Julie Forsyth
Hallmark Artist

Julie Forsyth has loved dance her entire life, so it’s only natural that she’s the go-to sculptor for the twirling beauties that emerge from the Keepsake Ornament studio each year. Her true passion for dance is woven throughout each step of her creative life—from designing costumes alongside choreographers to studying the various poses in her free time. She admits that some of her best years have been spent watching her own daughter dance.

Only a true dance aficionado would pick up on the proper turn-out pose in Julie’s various ballerina Keepsake Ornaments—as a collector noticed. And that’s that kind of collector comment that really brings a smile to her face. As Julie puts it, “We’re the only species that does anything like dance on the planet! That’s something to be proud of.”

Julie’s family picked up on her natural artistic abilities in the first grade when she sculpted the spitting image of the family dog. She continued her creative pursuits throughout high school and went on to work at an animation studio in New York. Following in the footsteps of her sister, a fellow designer, Julie made the move to Kansas City and started a job at Hallmark. The two siblings eventually worked side-by-side in the Keepsake Studio where Julie continues to bring her delicate designs to life each year.

Simple Gifts
1st in the Marjolein’s Garden series

Fans of Marjolein Bastin’s wonderful watercolor designs have come to Hallmark for years to see her classic florals in gift books, home décor and Keepsake Ornaments. Bastin’s work has made an appearance on a few Keepsake Ornaments over the years, but this year’s new series features a hand-sculpted three-dimensional design by Julie Forsyth.

Julie and a few other artists in the Keepsake Ornament Studio were able to take a very special trip to see the home and personal studio space of painter Marjolein Bastin. “She passed around some of her original artwork and we got to see her work a little bit,” Julie recalls, “It was so fun to meet her.” The beautiful style and warmth of Bastin’s home was an instant source of inspiration for Julie’s work on this first ornament in the Marjolein’s Garden series.

Collectors interested in this series should keep an eye out for the intricate details that Julie has incorporated in her design. She used new materials to keep the flowers light and lovely, while hand-painted petals and a delicate hemp rope tie the whole look together. Upcoming Keepsake Ornaments in this series will feature all kinds of wintery woodland friends, like the black-capped chickadee perched on this painterly watering can.