Ornament Spotlight: Ornament Debut Member Exclusives
A closer look at your Ornament Debut exclusives
Keepsake Artists Tammy Haddix and Edythe Kegrize share how the traditions they grew up with inspired the ornaments they’ve created just for you.
Tutu Enchanting
Snow Queen
Nutcracker Sweet
2nd in the series.
Edythe Kegrize brings the magic of the Nutcracker Ballet to life, exclusively for you in her Nutcracker Sweet series. This year, she’s bringing you the Snow Queen herself, the second ornament in her five-year series.
Edythe’s love of the Nutcracker started early she says, “As a child, I had the pleasure of attending the ballet and thought it was all so magical. The Snow Queen with her glittery costume, the winter wonderland scenery and the beautiful music.”
“That costume from way back then, made me want to make my Snow Queen really shine. So I chose a sparkle glitter. Tulle netting for her little tutu, to catch the light as it hangs on the tree. She also has crystals on her dress and on her snowflake wand.”
Waltz of the Flowers
Nutcracker Sweet
3rd in the series.
Edythe also give us a sneak peek of next year’s creation “I love all the music from the second act of the ballet, so for next year I’m creating a Waltz of the Flowers ornament because it’s something that most people recognize when they hear it. she’ll also have glitter tulle on her tutu and crystals in her tiara and on her flower wand. And her wand will have a tiny satin bow.”
Traditions mean so much to all of us, and this ballet is a special one that Edythe loves to share “Christmas would not be complete for me without playing music from the Nutcracker Ballet while I decorate the tree. “
A
A Sweet Surprise
Gingerbread Surprise
Member Exclusive
Who lives inside your gingerbread house? That’s the question asked by this member-exclusive Gingerbread Surprise ornament by Tammy Haddix. With a gumdrop roof, and windows Made of frosting, it will make you happy home for either a sugary-sweet gingerbread man or–in just 20 percent of cases–a candy-coated snowman. You’ll have to open yours up to find out which one you get.
Tammy is no stranger to making gingerbread houses, she says, “I used to make gingerbread houses with my brother, sister and mom. When I was little, and then I did the same thing with both my boys when they were little. It’s definitely a tradition, I will carry forward someday with grandkids!”
She continues, “My favorite thing about this gingerbread house is that some of the candy choices are inspired by candies we have used in our full-size houses, like the Necco Wafers roof and gumdrops on top, as well as the colored candy drops that used to come on a piece of waxed paper. They’re all candies from my childhood. I also love the ice cream cone used as a hat on the special little snowman.”
Tammy loves creating these exclusive ornaments for you. “KOC members are so very special to all of us artists in the studio. Because of them. I get to do a job I love! I know our members love creating kitchen trees with food ornaments and like me, they love anything candy!”
“A closer look at your Ornament Debut exclusives.” For Keeps 19 Fall 2020: 2-3
2021 KOC Membership Enrollment
Enrollment in the Keepsake Ornament Club (KOC) for 2020 has closed, but we can’t wait to bring you details on next year’s membership in the coming weeks–enrollment for 2021 opens on November 10, 2020!
Love Ornaments?
Join the KOC
Starting November 10
Keepsake Ornament Club (KOC) – A club–sponsored by Hallmark–for fans, collectors and Holiday enthusiasts to come together and celebrate their shared passion for Keepsake Ornaments.
Reminder: 2020 KOC Membership Enrollment
Enrollment in the Keepsake Ornament Club (KOC) for 2020 ends on July 31, 2020. Until then, individuals can continue to enroll online, in store, by mail or phone to receive the benefits of membership. 2021 enrollment will be open in November.
Keepsake Convention Exclusives
When it comes to creating convention exclusives, the Keepsake artists always put the fans first.
For this year’s convention-exclusive ornaments, the Keepsake Studio took different approaches to their pieces.
For Harry Potter fans, Keepsake Artist Kristina Gaughran went with an unexpected, yet popular, choice. “[Professor Boggart Snape] has gotten a lot of love from the cosplay community, so to give fans an ornament this unique is exciting.” says Kris.
For the National Barbie Doll Convention, Keepsake Artist Debra Nielsen was guided by the convention itself. “The theme for 2020 is ‘Paradise Found’,” Debra says. “I am given some top-secret artwork relative to the theme and need to create a new shoe design based on it. In this case, the Barbie with the ocean waves hair artwork was provided and I added the hibiscus floral pattern to complement it.”
Those are just some small insights into the process of creating convention exclusives. Get a close look at our convention offerings below.
Shoe-sational!
Barbie™ Ornament
Special Edition
Tribble
STAR TREK TOS: The Trouble with Tribbles
Imperial Probe Droid™
Star Wars™: The Empire Strikes Back™
Ahsoka Tano™
Star Wars™: The Clone Wars™
Professor Boggart Snape™
Harry Potter™
“Keepsake Convention Exclusives.” For Keeps 18 Summer 2020: 8
Tom and His Frosty Friends
Frosty Friends
41st in the series.
As the Keepsake artist with the second-longest run on the Frosty Friends series, Tom Best sat down to answer some questions about the long-running adventures of Frosty and his North Pole pals.
“Tom and His Frosty Friends.” For Keeps 18 Summer 2020: 4-5