Friday, December 4, 2015

Hallmark Christmas Ornaments

The lobby exhibit at Prairie Museum of Art and History for December is an amazing collection of Hallmark Christmas ornaments on loan to us from Teresa (Terri) Crampton from Colby.

Terri's mother, Libby Turner, started the tradition of collecting Hallmark ornaments by purchasing them for Terri and her two brothers. Libby would buy each of the kids a new ornament each year for the family Christmas tree. The first ones Terri collected began in 1976 with the "Yesteryears Santa" series.

Terri has continued collecting Hallmark Christmas ornaments since that time and now mainly collects new ones to go with an ongoing series.

When Terri married Marty Crampton, she made sure he also had a series starting in 1989 with the "Winter Surprise" series. Carrying on the family tradition, she also started a collection for their daughters Shelby and Jenna.

(Click image to enlarge) 
This group has horses of nearly every description. The dated "Rocking Horse" series is Terri's personal favorite.

WOW. . . Bears, penquins and Santas!

Metal ornaments include these buildings and tractors.

These "Magc" ornaments are either musical, animated, or lighted.

These snowmen visit the buildings from the set of a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie.

Hallmark is a privately owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. It was founded in 1910 by Joyce Hall.

Best known for their greeting cards for all occasions, Hallmark began producing their first figurines and ornaments for Christmas in 1973. These have continued to be some of the largest collectibles today and have set the standard for other ornament companies.

These unique and collectible figurines and ornaments come in an assortment of themes and designs and are frequently sold in a collector's series.

It was Hallmark that turned the Collectible Series into a marketing tool and turned Christmas decorators into Christmas collectors.

Many of their special ornaments are lighted, animated, and/or musical. 
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Visit the Prairie Museum of Art and History during December to see this free exhibit of over 200 outstanding ornaments. While at the museum take in another free exhibit of art by members of the High Plains Art Club. Don't forget, Kelsi has the Museum Mart filled with unique Kansas gift items and books.

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