Tea with Debbee

Within the festivities of the "heART of winter" weekend, several artists found quiet moments to gather with their dedicated collectors, new found enthusiasts and old friends…

Debbee Thibault, along with event hostess and Earth Angels’ dearest supporter, Rosanne Migliorino, welcomed 20 collectors to tea at the charming “Charlotte’s Tea Room” on Main Street in Warwick. It was the perfect, and gently intimate setting for Debbee to share her inspirations, the story of her genesis as an artist and, to release her new 2008 collection. Debbee held the group spellbound with her charming stories.

As a memento of the day, Debbee gave each attendee the “Bunny Love” charm necklace shown above. This wonderful double pendant is Debbee’s first foray into the realm of jewelry…it is the first in a new exclusive "charm" series available throguh Earth Angels…

Debbee also shared her new exclusive designs for Earth Angels ooohhsss and ahhhhs abounded....

The "Angel of Song" shows a rare, and ethereal beauty.







... And here's the adorable “Playing Dress Up”…Debbee says she was just like this sweet little girl when she was young... forever digging in the toy box and getting lost in fantasy.




















Here's Debbee telling her story...
..and here are those that gathered to celebrate art and friendship with her…










Kimberly Jacobsen with her adorable daughter Zayla flew in from Arizona to join the fun…
Brenda and John Davidson traveled from Pennsylvania…








The dynamic duo of Gina Chambers of Pennsylvania and her Aunt Donna Hignutt of Delaware…











Jean Smith and Kathleen Holcombe, my long time gal pals, made the trip from Upstate New York…







Kate Corchran drove from Maryland to meet Debbee...

Debbee will visit from California once again in May for our Annual Spring Soiree…we hope you’ll be able to join us. I know she already has some special plans in the works!

More on the art of "the heART of winter"...I am still going through all the fabulous images of the event!

xxoo Jen
Earth Angels

Momentos and Magic

A wall of "Momentos"...











What a rare and wonderful treat…here is Stacey Bear and her first glimpse of Jane Dagmi's feature on her work in the March 2008 issue of "Country Living" magazine.

While Stacey reads, let me tell you a little bit more about her...

Her creations reach far down in me, pulling memories forth from faded days, creating new fantasies and begging a nod to nostalgia. Her work -- her "Momentos" have a depth of soul that fascinates me as much as Stacey Bear does herself. She is luminous, with that dark side that is so compelling to ever ebullient me. Her work is as wonderfully full of feeling as she... sensitive, with longing and a lust for adventure and the treasured button in a jar-full of castoffs.

She sings in her work with painterly details and delicate brushwork that begs a closer look. Stacey's talent is exceptional, with a divine edge of unfettered imagination. Her work is story deftly told to the listener in a visual and tactile harmony. A great gal pal confessed to me that we both need to build additional walls in our homes to fit in more of Stacey's creations... I couldn't agree more. I love her and all that she makes. Some of the pieces I have sold for her haunt me still...

My favorite corner in Stacey's dining room...

Here we are in front of the stone house that has been in her husband Doug's family since the 1840s. Built in 1812, it has three foot thick walls that hold captive memories and the gorgeous patina of time. The steps to her studio rise past the family portraits and old photos, themselves worn down to concave depressions. So many footfalls up and down over the years....so much time spent in those rooms gathering tales. Old walls may ache for new plaster, but never mind, they are festooned with bright colors from Stacey's palette and pockets of her fancies are strewn about. This house is canvas to her beloved collections of old toy monkeys, shells, antique dolls, wee doggies, and her minds eye for color and texture. There's the dollhouse in the dining room, the tavern bar in the den, the fabulous spool tower in the living room, the bowl of felted fruit, the fabulous wallpaper, and more...

It was summer 2006 when I made my first road trip to York, PA and Stacey's home….a heatwave...Rory, me and Rosanne headed west to hang in the Bear's backyard, hunting for shade and slugging icy cold cokes under the trees where an old chandelier hung from a party we'd missed. We walked the dirt roads that lead off their backyard into a never ending horizon of soybeans, splashed in the pool and slept in old twin beds with cool linen sheets. The morning was heaven. Those wide wooden floor boards underfoot, the coffee...I could have stayed the summer.

Here's Stacey with friend, Ro...

In 2007 we made the road trip again, this time leaving behind the little guy and taking along gal pal Lisa...

click this link to read about our antiquing adventures and see more images of Stacey's home and work.

http://earthangelstoys.blogspot.com/2007/07/momentos-of-our-trip.html

And please visit Jane Dagmi's Blog...I am ever grateful to Stacey for bringing Jane and I together...you can see behind the scenes with Jane at the Stacey Bear shoot...
www.countryliving.com/staceybear

Stacey just "wowed" the crowds with her fanciful paintings and shadowboxes as a featured artist of "the heART of winter" folk art show...

Stay tuned for more images of her work and the event.

...and Stacey, we need to plan our annual summer road trip...

CONGRATS TO YOU STACEY!

Your talent deserves acknowledgement; your art, celebration!

With much appreciation and fondness...

xxoo Jen

Earth Angels

heART's artists

From early Saturday morning through Sundya afternoon, downtown Warwick beat with excitement, “the heART of winter” was underway. It was a festive presentation of folk art, a merry gathering of spirit, and a collection of more than 400 enthusiasts who made their way to our town to see it .

Thank you a million times, thank you to all of you who made the weekend possible. It will take me several blog posts to cover this event…every picture is a wonderful story…

I begin here with a salute to those who inspired the weekend…

the artists, the Earth Angels.

The Welcome Wagon... cocoa al fresco all day...








Feautured artists extraordinaire... dollmaker Nicol Sayre, sculptress Debbee Thibault, and Stacey Bear creator of "Momentos" paintings and mixed media art...I love them...I love their art.




Me with Nicol, Debbee and Stacey... these gals are magic...












Talent by the truckload!









Art sisters...









Nic Bowen and Jill Wiener... style and savvy...

Leslie McCabe and Kim Stout....brains and beauty both!

Here's Stacey Bear -- watch for a post about her feature in this month's "Country Living" magazine with my right hand (and right brain!) Michelle Hodge.










Laurie Meseroll may never forgive me for this picture but it is oh so sassy, oh so Laurie. She released a line of Mud-Cakes jewlery at the show...more on that to follow.










Here are pals Jennifer Lanne, painter and Dara DiMagno creator of "wearable art" jewelry to which Jennifer and I must confess our mutual addiction.

Here’s to you Earth Angels Artists! Your creations, your presence, your fabulous personal styles and personalities…these synthesized in a magnificnet way to make the event a success.

Watch for another post soon highlighting the artwork presented, the collectors who joined the fun and more about the activities of the weekend.

xxoo Jen

Earth Angels

See you there!

We hope by now you have made plans to get there...by car, plane, bicycle or boat! This is an event not to miss!

We'll be waiting for you on Saturday from 10-4 and again on Sunday from 11-3. We promise to greet you with cocoa, cookies and tons of art...













Watch for the store's sign...the gallery is on the second floor...

Here's a sneak peek of some of the art ...ohhhh...ahhhhh...

...some fabulous pieces from Stacey Bear of "Momentos"...

...Nicol Sayre has outdone herself with 40 absolutely amazing dolls...

...and wonderful paintings from the brush of Jennifer Lanne...

...wonderful exclusive creations from Debbee Thibault...I think these just might be my most favorite pieces from her studio to date!...

Thanks to local shopping diva Mary Shustack for the mention on her BLOG, again to Country Living magazine for including this event in their February issue, and to the local papers and press for their support!

If you need details...visit the website's "Events" page.

Truly, we hope to see you there...and if you really cannot join us...save the date for the next event ...May 18th...when we will celebrate the

"Song of the Sea" at our 7th Annual Spring Soiree.

Be sure to email us so we can add you to the update list to see the latest from the artists... and do check the blog for images next week.

xxoo Jen

Earth Angels

Bear Hugs

There is something utterly wonderful about a teddy bear (this little cutie is by Jody Battaglia). I love them, their expressions, their body language…and most of all, their simple capacity to imbue a scene with nostalgia.

They are a yesterday, a soft memory in texture. I have always had them about…in a favorite chair, in cupboards with other heirloom toys and folk art and, funny enough – popping out of countless pottery vases and vessels. When I broke the lid of a favorite teapot recently, I stuck a wee bear in it and voila -- the loss was a new display opportunity.

Teddies and chocolate have long been favored gifts for sweethearts on Valentines Day. Yes, I do have a sweetheart, and he is wonderful, but he is no giver of gifts. But never mind, I usually find a teddy for myself each Valentine's Day and “inform him gently” that his shopping has conveniently been done for him.

Here are some of my favorite bears and hares of the "sweetest season"…

Sascha from Pat Murphy …she is at the top of my wish list.

…then of course there is this little nugget by Lori Ann Corelis….

Any of these cuties from Heidi Steiner would do the trick...

...Now, with reference to chocolate, I’ll take mine straight up, dark please…and a bit a day does the trick...extra of course, in preparation for Valentine's Day!

...and please think of my chocoholic pal, Little Red Robin, when you might be having any of her favorite candy...She's just out of surgery and needs good thoughts for a speedy recovery! We hope she's up to making it to

"the heART of winter" this weekend.

xxoo Jen

Earth Angels

Another Adventure

I gave myself the day off last Thursday and joined my folks on their monthly jaunt to the Stratford Antique Center…It never disappoints!

It’s one of the last, good multi-dealer antique fortresses and within an hour’s drive of Manhattan, Danbury and Springfield.


I have been shopping there for 15 years (my Mom is one of their original dealers) and I still can nab some steals and deals...and splurges... whenever I visit. They have had no press, I think all in the know may have selfishly kept this place a secret….but it is time to share!

Here's the locker area where you can stow your coat and purse to shop hands free...they always have a pot of fresh coffee to enjoy...and I like to grab one of their 6oz glass bottles of Coca-Cola from the old vending machine.

My first find of the day....a wonderfully curvy silver plated pitcher. It was a steal for $12.50 at the center!

Here it is already in use in my dining room.

Here's my splurge! If you read this blog, you know I have always pined for old metal and folk art ferris wheels. I found another antiquuing wiht Ro, Lisa and Stacey last summer. Here's my latest splurge ensconced in the den.

...and here's dealer Betty Martin with the ferris wheel "in the rough" before it was mine!

General Manager Steve and Assistant Carol make this place tick...

…16,500 square feet…big clean…well-lit and active! This huge facility was a warehouse and it sports 30 foot ceilings…look at these rows and rows of cool stuff…200+ dealers make this place well worth the trip!

Here's my Mom and Sandy chatting about "Red Bull"...the elixir of life! As Sandy was shopping, she heard my name and recognized me from this blog...too cool. Hi Sandy!!!! It was great meeting you and hope to see you at "heART of winter. Check out her blog! and her art!

This booth packed color punch and had a ton of advertising signs.

Lots of shabby chic finds in this booth.

I loved this tureen. Such a shape... it must work out!

...here is a favorite booth...

I really wanted this sign...love the arrow shape...

Piles of transferware tempted me. I nabbed two sugar bowls for $8 each!

My Dad and his best little pal, Rory like to shop for old metal cowboys.

This booth was loaded! I needed more time to explore!

My niece loves these shell boxes. I love them stacked like this!

...cool doggies...

....metal findings...
...wonderful "Sunday" painters canvases, I love the expression on the gal on the right...

What’s else is there?
Tons of good stuff, very fair prices…this place is shopped by dealers…prices are reasonable enough for them to re-sell
GOBS of lighting
Good mid-century accessories
Fun kitchen items
Wonderful furniture
Some primitives and folk art
Small industrial apparatus, one booth of architectural fixtures
Mostly American…little European

What I left that I wish I had bought:
A pair of Hitchcock chairs...what was I thinking!!!
An ironstone tureen…no room…no need… but oh so pretty
and a funky metal chair (great to look at but totally uncomfortable!)

In this age of instant gratification and ebay haunting and hunting, I still prefer to shop for antiques in person….I love the summer’s shows, but in the winter months this place beats the blues for sure….I can get out and shop when it is 10 degrees at a large airy venue (and not one of those musky, low-ceiling malls!).

Don't miss this place if you live anywhere nearby...

…Exit 31 on I -95 in Stratford, CT…open 7 days a week 10-5…this is a busy mall with new items being brought in each week by the dealers…I like to get there once every 6 weeks and never fail to find a perfect something for someone (or myself!)

Hope you can add this Antique Adventure to your "TO DO" list.

xxoo Jen

Earth Angels