Monday, March 27, 2023

The Elves and Angels Times...Who we are...




Elves and Angels  Heirloom Quality Toys 


Who we are....

 

Elves and Angels Inc. was created back in the summer of 1988

by the husband and wife team of David and Susan Smalley.

As parents of Eight children, they had been making toys for their own family for close to twenty years.

 David and Susan Smalley

David is a 4th Generation Cabinetmaker, and creativity runs deep in his mind, and in his soul.

   A highly gifted and talented woodworker, 

his designs and products are second to none. 


Susan was a Mother and Homemaker, and Home Educator, 

and our lives were consumed with the Love for, 

and the care of... Children. 

Susan has her own artistic gifts, and she helped in the design process

 of many Elves and Angels products.


The Smalley Family in 1992





After seeing what was available in the Toy industry, we wanted to create something Beautiful, Classic, and Durable that could stand up to years of play, and still be able to be saved and given to the next generation.


David's Playstands
 

Fairytale Castle





Kennebunkport Cottage





David Smalley Creator of Elves and Angels Heirloom Quality Toys.
 


John Smalley unloading the boxes.

The Beauty of Flat Pack.

David and Susan Smalley
      

 
David and John Smalley



                                 




                                        


      Seraphima Smalley sanding to perfection.                                                                                              
                                          
                                                                                        


    David Smalley in the NEW
    Elves and Angels Workshop.


     Creating the NEW Elves and Angels               Workshop...
                       
                   



                                    Seraphima Smalley 
                              always getting the job done
                                 here at Elves and Angels.


Elves and Angels has proven it's ability to be known as

 "Heirloom Quality Toys". 


Out products are Carefully created, Beautifully designed, and Perfectly finished, so anyone can assemble them easily with just a screw driver.  (We have seen a video of our grandsons assembling a kitchen for their younger brother.)


Our Online Assembly videos, by David Smalley

 take you Step by Step 

to building yourself a perfect Kitchen, 

Dollhouse or Castle in just a few minutes.


Link to Video of Assembly of David's Playstands

https://youtu.be/XGqwyB7RG8A


Elves and Angels is a Family Business in the truest sense of the word.

For 35 years we have Always worked Together 

to give you and your child,

 The BEST Quality Toys available anywhere.



                                      




























Elves and Angels

   Heirloom Quality Toys





Elves and Angels...The AMERICAN Toy Company 

making Childhood Dreams come true since 1988.





Tuesday, March 7, 2023

The Elves and Angels Times.....Why "Cozy Corner"?

       

                     Introducing The New Elves and Angels  

                   "Cozy Corner Playspace".

            Master Craftsman, David Smalley, has done it again!  

                        He recently came up with an idea for a  
                           Fresh NEW Product,
                     that will delight your children for hours,
                            and even for years to come.                                        

                             

              We call it "Cozy Corner", in memory of David's Grandfather, 

     Frank H. Smalley,  who was a superb Master Craftsman himself.  

                                     

                                                     Frank H. Smalley with his wife Ethel Smalley

Not only did he influence David's life through his love of Woodworking,  He touched David's soul in the place of deep childhood trauma, and gave him an experience of HOME...the place this child, David, was always longing for.  

                                             

                                    The child of very young and troubled parents, 

                                                    David's family fell apart 

                                        when he was between 5 and 7 years old. 

                                                                 David A.Smalley

I asked David to write down his memories of "Papa's House",

                           and his trips to "Cozy Corner."

(It is too long to include all that he wrote, but I will share some of the key lines that illustrate how the broken child became a Lover of Woodworking, Children, HOME and Family. ) 

In the words of David Smalley....

  "It was a time of great unrest and sorrow in my Home.  My HOME and Security were crumbling before my eyes.  I was scared, and had no one to turn to for consolation."

"How I wanted my Home, and how I wanted my parents to love one another, and to love me in the context of our home."

"On the weekends my parents would drop me off at my Grandfather's and Grandmother's house.  My Grandfather built his own Home, and he made nearly all the furniture himself.   The place had a "Feel" that I desperately wanted.  The feeling in his house was HOME, and it helped me to feel SAFE."  There was no fighting there, but only LOVE."


                       Handcrafted Home of Frank H Smalley

"My Grandfather was a craftsman in the truest sense of the word.  His work was a reflection of himself and his soul.  A very quiet, gentle man, that I loved being with.  He made me feel worthwhile and special.  I was never a problem to him, and he was delighted in just having me there."

"Bedtime on Friday nights they would take me upstairs and tuck me into nice clean sheets and a warm blanket.  Then we would say our prayers.  It was HOME.  I needed Home with no surprises to scare me."

"Saturday mornings we would eat a nice breakfast, and then go out into his workshop that was attached to the house.  I delighted in the smell of the wood and watching all he did there.  I would always make something too.  He loved it and he loved me.  It makes me cry just writing about it.  Later I would go up into the woods on the hill and play for hours in my IMAGINARY world."

"At dinner time, Papa would say, Dave, do you want to go to "Cozy Corner" for dinner? "

 "Cozy Corner" was a nice little restaurant with really good food.  It was always "Cozy" when I was with my Grandparents.  Papa would ask me, "Dave, are you too full for pie and Ice cream? "  "No way!"...  Cozy Corner had the Best Blueberry pie and Ice cream anywhere!"

        "Then, Home we would go and off to bed, and being tucked in with prayers." 

" How well I slept, and how Safe I felt!  To be Loved and cared for in the context of Home, kept me going through many troubled times later in my life.  I determined that someday I would have a Home, and it would be a Shelter from the storms of life for my family. " 

"In one way or another, I have been "Creating HOME" with all that I ever have made. " 

"I think there are a lot of people out there, who could use a little "COZY CORNER" of their own."           

                                      by  David Smalley... Elves and Angels Inc.


                                                Cozy Corner Restaurant

                                      Route 1 Wells, Maine

                                                                




Introducing... The New Elves and Angels
"Cozy Corner!"



Most of you have seen our David's Playstands.

 They are one of our best selling products to date.





 


David's Playstands 


The Cozy Corner Playspace will create an inviting enclosure, that is reminiscent of a Home, and it's taller height will make your Playspace serviceable for many more years as your child grows in age, and in stature.

It's Beautiful classic lines reflect the artistic gift of Elves and Angels creator David Smalley, and it creates a perfect Play Space for many hours and years of imaginative games.

"Cozy Corner" can be a Home, a Store, a Library,  a Kitchen, a School, a Ship, a Covered Wagon, a Restaurant, a Tent,.... 
or whatever your child desires.

Cozy Corner can be anything you can imagine, and the best part is,
 it looks like a Home, which creates a sense of Security, 
in a not-so- secure-world that our children live in today.

Totally child safe, it's higher roof enables older and taller children to still experience the wonder of imaginative play.



The NEW "Cozy Corner Playspace"   
created by David Smalley for Elves and Angels







"Cozy Corner" is easily Expandable to create a Playspace 
that is 50+ inches wide; just move two screws, 
and it's all set to go.


The Expanded 
Cozy Corner Playspace


The NEW "Cozy Corner Playspace" 
is available only at 
Elves and Angels Heirloom Quality Toys.



www.elvesandangels.com













Sunday, July 26, 2020

In the steps of Miss Rumphius...





             In the steps of Miss Rumphius...


Some people just have an Eye for Beauty, 
and Master Woodworker, David Smalley is one of those people.

Founder of Elves and Angels Inc., David and his wife Susan, have spent the past 32 years designing and creating , the most beautiful, and the highest quality Wooden Toys, available anywhere. 

Now offered to you in native Maine White Pine, or solid Maine hardwoods, our products surpass the quality of any furniture you might buy for your home.  They are ascetically pleasing, and made to withstand the constant use of a child's play and imagination.

     This past winter, the designing team of David and Susan came up with several NEW Products to please your child, and enhance your home.

Introducing...The Cape Arundel Dollhouse,  Jason's Castle Bookcase, and Kaylah's Dollhouse Bookcase.

The Cape Arundel Dollhouse









Each one is a work of art, and a great addition to any child's 
bedroom or play space.


         This summer David Smalley turned 70 years old.  He no longer works on production in the workshop, but his Eye for Beauty and Creativity is still very evident in everything he does.

      With the current Covid restrictions everywhere, David chooses to stay home on the farm most of the time. 
(Except for a quick trip to the beach!)    



It is peaceful, and quiet, and beautiful here.  
This summer David has spent a lot of time, working at home to make it more beautiful.  He calls it "Creating his Resort".
Building his greenhouse, planting and maintaining the garden, building birdhouses, and creating the most lovely way to cover up an ugly above ground swimming pool. 
 Somehow, his Eye for beauty is everywhere I look.

In June David and I celebrated our 50th anniversary.


   

Home schooling parents of 12 children, it's been a wonderful life devoted to children, both yours and ours.
We are so thankful for all we have been given, and for You , our devoted customers, who helped make it all possible.

David Smalley with daughters Priscilla and Suzanne, and the first Elves and Angels Kitchen.

The Smalley family in 1992











  





What does an Old Elf do when he semi-retires from his workshop?




He goes outside, and continues to make the world more Beautiful!

Miss Rumphius would be So proud of David Smalley.
He has done all three things she said she would do with her Life.

He has "gone to faraway places."
He spent his Childhood, living by the Sea, and Best of all,
He has spent his entire life making the world "More Beautiful"!!!
Yours...your child's...and Mine!

David Smalley

David's handmade Greenhouse

Side view of Greenhouse




   







For the Tree Swallows




                                          

                                                                 Home sweet home!



                                                        Preparing the Sides....
                                                                                 





Covering the ugly metal sides...


Finished and stained.

Swimming pool made beautiful!





Mr. and Mrs David Smalley


Miss Rumphius and David Smalley
Making the world
More BEAUTIFUL!!



by Susan Smalley
for Elves and Angels Inc.