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!
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.
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.
“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
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.
♱ In Memory of – Elaine Obert (Corvette Elaine)

.
Elaine with Santa’s Warren (2019)
.
“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.”
2021 Coordinating Ornaments
Santa’s Sleigh – Celebrate the most famous and wondrous journey in the history of flight—Santa’s annual Christmas Eve trip around the world. Designed by Joanne Wright, this cheerful Christmas tree ornament features the jolly old elf himself nestled in his sleigh, complete with metallic gold accents, ready for his midnight ride. KOC member exclusive. Coordinates with the beloved Snowtop Lodge series.
Santa Claus – Here comes Santa Claus! With cookie in hand, the jolly old elf enjoys a much-deserved snack amid all his hard work on Christmas Eve. This festive Christmas tree ornament features a classic depiction of Santa in his signature red suit. Companion to Santa’s Next Stop.
Angelic Candlelight – Peekaboo! This playful little cherub angel peeks out from behind a candlestick holder for big holiday smiles. The Christmas tree ornament features a candle that illuminates with a realistic flickering flame motion when connected to Hallmark’s Keepsake Power Cord (sold separately).
Vintage Snowman – Make the season extra jolly when you display this premium porcelain Christmas tree ornament. This smiling snowman with a big, red bow and rosy cheeks has chosen his tree and carries it home in a pack on his back. Charming retro styling and a bottle brush tree attachment round out the festive design.
Soft Serve Surprise – Serve up sweet holiday memories all season long when you display this fun, festive, retro-inspired soft serve machine. Features light and a cute snowman ice cream cone that spins when you pull the string (battery-operated).
Friendly Gnome – Coordinates with the”gnew” Gnome for Christmas series—from the imagination of Keepsake Artist Gregor Benedetti—featuring the fun and festive antics of Gnaughty and Gnice. This special edition ornament features a third Christmas gnome standing on top of a cake that’s decorated like a snowman.
Stocking Stuffers – Be sure your stockings are hung with care with this new series of Christmas tree ornaments featuring festively-stuffed stockings, each designed by a different Keepsake Studio Artist. First up, Nina Aubé shares a cute vision of holiday harmony with her striped snowflake stocking that hosts beloved family pets, including a puppy, kitten, hamster, bunny rabbit and a cockatiel perched atop a candy cane.
Saint Nicholas – Add nostalgic warmth to your holiday decor with this Saint Nicholas Christmas tree ornament. A slender figure with a merry expression, St. Nick wears a red mitre hat with a large cross, a red cope and bishop’s vestments, all with gold-colored edging. The kindly saint, beloved by children through the ages, carries a green knapsack filled with oranges and toys under one arm, while in his other hand he holds a staff with curled top.
Snowflake Angel – Grace your holidays with the elegance of this porcelain angel Christmas tree ornament. A silver snowflake design encircles the angel’s full, flowing skirt, and a gemstone sparkles in her cupped hands. Outstretched silver wings and delicate features enhance the beauty of this ballerina-inspired figurine.
Teeny Toaster – Add a little warmth and coziness to your holiday decorating with this festive snowman toaster miniature Christmas tree ornament. For an extra dose of fun, simply slide the lever to make the snowflake-designed toast pop up.
2021 Collection: National Pet Week
We need our pets, and our pets need us. In celebration of National Pet Week and the unconditional love and joy they bring us, all year long, here is a review of the pet ornaments included in the 2021 Keepsake Ornament line.
2021 Teachers Appreciation Week
Teachers are always going above and beyond, and there’s no better time than today to recognize them and show our appreciation for their nurturing the best in all of us.
Teachers make a difference and play a pivotal role in the lives of millions of children every day. This year during these challenging times, they have had to rise to the occasion and do even more–with virtual classrooms, video chats, and home lessons–to continue educating and making sure every student has the tools they need to reach their full potential. Because of this, students will look back at the unique school year and remember the lengths to which their teachers reached out to them and attempted to restore normalcy.
While we appreciate our teachers every day, during this week, let’s truly recognize their hard work, acknowledge the impact, they have on our lives, and show our gratitude for their commitment to students’ well-being and long-term success.
NOTE: National Teacher Day is observed on the first Tuesday of the first full week of May (May 5). It was first advocated for by former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. In 1953, she addressed Congress hoping to convince them that teachers needed a day to be recognized. At that point, some schools were already observing the day, but there wasn’t a national consensus and she wanted to make it official. Despite her best efforts, it wasn’t until 23 years later, in 1980, that National Teacher Day became official.
2021 Star Wars Day
.
May the 4th Be With You!
In 1996, Hallmark debuted its very first Star Wars Keepsake Ornament. Celebrate the silver anniversary of that milestone release with this premium metal Christmas tree ornament of Han Solo’s iconic Corellian freighter, the Millennium Falcon, complete with a shiny chrome-like finish.
ORDER NOW
Available at participating Hallmark Gold Crown Stores and on Hallmark.com
2021 Collection: Star Wars
In celebration of Star Wars Day, May the Fourth, here is a review of the Star Wars ornaments included in the 2021 Keepsake Ornament line.
Star Wars™
An interactive Death Star is born
Keepsake artists are always focused on innovation, so Orville Wilson was excited to work on this Death Star tree topper with new capabilities. “I put a Star Wars tree up every year,” he says, “and I always wished my tree topper could play with the other Storytellers ornaments.” This year, Orville’s wish comes true. “It has a much bigger presence and a lot more detail than the original,” he shares, “It lights up really well and interacts with the new 2021 storytellers ornaments.” Orville gives credit to everyone who collaborated to bring the technology together. “It took a team to make it happen, and I can’t wait to add it to my tree.”
2021 Collection: Reimagined Designs
Several of the ornaments in the 2021 collection have been inspired by past favorites. Some have been turned into larger-scale designs, others have been miniaturized and others have been reimagined or offered as part of the premium collection. A couple of the Keepsake Ornaments in this year’s line also coordinate with seasonal gift plush designs.
Noble Nutcrackers
(2019)
2021 Collection: Repaints
Repaint
Original (2016)
Other Repaints
- Red Bird (2017)
- Decorative Bird (2018)
- Beautiful Blue Bird (2019)
- Majestic Plumed Bird (2020)




















































































































































































