Debra and Eric have enjoyed operating their costume accessories business in Renaissance shops across the country together for over 25 years.
They feel that the joy of creating along with it challenges are what makes each day an adventure, loving what they do, and it shows!
Debra Hathaway started Dragon Wings in 1987 making jewelry inspired by Asian culture and involving fans, chopsticks, tapestry and tassels. Her unique designs were marketed through boutiques and upscale department stores across the nation (including Nordstrom and Macy’s).
While working with porcelain jewelry, Debra was enticed to sculpt her own line of dolls and eventually began building marionette puppets as well. Upon being juried-in to several Renaissance Festivals (one of the few Renaissance Festival artists juried in with two distinctly different product lines), Debra and her child, Jasper, took to the road. During their journeys they faced floods, tornadoes, wind, hail, fire ants, and more. Eventually they met and invited Eric Heath to become a part of their roving family business. Debra and Eric were wed on September 11, 1997.
For over 20 years Eric, Debra, and their minions built and demonstrated marionette stringing at a podium in front of the Dragon Wings booth at each Festival. At their peak, Dragon Wings Dolls and Marionettes produced over 35 different creatures, including Fairies, Unicorns, Dragons, Centaurs, Puss in Boots, the Frog Prince, and even Flying Pigs!
The current Dragon Wings LLC product line has evolved to include a variety of styles of Renaissance Festival appropriate hats, caps, headbands, feather barrettes, parasols, fans, bridal accessories, and more (but sadly, no more marionettes).
You can try on our products in person by visiting Dragon Wings shoppes at two seasonal Renaissance Festivals: Scarborough Faire in Waxahachie Texas) and the Maryland Maryland Renaissance Festival.
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