The Story Behind The Ornaments
From Buffalo to the White House
What began as an Etsy order for 56 custom ornaments honoring every U.S. state and territory has turned into something extraordinary.
What began as an Etsy order for 56 custom ornaments honoring every U.S. state and territory has turned into something extraordinary.
In late October, I received a request asking if I could create 56 custom 6-inch ornaments and have them delivered to Maryland by November 26. At first, it seemed like a large custom order with a tight deadline. But once the artwork files began coming in, I noticed something special: each design represented a U.S. state or territory through its bird and flower.
I remember talking about it with my fiancée and realizing this might be for something much bigger than a typical holiday display. The quantity, the theme, the deadline, and the delivery location all made us wonder if these ornaments were headed for a government display.
Printed in Buffalo, NY
Each ornament took approximately 11 to 13 hours to print. With only two printers in my home studio in Buffalo, NY, the deadline was going to be a challenge, so a friend helped by running additional prints. For nearly two full weeks, the printers ran almost nonstop.
While the artwork was provided for the original custom order, I designed and modeled the 3D ornament structure, including a custom threaded cap that could twist on and allow more than one Christmas light strand to fit inside. Each original ornament also required about 5 to 10 minutes of post-processing after printing, so completing all 56 pieces on time took a lot of hands-on work beyond the print time itself.
Featured on the White House Christmas Tree
On December 1st, the White House unveiled the 2025 Official Christmas Tree in the Blue Room - featuring the very ornaments printed in our home studio in Buffalo, NY.
Seeing our work chosen to honor the Gold Star families was an unforgettable moment and a true milestone for my small business.
The Fifty States Ornaments collection was inspired by that experience. This new collection features original artwork created by KOBLO and celebrates the same state and territory concept in a design updated for consistency, collectibility, and production.
These pieces are not replicas of the ornaments displayed at the White House. They are KOBLO’s original artwork, inspired by the story, the craftsmanship, and the patriotic spirit behind the project.
