Grandma Lise,

Graceful Angel measures exactly three inches high. Artist is LaDene Votruba.

The Shepherd's were selling for $100. so they have come down some.
Mary

My Halls family ornaments were from the years 83,90, and 93.

I got this after Christmas when it went to 75% off and really liked it when I hung it on the tree this year. However, when taking it down, I discovered that one of the arms is splitting where the color bands change. Rather disappointing....I think it started splitting because of being bent into different positions but that is what you are supposed to do with it!! Still awfully cute little guys!

Sue
Pasadena, Maryland

I've been reading all the posts and enjoying hearing about the great finds. It is so odd to hear about some of the same things I found this holiday season....never in my life did I ever expect to find any of the Hall family ornaments but it pays to look over everything carefully. What at first appeared to be a run of the mill thin round "gold" ornament turned out to be the 1980 ornament. The other one that I found was the 1984 cherub. If you are like me and had never seen one, both of these had The Halls and the date on the front....sort of clues you in with that.

My other top finds this year were:
1981 Frosty Friends...no box...I believe that completes the series for me (1.09)

1976 Twirl-about Partridge...1.00 (paid $20 earlier this year when I was at the Event but that one also included the box)

1978 Schneeberg Bell...no box but only 1.00

2005 BOB Cardinal...found it after Christmas when when Christmas merchandise was marked 75% off so I got it for 1.25 (with box)

Found another 1999 Dumbo's First Flight for 2.00...so that gives me two spares in case the feather breaks off the one I am using as has happened to me twice before.

Also got the First Mischievous Kittens for 1.00

Also got two different Lenox tea light holders...one with the holly leaves and one with a cardinal...paid about 5.00 for the first and $20 for the second but I love it.

Also found a Lenox holly tea kettle...never used...still had paper work inside and a plastic piece to protect the spout and the price sticker on the bottom (80.00). Paid 7.00.

Should try and get out to see if there is any Valentine's stuff out.

Sue
Pasadena, Maryland

Oh Sue; what wonderful finds! You did very good this year! Good for you!

Wow Sue, first of all, I think it's amazing you found the 2005 Northern Cardinal in a thrift store, but to have gotten it for 75% off means it was passed over by a lot of customers. Lucky, lucky, lucky you!

Do you have all the Beauty of the Birds ornaments now?

The 1978 Schneeberg Bell and Holly and Poinsetta Ball are two of my favorite vintage Hallmark ornaments. Congrats on the Bell. Sadly, I don't recall finding any vintage Hallmark this year. Maybe I didn't get out enough. Will give it a good go next year!

Lisa

Wow Sue great finds! 81 frosty is my favorite of the series. And I'm with Lisa schneeberg bell is one of my favorite hallmarks from the 70's. I also did not find many vintage ornaments at thrift stores. Overall I did not find many hallmarks this year compared to previous ones.

Dana

I found a raggedy Ann and Andy hallmark Valentine lapel pin. It's there heads above a red heart. I know it's from the 1970's. It's made in Hong Kong. I paid .59 cents for it.

Here are my two Halls Family ornaments....there were no cards with them but I am still curious as to whether they ended up in the thrift store because a collector bought them at an Event or collectible show or whether it was someone who actually received them in a card from the Halls and decided to get rid of some "stuff."






Sue
Pasadena, Maryland

Very good find.

I always enjoy reading about the "finds" that others luck into but rarely find Hallmark ornaments at thrift stores or yard sales. Finally! Hit a couple of thrift stores today when I was out running errands. At a Goodwill, I found a boxed 1984 Hallmark "A Gift of Friendship" glass ball ornament for .99. It's pink with a very sweet message "Friendship is the happiest gift of all"

At another store, I found a bag for with 5 ornaments (no boxes) for $3.99:
2006 Waterford crystal "Baby's First Christmas" (still had label on it)Of course, our first granddaughter was born in January, 2007 so will have to find someone to give that to. It is quite pretty tho, shaped like a baby rattle.
2010 Hallmark Woofy Holidays (pet picture frame)
2012 Hallmark Baby's First Christmas (stuffed elephant one)
2013 Hallmark Forty Years of Memories (porcelain rocking horse)
2013 Hallmark A Kitchenette for Christmas

I was surprised to see the 2013 ornaments already showing up at at thrift store. Were these Christmas presents that someone didn't want? Sad.

Nice finds! And not sad, happy...(for us!).

Lisa

Went poking around a thrift store this morning to see if anything turned up after Christmas was packed away and donations were made.
I found a sealed plastic bag with a bunch of Christmas napkins and dime store teddy bear, angel and gingerbread ornaments. I could see the 1978 Merry Miniature Joyful Elf in there.
Got home, unwadded the napkins and wrapped inside was the 1977 Yesteryear Angel- no box. Not bad for 2.00.

I've yet to see Yesteryears Angel in a thrift store.

http://www.hookedonhallmark.com/1977-Angel-Yesteryears--SDB_p_145.html

Congrats!

Lisa

She is pretty.
Mary

I like that yesteryears angel as well. Found a couple over the years at the flea mkt/ garage sales.

Dana

Congratulations on finally finding Hallmark in a thrift store....you just have to stick with it!! And, yes, I think it is sad to see the current ornaments end up in a thrift store so quickly. I stopped giving my son and daughter and sister Hallmark ornaments when I finally realized that it is my passion and not theirs. Sure, my daughter and sister may get a very few Hallmark ornaments on their own but they are getting what they want and not what I think they would like.

In 2013 I found three Springbok puzzles...one was from that year...Gingerbread Fun! It was opened but all 400 pieces were there. Another one, Nature's Ornaments was also opened but I haven't worked that one yet (1000 pieces). The date on the box say 2010 but I still see it in the stores. I also got the Adore-ments! still sealed and only $3. Not sure of the date but I also still see this one in the privately owned stores. I think there are puzzle workers who thin out their puzzles every so often (I do once in awhile) or don't keep them once they are worked. A little different than ornaments though.

Sue
Pasadena, maryland

My mom picks up Hallmark puzzles at estate and garage sales and I pick up the ones I see at the thrift stores. We often work puzzles when we're at my sister's house; if it's not done when we leave she collapses the card table and puts it under a bed until we come back. My mom takes a puzzle to the carousel museum so they have one to work while the museum is open and not much else is going on. One woman decided that since they had finished one of my mom's puzzles it should go away so she took it to the Goodwill store and traded it in. My mom is still annoyed by that since it wasn't that woman's puzzle and she didn't discuss it with my mom first - my mom wanted to keep the puzzle.

My mother-in-law had a puzzle she was working on, and when her brother was visiting he told her he hid 5 pieces. She finished the puzzle and was missing 5 pieces so she called him to see where they were. He told her he was just kidding and he didn't hide any pieces. She said she found two of them but never found the other 3 before putting the puzzle away. It was too funny that she was missing 5 pieces after he said that!

Today I found a 2001 Sky's The Limit, Gee Bee R-1 Super Sportster in box, for 99 cents. I looked for ones on e-bay and sellers are wanting anywhere from $64 up to $120. What would be so special about this plane that a seller would think it would sell for such a high price?