Sam began drawing teardrop-eyed children he called "Precious Moments" for family and friends. The drawings graced greeting cards in 1975. The first figurines were created just three years later.

No, really, these shakers are the iconic Precious Moments figures that have been ... There were countless Japanese-made, cartoon-like ceramic figurines made during the 1950s, and some of the ...

Sam Butcher, the artist who created the Precious Moments figurines depicting angelic teardrop-eyed children, has died. He was 85.