22 Spring 2023: 2-3.
Clara
Nutcracker Sweet
5th and Final in the series.
Stocking Stuffers Surprise
Mystery Box
Sweet Decade
Special Edition
Christmas Window 2023
(Keepsake Korners Christmas Shoppe)
Christmas Windows
21st in the series.
Toucan
The Beauty of Birds
“50 years old and just getting started.” For Keeps 22 Spring 2023: 2-3.
Artist Insights: Getting to know your Keepsake artists
Getting to know your Keepsake artists
Discover how these four featured artists found their way to the Keepsake Village.
Orville Wilson
From marketer to maker
Orville Wilson knew he’d work at Hallmark from a very young age.
“When I was little, I was always drawing. I even won a few contests at school. My mother always said I would work at Hallmark one day.”
As we all know, Mom knows best, and Orville found his way to the marketing department at Hallmark in 2016, where he spent much of his time designing the Dream Book.
It was not long after that Orville’s manager said there was an opening in the Keepsake Village.
“I jumped at the opportunity,” he says. “I had spent my free time learning to create 3D designs. So I scrambled to pull them all together and even re-rendered a bunch of them to create a portfolio.”
That portfolio that got him an interview-and onto the team.
Anita Marra Rogers
Sculpting her own path
“Growing up in Kansas City, I always wanted to work for Hallmark,” Anita Marra Rogers says. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t good enough at two-dimensional artwork to get in the door.”
That’s hard to believe, coming from someone who’s in her 38th year in the Keepsake Studio.
“But luckily, I met Peter Dutkin, a Keepsake artist at the time. And he looked at my work and told me I had talent.”
He showed her around the department, and that’s when she spotted a few of the artists sculpting ornament designs
“It looked like so much fun! I just knew I had to try my hand at it.”
With a little encouragement, Anita had found her calling. She assembled a new portfolio filled with 3D artwork. And that’s how we ended up with more than 600 of Anita’s designs.
Allie Robillard
Imagination over expectation
Becoming a Keepsake artist came as a total surprise to Allie Robillard. As a child, she imagined working with animals
“I always thought I would be a veterinarian when I grew up. Which is hilarious because l’m just not great actually being around animals. I guess I just love the idea of them,” Allie says.
It turns out Allie’s imagination would be the key to her success
“Ever since I was a kid, my imagination is the thing l’ve depended on most,” she says. “I was constantly drawing up my own new worlds.”
Thankfully, her creative spirit never went away. Instead of following her childhood dream of becoming a vet, she went to art school.
“I specialized in illustration and animation, which led me to the ornament teams at Hallmark.”
Matt Johnson
The best Halloween treat ever
For as long as he can remember, Matt Johnson has always been interested in art. The older he got, the more he became fascinated by design and architecture.
“I didn’t really begin taking formal art classes until I graduated high school,” he tells us. “I used to visit my older brother, who is an artist and works in the film industry, while he was in school. Seeing the classes he was taking had a big impact on me.”
Following in his brother’s footsteps and attending art school led to a job designing for a toy company on the East Coast. But he longed to return to Kansas City. It was after returning home that, on one fateful Halloween night, Matt made a connection with a neighbor working at Hallmark who introduced him to recruiters.
More than 10 years later, Matt’s still putting his design skills and imagination to work. Talk about a Halloween treat you’ll never forget!
“Getting to know your Keepsake artists.” For Keeps 22 Spring 2023: 4-5.
Ornament Spotlight: Studio Ornament
A ho-ho-whole lot of help
Read how every artist in the Keepsake Village contributed to this year’s Santa’s Workbench studio ornament.
The Artist at Work
Studio ornament
As part of our big 50th anniversary celebration, the Keepsake Village has been hard at work collaborating to create a very special studio ornament, Santa’s Workbench, shown above.
As you know, these studio-created ornaments are a team effort. With the merging of so many details and artistic styles, along with the number of design decisions to be made, these studio pieces take time to develop. This one, for example, was started in July of 2021 when Tom Best created the initial concept.
Anita Marra Rogers, the lead artist for the piece, was responsible for taking the idea and determining which elements would be designed by which artist based on their specialties.
“Each artist in the Keepsake Studio had a part in it, so I wanted to make sure a little of everyone’s personality or styling came through,” she tells us. From traditional sculptors to artists who create computer renderings, Anita wanted to bring together all the aspects of the studio.
Hearing her talk about the process might make your head spin. But, thankfully, she had Art Director Kurt Gaulke to help determine how each part of the ornament’s intricate design could work together in harmony.
“After the concept was chosen,” Anita says, “Robert Hurlburt crafted the structure of the whole thing, and Tracy Larsen was assigned to sculpt Santa in the same styling he has used for past club-exclusive ornaments.”
Tom Best chimed in to say that “the basic idea of Santa at his workshop drafting table came from Kurt, our art director, along with Jim Tronoski.”
And if you’re thinking the idea seems like the perfect fit for a 50th anniversary piece, you’d be right. The assortment of toys and ornaments displayed across his desk were all meticulously designed by artists throughout the studio.
“Every item at his drafting table is a nod to past ornaments throughout Keepsake Ornament history,” Tom adds.
While discussing this undertaking, Anita let us in on a sneak peek you won’t want to miss
“On top of Santa’s desk, you’ll find some drawings he’s been working on for future products,” she says.
That’s right. You won’t just have an amazing ornament created by the entire Keepsake Studio, you’ll also get a glimpse of ornaments yet to come.
The Artist at Work sketch
The Artist at Work side view
“A true labor of love.” For Keeps 22 Spring 2023: 7.
Ornament Spotlight: Christmas Angels
A true labor of love
Joanne Wright shares the inspiration behind #6 in the Christmas Angels series.
Good Cheer
Christmas Angels
6th in the series.
The one question people always have for Keepsake artists is how they come up with the ideas for their ornaments. And you’ll find that no two answers are the same. Some artists are inspired by hobbies, trends or nature. Others simply dig deep into their imaginations. For Joanne Wright, inspiration for the latest ornament in her Christmas Angels series came from a beloved family member.
“My daughter-in-law Jill is beautiful and full of grace, so that is why I thought she’d be the perfect model.“
Joanne mentioned how excited her daughter-in-law was about the prospect. Who wouldn’t be?
“She was so thrilled when I asked her if she would pose for me,” Joanne continues. “She even helped me brainstorm around the story that the finished ornament would bring.”
The sixth ornament in her Christmas Angels series, which will be available for purchase at Ornament Premiere in July, is as elegant as it is endearing. Working with her editor, Lindsay Evans, Joanne chose to have the angel holding a poinsettia.
“Poinsettias symbolize the Christmas season and the miracles it celebrates,” Joanne says. “They also mean joy, cheer and success, which all represent Jill.”
Her process always begins with sketches, drawings and working with her model to ensure the proportions and gestures feel perfect. That’s when the sculpting begins-using a proprietary wax created here at Hallmark. Once the sculpted piece is approved and molded, she begins to paint and add attachments.
One such addition to this ornament was the message “Christmas is a season of love and good cheer” on the bottom of the ornament. We couldn’t think of a better sentiment to add to such a beautiful story.
Christmas Angel 2023 sculpt with pictures of Jill modeling
Christmas Angel 2023 sculpt
“A true labor of love.” For Keeps 22 Spring 2023: 7.