Artist Journal: Nina Aubé
Tuesday, July 14, 2021
From the sketchbook of Keepsake Artist, Nina Aubé.
Inspired by recalling memories of silly fun times with friends, Nina created these adorable sketches! Although these sketches do not have plans to become ornaments, we thought they were too cute not to share! What do you think?
Community Manager. “From the Desk of Nina Aubé.” Hallmark Keepsake Community, July 14, 2020. https://keepsakecommunity.hallmark.com/share/from-the-desk-of-nina-aube.
Reveal: 2020 Keepsake Collector’s Puzzle
Playful Penguins
Keepsake Collector’s Puzzle
Playful Penguins Keepsake Ornaments are the lovable creation of Hallmark artist Kristina Gaughran. Year after year, these flippered friends put their imaginations to work building whimsical creations with snow and ice. The penguins’ antics are inspired by Kristina’s own snowy adventures as a child in Iowa and the creative imagination she sees in her two little boys.
1000 interlocking pieces
30″ w. x 24″ h.
$19.99 USA
Press Release: PopMinded by Hallmark To Offer Exclusives at Comic-Con@Home Virtual Event (UPDATED)
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, itty bittys® and PXL8 enamel pins among items planned
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (July 10, 2020) – UPDATE: In light of recent cancellations of conventions due to COVID-19, PopMinded will now be offering the exclusives online July 22-26 at the Comic-Con@Home virtual event, planned in place of Comic-Con® International: San Diego, as well as October 8-11 either online or in person during New York Comic Con. A small allotment still will be made available for current Keepsake Ornament Club members only.
Due to schedule changes for the Official Star Trek Convention Las Vegas, PopMinded will no longer be attending. The Star Trek exclusive ornament will no longer be made available at this event.
Due to the cancellation of Emerald City Comic Con, Planet Comicon Kansas City and Star Wars Celebration, exclusives planned for those events will no longer be available. Stay tuned for more information regarding exclusives specific to Star Wars Celebration.
COMIC-CON@HOME PURCHASING INFORMATION
To purchase the exclusives during the Comic-Con@home virtual event July 22-26, find the Popminded by Hallmark exhibitor page on the Comic-Con@home website starting at 9am PDT Wednesday July 22.*
Click on: any of the exclusive products shown, then in the pop-up window,
Click on: the link titled ‘visit website’ to be taken to a special page on PopMinded.com for purchasing.
NOTE: Purchases are limited to one of each of the exclusives per transaction. The exclusive quantities will be first come, first serve. We will not have daily allocations for this event.
UPDATE (07.16.20) – Added Comic-Con@Home purchasing Information.
UPDATE (07.22.20 @ 9:00 AM PST) – To purchase the exclusives go straight to: hallmark.com/popminded/
UPDATE (07.22.20 @ 9:06 AM PST) – Imperial Probe Droid is OUT OF STOCK.
UPDATE (07.22.20 @ 9:16 AM PST) – Professor Boggart Snape is OUT OF STOCK.
UPDATE (07.22.20 @ 9:31 AM PST) – “unfortunately there was an error. It was still early on west coast some people got in. Any and all duplicate orders were canceled. Still the demand was high. We are evaluating inventory levels and will notify if more are in stock soon.”**
UPDATE (07.22.20 @ 9:00 PM PST) – Tribble and The Child enamel pin are OUT OF STOCK.
UPDATE (07.23.20 @ 8:34 PM PST) – “…we hope to have an answer tomorrow about additional inventory available for comic-con@home.”***
UPDATE (07.24.20 @ 1:26 PM PST) – “Thank you for your patience as we took time to investigate what happened this week during Comic-Con@home and evaluate our inventory. We do have additional inventory of the Probe Droid that we will sell in conjunction to the recently announced Metaverse on August 13th. In addition, we are planning to run more inventory this fall to meet the overwhelming demands due to conventions moving online this year while keeping quantities limited to maintain the collectability of an exclusive. Stay tuned for specific announcements regarding time of release, and a direct link for purchase.”****
UPDATE (10.07.20 @ 10:25 PM CDT) – Last chance to pick up 2020 Con Exclusives.*****
– The final sale of the Con Exclusives (for the general public) happens tomorrow at 11:00 AM CDT.
– If you are a Keepsake Ornament Club member, a limited amount will be available for purchase for members only on 10/26 at 9:00 AM CDT.
– A limited number of 2019 event exclusives Sybill Trelawney itty bittys will also be available as part of this sale.
Updated Hallmark’s 2020 convention calendar
Comic-Con@Home: July 23-26, 2020
New York Comic Con™ (NYCC): New York, NY – October 8-11, 2020 CANCELLED
New York Comic Con’s Metaverse: October 8-11, 2020
*Popminded by Hallmark. “Come See Us at These Events.” Popminded, A Pop Culture Collection by Hallmark. Hallmark, July 17, 2020. https://www.hallmark.com/popminded/.
**popminded. “PopMinded Event Exclusive Star Trek Tribble.” Web log. Instagram, July 22, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CC4dh0IJX_H/.
***popminded. “PopMinded Event Exclusive Imperial Probe Droid.” Web log. Instagram, July 23, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CCzaXHOpxHS/.
****popminded. “PopMinded Event Exclusive Imperial Probe Droid.” Web log. Instagram, July 24, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CCzaXHOpxHS/.
*****popminded. “PopMinded Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments.” Web log. Instagram, October 7, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/stories/popminded/2415142924760595235/
Professor Boggart Snape™
Harry Potter™
Tribble
STAR TREK TOS: The Trouble with Tribbles
Imperial Probe Droid™
Star Wars™: The Empire Strikes Back™
Deadpool
MARVEL
itty bittys®
The Child™
Star Wars: The Mandalorian™
PXL8® Enamel Pin
Artist Insights: 2020 Beer Stein
Hallmark sat down with Keepsake Artist Tom Best (virtually!) to discuss the inspiration behind his 2020 Beer Stein releasing at Ornament Debut in October.
Tom: “I grew up with a few of my dad’s and knew that people collected them. They are a perfect vehicle for storytelling and have that old world charm that works so well for Christmas ornaments. Plus, I’m a beer guy and German, so I went with my strengths!”
Tom: “I do quite a bit of research on these steins, not only on the chosen subject matter but beer steins in general. My phone has a thousand pictures of steins as I always have an eye out.”
Tom: “Well the great thing about these beer steins is the subject matter can be nearly anything. I did all the Santa and Christmas themed ones early on, so these days I feel I can do just about anything that inspires me … thus the Nautical theme. I grew up on the shores of Lake Erie, so boats, ships and big water were a part of my daily scenery. In addition, my cousins lived near the coast in Maine where my Uncle had a sail boat. So, I can even say I’ve sailed on open ocean!”
Beer Stein (back)
Beer Stein (front)
“The actual idea for this year’s nautical stein started with the lid. Usually, I figure out the theme or subject matter first. Then, design the front. Next, the handle hinge character, then the lid and finally the back side last. I had the idea of a bell buoy swinging in the waves with a bell. When the lid flips up, the bell swings. So, the ship, ships wheel, and ship anchor with wreath were kind of a “no brainer.” Same with the dolphin, sea turtle and fish. My favorite part of this year’s beer stein is actually the sides … there are two mermaids holding each end of a garland. They are surely a sailors delight! Cheers to you all!”
Beer Stein (2020)
Community Manager. “Behind the scenes with Tom Best and his 2020 Beer Stein.” Hallmark Keepsake Community, July 08, 2020. https://keepsakecommunity.hallmark.com/share/behind-the-scenes-with-tom-best-and-his-2020-beer-stein.
2020 Reveal: Holiday Barbie® Ornaments
The wait is over. Here she is! Inspired by the 2020 Holiday Barbie™ Doll, this Keepsake Ornament is the perfect way to carry on the Barbie™ tradition of fabulous holiday fashions.
Barbie shines in an elegant all gold gown with a solid bodice and a snowflake print skirt. Her long, blonde hair is styled in waves with a center part, and golden chandelier earrings complete the look.
Holiday Barbie™ Ornament
6th in the series.
Inspired by the 2020 Holiday Barbie™ Doll
Mickey the Musician Ornament Canceled
Mickey the Musician
Disney Mickey Mouse
The Mickey the Musician ornament, which was scheduled to be released for Ornament Premiere, has been canceled.
2020 Holiday VIP Gift
Participating Hallmark retailers will once again kick off their Holiday season by inviting Platinum Crown Rewards customers to an exclusive holiday event. If you are a Platinum Crown Rewards member, keep an eye on your mailbox for an invitation to this years Holiday VIP event. Accompanying this invitation will be your coupon for the free with purchase* VIP event gift.
Holiday Open House & VIP Event, November 6-15, 2020
Snow Sweetie
Limited Edition
This Exclusive VIP Holiday Gift is full of seasonal items just for you.
Includes:
- Metallic Jingle Bell Salt and Pepper Shakers
- The Nice One Stemless Wine Glass
- The Naughty One Stemless Wine Glass
- Stay Frosty Tea Towel
- Merry Christmas Ceramic Mug
- A Signature Paper Wonder holiday card
- Snow Sweetie Keepsake Ornament
- A VIP Basket
* Gift with a purchase of $60 or more (after deductions). $115 valued.
Valid: 11/6/20 – 11/8/20 (for Platinum Crown Rewards members – local Invite only),
11/9/20 – 11/15/20 (for all Crown Rewards members – local email), and
11/16/20 – 12/24/20 (for sale $19.99 USA)
Additionally, individuals spending $125 or more will also receive a Treats and Sweets Holiday Treat Jar (regularly $24.99). While supplies last.
Treats & Sweets Holiday Treat Jar
Holiday VIP Gift – A promotional offer directed at Platinum Crown Rewards customers.
Artist Insights: Gingerbread Carousel
In their excitement for the release of the event exclusive Gingerbread Carousel on Aug. 22, Hallmark sat down with Keepsake Artists Edythe Kegrize, Nina Aubé, and Gregor Benedetti to discuss the inspiration behind their contributions to this year’s studio piece.
Gingerbread Carousel Design Concept
When choosing a concept for this year’s studio ornament, Keepsake Artist Edythe Kegrize wanted to give her fellow artists a chance to show off what they can do.
“Immediately, I thought of cookies,” Edythe says. “Everybody loves baking at Christmas, and I’ve always admired the gingerbread competitions where people have spent hours upon hours and have all these wonderful creations on display.”
The result was the Gingerbread Carousel, which features creative treats from each artist in the studio.
For some of Hallmark’s artists, this is a favorite they get to work on because every single artist from the Studio works together to bring this sweet ornament to life. In addition to coming up with the design concept, Edythe also led the coordination of the piece. She worked closely with artist Robert Hurlburt to partner on piecing every individual piece of this ornament together digitally. Robert and Edythe have worked closely on similar pieces over the years and Edythe has often referred to Robert as the one who puts the final “it” all together.
Gingerbread Carousel Polar Bear
For her polar bear, Nina Aubé found her inspiration right inside the Keepsake Studio! Nina said, “I remember researching both cookie and carousel designs for this project. I was aiming for a decorative yet simple, easily readable animal shape and saddle. I was also very inspired by a heritage blown glass polar bear that Edythe designed.”
Gingerbread Carousel Sleigh
This ornament is special to Gregor Benedetti, and he told us why. Gregor said, “This sleigh was one of the first ornaments I designed last year when I jumped aboard the Keepsake Studio as an official member. The inspiration for this cute little cookie came from a time in my youth when I worked at an Italian pastry shop in New York City’s Greenwich Village piping icing on cakes and other sweet treats.”
Community Manager. “Behind the Scenes with the Gingerbread Carouse.” Hallmark Keepsake Community, June 30, 2020. https://keepsakecommunity.hallmark.com/share/behind-the-scenes-with-the-gingerbread-carousel.
Celebrating 40 Years of Magic with Ken Crow
Master Artist Ken Crow, one of the most beloved Keepsake Artists, delivered the very best craftsmanship and magic functioning ornaments over 40 wonderful years. Ken retired almost one year ago in August 2019, shortly after hosting the biannual Keepsake Ornament Club convention. Prior to his retirement, Ken met with Historian Samantha Bradbeer on multiple occasions to donate sketches and ornaments to the Hallmark Archives. He also recorded an oral history interview with Samantha, so future artists – and now collectors – can learn from his creative process. Here are some excerpts from that interview.
Ken Crow
Retired Hallmark Master Artist
Ken Crow (1954- ) grew up in Long Beach, California, and, even at a young age, he was constantly inspired by his surroundings. One of his earliest memories – which he credits to his lifelong passion for drawing and mechanics – was visiting Disneyland for the first time. “I’m sitting on Main Street U.S.A, and, as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs came out in a parade, Grumpy walked right up to me and stepped on my foot,” Ken recalled. “I knew it was a person in a costume, but I was touched by that magical, animation moment.”
After visiting Disneyland, Ken began experimenting – taking apart his toys and making puppets in his father’s garage. He happily pursued that spark, and occasionally sought out his brother’s belongings, unbeknownst to him. “I put my brother’s Mickey Mouse watch in a vice when I was 5 years old. I didn’t tell him I broke it just to see what made it work on the inside until I was 22,” giggled Ken.
Although Ken never took a formal art class, his family, especially his grandmother, encouraged his creative talent. Ken was constantly doodling in his notebooks, and his grandmother always smiled when she looked through his drawings. “She said ‘Kenny, did you create all those drawings right out of your head?’ and I replied ‘Yes, Grandma,’” Ken remembered. “I needed that smile.”
Ken soon realized that others also enjoyed his drawings, and using his creative talent could be a real learning experience. In his 11th grade history class, he discovered that his pictures were worth a thousand words, as his teacher, Mr. Ciriello, let him use sketches in lieu of class notes and assignments. Mr. Ciriello’s encouragement was the ‘green light’ Ken needed to express his artistic sensibility. “It was validation that maybe I can communicate through my art in such a way that someone can understand it,” explained Ken. “And, so from that moment on, I thought, I’m going to do more of this.”
After graduating high school in 1974, Ken attended the University of Missouri in Columbia where he studied art and journalism, as he thought editorial cartoons were a great way to tell a story. His first professional work experience was as an editorial cartoonist for the Columbia Missourian newspaper. “I was the first person there in the morning and the last person to leave at night. I got paid 90 cents an hour. It was a fortune to me. They didn’t have to pay me anything,” Ken laughed. “But I learned, ‘Ken, it’s due at 3 o’clock.’ And there was no saying no, you had to fill that spot and it had to be something good enough that they wanted you to keep doing it. So, I learned, I learned production dates. I learned what was suitable, what was correct. And that experience, the school of hard knocks, was the best art experience for me.”
Hallmark recruiter Arch Unruh visited the University of Missouri on several occasions, and, during one visit, he came to Ken’s art class and looked at his portfolio. “I had a black and white newspaper portfolio, and I remember he looked at it and he said, ‘Ken, you need to focus on what they sell in the card shop.’” With that advice, Ken went to a card shop, studied it, and created his own portfolio. “I spent three months painting cute fuzzy animals, and I submitted it and I got the letter that said I was accepted!” he exclaimed.
Ken began his Hallmark career in August 1979, just three months after earning his degree. One of his first projects was illustrating The Muppets, Peanuts, Pink Panther, and Scooby-Doo for use on greeting cards, party ware, and stickers. “I couldn’t get enough of it,” said Ken. “I was constantly inspired. Hallmark even sent me to The Muppets Studio and Disney World for inspiration.”
Over the next few years, Ken illustrated licensed properties and helped develop Hallmark’s in-house characters, including Rainbow Brite and Shirt Tales.
Ken worked with Duane for roughly 9 months, and, then when it came time for his next creative rotation, he asked his manager, Gary O’Neil, if he could move to Keepsakes, then known as Trim-a-Home. “It only had a few artists in it, but, my gosh, they’re making Christmas ornaments. And that was extremely magical because they were making not only static ones, but things that moved,” gushed Ken. “Nothing wrong with greeting cards, but I really wanted to do three-dimensional things.”
Meanwhile, artist Duane Unruh, brother to recruiter Arch Unruh, was working on the company’s line of pewter figurines – Little Gallery. Duane began looking for other Hallmark artists that could sculpt, and had heard that Ken might be a good fit. “So, I started sculpting, and I learned how to sculpt in wax through Duane,” Ken concluded.
Ken Crow pictured with Santa’s Woody (1987) production samples
With his manager’s encouragement, Ken started in Keepsakes in November 1983, and was welcomed by artists Donna Hill (Lee), Ed Seale, and Linda Sickman. “I learned from them, but they didn’t just sit down with you to teach you,” Ken explained. “Instead I looked over their shoulder and absorbed, and thought, my gosh, look at how they do that! It was so inspirational, in such fertile ground, and no fear. I wasn’t afraid. They just wanted me to do my very best.”
He quickly realized that each artist brought something new and different to the table, and, like Santa’s workshop, they could all flourish. “There isn’t a dud in the whole group. They all shine. They are all in,” Ken emphasized. “I am so fortunate to be one of the elves in that great workshop.”
Ken Crow painting Arctic Dome (1991)
A successful Keepsake ornament starts with a really great idea – the kind Ken gets when he imagines giving one of his creations more ingenuity, action, and entertainment value than anyone has seen in an ornament before. “I just dream, I get so into it. In fact, I’m so wrapped up all the time on it. I’m thinking about it constantly,” declared Ken.
But between his initial inspiration and the successful ornament, there’s a lot of inspired craftsmanship, collaboration, and approval-seeking. “You can’t wait to go into that room where managers are sitting, and you show your ideas, and if you think you’ve got something really good, it’s like opening a present,” Ken emphasized. “I can’t wait, because the thing that makes an artist like me work is, my gosh, I just might get to work on this.”
First, Ken translates his idea into a line drawing to show how the dramatic scene might be composed on an ornament. “You get about two weeks on a project you try to outdo the last drawing you did. It’s a horse race,” said Ken. This drawing will be approved by one of the Keepsake art directors, as well as an approval committee.
Ken then shows the rough concept drawing to an engineer. Since 1999, Ken has collaborated with engineer Ron Carlson to bring his ideas to life. “We will sit down with a big piece of paper and draw. And, through brainstorming, we can have the best motions, and we can have the best feelings,” Ken gushed. “And I’ll say, ‘Hey Ron, could you move the motor over just a little bit and can we have just a little more motion here, and can it twirl rather than just do this?’”
From a block of synthetic wood – or, in recent years, using computer software – Ken then sculpts a rough version of the ornament. With this prototype, he’ll have to show that the ornament not only will fit into its retail packaging but that the components will all fit inside. This rough prototype will be examined and okayed by the approval committee before Ken proceeds in sculpting, fine-tuning, and painting the finished prototype.
Throughout the entire process Ken is constantly thinking about ornament collectors. “What is the thing that is going to make them happier than anything? What is it that they can’t live without it? What makes somebody look at it and they already know, wow, there’s something special about that?” said Ken. “The final prototype is what plucks all those heartstrings.”
MIstletoad (1987) Sketch
Over the past 36 years, Ken has made an estimated 500 ornaments and gifts for Keepsakes. Among his favorite ornaments are The Mistletoad (1987), Arctic Dome (1991), Our Little Blessings (1995), Circus Railroad (2002), Polar Coaster (2003), I’m Melting! Melting! (2004), Mickey’s Firehouse Brigade (2015), Christmas Cabin (2020), and Disney Fantasia 80th Anniversary (2020).
These ornaments often include personal memories and Christmas traditions. “The Mistletoad has my wife’s kiss on it and it’s whimsical, and Our Little Blessings has my son and daughter on it. Jason was four, and Michelle was two. I was inspired to do that because I saw a photograph of my Grandpa with his brothers and sisters, and I thought, oh my gosh, look, they’re captured forever in a photograph. And I thought, wait a second, I am going to capture my kids forever in a Keepsake ornament,” Ken recounted.
Ken has shared these personal stories and many others with countless collectors over the years, but, he says, “They still ask, ‘Ken, what’s your very favorite ornament?’ And I would always say, ‘Well, it’s the one I haven’t worked on yet, because it’s the best one that I’m about to make.’ But, now that I am retired, I can honestly say it’s Christmas Cabin,” explained Ken. Christmas Cabin, which is available on July 11, is a ski lodge ornament, and it was inspired by Ken and engineer Ron Carlson’s Christmas traditions. “It’s a combination of Ron’s home and mine. If you look in the window upstairs, that’s his three grandkids decorating the Christmas tree. If you look on the pond, that’s my family ice skating on it. The kids on the toboggans represent kids of our friends, and then the carolers represent collectors – or just the greatest people you’d ever want to be around. And so this is like a Bing Crosby Christmas special. It has music, more than one song, and it’s, it’s just the best of my life now.”
Toymaker Santa (2019) Sketch
Although Ken has always been quick to point out that he’s not Santa Claus, he does have a lot in common with him. His coworkers and friends often describe him as cheerful, even jolly. He loves making toys, and even has a white beard. “The Toymaker Santa series represents me as like a Geppetto Santa Claus expressing the greatest toys I ever got to play with,” said Ken. Over the past 20 years, Ken has depicted Santa in a woodworking apron with a variety of toys – from trains, dolls, wagons, sleds, rocking horses, race cars – and the secret is…even though Ken is retired…there’s more coming out.
The last ornaments Ken worked on before his retirement was Toymaker Santa (2020) and Toymaker Santa (2021). “That’s really, really fitting. I have the greatest joy. I identify with that. That’s me,” Ken concluded. “I’m not Santa Claus. Nobody could ever be as great as that image, but, you know what I think, I really, really honest to goodness am one of his master elves. I really, really do identify that strongly with it.”
And collectors agree. Countless collectors at last year’s Keepsake Ornament Club Convention expressed their love for the series, and one even said Ken’s retirement was like Santa Claus leaving the North Pole. “That was by far the greatest compliment I could ever get. I’m a toymaker. I get to work on Christmas. I get to make people happy. So, maybe I am just a little bit Santa Claus. I guess I kind of look like it,” Ken laughed.
(Editor’s Notes: Quotes featured within the article have been edited for length and clarity. Samantha’s full interview with Ken, and with other Keepsake Artists, will be shared in other channels in the future).
Community Manager. “Celebrating 40 Years of Magic with Ken Crow.” Hallmark Keepsake Community, June 25, 2020. https://keepsakecommunity.hallmark.com/share/celebrating-40-years-of-magic-with-ken-crow.
2020 Father’s Day
To all the amazing fathers and father figures in our lives, today we celebrate YOU! All the love you show. All the advice and support you provide, and the protection you give every day. Thank you for all you do!
In the celebration of Father’s Day, here are the Dad related ornaments included in the 2020 Keepsake Ornament line.
Dads Are Sweet
Bring On the Snow Dad and Son
NOTE: After the success of Mother’s Day, Father’s Day observances began to appear around the United States and world. However, the road to this national observance was not an easy one as Congress resisted it fearing that the observance would become too commercialized. It wasn’t until 1966, that President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers on the third Sunday in June. The holiday wasn’t made an annual event until President Richard Nixon signed into law, making it a permanent national holiday in 1972 over 50 years after Mother’s Day came into existence.