Gales Designs: Unique Hand-Crafted Jewelry & Gifts

Moving Day!

2010-03-11T17:52:00.002-05:00

Please check out my new blog address:

www.GalesDesigns.com/blog

Thanks...please stop by and be sure to become a follower! I have lots of fun ideas to share adn a few giveaways coming up too!

Spice it up!

2010-02-28T21:52:00.014-05:00

Have you seen all the cool new spring colors out in the stores? Spice colors are a must this season...paprika, saffron, nutmeg..yum! Funny how when we talk about clothes, we talk in terms of food colors...chocolate, kiwi, plum...gotta love it!

Here are some accessories to complement those new colors for spring, or just jazz up a white t-shirt or button down with some delicious color! Hooray, it is March and spring can't be far behind!

Vintage earring extravaganza

2010-02-24T15:33:00.008-05:00

I used to buy vintage lots and ended up with many clip earrings I didn't know what to do with. Lately I am brimming with fun ideas for how to use all those clips I thankfully held onto..... now I even go looking for these beautiful vintage earrings to create some wonderful vintage re-creations.

Here are some earrings I recently bought up at a flea market.................

Here are some treasures from e-bay.....................

I turned these into posts after seeing my daughter paid an outrageous price for a pair at Anthropologie that look familiar (and aren't even the real vintage!)...........

I put this fun colored clip earring onto a sterling back to make a pendant....................

A few discarded clip earrings can combine to make a one of a kind bracelet..............

And a few can make a statement necklace "pop"!

Just loving all the possibilities!

Can it be?

2010-02-12T11:00:00.008-05:00

Does anyone know that there was more snow in the Northeast this week? haha, seriously it has been record breaking (20+ inches on top of what we already just had) and I think after three days I am venturing out with Mark today to see the orthodontist and I am happy for an excuse to get in a car. School have been closed since Tuesday and combined with President's weekend, that makes for a nice six day weekend for kids around here. If only we could plan these things....I would be in Florida!

Here are some of the latest pictures to bore you with (sorry, some out of town family asked to see them) and then it is on to bright Spring jewelry for the next group of pictures! I promise!

Stay warm and dry wherever you are! and P. S. there is snow in the forecast for Monday night.....yikes.

Snow day 2010

2010-02-07T15:51:00.014-05:00

PA got socked with a big Nor'easter and we ended up with 21 plus inches of snow. I find it exciting, if the truth be told. I like an excuse to be stuck at home and it was convenient that this storm was on a Saturday, so I had great shovelers in the house...although it is fun to get out a little bit and help, too. Here are a few shots of the snow and how one can while away the hours while being snowbound!

"Official measurement"

view from the street

finally got the mailbox out of a drift

won't be dining outside on this table any time soon!

Thank goodness for snowblowers and husbands!

Time to bake for all those hungry and cold workers...Tollhouse Pie, always easy and gets rave reviews!

Blueberry cake, too!

Time to get out some good books....I am reading this because my mom is having lunch with Elizabeth Berg this week...!

We watched a few good movies too...this is a nice story!

And got to sending out some Valentine's!

So snow days can be lots of fun as you can see......we are supposed to get a moderate (whatever that means) amount of snowfall again on Tuesday. Maybe by then it will grow old, but for now we plan to enjoy!

Happy February!

2010-02-01T10:36:00.016-05:00

Decided to get crafty this weekend and make some little Valentine gifts! I cut and decorated card stock into hearts and attached some of my earrings! It was lots of fun and I even packaged them up (see below) so they are ready to mail and surprise some special people. I put some greetings specific to the person who I was sending them to and made a more lasting Valentine than candy or flowers. I think these are perfect for some college mailboxes...don't you ;)?

A few are over in my Est shop, too, in case some Gales Designs customers want to send their own greetings to someone special.

Happy February!

Color of the year....

2010-01-28T10:50:00.006-05:00

I have been reading a lot about turquoise being the color of the year, so I have stocking up and creating some fun new things with all sizes and shades of this beautiful stone...but truth be told, I have been making jewelry for seven years and turquoise has always been popular and in demand! I think it is a great color that looks good on all skin types, looks great in many color combos and so it is a worthwhile addition to any jewelry collection. I find I like to wear it myself and what a fun color to work with!

So for now it's back to the bead board and hopefully I get some time to list turquoise in my Etsy shop. Check it out!

Craft Hope for Haiti

2010-01-23T16:37:00.005-05:00

Dear Friends of Gales Designs,

A site on Etsy has opened up to collect handmade items and give 100 percent of the profits to the people pf Haiti. I have listed a great pair of earrings (see them pictured below) that will look great with any outfit or make a perfect gift. They are long, sterling silver earwires and have hammered squares on the end. Please take a peek and see what other goodies have been listed, too. All the proceeds go directly to Doctors without Borders and almost $20, 000 has been raised so far by this project alone. Check this shop out soon! If you are a crafter and would like to donate check out the website.

Looking for some vintage

2010-01-22T13:35:00.005-05:00

Reading about fellow bloggers' flea market adventures this week has me missing one of my favorite pastimes......so I decided to spend this cold, damp day here in PA looking through my old stash. I have jars and jars of goodies, but sometimes not enough time to play with everything. Since my car is in for inspection today, I have no excuse not to see what new designs I can make with some of these vintage pieces hanging around.

I took a pretty pin and added some other parts of bracelets and loose pieces and came up with this great piece...........

It has lots of sparkle and some black crystals and pearls, too.

I took some bling and put it into a shabby chic look with some homemade taffeta rosettes and lots and lots of bronzy pearls........

Here's a close-up of the vintage......

You can check it out in the shop!

Time to get some things listed and maybe some paperwork, too.

Enjoy some play-time today and have a great weekend!

xoxo

Splash of color!

2010-01-19T10:31:00.005-05:00

How about this beautiful knitted scarf to break up the January doldrums? My daughter Kristin knitted this one with scraps of fabric, fur and yarn. It is so fun to wear, looks darling with jeans or a jean jacket! Way to go Kristin! Miss you now that you are back at school but have fun and study hard!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-08T11:51:00.006-05:00

I have been a very bad blogger, but sales were crazy and I honestly had to give up something to keep it all together! I also had some camera woes, but new camera, new year, new ideas, woohoo! Enough said!

Another lovely thing that goes by the wayside during the holiday rush is my reading time, so I am double teaming since the New Year started. let me know if you have any good reads to recommend!

I am thoroughly enjoying and almost finished The people of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, a great writer! Pick it up if you can!

Also decided to look through some arts and crafts books and some home improvement guides......

As always, work is my passion, so I turn to some good inspirational books to get new ideas and twists on my jewelry making........

And of course you have to throw in a bestseller for some great reading as well!

Great hobby for these cold, cold days of January! Hope the new year brings treats to all of you and thanks for all the support and good wishes in a (thankfully) busy holiday season!

Traditions

2009-11-30T08:23:00.013-05:00

The season is in full swing! We had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend with the whole family home! Yay for that!

Here are a sampling of pies the girls made (apple crumb, pumpkin and chocolate chip). It took two phone calls to Grandma for some tips, but they turned out great! Notice Grandma Gales' vintage pie carrier that is very useful transporting the pies over the river and through the woods.......

My Dad collects his change all year and gives it to the grandchildren on Thanksgiving and they pick a charity to give it to. They also make a presentation to all of us about what they chose to do with the money the previous year and why. Lots of people were on the receiving end of these gifts through the years. Mark is shown here explaining his gift to Children's Alopecia Project. CAP has been helpful to our family since his diagnosis and great that we could give a little back.

The kids made their annual trip with Charlie to pick out a tree. It was hard between all the game playing, but they managed to find a little time to get a great one.

I am counting my blessings and so very thankful for time with family!

A small problem.....

2009-11-11T12:21:00.006-05:00

Phew! Although show season is in full swing, a girl has to replenish her stock from time to time, right? So I have been back to the flea markets (a little tougher to find in November now that the colder weather has set in) and scouring for vintage pieces that might make neat parts for my retro re-do's!

I did not come home empty handed. But some of these pieces (see the bracelets below) will be perfect just as they are! They are in great condition and will be fabulous for the holidays.....my only problem.....could I ever sell them?!?!?

Counting blessings

2009-11-09T15:04:00.004-05:00

This week has been filled with news that was sad for families near and far. It's always good to take a minute to count your blessings and be thankful for all the good things in life. So today I am reflecting on all the wonderful things God has given me and passing along some positive thoughts and prayers to others who are needing them right now.

I am so very grateful for my family and friends. The support and strength I get from you is endless and I want to thank you! I appreciate your generosity. May all the things you give to others come back to you!

These photos were taken at the Notre Dame Grotto. It is a beautiful place to reflect and pray.

It's starting to look alot like......

2009-11-04T19:48:00.008-05:00

Our household is quite excited about our team, the Fightin' Phils, being in the World Series! Didn't think we be sitting around in November watching baseball into the wee hours of the night, but I would be happy to see them reach game 7!

I have been beading by the TV and getting ready for my favorite season of the year. I love to adorn everything with beads, and these napkin sets are no exception. If you have some leftover beads, these are easy to make....wrap some wire and beads around a serving utensil (be sure to hand wash), add some napkins, or a pretty dish and viola! It's a great present for you or someone else. They are selling out quickly here and I am hoping to get a few on my Etsy site, too. Enjoy and Go Phillies!

Troubleshooting

2009-11-02T11:15:00.009-05:00

I was having trouble with the comment section of my blog and could not get comments on my last post. I wish I was more savvy with the computer to get the kinks worked out of things like that, but I will just go one making jewelry and taking care of business and hope things will figure themselves out. Does this ever happen to anyone else?

I have another big show this week; this one is with lots of fun vendors and is always a fun event to shop at and work at! I usually kick off my own holiday shopping at the "Boutique" and love buying other homemade goodies to give as gifts.

I spent the morning looking at all my jewels and trying to figure out how to condense them into something that will fit on a 6 foot table (all the space I have) and still have a eye-catching, not -too-overwhelming, pretty display. It is harder than you think!

Now I need to get some simple silver earrings made that go with everything because they have been flying out of here.....so I am back to work and hopefully the blog will be back on track, too!

It's show time!

2009-10-29T13:31:00.010-04:00

Well, it's that time of year and I am working day and night to keep inventory good for the flurry of shows I have coming up these next few weeks. I have had so much interest in statement pieces, especially one of a kind vintage designs that I have concentrated my efforts there! Lots of bling is popping out of the studio...here are some sneak peeks!

Also getting requests for beaded hostess gifts.......so here are a few new pieces on their way to new homes.....

Bye for now!

Mom and Dad

2009-10-22T16:42:00.010-04:00

Spent the precious gift of time with Mom and Dad last weekend while the others did the football thing.......

My mom got her jewelry box out for my sister and I to poke through.......it was so much fun!

Mom found this charm that my uncle and aunt gave her when she graduated from college over 50 years ago.....I added a necklace so she can show it off after all these years! There is beautiful detail on the charm (on both sides).....how many other beautiful things are hidden away in boxes when they could be a stunning piece of statement jewelry?

Here is a pin my Dad gave my mom in high school.....she needs to be sporting this more often!

Here is part of my mom's vintage napkin ring and silver collection she keeps on her mantle all year long....it's so beautiful!

Then my sister and I stumbled upon this old compact that my mom shyly admitted she won when she was a track queen (?) in high school. My sister admits that had she seen this before it would long ago have made it over to her own jewelry box (don't tell her but it made it's way to mine).

And here is the beautiful couple all ready to head out to Dad's 55th high school reunion. I am sure they were the cutest people there!

Thanks for a great weekend, Mom and Dad, and a great life, too!

Hitting home

2009-10-20T11:10:00.014-04:00

Well, it seems the flu epidemic has hit and Mark is down for the count. Fever, sore throat and cough, really not that much different than any other winter flu. What amazes me is how contagious this virus is! The kids are dropping like flies at school, and it hits suddenly. Over 57 kids are out of his school today, plus some teachers and the school nurse.

I am stuck home for a few days playing nursemaid and wiping everything in sight down with Lysol, so we adults can stay well (gotta get healthy to go to the Notre Dame game this weekend).

So, the bright side (besides Phillies baseball!) is I have lots of time to play with some vintage pieces I picked up earlier this fall.....just in time to replenish from the last two shows and gear up for the next few shows.

Here are some fun new things...............

We have a winner!

2009-10-20T07:43:00.003-04:00

Congrats to Bonnie for winning the free necklace! I appreciate all your responses, both here and on Facebook. I promise another drawing next month. What great customers and friends!

Anniversary Giveaway!

2009-10-16T10:19:00.003-04:00

Thanks to all my loyal customers, I am celebrating 7 great years designing jewelry! This year I have added Facebook, this blog and the ETSY site as new ways to find out the latest news from my studio. Now it is time for a giveaway! I want someone to have this vintage pendant on a sterling silver drop with a sterling silver chain!

You can get into the drawing several ways....

-make a comment below
-become a follower of this blog
-become a fan on Facebook (just go to Gales Designs page on FB)
-link this to your own blog

-or ALL of the above for lots of chances to win!

Winner will be picked Monday, October 19 at midnight!

And I selected this beautiful pink vintage piece to bring more attention to the fight for the cure! Get your mammograms and let's pray and work for a cure for breast cancer!

Thanks again to all of you!

Another great show!

2009-10-15T12:19:00.012-04:00

Great seeing many of you at the latest show and so happy to bring you some of my new designs as well as the classic designs I always carry. I must admit being up in New York got the creative juices flowing. It was fun to be in some stores that I can't get to here at home. I did lots of window shopping and people watching and enjoyed some unique boutiques as well as old favorites like Anthropologie! Can't wait to get back!

Vintage on ribbon.............

layers and layers..........

re-purposed and sparkly...........

vintage inspired modern...........

soft and feminine............

vintage classic..................

and so much more!

Start spreading the news.......

2009-10-13T06:31:00.015-04:00

We were up in Manhattan to see Jason and Joey get married...what a wedding! It was perfect from start to finish. It was a privilege to do the jewelry for such a beautiful wedding party and I enjoyed watching all the other details come together for this special couple. I am sure the pictures won't do it justice....but here goes....

Joey and Jason cutting the cake.......

The beautiful bride wearing some fabulous vintage jewelry (!)...........

Kate and Patrick enjoying cocktail hour at Bridgewaters with a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge.....

The gorgeous table setting (each table was a little different)................

One of the bridesmaids with her Gales Designs jewelry...each girl had a different style dress with custom designed jewelry for that particular dress......

Yay for family..............

Another bridesmaid poses with her jewels..........

and another table setting, each was so exquisite!

Sunday brunch on the roof of the couple's Manhattan apartment building.......the view was spectacular on this beautiful day.....

It was the perfect way to cap off the perfect weekend!

Get stranded

2009-10-08T08:29:00.008-04:00

Wow--busy time here and lots going on. Fall is always crunch time between the family and the business. Life around here is never boring! I am putting the finishing touches on the wedding I have this weekend and will post some good pictures when I am back (NYC here we come!) and also trying to get ready for an upcoming show next week!

Multi-strand necklaces are selling like crazy, so I was able to get a few more made for next week. Here's a little peek......

The goods on display

2009-10-02T07:44:00.009-04:00

What a great time at my anniversary show! It was a beautiful, crisp fall day and I couldn't have asked for a better turnout! I so appreciate my customers and my only wish is I could have spent more time with each of you.

I set up three full rooms of goodies and still I was packing it in.....the best selection of the year, by far!

Everyone asks, what was hot? Truly, I sold a bit of everything......some vintage, some new, lots and lots of earrings and a good amount of bracelets............some big bling and some simple and sweet designs....some sale items, too!

Here's some pictures of the displays.....

Some vintage.........

More vintage......................

gifts and engraving..........................

some layered necklaces..................

I can relax a little today and yet, I have quite a few custom orders to get busy on! Thanks again and happy, happy October!

Annual Anniversary Show

2009-09-30T06:04:00.017-04:00

Tomorrow is my annual anniversary sale and show and it is always the biggest of the season. I am doing it here at home and I turn my first floor into a showroom. I just can't take everything with me when I am on the road, so when it's in my home I can bring everything to the table (literally)!

I can show off lots of vintage remakes..........

Lots of the season's newest looks............

Some tried and true classics...............

Some more elaborate pieces.....

Some simple things................

Some sweet and timeless treasures...............

Some beaded gifts..............

wrapped and ready to go!

With all these ideas going on, this is what my bead board looks like these days (kinda matches inside my head, too)!

So get out there and enjoy a little fall and if you are in the area be sure to stop by on Thursday!

Wedding Bells

2009-09-26T14:51:00.003-04:00

Just have to wish a special bride all the best today! It was great to be part of Jen's special day. This classy bride did all vintage with her own dress and picked a set of these simple, yet elegant pieces for each of her eight bridesmaids. Can I tell you how much I loooooove weddings?

New Digs/Studio B

2009-09-21T22:09:00.008-04:00

Those of you who know me, know I spend hours in the sunporch turned studio. Recently we went through an overhaul of the room and I must say it makes working there even more of a pleasure. It is still a work in progress, but with new floors, freshly painted furniture and a new area rug, things are looking up. Here's a little peek at what's new and suggestions are most welcome!

My hat (thanks, Kate), family photo and my shell and sea glass collections.......

A white coat of paint on an old brown shelving unit.........both fun and functional now.........

the work table (eek!) with new area rug (sorry but I think this is as organized as it gets).......

Yay for the small vintage dress form I found on e-Bay, although I haven't given up on a lifesize vintage form....

I have a few more things to do before it is complete, but as I said, any input from you would be most appreciated!

To market, to (flea) market

2009-09-19T11:28:00.005-04:00

Well, I spent some relaxation (?) time this Saturday hitting up the local flea market and look at the fun finds I scored. I can hardly wait to start creating, but (*sigh*) I will do some laundry and cleaning first. Good incentive to keep moving....... Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Fall Trunk Show

2009-09-18T07:44:00.008-04:00

Yesterday was an exhausting but exhilarating day at Filling's Clothing Store where I had my first show of the season. It is so great to see the new and repeat customers that come into the store to get some new fall must haves and check out my jewelry as well. The staff at Filling's did a first rate job, as always, in putting together a great event. I got to do a little shopping as well!

Here is Filling's list of must haves for fall:

-layered necklaces

-purple or red, greys and camel as neutrals

-metallics and animal prints

-vests

-faux fur and fur trims

-ruffles and lace

-dresses, dresses, dresses!

-white blouses

-boyfriend blazers

-leggings and tights under tunics or dresses

-swingy style cropped and 3/4 length jackets

-tweeds and textured fabrics

-wraps and scarves with EVERYTHING!

-denim, skinny and boot cut

The jeans and blazer with a scarf is what I'll be wearing today....what are your must haves this season?

Getting inspired

2009-09-13T21:24:00.007-04:00

I love this gift Kate brought from NYC. It is a great addition to my studio space.....

I wonder if it was worn in an Easter parade? And I wonder what beautiful jewels the owner donned with the hat?

Was it something sparkly?

Something trendy?

Something practical?

Or something very chic?

Thanks for the inspiration, Kate, and watch for more pictures as the studio comes together this week!

Remembering the Past

2009-09-11T07:49:00.007-04:00

Remember those pins I spotted at the flea market last week? They turned out to be great pendants for some new necklaces.....

I added some oxidized sterling chain with some interesting vintage crystals.......

Some vintage clasps..............

And in this case I added lots of vintage finds...................

And what used to be a belt buckle is a really cool pendant now.......................

And speaking of remembering, I will never forget the lives that were sacrificed on this day, September 11, eight years ago. May God continue to hold the families of those victims in the palm of His hand. God Bless America!

Frugal=Versatile

2009-09-09T10:53:00.011-04:00

I have been getting ready for a fall trunk show at Filling's and have been taking a serious look at inventory. Linda at Filling's says they are selling lots of reds, purples and neutrals in the boutique for Fall and so I will make plenty of things with those colors to sell.

But I also think many of us look for accessories that we can wear to go with a multitude of outfits, thus getting a little more bang for our buck! Here are some designs that I think have a fresh, modern look, but also can be worn with different outfits (red, purple, neutral or whatever) and look different with each. Most of these earrings would look equally good with jeans or a cocktail dress.

All new stackable earring, shown here in neutral...

Hammered silver on chain...

Fun geometry in sterling...

The "filigree" collection...

More filigree...

The "Jenna" collection with mesh ribbon, shown here in silver shadow...

The "Kirsten" earring in hammered silver...

I am putting some in my Etsy store too! Check it out!

Let the games begin!

2009-09-07T16:00:00.007-04:00

Went to PSU this weekend and saw them beat Akron nicely. The best part for me is the tailgater of course. We will spend many a fall weekend soaking in the sights and sounds before and after the games. This Saturday was no exception! The weather was perfect, food was delicious and the company divine! So fun having my boys with me and look forward to seeing the girlies in a few weeks when we take this show on the road again to Notre Dame. So nice to have wins by both teams this week!

My hubby, the tailgate "master"........

The boys at the game......

The student section with the "S"..............

Traffic......inevitable.

Hope everyone had a nice rest this Labor Day and your weekend was equally as enjoyable.

Something old, something new!

2009-09-03T07:50:00.010-04:00

I wanted to find some vintage lovelies to put in my latest creations and so a trip to the farmer's market/flea market was in order. Lots to look at! But treasures get harder and harder to find! I am keeping my eye out for a vintage dress form (no luck, *sigh*) and vintage medals and other interesting pieces to use for pendants. I did stumble on some goodies, so it was well worth the trip. Here's a little peek!

Earlier this summer when we were driving to North Carolina and realized that Chincoteague is a real town, my hubby and I both became nostalgic for these books we read as kids. Charlie recalled the author and illustrator...I could just recall the name. Neither of us were lucky enough to have the whole set back in the day.....but here they were on my first stop! I was tempted to buy them for fun, but passed on it to keep focused on what I was really LOOKING for.

Look at these neat finds.....real beauties...very old and the writing is foreign....so cool!

Is anyone else in love with vintage pins? There are plenty at one particular stand. I love to look at all the styles and colors.......

Last but not least, I did pick up some fruit for the family, peaches at $1 a basket (about all the cash I had left)! They were delish, too! Perfect for a peach crisp I made later in the day.......

And now to switch gears from my fascination with old things to my favorite new thing to talk about....for all you locals, tonight is the grand opening of a new store in Reading called Hello Bluebird. There is great merchandise (including some vintage remakes from moi!) and check out how Alex transformed the place into a visual delight! Hats off to her for realizing a dream and best wished to her for more success in the future. For more check out Daisy Janie's review.

Happy Thursday everyone..and should anyone stumble on an old dress form.......keep me posted.

Heroes

2009-09-02T08:16:00.007-04:00

School started and we survived the first day jitters just fine. My baby went to middle school and the older kids tell me these years can be pretty stressful in the best of circumstances. Imagine heading to eighth grade with no hair! That is how it is for Mark.

After two years of trying to figure out why his hair was coming out and not growing back, a biopsy confirmed that he has alopecia, an incurable autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. This condition is more common than I realized, but only a small percentage of people afflicted with this devastating disease experience total hair loss on the head, face and body (alopecia areata universalis); but that is exactly my son's diagnosis.

We always try to find the positives. Alopecia is not a symptom of a more serious disease. It is not life-threatening, although it can be life altering. But the biggest positive is the great people you meet along the way who help you to cope and live life to the fullest. I cannot thank our dermatologists, Dr. John Legere of Lancaster and Dr. Jeff Miller of Hershey for all their skill and encouragement. But most of all I look to parents of Alopecia kids who have made it their mission to educate, raise awareness and give other parents and kids with alopecia the support they need.

One couple, Betsy and Jeff Wytovich of Reading, Pa, have started an organization called CAP (Children's Alopecia Project). They list as their mission "...to build self-esteem in children living with all forms of this disease...by instilling confidence and self-acceptance..." This group has provided us with a place to turn; they have organized picnics, meetings, acitivities, special events and camps so these children can meet each other and learn they are not alone. CAP empowers these kids to be stronger teens.

So thanks to people like Jeff and Betsy who don't sit on the sidelines, but take on the daunting task of starting a national organization, caring about all kids, and giving us a much needed boost. My cap is off to you, everyday heroes and examples to all of us.

I will leave you with this quote from a website of the mom of Ashley, a 14 year old with alopecia:

God made only a few perfect heads, the rest he put hair on.

Have a great year, Mark!

Good bye summer!

2009-08-31T08:27:00.004-04:00

School starts this morning and I can get back to work. It has been a great summer, filled with family and friends and lots of memories to keep us warm all winter long. Now it's time to get things cleaned up a bit and organized. I was checking out some blogs on this very topic and loved the craft room that Emily at Perfectly Put Together organized here. Is there hope for me? Hopefully I will have new studio pictures to post soon, but right now it still looks like a bit of crafting chaos.

Went to deliver some jewelry to a customer who showed me something she did with her vintage treasures from her aunt and mother. Love the idea. She covered a wreath form with velvet and pinned all her vintage pins to it. Since they are simply pinned on, if she ever changes her mind and wants to wear a pin or do something else with it, they are still in their beautiful, original form.

Best wishes to everyone for a good school year!

Booking it

2009-08-28T07:45:00.002-04:00

Charlie's recent trip to his alma mater took him to the bookstore (where daughter Kristin dropped lots of cash on her textbooks). He poked around in the sports section with all the books on ND lore. This is of special interest because daughter Kate is a publicist for a publisher in NYC and as luck would have it, she is getting to do the PR on a new ND book that comes out next week. The book is called Resurrection and Charlie gave it two thumbs up since he was able to devour an advanced copy.

Reading is one of my favorite pastimes and I have been reading up a storm this summer and had some great finds. I thoroughly enjoyed The Help; it really made me look into how we treat others around us who we view as different, no matter what that difference might be. I found Anita Shreve's book, Testimony, to be a page turner, albeit very disturbing, especially to this mother who just sent a child off to school.

An interesting book our book club did last month was A Year of Wonders, by Geraldine Brooks, and although it was a tough subject (the plague) it gave insight and discussion into the upcoming season with the Swine Flu. Now I am about to start the new Wally Lamb book, The Hour I First Believed, for book club once again. We are reading it in anticipation of going to hear the author speak in November.

What book have you been enjoying this summer?

2009-08-26T06:21:00.009-04:00

Fall is fast approaching and I went to the Bead Show of Philadelphia and found some fun new things to work with. At the same time, I just can't stop playing with all the vintage jewels I've discovered. I just love this old bling and can't wait until the new studio is finished so I can work without distraction!

Good bye and good luck!

2009-08-25T10:17:00.006-04:00

Well, the nest continues to empty as Kristin left to head back to Notre Dame for her Junior Year. Charlie made the 9 hour trip to his alma mater to get her set up. As you can see there was no room for anyone else! Yikes! That is a lot of stuff, and her room doesn't look all that empty. In fact, she is the third to move out and all their rooms look rather full.

My lonely only child left was so sad to see her go.....as was mom.......so what better cure than to head to the beach for one last hurrah! There we were greeted with lots of cousins to keep us busy and what better fun than a picnic, planned totally by an 8 year old.

This was the view that I woke up to yesterday....makes it hard to come back to PA, but we did. We brought a few cousins in tow, and the chatter is most welcome.

Very Vintage

2009-08-21T09:31:00.004-04:00

Ahhhh, vintage pieces! I love to work with them. I find myself wondering where they once were. Did someone wear this brooch to a special wedding? Did these earrings make it to an Inaugural Ball? Did someone buy these to look pretty for a soldier coming home on leave? There is a past and a history for each piece that makes me nostalgic when I create something new with them. Here are some pendants I made for someone using their mother's and grandmother's old earrings.....what will their legacy be?

Falling in line

2009-08-19T13:53:00.007-04:00

Today Mark and I made our almost daily trek to to the farm stand near us to get some fresh produce. Corn was down to $2.00 a dozen because it was yesterday's corn! It tasted as fresh as I have ever had it! What do you think we are getting at the grocery store? Hmmmm..... But then out of the corner of my eye, I spotted it, and Mark did , too. A pumpkin! We all know what that means! *sigh*

Then I got to the mailbox. Crammed full of mail and catalogs (fall ones, I might add) was my big fat fall issue of InStyle! I was suddenly feeling a little better about school starting, crisp days, sweaters, jeans, and oh so cool accessories. I devoured it on the spot (comforting Mark with the thought that he does have a fall birthday after all).

Then, I saw them...everywhere....multi-strand "vintage-look" necklaces! Not at all unlike what's hot at Gales Designs....only each one of mine is unique and made from real vintage parts! I have been creating lots of different styles and the hardest part is having to sell them. But then I have a good excuse to get out and comb the flea markets for more treasure, right?

Here's a peek at a few of them.............

Silver, pearl and crystal on a silk ribbon.....

gold pearls and chain with a removable clip............

Lots of baubles and a chain for a modern flair.....................

Art deco rhinestone pendant on pearl and crystal with silk ribbon................

gold chains with crystal and topaz strand.................

gold chain and glass beads with flower embellishment......

Check out Elements of Style to see what is hot for fall....look how the necklaces complement the rest of the looks for fall, and head on over to Etsy to get your original pieces!

Time for some work!

2009-08-18T12:57:00.007-04:00

Mark is at the pool with friends and Kristin is getting ready to go back to school which leaves me free to get some work done! Earrings are selling well and so I got right down to business. Here are a few samples of the results:

Vintage earrings with new sterling earwires......these will make a statement!

Soft and sweet.....that describes these pearl on gold filled circles with earwires......

Classic.......champagne glass pearls on sterling rings with a little sparkle added in........

Another vintage mix.....vintage beads on new gold filled loops......

And always popular, black briolettes on hammered sterling.... a staple for the jewelry box!

Earrings like these will work for any and all occasions! But now back to make some more....and get some of these listed on Etsy and uploaded in Facebook, too.

Here comes the Bride

2009-08-17T10:24:00.004-04:00

Saturday was spent at a bridal shower that was so lovely and unique. I have blogged before about weddings but this one is especially fun to be a part of. The bride and groom are getting married in Manhattan (read more about it here) and that alone will prove to be an exciting weekend. Nice for us, too, since daughter Kate (and guest blogger, shown left with Joey and Pam) lives there and we will get to see (aka help move) her into a new apartment.

Bridey's shower had the feel of the big city in good old PA because of the atmosphere at Winedown, a cafe and wine bar in West Reading. Yummy food, festive decorations and good company added to the fun flair for the event. Hats off to the maid of honor and her mom for all their great ideas!

We designed jewelry for the attendants a few weeks ago and went over the details this weekend as well. I wish I could post the pictures here, but don't want to ruin any surprises. Everything has a retro/vintage flair, so you can't go wrong with that! And to top it off the bride showed me some very chic accessories she will be donning on the big day and she got them at none other than ETSY! Love to hear that these young fashionistas are out there supporting all of us who make custom handmade or vintage treasures.

Let the renovations begin!

2009-08-12T12:43:00.007-04:00

I talked the fam into helping me get organized in my studio which is a lovely sunporch off the back of our house. I had painted the walls a warm yellow (after lots of trials finding the right color) and had plantation shutters installed but kind of quit the re-model after that.....until now!

I am painting some of the old oak furniture white, updating the shelves, touching up the paint and (boo hoo) getting rid of some toys and games my kids have outgrown in favor of some of my favorite things.

And trash to treasure (or junk to junque) will add some whimsy to the new look (I hope)!

Hmmmmm, a little droopy maybe?

But why do these projects take a half hour on HGTV and we are into day 5 and well, let's just say we seem to hit some roadblocks. (I did not expect the door to fall off the hinges of the old pie safe, so now before painting it we need to repair it.) Also, since all the furniture is out, all the beads and jewels re-located, what better time than to have the floor tiled? I just can't stop,hehe. But it will be done and soon I will have a studio that is a dream to work in! Hooray for Do it Yourselfers! It's always worth it.

Big Birthday

2009-08-11T17:30:00.007-04:00

Yesterday, my hubby surprised me with a camera for my 39th birthday (OK, the camera part is true) and here are my experiments so far! Yay for mother nature hooking me up with beautiful things to photograph (making me seem a little more proficient than I am). Here's to better blogging with my new tool at my side! Hooray!

Here's some black-eyed Susan's from my garden....

One of my favorite hydrangea bushes......

An indoor home for my starfish friends .........

another home for a starfish.......

(am I going overboard?)

My first attempt at jewelry photography (more help needed)

And thanks goes out to the most thoughtful man ever!

The Starfish

2009-08-05T16:32:00.004-04:00

I have to credit Mom's buddy Mike with introducing me to her beautiful decorative starfish collection in Florida and I have been loving playing with them here at home. I can adorn anything with sparkles, and what better than the starfish?

These are decorated with other shells and (what else?) VINTAGE pieces! I have been making some to hang and some to sit on a ledge or next to a candle or in a jar...you name it. They are all over the house, bringing me the beach all week long and of course inspiring good beach karma inside. I made some bigger ones but have given most away! A special one is on the mantle in Stone Harbor, overlooking the window to the ocean, maybe looking for some of his friends out there!

I also love the poem called "The Starfish" (author anonymous):

THE STARFISH POEM
Once upon a time there was a wise man
who used to go to the ocean
to do his writing.
He had a habit of walking
on the beach
before he began his work.
One day he was walking along
the shore.
As he looked down the beach,
he saw a human
figure moving like a dancer.
He smiled to himself to think
of someone who would
dance to the day.
So he began to walk faster
to catch up.
As he got closer, he saw
that it was a young man
and the young man wasn't dancing,
but instead he was reaching
down to the shore,
picking up something
and very gently throwing it
into the ocean.
As he got closer he called out,
"Good morning! What are you doing?"
The young man paused,
looked up and replied,
"Throwing starfish in the ocean."
"I guess I should have asked,
why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"
"The sun is up and the tide is going out.
And if I don't throw them in they'll die."
"But, young man, don't you realize that
there are miles and miles of beach
and starfish all along it.
You can't possibly make a difference!"
The young man listened politely.
Then bent down, picked up another starfish
and threw it into the sea,
past the breaking waves and said-
"It made a difference for that one."

Make a difference today for someone! I know I have my own special starfish!

Blogging for Bliss

2009-08-04T20:15:00.004-04:00

Well I have been blogging for two months now and about the same for my Facebook and Etsy store! Things are rolling along, and as of this writing I have 218 fans at Gales Designs on Facebook (become a fan if you haven't done so already). I can't thank everyone enough for their support and encouragement. I have enjoyed the new chance to get my jewelry out there through blogs and social networks and have reached many fun new customers.

In reality, I get to know so many exciting people through the business that many of you have become good friends. Through our contact I get to catch up on what is going on in your life and you get to know more about mine! Thanks for that--it has netted my daughter a great internship, given me a great new pediatrician, helped me understand learning disabilities better and much, much more. I admire and respect those of you with your own blogs (some for family adventures, some for business ventures) but all so informative and inspiring.

I want to start to link you to some of my favorite blogs out there and no time like the present. A new book on blogging that has hit #1 in crafts on Amazon is Blogging for Bliss by Tara Frey. Check it out for yourself!

Summer is flying by!

2009-08-04T08:31:00.003-04:00

We are back from another weekend at the Jersey shore. It was a great weekend of family and fun and mostly good weather, too.

This morning a truck whizzed by and it sounded eerily reminiscent of the school bus. I got goosebumps! We have a few more weeks to hang on to a loose schedule: eating from the garden, fresh picked raspberries by the handful, twilight tennis and dinner on the deck. Not to mention weekend getaways. Can you see why work isn't getting done like it should?

Button, button, whose got the (vintage) button?

2009-07-29T14:24:00.002-04:00

I saw some cool vintage buttons at a flea market and although I paid more for them then I would have liked, I wanted to experiment with some button jewelry. The bracelets turned out really well (at least that is my totally unbiased opinion) and I hope to find some more, but honestly, these buttons go high on E-bay or at flea markets....however, I think they are worth it. Here are two versions of my button braclets but the possibilities are endless. Thanks to Kristin who is back from Spain who got some nice shots of the finished products!

The house feels full again! Mark is happy to not be an only child for at least a few weeks until she heads back to school. Still trying to enjoy what we have left of summer...I just love it!

Cigar anyone?

2009-07-28T15:44:00.005-04:00

Today I had an order for a cigar box purse. I started to make these when I first went into business six years ago and I still have some customers telling me they stir up great conversations when they use them. A cool client who is the owner of several of the purses contacted me today about doing one for each of her bridal attendants! This request took me to the basement to check out what boxes I had to work with (good reason to save things I guess) and so I was back to varnishing and trimming up some fun new accessories this afternoon...... perfect day for it! I made and sold many of these over the years, but recently I have had a few customers asking for them again. Yay for rediscovering an "old" (but new once again) passion.

Always a favorite

2009-07-23T09:17:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I posted what was "hot" right now and will try to make a weekely post called "what's hot" just to keep you up on the current bestsellers. But some designs and beads are always popular and this brings me to turquoise. Kate's post last week featured a turquoise necklace and I must say that for the six (almost) years I have been making jewelry, turquoise has always been popular and makes a great fashion statement. Turquoise looks so great in the summer paired with bright colors like orange, green and more. It also looks great in the fall and winter paired with warmer colors like brown and tan and of course, when you put it with red, it is a classic anytime piece! The necklaces and earrings above (earrings are for sale on Etsy---see link on right) can be worn with a sundress this summer and will look equally great with a white shirt and jeans this winter! Great versatility and a good investment, since it never seems to get outdated!

The long and short of it

2009-07-22T09:05:00.006-04:00

Earrings are something I love to make and fortunately they sell really well, too. What's hot? A long, linear look has emerged as a new favorite. The earrings pictured here have been selling really well and offer a sleek, cool look which can be paired with anything from a t-shirt to a cocktail dress. I will get some on my Etsy page (see link at right) to see how they do over there, but out of the "store" they are flying off the rack. Several pairs are making their way down to Texas with sister Michele! The Swarovski crystal cubes below are the most requested of the bunch.

Back from the Beach!

2009-07-21T08:15:00.005-04:00

Thanks to Kate for a fresh perspective and all her cool finds up in NYC! We had a great vacation along the coast (here we are in front of the Hatteras lighthouse). North Carolina is pretty and the wedding was so fun. It was also nice to get back to Stone Harbor. Not too many great beach finds this time, but I have a few new pieces of sea glass to add to my collection. It was great to see Michele in Stone Harbor and good to know that Gales Designs jewelry will be making its way down to Texas! Now I have to get back to work here......always keeping my eyes open on the road

for some new ideas!

Guest Blog: Brooklyn Flea Market

2009-07-19T15:10:00.007-04:00

Nestled under the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn bridge is one of the coolest flea markets I've ever been to. The Brooklyn Flea Market features some great food vendors in addition to vintage clothes, shoes, jewelry, furniture, books, dishes, glassware, pictures--anything and everything you can imagine. There's a great view of the Manhattan Bridge and the market is adjacent to lovely Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park, with outstanding views of lower Manhattan and a tiny speck of the Statue of Liberty visible in the distance.

While it's much smaller than Stoudt's Black Angus Antiques Mall, and also features NYC prices, the merchandise here is very focused and very high quality. Mom and Dad will be out for my cousin Joey's wedding in October--hopefully Mom and I can make time for an excursion to the flea market before they leave on Sunday!

Below, a few pictures from my day.

Above: a few of the jewelry stands I saw today! Some specialize only in jewelry, while others have a range of different vintage pieces--a few were both clothes and accessories. Below: my beautiful view of the Financial District in Manhattan!

Mom gets back tonight... so excited to see her blogs from her trip to NC! It sounds like a great time. Thanks for reading my guest blogs while she was away! Have a great rest of your weekend.

Guest Blog: Greetings from Greenmarket!

2009-07-18T13:09:00.008-04:00

One of my favorite things to do on a nice day in New York is head out to the Greenmarket in Union Square. It features local farmers showcasing everything you can possible imagine them making or growing--meats, cheese, produce, herbs, fish, flowers, baked goods, even wool. There's something of a social element to it as well--there are usually at least three different groups advocating different 9/11 conspiracy theories, various religious evangelists, voter registration drives, and occasionally an Adopt-a-Pet stand.

New York City and Lancaster are pretty different, but many of my childhood memories from growing up in Lancaster County involve Mom taking us to Root's, an Amish market near us that also featured a flea market portion, where she's gotten some fantastic vintage pieces. While the Greenmarket here does have some artists displaying their wares, there's not a jewelry vendor in sight. Wonder if Gales Designs should join the ranks?

A few of my favorite pictures from today...

Reminds me of our garden at home! Love the black-eyed Susans.

I don't even like radishes, but the colors here are gorgeous!

Jersey peaches... perhaps the perfect food? And in peak season now... I couldn't resist buying half a dozen.

No berries this time for me. I've also never been a huge fan of cherries. But I love the shades of red in this picture!

That's all for today--happy Saturday! Updates from the Brooklyn Flea Market tomorrow!

Guest Blog: Fashion Friday

2009-07-17T15:34:00.008-04:00

One of my very favorite blogs, Elements of Style, is mostly about interior design but does a fun feature called Fashion Friday. The entire blog is always a wonderful read, full of great ideas and absolutely beautiful things. It's also inspired me to guest blog a little Fashion Friday post here.

My closet is full of neutrals--at least 95 percent of my clothing is black, navy, beige, gray, or white. (And most of the rest of it is green, which should not surprise anyone who knows me). This makes putting together outfits before work pretty easy, but it can definitely get boring sometimes. Luckily, Mom is well acquainted with the sort of jewelry I like and always has great advice and ideas on how to make what I wear more interesting.

I have worn this chunky turquoise necklace (above) more than I care to admit this summer. I like turquoise in winter, too, but with a white blouse or black or white T-shirt, this necklace paired with small silver earrings has become a summer staple. Mom does lots of work with turquoise, but this is, to me, just the right size and just the right length for a dress, crew-neck or v-neck top, or collared blouse. It's also just the right shade of turquoise--not too blue, not too green, not too vein-y. I love the idea of pairing it with a breezy white dress--I have coveted the Esmee dress (left) from Anthropologie for something casual and summery. It just needs one pop of color (and a great tan!) and I think the roundish chunks of the necklace would work particularly well with the squarish neckline of the dress.

One of Mom's new projects is making bracelets out of mismatched vintage earrings. (You can read a whole post she wrote about these beautiful creations here!) She gave me this bracelet (pictured above) to match a green cardigan, but I find myself wearing it all the time. It's great with my neutral clothes, and when I wear green, the bracelet has enough different shades that it complements whatever color green I happen to have on. It's a great way to use color without being overly matchy, which isn't my favorite look. When I head to the flea market on Sunday, I'm hoping to find some great old earrings for her! Fingers crossed that I find some blues ones--I'd love one of these bracelets in blues. Or maybe pink? So many choices...

Mom made these earrings for my birthday (shown in green, above--they're also in white!) and they became one of my go-to pieces immediately. Sometimes larger or more dangly earrings get stuck in my long hair, so in the mornings before work I find myself gravitating to the same pearl or silver studs. No more! These are about the diameter of a quarter and are just the right size for "statement studs" that work day or night and can be casual or dressed up. I love how well they pair with a dress or top that has detail around the neckline, making wearing a necklace difficult. I have several ruffly blouses that I often wear to work (with cropped pants now that summer is finally here!) and these earrings definitely complete the ensemble. I love the Rowena dress from Calypso Christiane Celle--it's a light, breezy dress with a beachy-bohemian vibe. The detail around the neckline is beautiful, but you would need great earrings to complete the look. I'd definitely go with the white pearl flowers for the black version of this dress, my personal favorite (it's also in blue, green and pink).

What next? I am really loving Mom's new repurposed vintage layered necklaces... my favorites are this one (I'm so happy there are so many great vintage pieces in gold!) and this one (I love the ribbon!). Can't wait to go home to Lancaster and check them out--they're better than anything I've sene in NYC!

Have a great weekend! I'll be updating later this weekend from NYC before Mom is back from North Carolina. She says hi as well!

Guest Blog: Hi from NYC!

2009-07-16T22:48:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone!

I'm Kate, one of Beth's Gales Designs employees (and oldest child!) and her official guest blogger for this weekend. I'm so excited to be part of this blog! I helped Mom set it up a few months ago and have been so happy to see it grow.

A little bit about me: I graduated from Notre Dame and now I live in Manhattan and work in the publicity department of a book publishing company. I love my job and living in city! Tomorrow, I'll be posting a bit more about myself, showing you some of the things I love right now (including my current favorite Gales Designs pieces).

I spend a lot of time walking around the city, exploring new neighborhoods and looking for inspiration to pass along to Mom. This weekend, I am going to the Union Square Greenmarket (a fantastic local farmer's market, and tomato/peach/sweet corn season is my favorite!) and venturing to Brooklyn for the Brooklyn Flea Market in DUMBO, and maybe taking a stroll through SoHo. Mom and I have been to some great flea markets in PA where she gets some of her vintage pieces, but this is my first trek to the one in Brooklyn. Maybe I can convince her to take a buying trip up here!

The picture at the top is from Tuesday's performance of the New York Philharmonic in Central Park. It's an amazing event--you can read a New York Times recap here--and I have gone for the past two years with some current and former coworkers and friends. We also watch Lost together in the winter, but this was such a great NYC night--picnics, friends old and new, and actually seeing stars (the kind in the sky!) in the city.

More to come tomorrow! (And safe travels to NC, Mom & Dad!)

Time for a drink!

2009-07-14T09:38:00.006-04:00

This is wedding season and we are happy to be attending a few weddings in the coming months of some very special people! This means lots of fun showers, too. I like to give something personal, handmade and of course, something beaded. Here is what I came up with...... wine glasses with wire wrapped/beaded stems! So fun!

My business is called Gales Designs, unique jewelry and gifts.....and if you were wondering what the gift part of that tagline is....check out the glasses above! I have beaded lots of spreaders, salad tongs, pie servers, you name it!

Speaking of weddings, we are off to North Carolina this weekend to see Sean and Jo tie the knot! Can't wait to check out the beaches there (sea glass maybe?) and see old friends. Watch for a special "guest blogger" while I am away!

Bead it!

2009-07-13T08:29:00.006-04:00

Wow, went to a bead show on Saturday. I am always trying to use up my vast inventory of beads and vintage supplies because it seems beads and jewels are taking over the house! But I couldn't resist the chance to take a sneak peek at what is out there for fall beading projects, so Charlie, Mark and I went to the York, PA Intergalactic Bead Festival on Saturday. Of course I found some really cool stuff. I fell in love with some shell pendants, some new pearls and stones, including an unusual new stone (for me) called Tibetan Agate (I am holding some in one of the pictures). Here are some pictures from the show so you can see why I was in bead heaven!

More Retro-Redo's

2009-07-13T08:24:00.007-04:00

Here are a few more pictures of what I did with all the vintage from the flea market!

To market, to market....

2009-07-09T07:25:00.007-04:00

Hit the flea markets this week and found some really beautiful beading treasures. I just love to work with these unique finds and can hardly stand to take them apart to use in other creations (sometimes I really just can't)!

I have turned some of this cache into new designs for the "Retro-Redo" collection which has been so popular. I hope to get some of these on my Etsy online store ASAP, but a few are finding new homes as soon as I make them.

Multi-stranded necklaces will be all the rage for fall once again and statement necklaces are always a trend! Ribbon adorned necklaces will be staying popular, too. These are so versatile because you can change the length to accommodate whatever neckline you happen to have on!

Here is a great vintage pin on a necklace made with new beads, lapis chrysolla stones and Swarovski crystal. The pin can come off and you can wear the necklace plain and the pin would look fabulous on a ribbon belt or lapel. Vintage pins are a way to make any necklace look a little different or to jazz up any outfit!

New chain and beautiful green coin pearls with a vintage clip, also removable! The flower can clip on a plain chain for a totally different look and of course the necklace can be worn plain as well.

A personal favorite, this necklace boasts vintage chain, a vintage tassel drop and some brand new gold findings.

More fun surprises are coming as I get ready for fall shows and also to fill some orders for local boutiques. Watch for more pictures and get ready for layers! To steal a line from J.Crew latest fashion tip....get stranded!

A Shore thing

2009-07-06T12:24:00.011-04:00

We had a great weekend at the beach! Good weather, good food, good family time. Not sure who came out the winner in all the board/card game competitions, but I think a good time was had by all. I finished reading Love Walked In (Marisa de los Santos) which I really enjoyed and recommend for a nice summer read. But the real fun for me was finding sea glass to add to my collection on my morning walks! And it surely was a great weekend for that! I got some great pieces to add to my growing collection as well as some nice pieces to convert into one of a kind pendants! All this with the help of my nephew with the self-proclaimed "best eye", Boomer (seen searching above and his hands here hold his discoveries).

Sea glass is colored glass made smooth by tumbling in the sand and surf for many years . By a great coincidence, I was reading the novel , Sea Glass, by Anita Shreve and Mark (quite little at the time) was digging in the sand beside me and found my first and favorite piece, a beautiful cobalt blue (probably an old Noxema jar I left on the beach in high school). I have been a lover of these colored pieces ever since! Most of mine come from New Jersey but I found some fabulous pieces in Bermuda. I also have been the lucky recipient of an annual supply from the Schroders who have a secret sea glass hiding spot in Rhode Island (this is on my "bucket list" to visit). So cool! I wonder about each piece and how it came to rest on the shore line. Could it have been on the Titanic?

A real great resource to have if you want to know more about sea glass is the book Pure Sea Glass by Richard LaMotte. Love the book, the pictures, the inspiration! This article gives a nice summary of his work and the collecting of sea glass in general!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/10/AR2005081000483.html

I have been creating sea glass pendants with some of my treasures over the past few years (see my Etsy store ). I even did some for a bridal party at a beach wedding! I have done custom pieces with pieces from other collectors and love how each one turns out just a little different. So keep your eye out next time you are at the beach. You might find one of these gems for yourself and you can make up your own story about its journey!

Happy Fourth of July!

2009-07-02T11:00:00.003-04:00

I am busy getting ready for the beach this weekend! Lots of prep goes into a weekend away! Watch for some fun posts as the cousins get to hang out and three generations of family enjoy some quality time together. I see the Rummikub, Scrabble and multiple packs of cards are sitting on the "to-go" pile! Watch out, Karen. Michael hasn't forgiven you for beating him in Old Maids 18 years ago!

I got the new Weight Watchers magazine and hope to try out the beach workout. I have struggled to keep at the diet and exercise with the summer routine getting in the way! (I know excuses, excuses). I have high hopes going into this but when it comes right down to doing it, well that is another story....margaritas might be the only exertion for me on the beach this weekend! I am counting on my sister Karen, who is much more disciplined (and obviously more competitive in the games department) than myself to keep me on track! Stay tuned!

I have a few good books packed....I am loving Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos. I have my book club book to finish (Year of Wonders by Geraldine March) and might try to see what Twilight is all about!

Be happy and safe this weekend and hope you get to enjoy a little break with family, too. And if you are an ex (almost) sun worshipper like myself be sure to bring the sunscreen!

And congrats to Debbie from Reading, PA, who won the free pair of earrings! Look for another giveaway soon and thanks to all who entered! Join me on Facebook (become a fan at Gales Designs) where I will put lots of new pictures!

Don't forget the Giveaway!

2009-06-30T11:55:00.003-04:00

Thanks to all for your support and enthusiasm as I enter this new world of online sales and marketing! I appreciate all your comments and sorry some of you have had trouble getting coments on the blog. Just check out Etsy (see right for the link) and my Etsy store and let me know via e-mail, Facebook or comment below and you can win the earrings pictured in my earlier blog! I will pick a winner on Thursday, July 2! Good luck and keep checking in for more giveaways!

Thanks for the iPod!

2009-06-29T21:04:00.004-04:00

OK. I said that I would become more tech-savvy following New Year's, but I truly didn't know where to begin. My kids got me an iPod for Mother's Day and I honestly had no idea what to do with it. Lucky for me, Kristin and Mark loaded a wide variety of songs onto the iPod and showed me how to turn it on. At first, I was even confused with the on/off switch. I made Kristin charge the battery before heading to Spain. Although she MADE me watch her do it, I am worried about the day that the battery needs to be recharged. I have used the iPod a lot and appreciate this gift from my kids.

My next problem: tuning into the music and tuning out the rest of the world. The problem is that I walk around our neighborhood almost every day. Luckily this is a residential area, so I do not encounter very much traffic. Today I literally had to apologize to three walkers/runners because I almost bumped into them. I better pay less attention to what I may be stepping on and keep an eye out for who I may be stepping into.

That brings me to my first successful experience with the digital camera. I will admit that until yesterday, I had no idea what a card reader was but (woohoo!) I took this picture and even uploaded it by myself. I must admit that I followed Charlie's verbal commands through part of the procedure, but hey, I'm getting there.

I love these newfound skills and am almost ready for the 21st century. So, watch out world! I might be the iPod-listening photographer bumping into you!

It's a Giveaway!

2009-06-26T14:26:00.010-04:00

Today I made my first sale in my Etsy store! A woman from the UK bought a piece for her upcoming wedding. To celebrate the event I will have my first giveaway.

June has been an exciting month of new ventures! My new year's resolution was to try to learn how to do more on the computer (luckily, I didn't quantify this, so I really can learn something small and not fail at the resolution part) and it took until June to bring things together. I think I am still behind the learning curve on this one, but I have to admit it brought some exciting new opportunities and customers to my jewelry and crafting business. I started this blog thanks to Kate's help (she is putting that marketing degree to good use) and also started a Facebook page and an Etsy store.

For those of you new to Etsy, it's great! It's an online community to buy and sell all things homemade! Kind of an e-Bay for crafters. Thanks to Kristin helping me with the pictures (that resolution might have to wait for next year) I listed a few things and hooray for the first sale!

Ok, now for the good news ... I want to introduce you to my Etsy store, so anyone who checks it out can get registered for a free piece of jewelry! See the picture of what you can win at the bottom of the page .... . Just use the link on the right to head to my Etsy store, check out what I have there and come back and let me know what you think (use the comment section at the bottom of this post)! That's it! On July 2 (my almost one month anniversary of the new store), I will pick a random winner and send them their prize!

Pretty in Pink!

2009-06-24T09:29:00.010-04:00

Well, I cut the first hydrangeas from the garden and brought them inside the house! I just love them! One of my all time favorite flowers and a good reminder that summer is here, also my favorite season of the year. I am inspired by the soft, pink colors of these early blooms and and so I worked with pink vintage today. I love working with old pins, earrings, buttons and I came up with a another way to make "old" new again!

I have several different pendants like this made for my upcoming jewelry show and some will be making their way to my Etsy store (check it out, there is a link on the right). These necklaces are simple yet make quite a statement and I can do something custom as well! The chains are sterling and the pendant is attached to a smooth, sterling disk. Each necklace will be totally unique!

Maybe the purple hydrangeas will bloom next..........

Cross my heart

2009-06-22T20:23:00.003-04:00

Today was a beautiful day, so nice to have a break from the rain! I made a big batch of sun tea (with fresh mint from the garden..so good) and crafted my heart out on the back deck all afternoon. Mark had some kids over and they played outside all afternoon and were also happy to be able to enjoy the good weather.

I wanted to make a wire cross for a friend. I have one hanging in my house; they are a ton of work and get the hands a little achey but this friend is worth it! Hope you can sit back todayand relax with some tea and enjoy the sunshine! Here is picture of what I accomplished!

2009-06-20T20:09:00.002-04:00

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Here are some pictures from the trip to Alaska! Mom and Dad took nine grandchildren on a cruise and a great time was had by all. My boys loved being with all their cousins, manners were heavily enforced (gotta love that) and I think they learned a few things along the way! Hooray for family!

Back to the bead board.....

2009-06-18T16:22:00.007-04:00

Some customers ask me how I figure out what I am going to make. Here is a picture of a bead board I used. I sorted out various beads from a room full of boxes filled to the brim with beads and put them together and viola! A bracelet is born! The above beads were handmade and I absolutely love working with beads that are so colorful and unique. I also love hammered silver, so putting the two together with beautiful crystals feels like playing instead of working!

Here is the finished project, which sold within days of making it and I actually had two other customers wanting something similar. This bracelet was truly hard to part with! I want one for myself and next time I might just keep it.

REALITY CHECK......This photo is for those who know me best! This is what my bead boards more typically look like! Anyone who has been in my studio knows this is more of a reality (actually this is pretty organized)! It is sometimes the random things that end up leftover on the bead board that combine to make the coolest new designs. There is truly a method to the madness!

What's in In Style?

2009-06-16T19:20:00.005-04:00

Well, Michael and Mark are still on the Alaskan cruise with my parents, Kate is busy at work in Manhattan and Kristin arrived safely in Spain, although I think her adventure is unfolding around her! That leaves me home alone all day with no excuse not to get something done around the house as well as making some new stuff for another show I have tomorrow. But instead my In Style mag came and I stopped everything to check it out! I love reading this cover to cover and hope to scope out new trends in jewelry and fashion (I am not usually disappointed).

I did love to see they featured a set of bracelets similar to some I had already made with African trade beads. These bracelets burst with color and have accents in wood, hammered sterling or crystal. So fun! Love it when I can be on top of something the stars are promoting! I think I will put one of them in my Etsy store. Check it out, there is a link to my store on this page! Yay! Now time to get back to work! Not everyone gets a vacation!

Out with the old....

2009-06-14T13:34:00.008-04:00

I wanted to post some pictures of the necklace I created with vintage pieces...I might have a new thing going here. I made myself a necklace and could have sold it a few times over at the show I did this week. Great inspiration from Kate's article (see link below)! Now I have some orders for similar creations. Each one would definitely be one of a kind! The bottom photo is my experiment and the other two are follow up ideas. I plan to make another one this afternoon! Maybe one will make its way over to my Etsy store.

Kristin left for Spain today and will study there the next few weeks. She has been my resident photographer, so I hope I can get things right during her absence! Adios and gracias, Kristin!

Out of Africa

2009-06-12T16:43:00.004-04:00

At a local bead show, I stumbled upon a story that interested me as well as some beautiful beads! The beads were so smooth and colorful, but the story of how they came to be is even more compelling. The beads are called Kazuri beads and here is what I learned:

"Kazuri Founder Lady Susan Wood was born (1918) in a mud hut in an African village. Her parents were missionaries from England in the Ituri Forest. Lady Wood was sent back to England to be educated and married Michael Wood, a surgeon. They came to Kenya in 1947. They were dedicated to making a difference and Lady Wood started a coffee plantation on the Karen Blixen estate, famous from the award winning movie "Out of Africa" , at the foot of the Ngon'g Hills, about 30 minutes from the bustling Nairobi city center in Kenya.In 1975, Lady Susan Wood set up a fledgling business making beads in a small shed in her back garden. She started by hiring two disadvantaged women, and quickly realized that there were many more women who were in need of jobs and so Kazuri Beads was created and began its long and successful journey as a help center for the needy women especially single mothers who had no other source of income. In 1988 Kazuri became a factory and expanded hugely with over 120 women and men.

Today Kazuri, the Swahili word for 'small and beautiful' produces a wide range of hand made, hand painted ceramic jewelry that shines with a kaleidoscope of African colors and Kenyan art that reflects a culture and appeal to a worldwide fashion market. Kazuri's beautifully finished products are made to an international standard and are sold worldwide. These standards are maintained through high training standards and a highly motivated management team. Kazuri is a member of the Fair Trade Act."

I have enjoyed creating many 'small and beautiful' pieces from these Kazuri beads and have gone back to the dealer for more and more. These are frequently requested bracelets, and I always enclose a little story of how the beads came to be! It feels great to wear something nice that actually helps women halfway around the world take care of their families. I will have some bracelets to look at on my website and hopefully for sale soon on my Etsy site if you would like one for yourself! The matching earrings are great, too!

Four sisters

2009-06-10T18:29:00.002-04:00

Last night I did a jewelry show that was very successful and very fun! I wanted to take the time to show you some of my greatest supporters who happened to be in attendance at last night's event.

I'll back up by saying that Charlie found a great bottle of Shiraz while in a Maryland liquor store last week. I can't say anything about the wine itself but it is called "Four Sisters." He told me to share it with my aunts, four sisters who have played a very important role in my life! I am so lucky to have them so close and they really have done so much for me, they deserve more than a bottle of wine!

The women above have raised nineteen children. They are faith-filled, strong women with the quickest wits and the smartest brains. Two have buried children, one is a breast cancer survivor, one is an ovarian cancer survivor; they have served or are serving as board members at their churches, at local universities and with community organizations. They have had successful careers as a nurse, realtor, volunteer. They attend daily Mass, little league games, recitals and babysit for their grandchildren whenever possible. They take their families on vacations.

They were my first customers when Gales Designs was only a few bracelets laid out on the ping pong table in the basement. They were there in force last night, six years later. So I thank them for teaching me to love God and family with all my being, face adversity with strength and dignity, and most of all to laugh much. I am very lucky to have these four sisters! Their support in my life means the world to me!

I left last night's show filled with gratitude, happiness and even at my age, with the promise that I would call when I got home.

(Photo l-r: Pat Wentling, Peg Giering, Betty Hurleman and Kitty Wright)

Cleaning Day

2009-06-09T11:27:00.003-04:00

School is out less than a week and I have assigned the kids the task of cleaning out a few of their drawers. I am the queen of the "junk drawer" and I don't think Charlie gets this at all. Every house must have a drawer (or two or three.....) where random things accumulate and are saved for some later purpose. It always gives me great pleasure to clean out a drawer like that on occasion (albeit rare occasions) and fall upon special mementos (birthday candles that say "13") or not so special mementos (a wine cork). I guess if I put them where they belonged I could find them when I needed them (scissors, stamps, lip gloss), but it would make cleaning out the drawer much less fun. I always think that something may have a later purpose and is worth being saved and now I can see that it might even be profitable.

Kate sent me this link to a successful NYC jewelry designer who creates beautiful pieces from old treasures. What an inspiration! I am heading to the bead board with all the cast off vintage things that I could not bring myself to throw away, but really have no purpose. I think I will make something fun for myself...if not, you will find it in the "junk drawer" for years to come.

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/05/lulu_frost_designer_shuns_hand.html

Summer time, summer time

2009-06-08T15:01:00.005-04:00

Today feel likes the first day of summer even though it is just the first day of Mark's summer vacation. Friends voices filled the house today and suddenly I am on duty to have something ready at lunchtime. I really do love the relaxed days and not having any real schedule. It inspired me to make some really fun, summery earrings today and Kristin took some good pictures for me outside.

I hope everyone gets to enjoy these fun days with the kids home and the calendar a little less full while finding inspiration in the beauty of summer. Have a good day!

The nest is emptying.....

2009-06-07T14:56:00.007-04:00

Today Michael moved out. After graduating from Penn State a few short weeks ago, he already started a job in Wilkes-Barre and is enjoying his new position at the Sears Distribution Center there. He got an apartment mid-week and the U-Haul pulled out this morning filled with anything he could scrape together to make his new place a home.

As I fill an order for a mother's bracelet for a first time mom, I am reminded how fast these years go. But I also know there are more adventures to come after your kids leave the nest, which I realize as I make a grandmother's birthstone bracelet for someone not that much older than myself! (I am in no rush for this one, but just pointing it out!) Photos here show both of these finished projects on their way to a new home.

Here Comes The Bride!

2009-06-06T12:00:00.005-04:00

I am always busy designing bridal jewelry. I love how each bride has her own style and all the wedding jewelry I have done has been varied--from small to large, casual to classic. Some brides have had me make earrings, bracelets or other sets to match the bridesmaids' dresses. This can double as their gift for being in the wedding! So useful and personal! Each time they wear their pieces they will think of your special day. Pictured is a fun wedding...I got to double as a guest and a vendor! The earrings shown matched the bridesmaids' dresses and how cute are the bracelets for the flower girls?

New Project: Vintage Bracelets

2009-06-05T16:53:00.005-04:00

At Gales Designs, I'm making old new again. These bracelets are made using vintage jewelry parts. People have given me their grandmother's old earrings to make their own customized bracelets with a great family history as well, and I've gone to flea markets and antique shows to collect old pieces to re-make.

I love thinking that the pieces I use had a life and a history before I ever saw them. What kind of stories could they tell? Each one is completely different, although they're a bit fragile due to their construction and age.

I've used all colors to make these bracelets--pastels have been big this summer, but black and white are also popular. They're a conversation piece when you're wearing one, and you'll never have to worry about someone else wearing the same one!

Photos are, again, the fabulous work of Beth Cardwell!

Welcome to my blog!

2009-06-05T16:22:00.004-04:00

I'm so excited for the chance to keep you all updated on what I'm working on and what inspires me! If you're looking for a special, one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry for any event, contact me--I'm happy to work with your specific needs.

For those of you who don't already know me, my name is Beth Gales and I live in Lancaster, PA. I started making jewelry for my friends in 2002, but with the encouragement and support of my family, Gales Designs was launched shortly afterwards and has been thriving ever since. My husband, Charlie, handles the paperwork and my sisters and their husbands have tirelessly helped me sell, market, design and show my jewelry. They've also helped turn my love of seaglass, vintage jewelry and antique show and flea market finds into a business adventure.

A special thanks to my parents, who have always encouraged me to make the most of my talents, and to the entire Gales clan for taking Gales Designs nationwide!

Check back for updates on what I've been working on and more information on my ideas and inspiration. Thanks for visiting my blog!

The picture at the top of the post is by Beth Cardwell, a great friend and fabulous photographer also in Lancaster, PA! She does amazing work--you can see more by visiting her blog.