2024 Artist Insights: The Beauty of Birds
Emma Leturgez-Smith
This year, the beloved Beauty of Birds series turns 20! To mark this special occasion, Keepsake Artist Emma Leturgez-Smith says she decided to spread her wings and create an ornament—and limited-quantity companion!—that are extra vibrant.
“I was inspired by the color green,” Emma says. “Looking at all the past birds in the line, I felt like a deep green was missing. The Violet-Green Swallow also let me work with a really beautiful purple—another uncommon color in birds.”
Violet-Green Swallow
The Beauty of Birds
20th in the series.
Emma inherited this series in 2022 after Keepsake Artist Edythe Kegrize retired. Edythe had finished designs up until 2022, so this new ornament is just the second one Emma has worked on from start to finish. After brainstorming for the initial design, Emma went straight to the computer to start sculpting. But she didn’t just wing it—she tested lots of different colors and poses along the way before landing on the final look.
“My favorite detail is how the series ornament fits alongside its limited-quantity counterpart! The colors, the poses—they fit together so well and I’m eager for people to see them as a pair,” Emma says.
We don’t want to ruffle any feathers but, sadly, you’ll have to wait until Ornament Premiere in July to pick up the Lady Violet-Green Swallow companion ornament. Lucky for us, Beauty of Birds #20 will be available starting in March at your nearest store or on Hallmark.com!
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. “Behind the scenes with Emma Leturgez-Smith about her Beauty of Birds Limited Quantity Companion Ornament Coming at Ornament Premiere in July” Keepsake Ornament Club Facebook Page, January 31, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KOCMembers/posts/3580075618899103
2024 Artist Insights: Nellco
This year, we’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of Nellco Appliances! This fan-favorite “unofficial” series began in 2004 with Christmas Cookies, a retro oven featuring lights, and an electric air freshener.
Nello Williams
From record players to laundry machines, Keepsake Artist Nello Williams has put out a new magic appliance ornament almost every year since. This year’s ornament, the Nellco Claw Machine, was inspired by Nello’s teenage years.
“I visited arcades now and then—this was pre-video games. And though I spent most of my time on the pinball machines, the claw machines were always there, too,” he says. “It didn’t take me very long to figure out that I was bad at them—not that I was very good at pinball either! But they are very interesting machines.”
Nello says after he settled on the claw machine idea he began researching and finding toy tabletop claw machines to reference for the design.
“My first concept had the claw picking up Christmas bulbs, but we liked the idea of referencing the Magic Snowballs that Hallmark produced several years ago,” he says.
Then, his team worked together to bring the machine to life. Nello says it took several attempts of trial and error to get it just right.
“When the front button is pressed, the claw rises up with a magic snowball in its clutches, moves toward the receptacle, and drops it in. The chute lights up, revealing the prize, and music plays,” he says. “I wanted to have the claw fumble the snowball halfway and include the sound of someone swearing, but for some reason, the team didn’t go for it.”
Lucky for us, we don’t have to beat the game to win the prize! You can take home your very own Nellco Claw Machine at Ornament Premiere in July.
Nellco Claw Machine
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. “Behind the scenes with Nello Williams about his Nellco Claw Machine ornament (available at Ornament Premiere)!” Keepsake Ornament Club Facebook Page, January 3, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KOCMembers/posts/3539554672951198
2023 Artist Insights: Playful Penguins
Keepsake Artist Kristina Gaughran is well known and loved for her adorable Playful Penguins. They’re always up for adventure, and this ornament finds them on an icy Ferris wheel that lights up and plays music from “Toyland” as the wheel turns.
Kristina Gaughran
There’s a lot of complexity behind this magical Ferris wheel. “I worked with one of our wonderful engineers on this one,” Kristina says. “She definitely had the hardest part! I can come up with an idea, but the engineer really makes all the magic work. So, while she focused on that, I added my penguins and a whole lot of wintery details.”
“If you’re not familiar with these playful pals, they do have a back story,” Kristina says. “They have distinct personalities and names. They love to have fun, and two of them are pretty bold and daring. Wade is more adventurous, outgoing, caring and kind. He likes to take his friends on imaginative adventures. Waddles always has a smile. He’s very carefree, silly and happy—and always ready for excitement! And Wendel is like me. He loves to have fun but gets nervous easily. He’s the introvert of the group, but if there are snacks—he’s 100 percent in!
“So, Wendel isn’t so sure about being up too high on the Ferris wheel because he gets a little anxious. I kept that in mind as I designed this and wanted it to feel more like a little kids’ Ferris wheel to give Wendel a moment of being brave! He’s finding his courage and having fun.”
There are a lot more adventures in store for these precious penguins, but all Kristina can share right now is that “you can be sure there will be lots of fun, and lots of ice and snow!”
Playful Penguins
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. “Behind the scenes with Kristina Gaughran about her Playful Penguins ornament (available now)!” Keepsake Ornament Club Facebook Page, November 29, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KOCMembers/posts/3539554672951198
2023 Artist Insights:Season’s Treatings
There’s no Keepsake Ornament series sweeter than Season’s Treatings and this year marks its 15th anniversary! To celebrate the occasion, the 15th ornament in the series, a train with Santa as its engineer, is joined by a Special Edition ornament, a train depot where Mrs. Claus awaits.
Sharon Visker
Keepsake Artist Sharon Visker found her inspiration in a tabletop piece she created back in 2021. “I had worked on Deck the Gingerbread House, and I really liked it and wanted to do more gingerbread. So this year, I did the Gingerbread Village (available now) with sound, light and motion. And I decided to do the Season’s Treatings with gingerbread as well.”
In fact, if you look at the Season’s Treatings train, you’ll see a miniature version of it, with slightly different coloring, on the Gingerbread Village train track! And I also put a ‘15’ emblem on the caboose to celebrate the series anniversary.”
As for the train depot Special Edition ornament, Sharon gives credit for the idea to Art Director Charles Young. “Charles suggested we add something to the series this year for the anniversary. And he said, ‘Why don’t you do something that goes with a train—what about a depot?’ So, I did a quick sketch to get the idea on track.” (Good one, Sharon.)
She continues, “I tried to coordinate the size so if the train did pull up to the depot, they’re kind of in scale. The train depot is a little smaller but they’re similar. I couldn’t do it spot on or the depot would have gotten too big. Then, when it came to some finishing touches, I gave a nod to candy canes with the checkered roof and added gumballs to the top. I really wanted the two pieces to stay Christmas-y with coordinated colors.
I also used actual decorating tips for the icing on the roof, and I specifically asked that it not be fixed to look perfect. I wanted it to look real, like any person might have done it. It’s kind of rough and I like that it looks more authentic. I prefer something real over something perfect.”
And you might be wondering where Mrs. Claus is waiting to go. Sharon says, “Mrs. Claus has packed her suitcase and is waiting for Santa to pick her up so they can go—where else—to Gingerbread Village!”
You can pick up the Season’s Treatings Special Edition ornament beginning December 1 (for KOC members only), at our ’Tis the Season event. The series ornament (Santa in the train) is available now. And if you’re wondering what’s ahead for the series, well, Sharon says for now she’s sworn to secrecy—so you’ll just have to wonder s’more.
Seasons Treatings
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. “Behind the scenes with Sharon Visker about her Season’s Treatings, both 15th in the series (available now) and Special Edition (available Dec 1) ornaments!” Keepsake Ornament Club Facebook Page, November 01, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KOCMembers/posts/3523521124554553/
2023 Artist Insights: DOBBY™
What happens when Keepsake magic meets the Wizarding World™? A house-elf appears! But Dobby , the beloved protector and friend of Harry Potter™, was no ordinary house-elf…and this ornament is no ordinary Keepsake ornament.
Jake Angell
Featuring animatronic motion and quotes from the movies, this ornament truly brings Hogwarts™ favorite free elf to life.
“I started with a sketch from Tim Bodendistal, and then I got to work with the engineer,” says artist Jake Angell. “We wanted to get Dobby as large as we could, and I worked closely with the engineers to decide on a static starting pose that would show him best when not moving.”
From there, Jake says the Keepsake Studio editor and engineers worked to see what sound clips from the movie could be used. Then they worked their magic to animate the Dobby ornament.
“It’s always a balancing act to try and fit all the parts into the ornament to make it work,” Jake says. “But my family and I are big Harry Potter fans, so I really focused on hiding the necessary parts in a way that still told the story. It was so fun placing Dobby on a trunk that a Hogwarts student would be travelling with to school.”
While Jake loves immersing himself in the Wizarding World and working on ornaments, he says he always looks forward to seeing the finished product and sharing it with other fans.
“I can’t wait to see how my family reacts to my Dobby ornament moving and talking, and I really hope that everyone loves what we created for them,” he says.
Luckily for us all, no spells are needed to bring this house-elf ornament home. Get yours at Ornament Debut!
Dobby™
Harry Potter™
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments. “Behind the scenes with Jake Angell about his Harry Potter™ Dobby™ The House-Elf ornament, that will be releasing at Ornament Debut!” Keepsake Ornament Club Facebook Page, October 02, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KOCMembers/posts/3504749609765038/