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

Members Exclusive Offer: KOC Flash Sale (August 7th)

Keepsake Vault Release (For the first time, Hallmark is opening the Keepsake Vault to members) – After nearly 50 years of Keepsake Ornaments, Hallmark’s closets are full! Now you can help them make space for more. They’ve bundled together vintage original ornaments from 1974 to 2020 in sets of three for $39.99 per bundle. Each bundle is unique and includes series ornaments and/or Comic-Con, (convention and Club) exclusives. Available starting Saturday, August 7, at 8a.m. CT. only at Hallmark.com while they last!

Consumer cannot choose individual ornaments.     •     Limit 1 bundle per customer.     •     No returns or exchanges. U.S. only


Repaints Sale (Find a favorite in a fresh color) – The 2021 KOC Convention was canceled unfortunately, but the KOC is bringing their exclusive ornament shop to you virtually! Beginning Saturday, August 7 at 8a.m. CT, KOC members can shop a selection of favorites in repainted colorways. Available only at Hallmark.com while supplies last!

Canadian members, call 1-800-HALLMARK to order.     •     Limit one of each design per customer.

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
The Beauty of Birds
Member Exclusive

Brilliant Butterflies
Member Exclusive

Whittaker Q. Snowman
Snowtop Lodge
Member Exclusive

North Pole Tree Trimmers
Member Exclusive

Freesia Fairy
Fairy Messengers
Member Exclusive

Season’s Treatings
Member Exclusive

May 28th, 2021|3 Comments

Artist Insights: Santa’s Next Stop

Hallmark sat down (virtually!) with Keepsake Artist Anita Marra Rogers to chat more about the Santa’s Next Stop Special Edition ornament releasing on 6/12! Anita was the lead on the project, and she worked with the entire Keepsake Studio of Artists to bring the ornament to life! Keep reading to learn more of what she had to say about the process.

Don’t forget to join Hallmark on the Keepsake Facebook page on 6/12 from 12pm-1pm CST for their virtual Keepsake Artist Signing Facebook Live event! Anita along with fellow artists Debra Nielsen and Nello Williams will be chatting more about the Santa’s Next Stop Special Edition ornament and answering all your burning questions! There will be signed giveaways–the Santa’s Next Stop Special Edition ornament signed by the entire Keepsake Studio–as well selected from those in attendance. The event is completely free! See you on 6/12 from 12-1pm CST.

Anita: “The very first studio signing piece was a 1993 fireplace scene called “Santa’s Favorite Stop.” It had been so many years since that was done and we thought a fireplace would be a logical choice for this year. Retired Keepsake Artist (Robert) Chad and I were the only two remaining studio artists that worked on that first piece, and since then, there have been so many newer collectors that may not have the first one.”

Anita: “I think what I enjoyed most about leading this project was the experience it gave me. It was fun to work with each of the other studio artists on one collective piece. It was my first time to do that.”

Anita: “The most challenging part of leading this was working on it from home. Working from home on anything was a challenge in itself at first. A collaborative piece was especially challenging.”

Anita also added, “I actually named this piece! Since the 1993 piece was “Santa’s Favorite Stop,” I thought it would be fun to call this one “Santa’s Next Stop.” I suggested it to Keepsake Editor Lindsay Evans, and she loved it!”

Lindsay will be hosting the virtual event on 6/12, so you’ll get to hear more from her then too! The KOC can’t wait to chat with you on 6/12 from 12-1pm CST. See you then.

Santa’s Next Stop
Studio Edition

Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. “Behind the scenes with Anita Marra Rogers to chat about the Santa’s Next Stop Special Edition!” Keepsake Ornament Club Facebook Page, May 26, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KOCMembers/permalink/2736156716624335/

May 26th, 2021|0 Comments

2021 Graduation

Congratulations class of 2021! In celebration of the accomplishments of every graduate–from preschool to high school and beyond–here are the graduation ornaments included in the 2021 Keepsake Ornament line.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!*

Congrats, Grad!
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On Top of the World!
Disney Mickey Mouse
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*This early release is available at participating Hallmark Gold Crown Stores just in time for graduation season.

May 21st, 2021|0 Comments

Local Club News: May 2021

Here is the latest Club communication that was received today.

Dear Local Club Presidents,

Hello from the Keepsake Village and Happy Spring! We hope the warmer weather finds you well. Have you turned in your Wish List yet? It was especially hard to narrow down to our favorites this year. There is so much talent in the Keepsake Studio of Artists. They keep surprising us with new ideas, new magic function, new licensors, and more! If you haven’t turned in your Wish List yet, it’s not too late. Either fill out the paper copy located in your Dream Book and turn it in to your local Hallmark Gold Crown store or visit http://bit.ly/21WishList to fill out your Wish List online and submit it to your store.

Here in the Keepsake Village, we’ve been busy planning a summer packed full of FUN for you! Ornament Premiere is just around the corner, but first, we’re hosting a Facebook Live event on the Keepsake Facebook page. We’re so excited to share all the details with you and your local club members. Keep reading for details on our upcoming Keepsake events, your 2021 Keepsake Dream Book Insider’s Guide, updates and details on 2021 KOC, sneak peeks, and more. Enjoy!

Read the Second Quarter 2021 Local Club News

(more…)

May 17th, 2021|0 Comments

2022 Sneak Peek: Series

Here are two more sneak peeks from the 2022 Keepsake Ornament line featuring the 3rd in the Sweet Decade series by Tammy Haddix and 24th in the Mischievous Kittens series by Nina Aubé.

Sweet Decade
3rd in the series.

Mischievous Kittens
24th in the series.

May 17th, 2021|1 Comment

2021 International Day of Families

Every family is different—family can be defined many different ways, and International Day of Families is about celebrating all of the people you love and call family.

In celebration of the International Day of Families, here is a review of the family ornaments included in the 2021 Keepsake Ornament line.

Daughter

Mom

Dad

Son

Our Family – 2021
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Love You, Mom

Mother and Child
Disney Dumbo

Mom and Daughter

Dad and Son

Sisters and Friends

The Sweetest Grandkids
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Granddaughter

Grandson

Life’s Sweeter at Grandma’s

Great- Granddaughter

Great-Grandson

Godchild

Santa’s Little Yelper
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Santa’s Purr-fect Helper
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Forever By My Side
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NOTE: Founded by the United Nations in 1994, The International Day of Families is observed on May 15 every year to celebrate the importance of families, people, societies and cultures around the world.

May 15th, 2021|0 Comments

Meet the Hallmark Keepsake Artists: Anita Marra Rogers

Meet Keepsake Artist…Anita Marra Rogers. Anita joined the Keepsake Studio in 1985 and has brought to life countless beloved characters through her ornaments, including her adorable Puppy Love and Happy Halloween series! Anita’s journey to become a Hallmark Artist began at a very young age.

As a child, Anita’s mother recognized her talent early on, and signed Anita up for oil painting lessons. Years later, a Hallmark sculptor and friend looked at those same paintings and he saw talent! He invited her to come in and see what the Hallmark Artists were working on—whimsical animals, warm Christmas scenes, wintry landscapes. Anita tried her hand at one, sculpting a deer and a bunny looking sweetly at each other over a snowbank. As soon as her friend saw it, he told her that her Keepsake Ornament career had begun. And so, it had!

Anita’s designs
May 11th, 2021|2 Comments

2021 Mother’s Day

To all the amazing moms out there, today we celebrate YOU! All the love you give. All the support you provide. The glue that holds the family together. Thank you for all you do!

In the celebration of Mother’s Day, here are the Mom related ornaments included in the 2021 Keepsake Ornament line.

Love You, Mom

Mom

Mother and Child
Disney Dumbo

Love You, Mom

Dream Come True
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Lifes Sweeter at Grandmas


Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mother’s in Heaven we love but can’t see today.

For those who have lost their mother, and mother’s who have lost a child, may the love you shared with them surround you and bring you peace on this Mother’s Day.

Peace Dove

“Those we love don’t go away,
they walk beside us every day.

Unseen, unheard but always near,
still loved, still missed, and held so dear.”

– Unknown

Remembered With Love


NOTE: Anna Jarvis began campaigning to make Mother’s Day a recognized holiday in the United States in 1905, the year her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis died. Jarvis noted that Mother’s Day should contain a “singular possessive,” (hence the apostrophe) so each family might honor its own mother (As opposed to all mothers.) Three years later, in May 1908, Jarvis successfully organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration. By 1912 many states, towns, and churches had adopted Mother’s Day as an annual event. In 1914 President Wilson signed a proclamation establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

May 9th, 2021|0 Comments

♱ In Memory of – Elaine Obert (Corvette Elaine)

Elaine and Santa Warren

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Elaine with Santa’s Warren (2019)

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“I Love You More, Live every Moment, and of course drive that Corvette!!”


Elaine Obert was probably known best by most Hallmark collectors on the Yulelog Collector’s Bulletin Board as “Corvette Elaine,” where from 2000 to 2020, she was a consistent, positive presence. Her posts were easy to find… just look for that little yellow Corvette.

Those who did not know her on Yulelog likely ran into her many times over the years at Hallmark Conventions, artist signings and maybe even at a Flamingo Fling. Elaine was also an active member of her hometown local KOC club, the Berea Tree Trimmers and the Good Cheer Collector’s Club in Akron, Ohio. Online she belonged to the Yuleloggers and Digital Dreamers. In the national KOC, she held a Charter membership.

As her Yulelog username suggested, Elaine was the proud owner of Corvette cars. However, her connection was more than that of just an owner.

Elaine was well-known and loved in the Corvette car community. Not only did she own them, but she was also an accomplished racer of them—holding track records in her youth. She was the first woman President of the Corvette Cleveland Club in 1980, was a Hall of Famer and a member of the National Corvette Museum.

Elaine helped found and partipcated in an event called “Corvettes at Corsa” which raised money for a charity in her community. After each year’s event concluded, Corvette owners would come to her home and park their cars in her front lawn for an annual photo.

Near the end of her life when a friend took her out for a spin in his Corvette, he asked her if 100 mph was fast enough. With the true spirit of a racer she replied, “Can it go faster?”

Click here to view a video tribute to Corvette Queen Elaine Obert.

Elaine also loved Christmas decorating, and on occasion those two passions came together. Thanks to ornaments by Enesco, Hallmark, other collectible companies and even homemade crafters, she was able to have a Corvette-themed Christmas tree each year. Of course, as a Hallmark collector, she collected much more than just Corvette ornaments. Through the years she shared photos of her displays of her North Pole Tree Trimmers, Crayola, Cookie Cutter Christmas and Ken Crow’s high-magic masterpieces, just to name a few.

In 2009, at the Memories for the Making convention in Kansas City, Elaine’s photo of her Nostalgic Houses & Shops display was chosen as one of the 15 winners in the Decorating Contest.

One other consistent theme one will hear about Elaine was her cookies. While she self-admitted to not being a cook, she loved baking cookies. She received a lot of praise for making the “best ones ever.”

Elaine had suffered from pulmonary hypertension issues for several years. However, on November 2, 2020, doctors found cancer. She passed five days later on November 7th.

She is survived by her husband, Warren, her son Tim, and many loving family members. She is fondly remembered by both the Hallmark and the Corvette communities.

Her niece, Janice, who reached out to let us know of her passing, concluded with the following memory that illustrated her Aunt’s grand sense of humor, “In true Aunt Elaine fashion she had to have the last word. She wrote her own obit & threatened to haunt us if we didn’t publish it as is.”

Click here to read Elaine’s own words.

Tall
May 7th, 2021|3 Comments
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