LITTLE FALLS, NY – In the next episode of the “Small Town Life” podcast, host Dave Warner brings together a family united by resilience, creativity, and a shared fight against cancer.
Featuring St. Johnsville natives Gail and Jan Carter in the studio, alongside their daughter Jacquie Angell and her husband Marc joining remotely from Los Angeles, the conversation delves into the origins of Sparkles & Splatters – a whimsical art business born from adversity.
Jacquie Angell, 58, has been battling cancer for over 40 years. Her journey began at age 15 with a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma while attending St. Johnsville High School. Decades later, she faced breast cancer twice, culminating in a Stage 4 metastatic diagnosis.
Amid the grueling treatments, surgeries, and daily discussions about doctors and side effects, Jacquie turned to drawing as an escape during sleepless nights caused by her medications.
“What poured out was soft, whimsical, and full of life,” Jacquie shared on the podcast. Her mother, Gail Carter, 83, saw the potential and began hand-embellishing the pieces with glittering details and sparkles.
What started as a way to shift family conversations toward something positive evolved into Sparkles & Splatters, offering hand-embellished prints, greeting cards, holiday ornaments, and more. The designs blend rustic glam with cheeky whimsy – think dancing monkeys, elegant elephants, and mermaids – all infused with humor and hope, as showcased in the vibrant artwork featured on their website.
Gail, a retired educator from the St. Johnsville school system, described the emotional toll of her daughter’s diagnoses: “It’s the most horrible thing you can imagine.” Yet, through the art, the family found purpose. Jan Carter, Gail’s husband of 62 years, and Marc Angell, Jacquie’s husband for 13 years, joined in supporting the venture, turning it into a family effort.
Marc, a broadcasting veteran, highlighted medical advancements, noting how targeted therapies have improved outcomes compared to the “barbaric” treatments of the 1980s.
The podcast explores the business’s growth, from local craft fairs in upstate New York to an online presence at sparklesandsplatters.com. Jacquie emphasized the therapeutic value: “It gave me a sense of purpose that I had completely lost.”
The family plans to expand with a mermaid-themed line, donating proceeds to support local breast cancer initiatives.
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month approaches in October, Sparkles & Splatters serves as a reminder of resilience. “Cancer isn’t a cookie-cutter disease, and everyone’s experience is different,” Jacquie said. “For me, creating with my mom has been a way to stay positive, keep laughing, and share encouragement with others.”
The episode, part of the Studio 25 Podcast Network, is a testament to turning pain into positivity. Listeners are encouraged to tune in for the full, inspiring discussion on YouTube or their preferred podcast platform, where Warner’s engaging style brings the family’s story to life.
For more on Sparkles & Splatters, including their colorful artwork, visit sparklesandsplatters.com.
