A post from Nicki...

(as seen on our Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Bulletin Board)

Is It Dated?
One of the most frequent questions we are asked has become a loaded question.

In the pre 2000 ornament days, it was a much easier question to answer. Yes, ALL the "family" Hallmark ornaments were dated . . . You could count on that. And, for others, if it was considered "dated", the date was prominent... you could clearly see the date half way across the room!

Today, that question is much harder to answer.

Many family ornaments are not dated, Son and Daughter ornaments for example have not included the date in recent years.

MANY Hallmark ornament boxes indicate "Dated 20__" however, when you look for the date on the ornament, it may be hard to find. Often it is just a small copyright date printed or embossed on the bottom or elsewhere on the ornament. A good example is the 2008 Jolly Rider Harley-Davidson Santa. The box indicates "Dated 2008"; but when a collector called to ask, "Where's the date?"... after close examination, we laughed when we found a tiny "2008" embossed on the seat of Santa's pants!

Our goal is to make the ornament descriptions at Hooked on Ornaments complete and accurate, making us the #1 source of accurate Hallmark Keepsake Ornament information. But answering the "Is it dated" question these days with a simple yes or no often has us scratching our heads.

We'd love to hear your opinions on this questions. Weigh in and share your thoughts with us on our Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Bulletin Board.

and... Since you read this article ...

- We would love to offer you

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Coupon valid July 3-5, 2009.
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Thanks for visiting with us at Hooked on Ornaments!
and have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July weekend!

from your friends at
http://www.hookedonhallmark.com/

"We're Hooked on Hallmark ornaments!"

Hallmark Ornament Collecting: Questions from Collectors

I have the complete series of ____Fill in your series here ___ doesn't that make the ornaments worth more?

Thanks Beth for your question! As Hallmark ornament collectors we all know how important it is to each of us personally to have a complete series. No matter how long or hard we have to hunt to find that last missing piece. No matter that we may have to pay a little more just to get that hard to find one. We simply NEED to have every numbered piece offered in a series. Many collectors have even widened the definition of "complete series" to include any complement pieces, such as the Hallmark limited edition colorway ornaments or the special edition pieces offered in some of the longer running series. Honestly, the concept of the "series" predisposes us to want to have each item offered. As Hallmark ornament collectors we normally buy the very first ornament in the series with the knowledge that we'll be buying every other item in the series offered until the series ends. But does it affect the secondary market value of the ornaments if you have a complete series?

In a word, no. In fact, when it comes to selling a complete series of ornaments, most buyers indicate that they feel they should receive a discounted price, definitely not a higher price. Since secondary market values and insurance values are based on current selling prices, there is no difference in the values of the individual ornaments whether they are sold individually or as part of a completed set or series.

If you have a question about Hallmark ornaments or collectibles that you'd like answered by the Hallmark Ornaments and Collectibles experts at Hooked on Ornaments send them to rhonda@hookedonhallmark.com - We'd love to hear from you!

from your friends at
Hooked on Ornaments
www.hookedonhallmark.com
"We're Hooked on Hallmark Ornaments!"

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Childhood Memories and Classic Toys

The Hallmark studio artists have always done a wonderful job crafting Hallmark Keepsake ornaments that evoke memories of special moments in our lives. Hooked on Ornaments recently added a new "unofficial collection" category to our Hallmark Ornaments by Series page that highlights a growing group of ornaments based on our favorite childhood toys.

In 2007 Hallmark began a new unofficial collection of Fisher-Price toy ornaments that immediately appealed to me. These ornaments are modelled after toys that I played with as a child and my own children played with as toddlers. The toy ornaments are not limited to Fisher-Price toys though; we've included such favorite toys as the 2007 Chatty Cathy and the 2008 Little Red Tricycle.

When we began compiling ornaments that qualified for this category some of our earlier year favorites also came to mind. You might remember the Golden Book ornaments from 1999-2001 featuring one of my all time favorites - "The Poky Little Puppy." We also included the collection of three vintage pull toys from 2001 featuring Wiggles, Waddles and Waggles.

As we come across other toys in the Hallmark Keepsake line that evoke our memories of childhood we'll continue to 'grow' the category. As always we hope that our "unofficial collection" pages make the thousands of available Hallmark Keepsake ornaments a little easier to sort through to find that special ornament that you're looking for - we also hope it makes it easier for collectors to find ornaments from the past that were previously missed or for some reason went undiscovered.

Happy Hallmark Ornament Collecting!
from Rhonda at http://www.hookedonhallmark.com/

"We're Hooked on Hallmark Ornaments!"

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2009 Hallmark Ornament Premiere

The 2009 Hallmark Ornament Premiere is July 11 and 12. During Ornament Premiere Keepsake Ornament Club members will be able to purchase 1 club exclusive ornament with proof of club membership. This year's Hallmark Ornament Premiere club exclusive ornament is the porcelain Capucine Barbie ornament.

Capucine Barbie Ornament
$25.00
(Limit 1 each per KOC Membership)
A Tasty Little Treat
Free with purchase of Keepsake Ornament $7.95
(Limit 1 each per KOC Membership)

There will be ten Limited Edition ornaments offered during the 2009 Hallmark Ornament Premiere. Sources indicate that the limited edition ornaments will be offered in even smaller quantities this year than in years past.

The Limited Quantity edition ornaments shown above, as well as the Ornament Premiere exclusive ornaments shown at top will be available at your local Hallmark Gold Crown stores during the 2009 Hallmark Ornament Premiere - July 11 and 12, 2009. Hooked on Ornaments will offer the 2009 Ornament Premiere exclusive ornaments after Premiere at secondary market pricing. If you would like to be notified when the items are added into our inventory add yourself to the Hooked on Ornaments waiting list for the items at www.hookedonhallmark.com

The Many Versions of 1975 Santa and Mrs Santa

Hallmark Keepsake ornaments offered in 1973 and 1974 were either yarn figures or glass ball. That changed in 1975 when Hallmark Artist, Donna Lee created the first figural ornaments. The "Adorables" (as they were called) consisted of Betsey Clark, Raggedy Ann, Raggedy Andy, Drummer Boy, Santa and Mrs Santa. These five were the beginning of the figural style of ornament most of us collect today. All five, including Santa and Mrs Santa, were packaged in a clear cube style box similar to ones used for the early ball ornaments and were sold separately.

A second version of Santa and Mrs Santa ornaments emerged in 1975 when Hallmark presented them with clear bases attached as a gift to *25 Year Club Hallmark Employees. The clear bases include the Hallmark logo and "25 Year Club 1975" silver lettering. Today, these employee gifts are a rare find! (Each year Hallmark holds an event honoring employees who have been with the company 25 years. These employees are the members of the 25 Year Club.)

A third version evolved in 1976 when Santa was offered in the Hallmark Merry Miniature line. There are a couple of different colored versions of this merry miniature, as the color of the base and the color of the packages on the back of the figurine vary.

In 1981 along they came again. This time Hallmark renamed them Mr and Mrs Claus and packaged them together in a box with a flocked liner and clear lid. The ornament name, QX number and box changed, but the ornaments inside are identical to the 1975 version. We're often asked how to tell "no box" 1975 Santa and Mrs Santa from the 1981 Mr and Mrs Claus. The ornaments are identical, so without the box there is no difference.

We've also come across "knock off" versions of this pair. A larger version of Santa with bright white beard. And, Santa and Mrs Santa holding different animals. These were not produced by Hallmark, but are very close copies that are hard to find, and fun to collect.

This sweet little pair may hold the record as the Hallmark Ornaments offered with the most "versions". And, they are still as "Adorable" today as when first offered in 1975!

Annual Spring Warehouse Sale Event
Here's a few pics from Hooked on Ornaments annual Spring Warehouse Sale Event, held last Saturday.

(Collectors shopping inside the Hooked on Ornaments warehouse.)

(Nicki Pierce with Kim Jones, Keepsake Ornament Club Manager)
Kim brought 2009 Dreambooks for collectors and was available for questions.
Thank you Kim for taking the time to join us Saturday!

Joyce Lyle (Retired Hallmark Studio Artist) joined us with her own line of ornaments - Angel Works Art and was also available for signing Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments that she sculpted.
Thanks Joyce! It's always a pleasure to have you with us!



(Frank Williams with Kim Jones, KOC Manager)
Frank is an expert on Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, a secondary market dealer and an avid collector. It's always a fun time when Frank comes to visit Hooked on Ornaments.

(Here's a pic of some of the Door Prizes that were given out!)

(Andrea Doubet with Kim Jones, KOC Manager)
It was a pleasure to see Andrea, one of only 12 Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Collectors who owns at least one of EVERY Hallmark Keepsake Ornament ever produced!

Once again, a BIG Thanks! to our guests for joining us. It is always a pleasure.

If you'd like to join us for one of our fun filled events, Mark your calendars now for October 31st, 2009! Joining us in October will be recently retired Hallmark Studio Artist, Ed Seale! We are very excited and honored to have him joining us and we've got lots of fun in store!