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Latest News2024-04-23T08:41:12-06:00

Artist Insights: Beer Steins

Did you know? Tom Best has not one, not two, but THREE Beer Stein ornaments in this year’s Keepsake Ornament line.

  1. Beer Stein – the next ornament in his ‘unofficial’ series
  2. Hoppy Halloween – a stein ornament in Halloween styling
  3. Mini Beer Stein – a miniature ornament in stein styling
Tom Best

Hallmark sat down with Tom Best to discuss his Beer Stein ornaments! Starting with his unofficial series Beer Stein ornament, Hallmark asked.

Tom: “Nutcrackers are already a perfect subject for beer steins. They are commonly styled after soldiers of roughly the 17th and 18th Centuries. My idea came from questions I asked myself, what might Nutcrackers do when not at their post, standing stiffly at attention on guard duty? What might they do when ‘at ease’ in the officers’ club perhaps? I figured they are likely enjoying beer and regaling stories of derring-do!” And that is how this year’s Beer Stein ornament came to be!

Next up, Hallmark chatted with Tom about his Hoppy Halloween, Halloween Beer Stein ornament.

Tom: “Due to the success of my unofficial series of beer steins, it was suggested by my art directors Jim Tronoski and Kurt Gaulke that I submit a few ideas for a possible Halloween Stein! Now, when you’re used to a steady diet of Christmas, doing scary stuff is a frighteningly desirable diversion. This year, I chose a witch theme to start it off, with other ideas to follow in the future…”  Did you catch that? If you’re a fan of Tom’s Hoppy Halloween ornament this year, get excited for another addition to his Halloween steins next year too!

Lastly, Hallmark chatted with Tom about his Mini Beer Stein ornament.

Tom: “working on so many Beer Stein ornaments has had me researching beer steins extensively for years. In my research, I found there is a subgenre of steins in which the entire stein and lid make up a single character. The most common seem to be a plump Monk or Friar, as their monasteries were often breweries, and known for their quality. I’d previously passed on doing any ‘character’ stein in my unofficial series.”

Tom: “I was reluctant to give up all the potential rich detail, scenes and storytelling of my usual steins for that of just one simple figural idea.”

Thankfully, Tom had a change of heart. Tom went on to say: “that said, I submitted an idea for a Santa stein to our miniature ornament line. Because miniature ornaments are so small, they have to be kept pretty simple and the detail kept minimal…perfect guidelines for a tiny character figure!”

We hope you enjoy the Hoppy Halloween and Mini Beer Stein ornaments available for purchase NOW, and the Beer Stein ornament available for purchase at Ornament Debut in October!

Beer Steins

Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. “Behind the scenes with Tom Best and his Beer Stein ornaments!” Keepsake Ornament Club Facebook Page, August 25, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KOCMembers/posts/3213458958894106/

August 25th, 2022|0 Comments
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2022 Announcement: Ornament Premiere Top Ten

What Was The Top-Selling Ornament During Ornament Premiere 2022? Scroll over each of the tiles below to reveal the top 10 Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments (based on units sold) for Ornament Premiere.

10


Lady Tufted Titmouse
Special Edition

9


Grogu™ Greetings
Star Wars™: The Mandalorian™

8


Stocking Stuffers
2nd in the series.

7


Frosty Friends
43rd in the series.

6


Cookie Cutter Christmas
11th in the series.

5


Mischievous Kittens
24th in the series.

4


Father Christmas
19th in the series.

3


Seasons Treatings
14th in the series.

2


Sweet Decade
3rd in the series.

1


Twelve Drummers Drumming
Twelve Days of Christmas
12 and Final in the series.

August 25th, 2022|0 Comments
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Local Club News: August 2022

Here is the latest Club communication.

Dear Local Club Presidents,

Hello from the Keepsake Village and Happy Summer! We hope this update finds you well. It’s been a busy summer here in the Keepsake Village and we’re looking forward to all the fun yet to come this year. We’re planning another KOC exclusive sale in September, followed by the release of 150 brand new ornaments at Ornament Debut, and the opening of enrollment for the 2023 Keepsake Ornament Club in November. Keep reading to learn more about upcoming Keepsake events, 2023 KOC, sneak peeks, and more. Enjoy!

Read the August 2022 Local Club News

(more…)

August 15th, 2022|0 Comments
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2023 Sneak Peek: Series

Here are two more sneak peeks from the 2023 Keepsake Ornament line featuring the 7th in the Brilliant Butterflies series by Terri Steiger and the 19th in the Fairy Messengers series by Kristina Gaughran.

Brilliant Butterflies
7th in the series.

Carnation Fairy
Fairy Messengers
19th in the series.

August 15th, 2022|0 Comments
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Press Release: PopMinded by Hallmark to Return In Person to D23 Expo with Exclusive Keepsake Ornament for 2022

Previews of coming Disney, Marvel, Star Wars™ products planned for fans at the September event.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (August 8, 2022) – PopMinded by Hallmark returns to celebrate all things Disney later this summer by bringing an event-exclusive Keepsake Ornament and previews of collectibles developed for Disney’s biggest fans at this year’s D23 Expo.

PopMinded continues Hallmark’s annual tradition of providing access to their ever-popular event-exclusive products. Since 2016, PopMinded has served as Hallmark’s way of celebrating fandom with gifts and collectibles created and curated with all fans in mind.

PopMinded will appear at D23 Expo, billed as the ultimate Disney fan event, scheduled September 9-11 at Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Event Exclusive Keepsake Ornament

Disney Mickey Mouse Radio, Event Exclusive – A repainted version of a Keepsake Ornament first offered in stores in 2021. Turn the dial to see the radio illuminate and hear a variety of fun and festive holiday broadcasts. This ornament has a total production run of 900 and sales at the event will be limited to 300 per day. Additional details including prices and activity plans for D23 Expo will be announced at the event.

Visit the PopMinded D23 Booth

Attendees visiting the PopMinded booth will be able to purchase a variety of Hallmark’s Disney-inspired products. Displays will feature sneak previews of planned products featuring Disney, Marvel and Star Wars characters to be sold in stores and online.

For more information about PopMinded by Hallmark and the products offered, visit Hallmark.com/PopMinded

Disney Mickey Mouse Radio
Disney Mickey Mouse

August 8th, 2022|0 Comments
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Artist Insights: Miniature Appliances

Hallmark has heard you loud and clear… you LOVE Matt’s ‘unofficial’ series featuring miniature appliances! And they have confessed, they love them too. Matt has done a fantastic job bringing such unique detail and simple movement to these adorable mini ornaments. Keep reading to learn more behind the scenes info about Matt’s inspiration, and more!

Hallmark asked Matt if he was aware of how much his fans love these miniature appliance ornaments and he said, “yes, the mini appliances or kitchen items began in 2018 with the miniature Tiny Teapot I worked on.”

Matt went on to say, “it did so well that I then began to look at other items in the kitchen that could have a Christmas theme or styling. My inspiration comes from looking at existing products, such as things people have transformed for Christmas in their own kitchens and upcycled art. My background is in Industrial Design, so I enjoy the history of vintage appliances and I enjoy cooking.”
Much like other Keepsake artists, Matt also looked to the Keepsake Studio for inspiration. He said, “Tom Best and Nello Williams, among other Keepsake artists, have done a great job of incorporating appliances into ornaments, so that also was also a big part of the inspiration.” And taking a few notes from a few ‘sweet tooth’ artists, such as Nina Aubé and Tammy Haddix, Matt said, “another big part of inspiration are waffles, coffee, cookies, warm toast, baking… things critical to living a good life!”
Matt shared more about the simple movement we have seen of these ornaments in more recent years. He said, “another thing we began to incorporate is more simple magic into our miniatures, so that gave me more opportunities to explore the storytelling. You can lift the handle on the toaster to make the toast pop up, turn the knob on the bottom of the ornament to see the mixer work,” – 2023 sneak peek alert! – “and open the waffle maker to get a snowflake shaped waffle inside.”
Did you catch that? Matt mentioned a waffle maker – stay tuned for that miniature ornament release next year! It is the Whimsical Waffles ornament, where you will be able to lift the lid to see the festive waffle inside!
Until then, we hope you enjoy the Merry Mixer, available for purchase at Ornament Debut in October.

Miniature Appliances

Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. “Behind the scenes with Matt Johnson and the miniature Merry Mixer!” Keepsake Ornament Club Facebook Page, July 26, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KOCMembers/posts/3192291914344144

July 26th, 2022|0 Comments
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2023 Sneak Peek: Comic-Con International: San Diego

In conjunction with the opening of San Diego Comic-Con, Hallmark has shared Sneak Peeks of two Star Wars Keepsake Ornaments that are set to be released in 2023. For those attending San Diego Comic-Con, be sure to stop by Hallmark’s booth (#1505) in the Lucasfilm Star Wars Pavilion, where these ornaments and a collection of 2022 product will be on display.

Star Wars™

A Curious Encounter on Endor
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi™

Anakin Skywalker™
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith™
27th in the Star Wars™ series.

July 21st, 2022|0 Comments
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