Sweet Mabel began in 2005 when Tracy Tumolo took over her grandfather’s former barbershop on the hill in Narberth, PA. At the time, she and her husband, David Stehman, were graphic designers at the nation’s oldest flag and banner company, and the business was moving south. Tracy and David, wanting to stay local, decided to turn their love of folk art and hand-made craft into a business. The store name came from their beloved and sweet black Lab, Mabel, who was almost 3 when the store opened.
Sweet Mabel Store is a colorful and fun gallery where art doesn’t have to be serious. Their love of US and Canadian folk art has expanded to include hand crafted decorative and functional pottery, glass, mosaics, textiles, recycled/found objects, wood and metal creations as well as jewelry and accessories. Their goal was to create a gallery that didn’t look the same as every other. It had to be vibrant yet relaxed with a strong focus on local art and craft. Sweet Mabel Store is approachable art, easily understood, by the people and for the people. New exhibits open monthly with First Friday celebrations most months.
Sweet Mabel Studio grew out of Tracy and David wanting to share creating found object art and craft with others. They started by offering Sunday morning workshops in the middle of the store (really!), which turned into renting a space up the street, and eventually moving into their own studio in the original store space and offering parties, workshops and open studio sessions to adults and kids. After 12 years, the physical studio closed in August 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic. Resident artists David Stehman and Beth Warren continue to create in their home studios and help out in the store.
