Debra Nielsen grew up riding and caring for horses, which inspired an early love for nature that has followed her throughout her life. It’s also what inspires her creativity. “I love the colors, textures, and compositions I find in the mountains, the woods, and the ocean, It all recharges me, and that energy always makes its way into my work.”

Description

Features an updated rendition of the 1985 Rocking Horse, which was originally crafted by retired Keepsake artist Linda Sickman. Sapphire-toned crystals (the 45th anniversary gem) and dark and metallic threads in the tail complete the design.

Inspired by and honors the beloved Rocking Horse series that ran from 1981-1996 and commemorates the 45th anniversary of Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments.

  • Artist: Debra Nielsen
  • Released: 2018 (Ornament Premiere)
  • Retail Price: $24.99 USA/$29.99 CAN
  • Material(s): porcelain
  • Dimensions: 4.25" w. x 3.25" h. x 1" d.
  • SKU: QGO2206
  • Produced in: China
  • Production Date(s): 

Alternate Versions

Forty Years of Memories




Celebrating 45 Years of Keepsake Ornaments

Debuting in 1973, Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments began a memorable journey of making the holidays even more magical. Now, with a tradition of 45 years and counting, we celebrate you as much as the ornaments that bring us joy.

That first year, 45 years ago, Hallmark launched the line as a collection of six glass ball ornaments and 12 yarn figures. Since then, we’ve introduced more than 8,500 Keepsake Ornament s and mo re than 100 ornament series. Our longest- running series, Frosty Friends, is in its 39th year!

To make this anniversary the merriest yet, Keepsake Artist Debra Nielsen created a new rendition of the 1985 Rocking Horse originally crafted by retired Keepsake Artist Linda Sickman.

Linda’s Rocking Horse series came from her childhood dream of having a pony to pamper and love. Running from 1981-1996, the series has proven to be one of the most cherished in Keepsake history.

When the time came to honor the 4 5-year Keepsake Ornament milestone, paying homage to the Rocking Horse series was the perfect choice. And the perfect person to help us take a look back at the series was Hallmark Historian Samantha Bradbeer. Not only did she provide samples of previous Rocking Horse ornaments from the Hallmark Archives, she also shared a personal memory of the series.

“My very first ornament was actually the 1987 Keepsake Rocking Horse, as my parents bought it for me to commemorate the year I was born.”

Fast forward to 2018, when Debra Nielsen crafted this year ‘s commemorative Rocking Horse from porcelain and bejeweled it with the 45th anniversary gem: sapphire toned crystals. Debra enjoys the blend of elevated materials, saying, “I love the tail because it’s going to be a mixture of a metallic thread as well as the dark thread that’s there. It has a nice flash to it.”

When Debra started in the Keepsake Studio, she painted Linda Sickman’s design prototypes. This experience, combined with her own love of horses, made Debra a natural fit for the job. Debra even grew up showing her horse, Honey, with 4 -H.

Years ago, after her daughter, Mallory, was born, Debra bought her little girl an oak rocking horse. As time went on, Debra’s grandson, Henry, inherited the toy.

” I revamped the mane and tail because it had gotten fuzzy over the years from being ridden and loved,” Debra says. “We gave it to Henry when he arrived from South Korea.”

Henry is now 6 and loves the holiday season.

” I don’t think we ever take the season for granted, but to see the magic renewed through a grandchild ‘s eyes is wonderful,” Debra says.

To further commemorate the 45th anniversary, we’ve created a Rocking Horse cloisonné-style pin. Sculpted to match the ornament, it ‘s a one of-a-kind nod to the long-standing relationship between our artists and collectors.

Related Ornaments

Description


Features an updated rendition of the 1985 Rocking Horse, which was originally crafted by retired Keepsake artist Linda Sickman. Sapphire-toned crystals (the 45th anniversary gem) and dark and metallic threads in the tail complete the design.

Inspired by and honors the beloved Rocking Horse series that ran from 1981-1996 and commemorates the 45th anniversary of Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments.

  • Artist: Debra Nielsen
  • Released: 2018 (Ornament Premiere)
  • Retail Price: $24.99 USA/$29.99 CAN
  • Material(s): porcelain
  • Dimensions: 4.25" w. x 3.25" h. x 1" d.
  • SKU: QGO2206
  • Produced in: China
  • Production Date(s): 

Celebrating 45 Years of Keepsake Ornaments

Debuting in 1973, Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments began a memorable journey of making the holidays even more magical. Now, with a tradition of 45 years and counting, we celebrate you as much as the ornaments that bring us joy.

That first year, 45 years ago, Hallmark launched the line as a collection of six glass ball ornaments and 12 yarn figures. Since then, we’ve introduced more than 8,500 Keepsake Ornament s and mo re than 100 ornament series. Our longest- running series, Frosty Friends, is in its 39th year!

To make this anniversary the merriest yet, Keepsake Artist Debra Nielsen created a new rendition of the 1985 Rocking Horse originally crafted by retired Keepsake Artist Linda Sickman.

Linda’s Rocking Horse series came from her childhood dream of having a pony to pamper and love. Running from 1981-1996, the series has proven to be one of the most cherished in Keepsake history.

When the time came to honor the 4 5-year Keepsake Ornament milestone, paying homage to the Rocking Horse series was the perfect choice. And the perfect person to help us take a look back at the series was Hallmark Historian Samantha Bradbeer. Not only did she provide samples of previous Rocking Horse ornaments from the Hallmark Archives, she also shared a personal memory of the series.

“My very first ornament was actually the 1987 Keepsake Rocking Horse, as my parents bought it for me to commemorate the year I was born.”

Fast forward to 2018, when Debra Nielsen crafted this year ‘s commemorative Rocking Horse from porcelain and bejeweled it with the 45th anniversary gem: sapphire toned crystals. Debra enjoys the blend of elevated materials, saying, “I love the tail because it’s going to be a mixture of a metallic thread as well as the dark thread that’s there. It has a nice flash to it.”

When Debra started in the Keepsake Studio, she painted Linda Sickman’s design prototypes. This experience, combined with her own love of horses, made Debra a natural fit for the job. Debra even grew up showing her horse, Honey, with 4 -H.

Years ago, after her daughter, Mallory, was born, Debra bought her little girl an oak rocking horse. As time went on, Debra’s grandson, Henry, inherited the toy.

” I revamped the mane and tail because it had gotten fuzzy over the years from being ridden and loved,” Debra says. “We gave it to Henry when he arrived from South Korea.”

Henry is now 6 and loves the holiday season.

” I don’t think we ever take the season for granted, but to see the magic renewed through a grandchild ‘s eyes is wonderful,” Debra says.

To further commemorate the 45th anniversary, we’ve created a Rocking Horse cloisonné-style pin. Sculpted to match the ornament, it ‘s a one of-a-kind nod to the long-standing relationship between our artists and collectors.

Alternate Versions

Forty Years of Memories




Downloads

Related Ornaments