Attending Artists
Hotel Accommodations
Local Club Dinner
Resources
Event Recap
Product

Return to 2014 Signing Map

Issaquah Tree Trimmers’ In-Store Artist Signing Event

Event Date: Saturday, August 16, 2014

Location & Contact Information:

Mark’s Hallmark Shop, #58
1175 NW Gilman Blvd.
Issaquah, WA 98027

(425) 392-0604

Attending Artists

Don Palmiter

Matt Johnson

Note: Hallmark announced earlier this year that after 47 years, Senior Artist, Don Palmiter will be retiring this year. This will be one of his last signing events before retirement.

Hotel Accomodations

A limited number of rooms have been set aside and are available at a discounted rate at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Hilton Garden Inn – Issaquah
1800 NW Gilman Blvd
Issaquah, WA 98027

(425) 837-3600
For Online Reservations: Click Here

Individuals are encouraged to reserve their room early (deadline for reservations is July 25th). Mention Hallmark Signing Event to get the discounted rate.

Friday Night Dinner “With the Artists”

Open to the general public. Limited to first 100 people

Date: Friday, August 15, 2014

Time:

  • Doors Open: 6:30 p.m.
  • Dinner Begins: 7:00 p.m.

Location:

Pogacha Restaurant of Issaquah
120 Northwest Gillman Boulevard
Issaquah, WA 98027

Event Fee: $50.00 USD/attendee

Includes:

  • Admission to the dinner,
  • Five drawing tickets
  • one-year membership to our club,
  • Limited Edition “Issaquah Tree Trimmers” 2014 Event T-shirt
  • “Golden Ticket” – A product voucher for “Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen Sink”, the In-Store event exclusive signing piece. This voucher guarantees its holder the opportunity to purchase this event exclusive piece on Saturday.
  • Artist Signing ticket along with VIP access to the Keepsake Artists (one-hour before the general public) for a more intimate signing experience.
  • A special Hallmark “thank-you” gift for every member

Reservations: To reserve a spot for our dinner and indicate what T-shirt size you will be wanting, please call our sponsor store, Mark’s Hallmark Shop at: (425) 392-0604. Please note: T-shirts will be unisex.

Then mail payment to:
2014 KOC Signing Event
c/o Mark’s Hallmark Shop, #58
Attn.: Shawna
1175 NW Gilman Blvd. #B13
Issaquah, WA 98027

Dinner:

Features Northwest and Adriatic cuisine, including:

  • Seasonal Greens
  • Orange Vinaigrette Salad
  • Homemade Pogachas – soft, chewy flatbread brick-oven pizzas covered witha special blend of 5 Cheeses
  • Tomato and Basil
  • Red Onion Artichoke
  • Fresh Salmon – Wild Oven Baked Salmon Fillets
  • Dobar Chicken Pasta – Grilled chicken breast with port soaked grapes and a port wine Gorgonzola cream sauce
  • Roasted New Potatoes
  • Sautéed Seasonal Vegetables
  • Dessert: Confetti Cupcakes – a selection of cupcakes from one of our local bakeries
  • Boehm’s Candies and Chocolates – a sampling of European-style chocolates from our very own neighborhood chocolate factory.
  • Beverage: Coffee, Tea, Iced Tea, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke Sprite and Lemonade

We have planned a wonderful and memorable evening with special surprises for each of our guests.

Resources

Event Recap

At the Local Club Dinner event in Issaquah, WA, Don and Matt each gave a personal insight into one of their 2014 Keepsake ornaments and shared a Sneak Peek of one of their 2015 Keepsake ornaments.

Matt started the program by saying he enjoys designing snowmen characters. He then talked about ‘I Melt.’ one of the magic ornaments he has designed for this year. He said that when he first started designing this ornament, he was thinking of Johnny Cash and over time the snowman evolved or ‘melted’ into it’s final design.

Since Matt enjoys fishing, he choose ‘Gone Fishing,’ a cute whimsical ornament for his 2015 Sneak Peek. This ornament which combines both of his interests was developed after a recent fishing trip that he went on with Keepsake artist Tom Best.

Matt concluded his presentation by saying, that although he is not a series artist by nature, he is not opposed to taking on a series if the right inspiration comes along.

Gone Fishing
By Matt Johnson.

Don took the stage and discussed, in depth, his obvious love for cars and how he believes: “ornaments are not only memories but should each tell a story. It’s the memories and the stories they tell, that make the ornaments special.” Don continued: “although he has enjoyed his entire career at Hallmark and all the series he has created, he had the most fun during the 10 years period that he designed the ‘Kiddie Cars’ series-not just designing the cars but also traveling and getting to meet collectors and seeing their pedal car collections first hand.”

Don then spoke about his ‘2014 Chevrolet® Corvette® Stingray™’ which will be available in December. After stating that this piece has been in development for several years, He described, in fascinating detail, the process of working with car manufacturers, from the early concept stage through the entire development process, in order to time the release date of the ornament with that of the actual 2014 C7 Stingray.

Don also spoke about his contributions to the ‘Nostalgic Houses and Shops’ series. He said many of the buildings in this series have personal touches that connect to his own life, family members and people he has met along the way. As an example he referenced how the ‘Town Hall and Mayor’s Christmas Tree’ piece list him as the mayor.

He then talked about next year’s ornament, the ‘Keepsake Korners Pet Shop.’ As an interesting piece of trivia he mentioned that the design incorporates a couple of miniaturized versions from Anita Marra Roger’s ‘Puppy Love’ series.

Keepsake Korners Pet Shop
32nd in the Nostalgic Houses and Shops series.
By Don Palmiter.

Event Product