YuleLog Ornament Collector's Bulletin Board Forums Discussion Ornament Collecting Discussion 24" Mrs Claus' Cupboard at 2013 KOC Event

I got an email from Hallmark yesterday and it had a link to its facebook page so I used it and was surprised to find question being asked about a 24" Mrs Claus' Cupboard that was given away at each of the seminars. I went to all the seminars and I don't recall any giveaways of 24" cupboards. Never heard anyone talking about it either. How did I miss that? I don't remember any drawing or announcement of winners...did any Yulelogger win one and when was it announced? How did you register? Or did they just pick an exiting attendee?

Below was the question and answer about the cupboard:

question:
"At the 2013 Keepsake Ornament Event a 24" version of Mrs Claus' Cupboard was given away at each of your seminars. During these seminars we were asked if we would be interested in this piece if Hallmark could bring it to market. Since then we haven't heard anything about it, can you update us on the status of this piece?"

answer:
"We did explore creating that piece for retail but unfortunately weren't able to produce it at the same quality of those at the 2013 Event for a cost that was reasonable. I am disappointed, since it was such a wonderful way to display kitchen and treat themed ornaments."


I don't remember being asked at any of the seminars if I(we)would interested in this piece if produced for retail. Was this for only "select" seminars or has my memory gotten that bad (I can't believe that is the case)? I would be interested hearing from other KOC Event attendees about whether you were aware of this give away.

Sue
Pasadena, Maryland

Yes indeed! It happened in the Sneak Peek seminars with Edythe. They were really well done - really just smaller versions of the large hutch that was auctioned for charity that year. Our "group" very vigorously stated we were interested in them - but were only willing to pay up to $100. I pretty much knew, before we left the room, that it was never gong to happen.

First, I'm thinking that was 2011. In 2013 they had the dollhouse.


They announced the give-a-way at the local club dinner, didn't they? So... I'm thinking only the Saturday seminar attendees were asked the question. ???? This is really fuzzy in my head.

Well, that might explain a lot in my case. During the dinner I was in the back where the speakers were not working so essentially we couldn't hear anything that was said during the whole local club dinner. If this happens again I will certainly speak up! And, wouldn't you know it, I think I attended all the seminars on Friday...wanted to make sure that I got them all in!
Thanks for your input Stacy!
Would still like to know how many Yulelog attendees were aware of this giveaway....I never even saw the cupboard. I remember the dollhouse that was up for auction but it was prominently displayed with all the other auction items.

Sue
Pasadena, Maryland

Yeah... And the full size cupboard, at the 2011 auction, was also displayed with the auction items. It sold for something like 16 grand.

I tried looking up old posts regarding the 'mid size' cupboard but was unable to find anything. I'm going to poke around a little more.

I'm thinking somebody on this board won one. Again, fuzzy...

I remember this! One of my local club members (at the time; this club seems to have disappeared since!) won one of these! I had seriously hoped that we would be seeing them available but am not surprised that they aren't going to be!

Has anyone seen them available any where at a yard sale or online? I'm curious as to the cost.

Thanks.

Ralph

I agree...I'm sure you are right about the year. As I recall, they drew the winners right in the Seminar...one per hour....but I can't swear to it either. It takes a village to keep track of children, and Hallmark I guess.

Too bad they didn't bring it to market. Would much rather have that than some of their other merchandise they bring to market. That would have been awesome. Had been looking for something like that for a few months. Found a 18" tall dollhouse hutch on ebay that I am filling up with various miniature Christmas desserts and what not. On Pinterest there is an interest in Christmas miniature cupboards. What an opportunity they missed out on.

It was definitely 2011, and I believe the seminar that held the drawing was specifically about the creation of the cupboard piece.

I remember this Sue because they gave away the first one at the dinner. When they drew the name of the man who won it - his name was Stephen and I think I sucked all the air out of the room before he said the last name ... which wasn't my husband's. :(((

Then later, Stephen and I got on the elevator with a lady who had just won one and she was so happy she was walking on air.

They were so pretty but I do understand the pricey-ness (yes, my own made-up word - ha) of having to make them and then passing the cost on to us collectors. That being said ... I would have bought one no matter WHAT the cost!!!

Terri

Yes, it was in 2011 and was at the seminar that Edythe and Robert Hurlburt did on Saturday only. Edythe only signed ornaments on Friday and did the seminar all day on Saturday. A mid-size cupboard was given away in each of her seminars that day. I remember this well because my signing pass for the group she was in was for Saturday. Therefore, I was unable to get Edythe to sign any ornaments in 2011.

Cheryl

Yes, I remember this. They gave away one at each of Edythe's seminars. Each attendee received a ticket when they entered. And, yes, it was 2011, not 2013.

Ted

Yes they did give one away at each of the seminars. I attended one seminar but did not win so I insisted that my daughter and friend attend with me to another seminar(we had extra tickets) just so we would have another chance to win; and I seem to remember it being said that Hallmark had made 24 of them (or it might have been 12).

I also think one was auctioned at the end of the day on Saturday and went for something like $2,000 or $2,400?

One of our local club members (and now the owner of our local sponsor Hallmark store) won the auction for the full size version with a winning bid of $16,000 (money went to children's charity). Hallmark included the items displayed with the cupboard and delivered it to her home. Later Edythe and couple others from Hallmark came to visit her.

There was an article in For Keeps with her picture in front of Cupboard. It was/is a beautiful piece of furniture!! Mary Lou

I don't think Hallmark nor I ever dreamed it would go that high!

PS It was discussed about Hallmark doing one for sale and I believe if they ever did it would cost several hundred dollars. I personally would pay $300 up for one. Mary Lou

Is the last picture in the 2012 YuleLoggers Decorating Activity the 24" version of Mrs Claus' Cupboard? Here's the link:
http://www.yuleloggers.com/index.php/dec...t=0&AG_MK=0

Claudia that looks like the cupboard. Maybe person submitting the entry won one??

Claudia, thank you so much for the picture...the cupboard is beautiful!! I wish Hallmark would revisit this question of making them for retail...give us an actual number of what it would cost! I would dearly love one...will have my husband take a look at the picture and see if he thinks he come up with something similar....wouldn't be the same but I am not going to hold my breath for Hallmark to come up with it. Lucky people who got one...I don't remember any buzz about this after the Event...but at least I wasn't in attendance and don't need to feel that I somehow missed out on it by not "hearing" about it at the dinner when to go to the seminars...haha!

Thanks to everyone who cleared up the year of when the cupboard giveaway took place.

Sue
Pasadena, Maryland

Thanks for the link. That is a beautiful piece.

That is fun with so many other ornaments in it.

Mark
Happy to see you are not impacted by the fires!
Carol

Elaine Obert's husband made one of these for her! She posted pictures of it and it was as beautiful as the one made by Hallmark! I'll see if I can locate the thread or maybe Elaine, if you're reading this, could post it for us!

I remember that he bought a regular book shelf, painted it white and applied decorative trim and doors on the lower half. Elaine posted pictures of the process.

Geesh, I hope I can find the thread!

Ralph