Thanksgiving or....
 Giving Thanks at Elves and Angels

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and as I ponder the meaning of Thanks, I realize that there is a presupposition that must be, in order to be thankful.  There must first be someone who you are thankful to.   Those who celebrated the first Thanksgiving knew that.  They had a real living faith in the Creator, as the one who gives life, and sustains life.  
Sometimes the hardships of life , cause one to reach for real faith, and if instead of despair, we reach for the one who sustains us, we will find that the creator was always here, waiting for us to notice Him.
      This year will be a very special Thanksgiving for us here at Elves and Angels.  Our daughter,Priscilla, will be spending Thanksgiving here with us for the first time in many, many years.  She and her husband, and three children will be here for several days to visit and catch up, and to spend some quality family time together. 
 Our Marine son, Private 1st Class John Smalley, will also be coming home for the holiday.
We are all very happy, and very thankful.

    As I think back to the early days of Elves and Angels, I am awestruck by how quickly 25 years passes.  I am grateful that we were able to spend our lives making beautiful toys for children, and giving them an experience of wholesome play, that nourishes the soul of a child.  
    David and I began this journey a long time ago.  With 12 children, it wasn't always easy, but it was always full, and we tried to make it as special as we could, for our own children.
We worked, and prayed , and struggled, to forge a path that would enhance the innocence of children, and enable them to enjoy childhood, and be touched by something of beauty.
I believe that this has been accomplished. 

 I would like to share with you some early photos of Elves and Angels, back in the day.  We have been so blessed to be able to support our own family, and nourish yours at the same time.  
Some vintage photos of Elves and Angels.......

First Elves and angels Catalog- 1988 Scarborough, Maine

Product tag for Elves and Angels-1988   Our commitment to quality still stands.

Elves and Angels business cards-1988

Small Beginnings-Elves and Angels 1st workshop-the small room on the far right.
We outgrew that space within a month, after doing the NY toy show.

Elves and Angels sign-Julianna's Kitchen 1988 Scarborough, Maine

Priscilla Smalley with Nathan's Crib 1988

Suzanne Smalley with Sue and Sal's Bunkbeds 1988

Priscilla and Suzanne Smalley with Jessica's stove, Jeremy's Highchair, and Maya's Sink. 1988 Scarborough, Maine

Suzanne's Kitchen 1988, Elves and Angels Toy Store, Payne Rd. Scarborough, Maine

Suzanne's Puppet Theater 1990

Julianna and Christina Smalley with Suzanne's Kitchen and Priscilla's Stove-1992

Early Julianna's Kitchen and Pappa's Kitchen (named for David's Grandfather) 1992

Julianna and Christina with Elves and Angels Table and Chairs set, Dolly's High chair. 1992

Elves and Angels Johnny's Castle-1993
An original design by David Smalley.  This castle has been copied by another woodworker, but it was first made by David and named for our new baby, Johnny.

Elves and Angels Toy Shop- South Portland, Maine  1993

Christina's Kitchen by Elves and Angels
This kitchen won the Directors Choice Award at the National Daycare Convention in 1993

Shipping from Drew in 1995

Home of Elves and Angels before the fire of 2004
Drew Plantation, Maine

Home of Elves and Angels after the fire of November 2004.

Home of Elves and Angels Today.

David Smalley-The Toymaker

Rebuilding the Elves and angles workshop.  January 2005

Elves and Angels Expandable Castle

So, as you can see, we have so much to be thankful for.  God has blessed our lives richly , and abundantly.
We thank God for our family, our home, our business, and for you, who made it all possible, by supporting Elves and Angels all these years.
Happy Thanksgiving!from
Elves and Angels and the Smalley family.

by, Susan Smalley,  for Elves and Angels

         

From The Mind Of An Elf; Quality, Value, Excellence, Affordability, New Designs For 2013

Getting ready for the 2013 season was for Elves and Angels an exciting time. As usual, there were the many ideas that had passed through my mind in the past year, and still new one's coming.

The first of the year has always been that way for me, since the early days of Elves and Angels in 1988, when we began to exhibit at the New York Toy Fair. This huge show with over 30,000 buyers from around the world, always brought a new flood of ideas to work with.

I love the creative, and design process, and am in my element while in this state.

This year was no different, and new ideas flowed like honey. By the way, I always got excited about Toy Fair, but New York is not for me. I am a Mainer through and through. I am also a country boy, now turned country old man.

It was our plan this year to bring out some fresh new designs, fine tune the manufacture of our entire line, and bring to market new ideas and products, that fit a sluggish economy. We also tried to develop an affordable line of under $200.00 Wooden Play Kitchens, that would win over many that had previously bought plastic.

It appears that the 5 wooden Play Kitchens under $200.00, have really caught on, as sales are proving it every hour.

#1. Our New Maine Dollhouse By Elves and Angels

Simply beautiful, graceful lines, playable from all sides, large enough for many to play at the same time. We are very pleased, and the response to this is overwhelming!  $229.00 & Free Shipping !

#2. Jenny's Kitchen

A really cute kitchen, with the graceful lines that all Elves and Angels products display. Small enough to fit in the kitchen, and lovely enough to be near your best living room furniture. We have heard they are talking about this kitchen from New Hampshire to Colorado, but can't beat the price or Quality! $169.00 & Free Shipping!

#3. Julianna's Kitchen

One of our Wooden Play Kitchens from 1988 with a bit of a design change. Graceful lines, completely playable, and an American favorite for 25 years. $179.00 & Free Shipping!

#4. Sera's Kitchen

This is modeled after our old " Papa's Kitchen" from 1988 with some design changes. A very nice little kitchen that has been a very good seller for 25 years. You will see some copies of this kitchen selling for $190.00 or more. $ 159.00 & Free Shipping!

#5. Susan's Kitchen

I named this after my lovely wife Susan. It has many of her qualities, lovely, sturdy, strong, graceful, and my dearest friend.

It is designed to provide years of joy and companionship to your child. $199.00 & Free Shipping

#6. Davids Playstands

We are very pleased with these lovely stands. They provide hours and hours of play and shelter for children. graceful lines, and a perfect blend of pine and hardwood make these a beautiful gift. Double Playstands and Double Canopies- $310.00 & Free Shipping

We hope you enjoy our new products for 2013, and we hope you come by to see them at www.elvesandangels.com

Sincerely, 

David Smalley for Elves and Angels

Tribute to a Toymaker

                             "Tribute to a Toymaker"

     Most of us have seen the old classic Frank Capra  movie, "It's a Wonderful Life".
If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.  Find it , and watch it with your family.  The message from the movie is that life is a wonderful gift, and even when times are tough, there is still so much to be thankful for. 
The hero, George Bailey, finds himself in trouble, and has to experience what life would have been like, if he had never been born.
    So often I think of The Toymaker, and how many lives he has touched in his 60+ years.  How many buildings he has built, how many toys he has made, how much love he has shared through the work of his hands.  I think of how much we all would have missed, without the Toymaker.  I would have missed my whole life.
      Twenty five years ago, we started Elves and Angels, to support our family of then, eight children.  Since then, every year, thousands of children have received one of our toys as gifts, that delight them for years, and then get put away for another child to love years later. 
The Toymaker's Heart  has touched the lives of children, all over the world.  
         I enjoy writing poetry, and recently, David said, "When are you going to write about The Toymaker?" 
 That day, I wrote,
 "The Toymaker's Heart".
I'd like to share it with you, in honor of my dear husband, who gives incessantly of his time, and his life, to make the world a better place for all of us, especially the children.

"The Toymaker's Heart"

The Toymaker rises early,
Before the rooster crows,    
 He moves about in the darkness
To put on his workday clothes. 
                                         
He heads to his shop before daybreak,
When darkness envelops the scene,
Thinking, and planning, and working,             While the other Elves slumber and dream.      

The Toymaker moves with a purpose,
His thinking and actions are clear.
To create, out of wood, something lovely,
For the little ones, you hold dear.

He works with a will that inspires,
Always, he's doing his best.
Giving the same, as he tires,
Never a moment for rest.                                         
The Toymaker rises at daybreak,
He rouses the rising sun,
And in each toy, he imparts to you,
The love of a job well done!                           
                                                                         
A lifetime of labor he's giving,
A lifetime of beauty and joy,
Sharing his heart through his living,
With each little girl and boy.

You think it's a kitchen or dollhouse,
A castle, or some wooden part,
But look through the form at the essence,
And you'll see The Toymaker's Heart.                

The Toymaker lives for his Father,
A servant, a most cherished Son,
He's giving his all just to hear it:
"My dear, my Beloved, well done."                

When The Toymaker lies on the hillside,
His troubles and labors all gone,
The Love , The Truth, and the Caring,
In his beautiful Toys, lives on.


And Oh, the joy that's delighting, Oh, the Love undefiled,
And Oh, what a gift, when The Toymaker's Heart,
Touches the heart of a child.

   written by 
Susan Smalley for,
                 
David Smalley, The Toymaker.