About the Artist

Hi there...and welcome. I'm Tamara Stopinski a.k.a. Talulah, and I am an artist, designer, and entrepreneur who has been creating one-of-a-kind designs for over 40 years. When I was just 12 years old, I began selling my unique jewelry designs in the junior high school bookstore - donating the proceeds to my Art Club. It was then that my creative, entrepreneurial and philanthropic journey began! Ever since then my passion for making and creating has never ceased. My journey has bee as unique as my work...creative, colorful and one-of-a-kind!

Talulah's Fancy and Friends... a Unique Boutique

In 2010, I opened TALULAH’S FANCY AND FRIENDS, an American-made gift boutique in Honeoye Falls, NY. A unique and whimsical gift shop where I sourced artwork from some of the nation’s best artistisans and showcased an array of quality one-of-a-kind gifts, clothing, jewelry, and more. It was my passion and honor to help elevate artists from my area and beyond. During that time I also wholesaled my work to some of the regions best boutiques, published a few articles, taught creative workshops locally and regionally as well as hosted some pretty fantastic events like the popular Mad Hatter Tea Party...good times were had by all who attended!

Talulah Now...at Home

After several years of spinning the plates of Talulah's Fancy & Friends it was time to pursue my lifelong dream of building a unique marketplace at home and dedicate my energy to hone my craft(s) and creative passion(s). These days you can find me still working in a variety of mediums - playing with clay or fine tuning a new jewelry design concept, putting together a workshop.... Or playing in my wildflower meadow along Spring Brook with my husband Jimmy and our kitty Queen Sweetpea. And I enjoy visitors to my studio which is open to the public Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from May through December. or by appointment during off season.

US

Feeling the blessings.... 25 years this August! Some things in this life sure slow you down but they also help you count your blessings and give you a healthy new perspective. I've learned to Thank God every day and that is something I am grateful to share with Jimmy. We remain Inspired by this amazing place we were fortuante to land by God's grace and it continues to inspire us to this day. We are grateful to still be sharing it with our Big-little Queen Pea who still has quite the presence and truly is a remarkable spirit at 18years young! It is Her domain that surrounds us...abundant wildlife, beautiful wild flower meadows and the magical beauty of Spring Brook. Together we continue to dedicate ourselves to the gratitude and good stewardship of this special place that for more than 20years now we refer to as our little slice of Heavenwood. Our hope is to share our passion and joy and bring a little bit of peace to all who visit us here.

Philanthropy

Always passionate about giving, we continue to support the fundraising efforts of many charitable organizations such as our local Rotary Clubs, local food and safety shelters, Ronald McDonald House, Veterans support groups, local and world disaster relief organizations, The Abbey of the Genesee and Christian charities.

Press

Where Women Cook - Summer 2013 Issue
“For me, creating a new recipe in the kitchen is like creating in my studio.”
When I was a little girl, I would spend my summer vacations and holiday breaks on my grandparents’ dairy farm in the lower Catskill area of New York. My cousins and I were tasked with many chores to help manage the farm. At the time, I didn’t appreciate all the chores that went along with those trips, but today nothing will compare to these great memories of my childhood.
On the farm, the chores included getting the cows in, helping in the milk house, weeding the vegetable gardens, getting the hay up, and bottle feeding the baby calves, which could be quite a job. If you didn’t pay attention, you could lose your entire hand into their hungry mouths!
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Where Women Create - Autumn 2012 Issue
“... they say necessity is the mother of invention, but for me it proved to be the spirit of my creativity.”
From the time I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be an artist. Any creative thing I could do with my hands gave me the most satisfaction. Summers and holidays spent on my grandparents’ farm was when I learned about hard work, making do, and being creative. I learned how to sew, cook, garden, and make things with what we had on hand, because running to the store was not always an option. One year, I recall making Christmas ornaments with my grandma. We tore sheets of embossed velvet paper from wallpaper sample books and created cone shapes and little envelopes. We then lled them with candy and hung them on the tree; they were so beautiful! I still collect wallpaper sample books to this day and use them for all kinds of projects. Utilizing what is available turned out to be one of my life’s most valuable lessons ... they say necessity is the mother of invention, but for me it proved to be the spirit of my creativity.
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Where Women Cook - Autumn 2012 Issue
“Delectable dishes and scrumptious desserts were abundant and artfully arranged for the most discerning of palettes.”
On the cold and flurried day of February 12th, attendees weathered the storm, arriving with enthusiastic anticipation and festive attire for the second annual Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, presented by Talulah’s Fancy and Friends Gift Shop. To say it was over the top and way beyond mad would be a modest understatement! The location of the event made it a creative destination not to be missed. One step into The Lower Mill, built in 1827, with its post-and-beam architecture and old limestone walls, gave guests a sense that perhaps like Alice, they too may have journeyed to a far away place or time.
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Pie-ography: Where Pie Meets Biography
“Like a traditional pie crust, my childhood was both rich with farm girl memories and the challenges of making do.”
From a pottery studio design assistant to a full-time jewelry designer, Tamara Stopinski has been creating professionally for over twenty-five years. Her current work focuses strongly on the art of precious metal clay, to which she was first introduced in 1999. Tamara has since become certified in the medium and now shares her knowledge by teaching original jewelry design workshops. Her love for cooking is second to her passion for design and she enjoys farm to table, home-style cooking. Several of Tamara’s original recipes have even been featured in area restaurants.
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