While Janell was an apprentice to Hiroi-sensei, he encouraged her to produce tops that dealt with themes related to American folk culture and lore that reflected both her background and the art and culture of her new home through traditional Japanese crafts. The photos below show tops Janell made in the 1980s. There are both western-themed tops and traditional Japanese tops.

A Christmas tree made of tops.

A nativity scene made of tops.

Janell holding a traditional top.

Traditional tops Janell made.

Traditional tops Janell made.