...from Russia...with love & bear hugs

...when we were in Tallinn, Estonia this summer, 

I found a bear shop. 

Pretty unexpected.

I was stunned. Here we are on a walking tour in this incredible Medieval walled city...cobblestone streets, amazing old buildings...

and there is this little, tiny toy store... 

It was like finding a bit of magic.

I could not recall another time that I stumbled across something so wonderful...the bears...and yes dolls too, that were for sale were incredible. 

So well made, so very fresh and different...

I wish I could tell you the name of the shop but there was no sign...and the owner spoke no English and me, no Estonian...

But we certainly shared love of beautiful things.

 I left the shop that day with two incredible teddies and a plan to hunt up some of the incredible teds that were coming out of Estonia, Latvia and Russia... 

Please join me in saying welcome to talented 

Olga Fomenko

the newest of our Earth Angels artists...

After months of research, translation, 

major battles with customs in Germany and Russia and more exotic tales...(truly...I was not sure these cuties would make it at several points...)

Olga's incredible teds arrived...well most of them!

...there are three lost somewhere between Russia and the US and we hope that they might make it at some point!

That said, those that did arrive 

(and thanks to my German friend for the help!) are utterly amazing and well worth the wait...

I love her style and we are thrilled to celebrate it... her craftsmanship is amazing, she even makes the shoes for her bears and their faces are a combination of painting and needle sculpting that make such a dear impression...

You can see them all HERE..

Thanks Olga... it is an honor to work with you!

xoxox

Jen

EVENT THIS WEEK!!! ..catch the "heART of Winter" in Sanford, FL

 ...the bags are packed...
it's time for the
FIRST ART GIRLS' ROADSHOW EVENT OF 2016!!!
 
...we're flying south for our annual appearance at the renown 

Jeanine Taylor Folk Art Gallery 
in Sanford, FL

...hope you can join us this 
Friday & Saturday for our

10th Annual “heART of winter”

Friday, 2/26 
from 3pm-9pm

Saturday, 2/27
from 10am-4pm

 ...this will be our 6th appearance 
at this amazing gallery venue!

So many wonderful and artful customers and friends step out to see us...we hope you will too!

The Jeanine Taylor Folk Art Gallery 

211 East First Street, Sanford, FL

 ...so much art to share from all our Earth Angels artists AND 
Featured Artists:

Valerie Weberpal
Lucy Farmer
Bonnie Petersen
Letty Worley
Jocelyn O'Gorman
 

 FULL DETAILS and DIRECTIONS to this Art Girls's Road Show event are on  
the events page..

or visit JTFOLKART.COM for more info!

Hope to see you there!
xo Jen

...this is something sweet to share...

What a treat...

we've got a new artist and her work to share...

It's wonderful to share the news that

 Earth Angels Studios is presenting the work of 

talented painter Rebecca Weller

 

 Rebecca is well-recognized for her cake portrait series which has been showcased at the FOLK lifestyle store and Anthropologie...

I hope you'll take a peek at her offerings...

I am completely thrilled that Rebecca has chosen Earth Angels Studios to offer the remaining pieces in her cake series...

Each work is a festive study in color and

texture... ...perhaps my faves are 

her fetching 6x6 sized cakes...

They are sweet, petite and laden with detail...

  This is just a tasting..

more on the site...

HERE

A select grouping of her birds from her 

"Flights of Fancy" series are also available through Earth Angels Studios...please inquire...

xo Jen

happy heart day...Sweet Valentine's Wishes...

...sweet wishes for a Happy Valentine's Day...

Here's hoping there's lots of chocolate...

 

...and much appreciation for you...

 

...from someone dear...

 

...heartfelt wishes from me to you

 

xxoo Jen

 

PS for those of you who follow the blog regularly...you know I love old postcards AND valentines cards...t

hese are some of my fave vintage images...

Yes, some are available 

on the vintage pages of the site...HERE

...leaning and sharing...thanks Where Women Create: BUSINESS...

Everytime I write for Jo Packham's magazines, 

I am working to share what I learn, 

but in doing so, I learn too.

In the recent issue of 

Where Women Create: Business 

Jo invited me to share my expertise on 

"pricing handmade" based upon my 

career as a  small business consultant,

my experience with community economic development and, of course, 

in selling handmade via Earth Angels Studios...

 As I researched the piece, I was reminded that the industry of handmade has never been a more vibrant part of the small-business economy than it is today...

The piece is laden with info and a model on how actually to price handmade goods, 

as well as tips and more...

Confidence in what you make adds value. 

Acknowledge the worth in what you create, 

price it to sell (with this model), and grow your business...

If you are part of the handmade industry, I would encourage you to pick up this issue...

...not just to take a gander at my piece, 

but for the info rich and inspiring content 

that's tucked among the pages.

It's my favorite issue yet, and I learned a ton from reading through it...and will return to it again and again for tips, know-how and raw inspiration...

Thanks Jo again for including me, and sharing your world with all of us.

xo Jen

...take a peek at all things sweet...just an FYI

 

...take a peek at all things 

sweet & lovely we've been posting to the site...

Enjoy FREE standard shipping site wide UNTIL 2/14 

when you checkout with coupon code

HAPPYHEART

SHOP NOW

The site is loaded with new art and loot....

...3 generations making art together..this send me

...the idea of three generations of hands working together to make art truly sends me...

I wanted to share the exciting news that Bonnie Petersen -- grand daughter to artist Annette the founder of Wee Forest Folk and daughter to Willy Petersen -- has just returned from California and begun to work and design 

for her family's 44 year old studio business.

 

Bonnie's debut collection...called 

"The Confection Collection"

was announced just last week and it is truly charming

 

Here's a bit of a peek at some of her new pieces...

All are available -- in very limited quantities -- at Earth Angels Studios on 

The Petersen Family's gallery pages HERE

It's a wonderful thing for me to be working with this talented family and I am so very grateful for the opportunity to know them, share their story and promote the sale of their work...

 

Watch for a feature coming soon in the May issue of Where Women Create magazine. Jo Packham has graciously allowed me to photo and write a story on

Annette Petersen and her incredible business style and story in my column...

stay tuned!

And congrats to the Petersens on these recent accomplishments! I cannot wait to see what's coming next from their Massachusetts studio this spring...

xo Jen