Hallmark ornament signing Sept. 8 in Arlington Hts.
Two Hallmark artists will sign ornaments Saturday, Sept. 8, at Amy’s Hallmark, 9 W. Rand Road in Arlington Heights, formerly known as Hallmark Creations.
Hundreds of collectors turn out for these signings, often lining up at 5 a.m. or earlier. There are 16 signings this year from August-October, and Arlington Heights is one of only three in the Midwest.
The ornaments available for purchase this year are Mrs. Claus’s stove for $34.95 and Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen Table for $17.95.
Artists Tracy Larsen and Rodney Gentry will sign those and other ornaments that fans purchase or bring with them from 10 a.m.-noon and again from 1-3 p.m.
Tickets that allow the purchase of two of the Mrs. Claus ornaments will be handed out the day of the event.
“Arlington Heights Yule Love It” is a new collectors’ club that won the right to host the signing. The national Hallmark club started in 1987.
“I enjoy collecting, and I like Christmas — it’s the kid in me,” said Denise Ciciora of Palatine, president of the club.
Club members will sell raffle tickets for special Hallmark tabletop creations and a set of the 1992 Christmas Skyline ornaments. Proceeds will benefit the Wheeling Township Food Pantry and the Wheeling Township Meals on Wheels.
A previous project included donating ornaments from the club members’ private collections to replace ones that residents of Joplin, Mo., lost in the 2011 tornado.
A Friday night dinner for the artists has sold out.