Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Ornament Review: Simple Gifts - Marjolein's Garden #1 - 2014 Hallmark Ornament



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.

Original Price: $17.95

4 comments:

  1. 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 :-)

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    1. I know you've mentioned collecting that ratio ornament before, but I'm curious how you know it is in that ratio.

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  2. In 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.

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    1. Shows 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.

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