Meet the Hallmark Keepsake Artists: Sharon Visker
Meet Keepsake Artist…Sharon Visker. Growing up, Sharon’s mother was always immersing herself in an art project and her brother seemed to be able to draw just about anything. In an atmosphere where art seemed like a part of everyday life, it was only natural that Sharon would want to give it a try. And she quickly discovered she was unusually good at it! She spent her childhood creating bulletin board displays, designing yearbooks, and winning numerous art competitions.
Her talent eventually brought her to Hallmark, where, after 15 years as an illustrator, she participated in a woodcarving workshop and discovered a knack she didn’t know she had…sculpting! A skill she’s been exercising ever since joining the Keepsake Studio in the year 2000. Sharon has some very exciting Keepsakes coming this year (including a tabletop piece)!
Re-issued
For Keeps: Volume 20, Issue 2 Summer 2021
Get a peek at the new limited quantities companion ornaments releasing for Ornament Premiere. See what is next for some of your favorite series. And read about Hallmark’s new gifts especially for Keepsake lovers.
- Keepsake Companions
- Cookie Cutter Christmas
- Christmas Cupcakes
- Spotlight on Snoopy
- The Beauty of Birds
- Father Christmas
- Living Legacies
- Mary’s Angels
- The Beauty of Birds
- Brilliant Butterflies
- Nostalgic Houses and Shops
- Christmas Cupcakes
- Heirloom Angel
- Cards Inspired by Ornaments
- Welcome to Keepsake Village
- Keepsake Lover Gift Collection
- Members-Only August Flash Sales
- Keepsake Vault Release
- Repaint Sale
- Save the Date
For Keeps – The Official Newsletter of the Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Club.
Keepsake Lover Gift Collection
Wear Your Keepsake Love on Your Sleeve (or Socks)
We get it—we eat, sleep and dream ornaments, too. For Keepsake Editor Lindsay Evans, leaning into that love was a no-brainer. Just in time for Ornament Premiere, she and the studio created a new line of wearable and sharable Keepsake extras.
From a coffee cup to tea towels to festive socks, the Keepsake Lover Gift Collection speaks to the passion and culture around collecting, with tongue firmly in cheek. As both a creator and a collector, Lindsay says the voice came naturally.
“I love Christmas, I have hundreds of Keepsake Ornaments, before I even worked for Keepsake. My own ‘Baby’s First Christmas’ ornament is a Keepsake,” she says. “So I wrote things that resonated with me.”
Her favorite of the collection? The slipper socks with “Shhh…” on one foot and “I’m admiring my ornaments” on the other.
“They celebrate that moment when the tree is decorated, the ornaments are all in the perfect place, the whole house is twinkling and you get to put your feet up and take it all in,” she says.
“There’s a life on a tree. Every ornament has its own story— they represent someone’s loves and interests and likes. It’s a memory keeper.”
Pairs Well Wine Glass
Keepsake Ornament Christmas Tea Towel
Admiring My Ornaments Socks
Hang the Ornaments Mug
Gnome for Christmas Face Mask
“Keepsake Lover Gift Collection.” For Keeps 20 Summer 2021: 7
2021 Reveal: Welcome to Keepsake Village
Welcome to Keepsake Village
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments MONOPOLY Game
Hallmark Keepsake Ornament MONOPOLY Game
Coming soon, you can gather the family ’round for a friendly game of capitalistic entrepreneurialism— right in the heart of Keepsake Village.
Introducing the first-ever Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Monopoly game, available in July.
Hallmark Historian Samantha Bradbeer, curator of the game, says the project came with a few fun challenges. The biggest? Deciding which of
the thousands of ornaments in Hallmark’s deep archives to feature.
“I decided to focus on first in series, as it would allow fans to see some of their all-time favorites, while capturing nearly 50 years of Keepsake Ornament history,” Samantha says.
The game features over 40 first in series ornaments. Players move about the board, visiting locations in Keepsake Village—from Puppy Love Groomers to
Tin Locomotive Railroad to Frosty Friends Ice Rink to Nostalgic Houses and Shops Blvd. The property spaces feature ornaments, as does the play money.
For many, getting out the Monopoly game is a holiday tradition, so creating a Keepsake Ornament edition was a natural fit.
As with any good board game, there were a lot of players, including many in the Keepsake studio. Hallmark also collaborated on the game with Hasbro and USAopoly. Available in July.
“Welcome to Keepsake Village.” For Keeps 20 Summer 2021: 6
2021 Reveal: Cards Inspired by Ornaments
Boxed cards with all the craft of Keepsake Ornaments
A few favorite Keepsake Ornaments have inspired their very own line of holiday boxed cards. Now you can decorate your tree with your favorite ornament—and share a companion card as your seasonal greeting. Available this year.
Toymaker Santa
Holiday Cards
Toymaker Santa
22nd in the series.
Making Memories
Holiday Cards
Cozy New Pajamas
Making Memories
14th in the series.
Noble Nutcrackers
Holiday Cards
Duke of Winter
Noble Nutcrackers
3rd in the series.
“Cards inspired by ornaments.” For Keeps 20 Summer 2021: 6
Living legacies
New artists continue the craft for a few fan favorites
Some Keepsake artists retired recently and passed the torch to a new generation, beginning in 2022. Here’s your first look at the artists chosen to carry on their craft—and their favorite ornament.
Jake Angell
Mary’s Angels – Keepsake Artist Jake Angell has a legacy to live up to in taking over the much-loved Mary’s Angels series. A fan favorite since 1988, Mary’s adorable angels tap into real human emotion, brought to life by Sculptor Robert Chad.
“I love trying to capture her style,” he says. “I want to keep the spirit of it alive. It’s about honoring her legacy.”
Sweet Trick-or-Treater
Not surprisingly, Jake’s favorite ornament as a child was one of Mary’s Angels. His first design in the series was inspired by the need for healing around the world and will be revealed next year.
Jake’s Favorite: 2016 Sweet Trick-or-Treater (Inspired by the series)
Emma Leturgez-Smith
Beauty of Birds – For Keepsake Artist Emma Leturgez-Smith, taking over Artist Edythe Kegrize’s Beauty of Birds series was a good thing. Emma has two parrots herself.
“I’m bird people,” she says. “I’m coming at it from the same angle as the fans. I want to make sure they reflect the essence of the real bird.”
For inspiration, she need only look out her window. Her house sits near a wooded area, an attractive feature for wild birds, especially cardinals.
Ravishing Raven
“In the winter the leaves fall away, and there’s white everywhere, but then you see these bright dots of red. It’s beautiful.”
Emma’s Favorite: 2017 Ravishing Raven (Inspired by the series)
Terri Steiger
Brilliant Butterflies – Known for her own Christmas Nutcracker ornament series, Keepsake Artist Terri Steiger is honored to pick up where Artist Edythe Kegrize left off on the Brilliant Butterflies series.
“I love her use of blue and purple,” she says. “She used a lot of iridescent colors and gems and each one looks like it’s in flight.”
Brilliant Butterflies
1st in the series.
With each new ornament, Terri is eager to see where the butter ies can go. Expect to see new colors, patterns and design elements.
“Every ornament is an opportunity to express something new,” she says.
Terri’s Favorite: 2017 Brilliant Butterflies, 1st in the series.
Tom Best & Rodney Gentry
Nostalgic Houses and Shops – Friends and Keepsake Artists Tom Best and Rodney Gentry are collaborating on Nostalgic Houses & Shops. Taking over the series, which premiered in 1984, from Artist Don Palmiter was an honor and a challenge.
Inspiration comes from their mutual interests and observations of architecture. Rodney and Tom have lots of ideas in the works and can’t wait for their ornament to debut in 2022.
“I think it carries on the tradition,” Rodney says. “It continues the artistry of Don. I think collectors will be pleasantly surprised.”
Arts & Crafts Bungalow
28th in the series.
Palmiter Hardware & Supply
34th in the series.
Tom’s Favorite: 2011 Arts & Crafts Bungalow, 28th in the series.
Rodney’s Favorite: 2017 Palmiter Hardware & Supply, 34th in the series.
Lisa Vogel
Christmas Cupcakes – They look sweet enough to eat, but Keepsake Artist Lisa Vogel delights in the idea of collectors displaying her Christmas Cupcakes every year at the holidays.
Taking over the series from Artist Ruth Donikowski in its 13th year is a fun-filled opportunity. Each cupcake is crafted from felt, some with a generous handful of sprinkles.
Berry-licious
3rd in the series.
A collector herself, her holidays spent with family are her inspiration.
“We eat and catch up with everyone. Santa stops by to pass out gifts and then the kids start opening,” she says. “It’s loud, chaotic and amazing!”
Lisa’s Favorite: 2012 Berry-licious, 3rd in the series.
Allie Jachimowicz
Heirloom Angels – When tapped to take over Artist Ruth Donikowski’s Heirloom Angels series, Allie Jachimowicz was more than eager.
“I presented 5 years of concepts to prove I could do it,” she says.
Allie was drawn to the sweetness of the angels, inspired by vintage porcelain figurines. With her own modern style, she has ideas on how to carry the series forward.
Heirloom Angels
5th in the series.
And when her first Heirloom Angel debuts in 2022, Allie can hardly wait for collectors to get their first glimpse of her.
“I wanted to make her feel alive,” she says. “She means so much to me.”
Allie’s Favorite: 2020 Heirloom Angels, 5th in the series.
“Living legacies.” For Keeps 20 Summer 2021: 4-5
2021 Keepsake Companions
Find new friends to hang with series ornaments
This holiday, a few of the limited quantities are companions to current series ornaments. Designed to go together, think of them as counterparts to their much-loved friends.
Series Ornament | Cookie Cutter Christmas
LQ Companion | Ten Sweet Years
Keepsake Artist Nina Aubé has always had heart for tiny creatures—and an imagination wild enough to dream up their human-sized adventures. Her Cookie Cutter Christmas companion ornament commemorates the series’ 10th year.
“The Cookie Cutter series was inspired by the nostalgia of old-fashioned aluminum cookie cutters, the kind my grandmother used. There’s always a sweet scene, literally—I use candy and cookies as props for the little mouse in his little adventures inside the vignettes. It’s the most fun part for me. The Cookie Cutter series is in its 10th year and it’s my favorite series to work on. It’s fun coming up with the scenery and props for the mouse to use in his adventures. As a kid, I loved little tiny things. These are like a miniature shadowbox scene. They just make people happy.”
– Keepsake Artist Nina Aubé
Series Ornament | Star-Tipped Sweetness, Christmas Cupcakes
LQ Companion | Sweet Reindeer Treat
By Retired Keepsake Artist Ruth Donikowski
Series Ornament | All Decked Out, Spotlight on Snoopy
LQ Companion | All Tangled Up
For Keepsake Artist Tracy Larsen, the Peanuts® characters are so multi-dimensional, that at times it can be hard to tell who’s pet and who’s person. In fact, Snoopy usually gets the spotlight to himself, but this year Charlie joins him.
“‘All Tangled Up’ is a fun companion to the Spotlight on Snoopy series. It’s just Charlie being Charlie—he’s somehow got himself all tangled up. In the series, Snoopy’s tangled up in lights but he’s being decorated by Woodstock, he’s a willing participant. It’s true to each of their natures. They each have interesting quirks and idiosyncrasies. For me, an ornament can contain as much sentiment as a card. Especially when it comes out every year to hang on the tree.”
– Keepsake Artist Tracy Larsen
Series Ornament | Evening Grosbeak, The Beauty of Birds
LQ Companion | Lady Evening Grosbeak
By Retired Keepsake Artist Edythe Kegrize
Series Ornament | Father Christmas
LQ Companion | Father Christmas’ Reindeer
Though he’s been around for centuries, Father Christmas still holds a lot of charm for Keepsake Artist Joanne Wright. This year’s Father Christmas ornament and his companion are extra special for Joanne, who created the series more than 18 years ago.
“I wanted to come up with a Santa that was new but still traditional. I’m especially proud of this year’s Father Christmas and companion ornament. He’s a departure from what I’ve done in the past. I was inspired by my childhood, growing up by the ocean in Massachusetts. I looked for fabrics that had the same blues and aquas like water, and ribbons that had a shimmer and reflective quality. The shells were molded from actual tiny shells I found on the beach. The message he brings this year is ‘Peace and Tranquility.’”
– Keepsake Artist Joanne Wright
“Keepsake companions.” For Keeps 20 Summer 2021: 2-3
2021 Reveal: Ghostbusters: Afterlife™
Mini Pufts
Ghostbusters: Afterlife™
Happy Ghostbusters Day! To celebrate, Hallmark has revealed their 2021 Mini Pufts, Ghostbusters: Afterlife™ ornament–not pictured in the 2021 Dream Book–by Tammy Haddix. The ornament which is designed to commemorate the latest chapter in the original Ghostbusters universe features some of the mischievous little monsters enjoying a cup of hot cocoa. Available beginning Ornament Debut in October.
2021 Video: Ornament Insights (Snow Buddies)
This year marks #24 in Keepsake Artist Tammy Haddix’s beloved Snow Buddies series! Hear Tammy chat about childhood memories on her grandmother’s farm in Oklahoma and how those special moments helped inspire her 24th in series!
2021 Video: Ornament Insights (Rocking Horse Memories)
This year marks #2 in the Rocking Horse Memories series by Keepsake Artist Matt Johnson! Matt was inspired by what rocking horses may have looked like over 100 years ago when designing this series and ornament. Hear Matt talk about the styling and color of this beautiful rocking horse!
Rocking Horse Memories
2nd in the series.