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About UsIn 1994, Phyllis Castells and her daughter Catalina founded Heart of the Home as an expression of their love for handmade American craft.
As we've grown over the years into a centerpiece of New Hope's bustling Main Street, we have worked hard to remain true to our original vision: bringing the best in American fine crafts to our appreciative customers. We take great pride in the care with which we curate and present our collection. When you visit, you are invited to touch and interact with the work, getting to know it and the artists who create it. |
Meet The Staff
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Phyllis Castells came to this enterprise after spending a number of years as a data-processing recruiter. She returned to art school to fulfill a lifelong dream and after 4 years of truly exhilarating effort received a BFA from Rutgers and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan.
She realized that her next big vision was to have just the kind of store you see when you visit Heart of the Home; but to make sure that all the customers felt welcome, could touch the wonderful crafts on display, and would be taken care of by attentive, enthusiastic staff. Find Out More About Phyllis by Clicking Here |
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Catalina Castells cofounded Heart of the Home, but over the years moved on to focus on raising her son, while still staying involved in the business in a lesser capacity. While doing that, she got a degree in Graphic Design from Parson (The New School). She has built a freelance design practice and works as an artist and laser engraver in her spare time. She has returned to help Phyllis move the business into the future and looks forward to spending more time with you all as we go forward. You can check out her art and design work on CatalinaCastells.com.
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Anna Stange is our enthusiastic, closet cleaning General Manager. Anna joined the Heart of the Home Team in January 2010. She is a Jersey local from the Trenton area. She graduated from Drew University in 2008 with a major in English and minor in French and Fine Art.
Following her studies, she relocated to Switzerland in order to pursue her passion for travel and the French language. Venez parlez français avec elle! She's been artistically inclined since childhood, with a range of experience from crayons on the wall to macramé, weaving, caning, and ceramics. She is thrilled to be working with all the fabulous creations made by American Artists. |
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C. Ivy Palmer is Heart of the Home's Jewelry Coordinator, and enjoys connecting the work of amazing jewelry and accessory creators with the people who appreciate their beauty and craftsmanship. Her academic background is in psychology, and she's amused how often she finds herself using her degree on a daily basis. She enjoys comic book movies, knitting and spinning yarn, and spending time with the extended family of artisans, performers, weirdos, and avid adventurers she's fallen in with, who encourage her creatively and keep her smiling.
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John McNally was born in Pittsburgh, and wound up on the Jersey side of the Delaware via Baton Rouge and San Francisco (he took the long way ‘round). With an MFA in poetry, he ran a bookstore and proofread before returning East in ‘96. Inspired by the new digs, he began studying oil painting with local artist Robert Beck.
Nowadays, when he’s not demonstrating kaleidoscopes at Heart of the Home, he travels to plein air (i.e., “outdoor”) painting competitions throughout the east coast, where he’s won a number of awards. He lives in Annandale NJ with his daughter, Marinne and his wife, Anne. This is his second gig with Heart of the Home – some of you may remember him from his first stint at the Flood House around the turn of the century. He’s glad to be back! |
