“My goal is to offer beautifully handmade memorable gifts, which will enable you to connect with those you love - using original artwork and soul-stirring inspirational messages - that will delight the eye and touch hearts for generations.” - Mary Margaret Cannon

ABOUT MARY MARGARET CANNON, FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

Sheer perseverance, an ardent entrepreneurial spirit, unwavering vision, and deep faith have made Mary Margaret Cannon, founder and president of GLORIOUS GIFTS, a leading innovator in inspirational gifts. Her SACRED SEASON and PASSAGES handmade original art creations reflect the themes of faith, peace, joy, love and forgiveness that have given her the strength to realize her goals, even when it seemed impossible.

Mary Margaret’s entrepreneurial venture evolved, rather than began, as a direct result of a painful journey to carve out a new life, post-divorce.

Step one, was the creation of SACRED SEASON® in 1996 – a collection of designs inspired by Scripture and spiritual symbolism in Medieval and Renaissance art – unexpectedly born of Mary Margaret’s spiritual journey during this dark time in her life.

Despite being color-blind, her creativity and artistic flair plus careful articulation allowed her to communicate a vision and design to artists for her ornaments. The final creations became works of art to be enjoyed year round.

SACRED SEASON was officially launched in 1997 with sales to major retailers, and in 1998 Disney distinguished Mary Margaret with one of just Six Rising Star Awards, at their First Annual Christmas Collectibles Convention at EPCOT. Despite a strong beginning, other events seemed to propel her away from building her dream. First, her financial backer decided to put his resources elsewhere in the booming stock market, and her now-former husband prevailed in his legal effort to claim sole ownership of their house. Consequently, within three days in May of 1998, Mary Margaret’s company had to cease operations and she effectively became a homeless person. She was homeless for 25 months and spent time staying with various friends and also stayed at a Franciscan convent. Often she slept in her showroom. Yet every time Mary Margaret decided she should just give up, something would happen out of the blue that would encourage her to be patient and pray and wait, nurturing her dream a bit longer.

In 2000, an answer to two years of prayer appeared with the commitment of a new investor in New York City. But just four months later, this investor was tragically diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease – and once again, the future of the company became precarious.

Over the next several years, strengthened by the prayers of her friends and family and fans, Mary Margaret persevered and traveled all over the United States, visiting tradeshows and stores to sell SACRED SEASON, meeting customers and telling her stories of how she found inspiration to forge ahead and realize her dreams.

By 2007, the SACRED SEASON collection of 50 designs remains unique in the gift-giving marketplace – offering consumers a splendid opportunity to both give and collect “Gifts with Meaning”™ -- beautiful original artwork accompanied with timeless messages of love, encouragement, faith and peace.

Additionally, 2007 has also brought the launch of Mary Margaret’s long-awaited PASSAGES™ collection (born of her childhood memories of much-beloved poetry). These designs are rooted in poetry and literature from around the world. The messages speak of love and enduring truths – of pursuing dreams & every journey of the heart -- themes that have inspired poets and authors through the ages.

Today the SACRED SEASON and PASSAGES collections can be found at www.4GloriousGifts.com and at high-end specialty shops.

The following list details just some of the awards, recognition & publicity received by Mary Margaret Cannon and the SACRED SEASON® ornaments:

Over the 2006 Christmas season, Mary Margaret Cannon and the inspirational SACRED SEASON ornament collection were recently featured on the Christian Broadcasting Network's "Living the Life - My Perfect Christmas" segment.
Mary Margaret Cannon received a "Rising Star" award from Disney for SACRED SEASON - one of just 6 awards - at Disney's First Annual Christmas Collectibles Convention at EPCOT in 1998.
Mary Margaret Cannon was named the "2004 Woman of the Year" by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, the largest organization of Catholic lay women in the world.
Mary Margaret Cannon's "story" is featured in the book: REPORT FROM THE FRONT LINES by David Madison, PhD., Thomson Publishing, 2006
Mary Margaret Cannon and SACRED SEASON have been profiled in numerous local, regional & national media outlets
SACRED SEASON ornaments are in the collections of many notable people, including: On display in a Vatican Museum (presented to Pope John Paul II in 2004), former US President Jimmy Carter, United Nations' Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and many entertainment celebrities, including: Leeza Gibbons, Candice Bergen, Debbie Reynolds, Teri Garr, Martin Mull, Stephen Collins, Faye Grant, and others.