Sam's talent for artistic creations blossomed at a very young age and most of all he had his Mother's encouragement to learn more and become even more creative in his talents. He went to Art Formal Training after his high school years and received a scholarship to attend Berkeley's Arts & Crafts College.
Around the 1970's Sam along with Mr. Bill Biel started their own Precious Moments line of art such as posters, stationery and cards with all of Sam's drawings upon them, they named this first business "Jonathan and David". Bill and Sam traveled to the Christian Booksellers Association and Convention where they both became bombarded by retailers enthusiastically waiting to place many orders for their wonderful and creative line of Precious Moments Artwork.
A few years afterwards the Enesco Corporations Head Mr. Gene Friedman contacted Sam and talked him into letting Enesco create a figurine based on Sam's artwork called "Love One Another". Fujiokasan was the master sculptor who helped bring Sam's art to life. Sam was so touched by the figurines outcome he actually wept upon first seeing it.
Twenty-one Precious Moments originals figurines were out within the markets by the year 1978. The collection was a major success all over. Sam received hundreds if not thousands of inspirational letters from customers who told him how this Precious Moments had meant so much to their lives and how they had brought such joy into them as well.
In the year 2005, Precious Moments, Inc. came to life and the figurines found a new home outside of Enesco. Every year new Precious Moments are introduce to the world and web sites are found with all sorts of Precious Moments collectors and fan links to them. Did you know that there is also a Precious Moments Park built in the year 1989 which has a Precious Moment chapel on the grounds and has over 350,000 visitors through its gates each year in Carthage Missouri?
Today there are thousands of Precious Moments on the markets today and they even more sought after and collected than all those years ago. They still inspire, enlighten and make us feel joy and happiness every time we look upon those lovely and precious tear dropped eyes.
