Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Beautiful ornament with a great spring theme
Cons: Green can blends in on tree, missing series marker
The Bottom Line:
Red flowers, green can
Reminder of spring on tree
This series starts well
Simple but Lovely Start to New Ornament Series
I was so close. I collect so many of Hallmark’s
ornament series that my goal at this point is to start as few new ornament
series as possible each year. I succeeded in only starting one
series in 2014 – until the after Christmas sales. That’s when I gave
in and bought Simple Gifts, the first in the new Marjolein’s Garden series.
This series of ornament is inspired by the artwork of Marjolein
Bastin, and it’s off to a great start. The subject is a watering
can. The can is a light green in color. However, this
isn’t a normal watering can because it has red flowers coming out of the
top. The amaryllis are open and the blooms are so pretty. They
are so pretty, in fact, that they’ve attracted a bird, who has landed on the
spout of the watering can.
The ornament just shouts spring, and it really is very nice. My
biggest hesitation all year was whether it really fits on a Christmas
tree. I know, I know, the guy who puts tons of Disney ornaments on
his tree is worried about an ornament with more of a spring theme. However,
I’ve decided that I will display this series on my ornament tree display stand
that came out in 2013. This one fits nicely on some of the upper hooks
of that stand.
Unlike most Hallmark ornaments, it doesn’t have a loop at
the top of the ornament, but a piece of brown twine that loops over the top of
the watering can and ties around the flowers. There really isn’t
enough of the twine to slip it over a branch, so you’ll still need to slip an
ornament hook through that twine. Unfortunately, the ornament
tips. There is a slight forward tip but
most of it is to the side so it looks like someone is trying to tip it to pour
water out of the spout. It actually
looks nice this way in addition to sitting straight.
If you want it to sit upright, you can set it out to
display. The bottom of the can is flat, and it sits up
perfectly. However, you won’t find the series marker on the bottom
of the can, or anywhere else. There was a production error, and the
1 in a Christmas tree was left off the ornament. You will find Marjolein’s signature on the
back of the can, however.
As much as I like this ornament, my biggest issue with it is
with the can being green. The ornament looks great when you display
it by itself, but if you hang it on your tree, that green is going to blend in. I’m
not sure what other color the can should be, but that’s a definite issue.
Even so, I’m glad I gave in and started the Marjolein’s
Garden series. Simple Gifts is a pretty ornament to display at
Christmas, during spring, or any other time of year.
Be sure to check out the rest of the Marjolein's Garden series.
Be sure to check out the rest of the Marjolein's Garden series.
Original Price: $17.95
Since I collect 1:6 scale ornaments I really like this one. Love the way the flowers look and adding that cute little bird was an inspired touch :-)
ReplyDeleteI know you've mentioned collecting that ratio ornament before, but I'm curious how you know it is in that ratio.
DeleteIn this particular case, a watering can is about 12"H without the handle. Divide that by 6 and you get 2"H. The ornament is about that high without the handle so it fits into that scale. However after years of collecting 1:6 scale I just have to look at it to know.
ReplyDeleteShows all I know. Thanks for filling me in. Although I can believe you'd recognize it by site at this point. You do something often enough and you get to know it without even thinking about it.
Delete