Wilton fixture Jennifer Paganelli has held her Sis Boom Holiday Show every year for the last 25 years. The long-time Wilton resident and textile designer has held an annual sale in her rambling CT farmhouse that shows off her colorful, artistic designs–fabrics, home decor items, clothing, linens, jewelry and more–that are often called “eye candy,” a reference Paganelli loves. But Friday, Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 9 will be Paganelli’s last show ever at her Wilton home at 40 East Meadow Rd., from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. both days.
Sis Boom by Jennifer Paganelli is the inspiration distilled from several lives: her youth in the Great Lakes region of the US, adolescence spent in the vibrant Caribbean, college years in traditional New England, followed by career-building in the clamor of New York City. The Sis Boom collection includes over 300 fabric designs, two Chronicle published crafting books, a range of home decor & holiday products, PDF sewing patterns, and an online shop filled with local, handmade goods. Paganelli is celebrating the release of her most current fabric line, Judith’s Fancy.
“My designs are rooted in the things I handled as a child,” she says. “The materials I choose, whether a vintage ornament or a simple cutout, elicit a memory from everyone who sees them.”
Sis Boom’s fan base is worldwide and ranges from celebrities to traditional “crafty types” to Folk Art collectors. Her collection not only boasts a plethora of fabric lines and PDF sewing patterns, but also two Chronicle published books, Girl’s World and Happy Home, as well as a line of home decorating products ranging from pillows and rugs to aprons and table linens. The Sis Boom Collection, its name adopted from her childhood nickname given to her by her twin brother, defies easy categorization. With unusual artistry and a love of texture and a blend of vivid colors, Paganelli uses tag sales, flea markets and European sources as a starting point to create her art.
A portion of all proceeds from the show’s sale will go to recovery efforts in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, after the devastating hurricanes that hit the islands this past September. Having grown up in the USVI and with family and friends in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean is near and dear to Paganelli’s heart.
As always there will be her paintings, costume jewelry, pillows, holiday gifts galore, Sis Boom Fabric, wreaths, hand made crafts and ornaments, desk-top vignettes, garlands, stockings, clothing, pillows, key chains, bags, belts, clothing from her new East End line, and endless supply of joy. Paganelli is also selling her vintage fabric library, which she says is possible the first in the country, with more than 3,000 fabrics over 75-125 years old. She also continues the tradition of creating her sequined trees that have been her best sellers over the years. Christie of Christie’s Quilting Boutique in Norwalk, will be there with Sis Boom fabric, as well as Earth Angels Studios, which travels the country showcasing fun, handmade goods by contemporary female artists and other vintage loot. Other artists in attendance will be illustrator and multimedia artist Eileen Grace and crafter extraordinaire Marsha Dicostanzo. Get your holiday shopping done in one spot and support local artisans.
“So please come meet me for the first time, say hello, say good bye but please don’t miss this opportunity. I love hugs and am going to need them when I start my new life with my husband, Peter, and our dog, Gracie, in the sunny state of Florida. Wilton will definitely be a little less colorful without her.
For questions call 203.761.0442.