Kristi Jensen Pierro

For over 30 years Department 56® artist, Kristi Jensen Pierro has captured the beauty and splendor of winter in her Snowbabies™’ designs. Her personal experiences are artfully designed into each Snowbabies’ piece and carefully named to ensure a sentiment of love, friendship or inspiration. “Each piece I design tells its own story. It’s the story that makes each Snowbabies’ figurine special and unique.”

“My favorite piece this year is “Fresh Paint” which features a Snowbaby artist talking to a friendly dog who has just made a mess. The creative look of the figures’ faces is perfect. Wondering what they are going to do next – clean up the paint or get down to work on their masterpiece. I was inspired by our cat, a huge, grey, lazy cat who lives in my studio at home. The cat pretends to allow the artists to use the space twice a week! If I leave my oil paint pallet on the large work table, the cat walks through it leaving colorful, oily footprints all over the table surface. This was my ‘idea’ for Fresh Paint.”

“I love to talk to collectors at the many open house events I attend each year. My work reflects my own experiences with my children and my own childhood, but the evolution of many of my designs comes from the inspiration of the thousands of enthusiasts and collectors everywhere. You tell me what you like, and what you don’t. And I listen.”

“Last fall at Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan I recognized a face in my signing line. We had both aged since the last time I saw her. She gave me a great gift. At the Department 56 25th Anniversary in 2001 she had taken photos of my daughters dressed as Snowbabies. My girls were young. I remember that day as it was the first time my family actually became part of the event. My girls were pretty shy so this was a big deal for them. I was so proud. But there were no photos! She presented me with photos from that day, it touched my heart. The story doesn’t end perfectly, the photos were inside a waterglobe. I wasn’t thinking about this as I got to the airport. You can’t take water through security. I took the waterglobe apart and kept the photos. What I didn’t remember in my haste was to keep the sticker with the collector’s name and address. I can’t thank this beautiful lady for the gift she gave me. What a beautiful thing to do, I really wish that I could send her a thank you card!”

Over the years Kristi has designed many other Department 56 giftware collections including the very popular Snowpinions™. Thesesweet and sometimes sassy sentiments relay just the right message for many holiday occasions and can be purchased through many retailers and on the Department 56 website.

Department 56, the leader in lighted collectible Villages and Snowbabies, is part of the Enesco family of brands and is located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.