2025 Reveal: Retro Christmas Kitty by Joanne Wright Studio
Retro Christmas Kitty
Retro Holiday Collection
Hand Painted Prototype
Before she became the cheerful holiday darling she is now, the Retro Christmas Kitty began her life in an entirely different season—and in an entirely different color.
She was once a sleek and mischievous Retro Black Cat, a beloved Halloween companion crafted with vintage charm and irresistible personality. Fans adored her playful grin and expressive eyes. Among those fans was one who made a suggestion that sparked something magical:
“What if she had a Christmas counterpart?”
The idea lit up Joanne Wright’s imagination.
She returned to the original sculpt, studying the familiar curves of the cheeks, the whimsical smile, the spark of character already present. Joanne could see the possibilities—the chance to reshape this little cat into a festive feline ready for a whole new season.
The midnight fur softened into a warm winter white. What once belonged to spooky season began to glow with holiday cheer.
Piece by piece, the kitten transformed.
Her cheeks turned a rosy pink, as if she’d just bounded through fresh snow. Her eyes brightened into sparkling winter blue. Joanne wrapped a big, velvety red bow beneath her chin and added a shiny silver bell that seemed ready to jingle at any moment. Finally, she placed a bright red Santa hat with a fluffy pom-pom on top—completing the kitten’s joyful new identity.
She was no longer the Retro Black Cat.
She had become something entirely her own:
the Retro Christmas Kitty—a holiday companion with the heart of a classic and the spirit of a fan-inspired dream.
From spooky-season roots to holiday sparkle, the Retro Christmas Kitty’s journey is a celebration of imagination and the magic that happens when artists and fans dream together.
Now she’s ready to leap into her new season—
to brighten mantels, warm hearts,
and bring a vintage glow to Christmas displays everywhere.
Available NOW
exclusively on the Joanne Wright Studio website
2026 Artist Insights: Dream Box ornaments
Shall we dance?
Read on to hear how the 2026 Dream Box ornaments got ballroom ready.
Santa and Mrs. Claus have been the cutest couple in the North Pole for hundreds of years. So when Keepsake Artist Gregor Benedetti was asked for a fresh take on the iconic characters, he was excited to give it a whirl-pun intended!
May I Have This Dance
Dream Box
“Charles Young, one of our art directors, came to me with drawings from our archives that had beautiful character styling. He said, ‘Take a look at these and think about the story you want to tell in the Dream Box,'” Gregor says. “So I started to brainstorm a bit with Lindsay Evans, our editorial director. I was asking, what’s Santa doing? and then I threw out, what if he were dancing with Mrs. Claus?”
After that initial brainstorm, Gregor started sketching until he landed on the perfect pose. Then he added charming touches like the mistletoe pinned on Santa’s hat and the green ribbon in Mrs. Claus’s hair.
But there’s one missing detail that just might be our favorite: Mrs. Claus isn’t wearing glasses, which gives the classic character an unexpected twist. After sketching, Gregor passed along the design to Keepsake Artist Tammy Haddix, who added her own flair to the pair as she sculpted.
“What we all loved about Gregor’s design was the movement and joy that came through in the sketch. So much storytelling in one little ornament! You can tell they’re mid-twirl, dancing along to their favorite song,” says Lindsay.
Musical Holiday Gramophone
Dream Box
Speaking of their favorite song, the 2026 Dream Box also features a gorgeous, retro-style gramophone ornament. Gregor, Lindsay and Keepsake Engineer Samantha Heryford worked together to add an extra bit of Keepsake magic-a hand crank that spins the record and plays music.
“I imagined what song Santa and Mrs. Claus might be listening to, dancing together after a long day of work, just enjoying each other’s company,” says Lindsay. “We wanted to capture that nostalgia, so we chose a song with a vintage feel, and our sound studio added in soft crackles, scratches and popping like you’d hear with an old gramophone.”
“The best part of working on a piece like this is that we all notice different things,” says Samantha. “Gregor might be looking at color, Lindsay is trying to get the sound just right and I’m trying to figure out where the speaker can go-and then it all comes together beautifully.”
That’s music to our ears! The team’s collaboration and attention to detail definitely shine through in these ornaments, which begin shipping in April in the Dream Box. And-because we can’t resist a theme-we’ve also curated a special Spotify playlist for KOC members. Just scan the code on the note inside your Dream Box to listen.
“Shall we dance?” For Keeps 25 winter 2025: 3
2026 Sneak Peek: Stunning Santas
Stunning Santas
Our new series is filled with vintage details and Hallmark history.
Stunning Santas
1st in the series
Beloved Keepsake Artist Terri Steiger retired this year but, before she left, she gave us all a pretty special parting gift: a new ornament series!
Stunning Santas was inspired by the Holiday Heirlooms series, available exclusively to Hallmark+ members, and features complementary styling, colors and materials. That means both series look extra lovely when displayed together!
“Terri combined her love of Kaiser-style porcelain, patterns created by renowned artist Andrew Szoeke and the exaggerated Santa shapes and intricate beards of artwork from our archives,” says Art Director Toni Gagarin.
Each ornament in this series will feature a porcelain Santa with gorgeous gold accents and pretty patterns aplenty. Who’s taking over for Terri, you ask? We’ll keep that secret to ourselves… for now!
HALLMARK HISTORY: Artist and calligrapher Andrew Szoeke worked as a Hallmark consultant and freelancer for two decades after J.C. Hall and Design Director Jeannette Lee discovered his calligraphy on a business trip to New York City in 1948. That same year, he created the Hallmark script logo and its accompanying crown. Now, his patterns are taking on a new life in the Keepsake Ornament line!
“Stunning Santas” For Keeps 25 winter 2025: 7
2026 Artist Insights: Lovebirds
Birds of a feather
Keepsake Artist Emma Leturgez-Smith gives you a first look at Lovebirds.
Lovebirds
Member Exclusive.
From pretty parakeets to festive fruit doves, Emma has quite a few feathers in her cap when it comes to the Beautiful Birds series. But for her club-exclusive ornament for 2026, she took on a new challenge: two birds, one ornament!
“I’ve been wanting to create a lovebird ornament for a long time, but it was important to me that this ornament featured a pair instead of just one bird,” Emma says. “Lovebirds got their name because they’re very attached to their partners and cuddle up close with their faces pushed together. So, I decided to feature a couple and give our fans a little more bird for their buck.”
Lovebirds, a type of small parrot, are a popular pet, and Emma says KOC members have been asking her for years to create a lovebirds ornament-so she was flying high when her art director approved her proposal!
The ornament features two lovebirds facing each other as they perch on a branch. If you look closely, you’ll notice three heart shapes hidden in the ornament: the curve of the branch, the birds’ pose and the peach-colored spots on their faces.
“As I started sculpting, I wondered if I could also create a ‘sneaky’ Christmas color palette. So there’s green and red, but it’s kind of a summery, pop-culture take on those traditional colors,” Emma says. “Lovebirds are found in all kinds of colors, but the ornament is based on the ones you’d most commonly find in the wild.”
“Birds of a feather” For Keeps 25 winter 2025: 8
2025 Reveal: Work of Whimsy Ice Cream Party Snowmen by Tammy Haddix
Work of Whimsy Serves Up the Final Scoops — Introducing Violet Cream & Fudgy Wudgy!
The Ice Cream Social collection is wrapping up with two final sweet guests — Violet Cream and Fudgy Wudgy. Just like the earlier releases, they share the signature look of the series: sparkling sugar-style finishes, cheerful expressions, and those whimsical waffle-cone hats that tie the whole collection together.
Violet Cream brings a cool, creamy pastel vibe to the lineup and holds a snowman-shaped cookie, while Fudgy Wudgy — wrapped in a festive winter scarf — shows off the richer, chocolatey side of the theme and holds a wreath tied with a peppermint-stripe bow. Each one stands on a candy-inspired base, giving them distinct personalities while still feeling like they belong to the same enchanted ice-cream world.
Together, they complete the Ice Cream Social with two perfectly complementary “flavors,” rounding out the collection with a final swirl of sweetness.
Violet Cream and Fudgy Wudgy will be available this Tuesday at 9:00 AM CST exclusively at WorkofWhimsy.com. Don’t wait — quantities are limited, so scoop yours up before this sweet celebration melts away for good!
Ice Cream Snowmen
Work of Whimsy
2025 Reveal: Work of Whimsy Ice Cream Party Snowmen by Tammy Haddix
Work of Whimsy Unveils “Sweet Treat Duo” Figurines — Sunny Scoops & Willy Vanilli!
The ice cream party just got sweeter! Meet the newest guests joining the fun — Sunny Scoops and Willy Vanilli!
These hand-painted, whimsical snowmen figurines are ready to bring charm and cheer to your collection. Sunny Scoops winks while holding a glittering gingerbread, and Willy Vanilli smiles warmly, cradling a sparkling ice cream scoop. Both wear playful waffle-cone hats and are surrounded by tiny candy accents that add a magical, sugary touch.
Every detail, from their rosy cheeks to their candy-trimmed bases, is crafted with care, making these limited-edition figurines a must-have for collectors and holiday enthusiasts alike.
Available exclusively online at WorkofWhimsy.com starting tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM CST. Don’t wait — quantities are limited, and these sweet new friends won’t stick around for long!
Ice Cream Snowmen
Work of Whimsy
Ornament Spotlight: 2026 Collaboration Piece
Keepsake Artist SIGNING Events Return
Keepsake artist signing events in 2026!
host a one-day artist signing event at the store in August or September 2026.
Each event will feature two artists and a special event-only Keepsake Artist Studio piece, sold only at the winning stores.
2025 Reveal: Work of Whimsy Ice Cream Party Snowmen by Tammy Haddix
Work of Whimsy Introduces “Sweet Treat Duo” Figurines — Chilly Mint & Brrr-Berry
The ice cream party has officially begun! Work of Whimsy is delighted to unveil the first two Ice Cream Social guests — Chilly Mint and Brrr-Berry.
Each figurine is a hand-painted delight, wearing a whimsical waffle sugar cone hat and brimming with playful detail. Chilly Mint, bright and berry-sweet, holds a strawberry cone topped with colorful sprinkles. Brrr-Berry, the cool and cheerful one, carries a star-shaped cookie and is surrounded by tiny mint candies.
Every inch of these limited-edition collectibles is crafted with care, from their pastel scoops to their waffle-textured accents, giving them the look of having just stepped out of an enchanted ice cream parlor.
The Sweet Treat Duo will be available exclusively online at WorkofWhimsy.com beginning Tuesday, November 4, at 9:00 AM CT. Quantities are limited — so collectors are encouraged to order early before this sweet celebration melts away.
Ice Cream Snowmen
Work of Whimsy
Reveal: 2025 World Series Keepsake Ornament
Los Angeles Dodgers™
2025 World Series™ Champions
Special Edition
Congratulations to the Los Angeles Dodgers™ who have won the World Series for the second year in a row! Remember the home runs, the leaping catches and all the baseball heroics of Los Angeles’s 2025 World Series championship and celebrate their thrilling victory. But don’t wait long—supplies are limited.
PREORDER NOW
Available at participating Hallmark Gold Crown Stores and on Hallmark.com
New Keepsake Studio Artist: Bruce Bibler
Welcome to the Keepsake Studio, Bruce Bibler!
Bruce Bibler
Hallmark Artist