13 Dec 2015 Leave a comment
in Fun stuff!, News Tags: Christmas, Copper, cuffs, duck, earrings, fine silver, holiday, Jewelry, pendants, suncatcher
Just dropped off items for A Coppery Christmas at the Main Gallery 404.
Okay, Mr. Duck is a 6″ high suncatcher.
Also available at McLean County Art Center, a selection of fine silver earrings.
I admit and apologize; not my best pic. Very shiny stuff, in person.
12 Dec 2014 Leave a comment
in Fun stuff!, News Tags: art, Christmas, fused-glass, gifts, Glass, holiday, Jewelry, Shopping, Silver
Yes, it’s that time of year again! I’m delighted to co-host my annual Holiday Open House this year with fused-glass artist Christine Dossett.
Holidays closing in? Running out of time? Counting down the days?
Examples of Christine’s work are below; please visit the drop-down choices in my “Gallery” to see my work.
Here are the details for our event:
Second house on the right
A few examples of Christine’s talents:
Love this!
And this!
Not to mention these!
08 Nov 2014 Leave a comment
in News Tags: Copper, cuffs, hammered, holiday, Jewelry, new works, Silver, wrapped
This 2014 holiday season, I’ve added new works featuring hammered and wrapped copper cuffs for the Mclean County Arts Center’s Holiday Treasures show.
This year, the show runs through January 3, 2015. Hours are Tuesday, 10-7, Wednesday-Friday, 10-5, and Saturday, 12-4. (Closed Sunday-Monday)
The arts center is located at 601 N. East Street, Bloomington, IL; phone 309.829.0011.
Please check back for news of more new works for the holidays and an upcoming open house or join my mailing list by “following” me in the right upper column on the home page.
Looking forward to sharing exciting new works. 🙂 ~ Gayla
Fun copper cuff.
A bevy of sizes…
20 Jan 2013 1 Comment
in Fun stuff!, News Tags: Aquamarine, art, cats, Chocolate, chrysoprase, Copper, earrings, February, First Friday, Garnet, gems, hearts, holiday, Jade, Jewelry, jewels, kitties, Labradorite, love, Pendant, resin, Shopping, Soapstone, Sterling silver, Valentine, valentine day
The Red Lady beckons from the front window of Main Gallery 404, where I just added tons of new jewelry, with a heavy accent on hearts, in honor of Valentine’s Day.
Who can resist the Red Lady?
When new owner, Lisa Lofgren, asked to feature my work in the window from now through February’s First Friday, I was honored and thrilled! Just in time for Valentine’s Day!
The Neighborhood Thrift Store generously let us borrow a beautiful art deco vanity (the one in the above photo) for the display. And, yes, it’s also for sale.
On February 1, 2013, Downtown Bloomington, IL also celebrates with its annual Tour de Chocolat’:
“An annual event and celebration of chocolate! Participating downtown businesses offer free samples of food containing chocolate.”
Uh, huh. Trust me, there is everything chocolate to sample. It’s a super fun way to spend an evening.
My jewelry is now in the window until 2-2-13.
Gallery hours are:
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 12-5 PM
Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Closed: Monday, Tuesday
Here are a few of the available pieces:
Key to MY Heart (pendant with fine silver, sterling silver, crystal)
Heart Ablaze (pendant with fine silver, copper)
You’ve run away with my heart… (pendant with resin)
You’ve sewn up my heart. (pendant with fine silver, copper)
It’s not all hearts…
Nothing shows love to your sweetheart like jewelry. These selections and much more are available now at Main Gallery 404 now through Friday, February 1, 2013.
Donut fun (pendant of Jade, fine silver, copper)
Lumen (pendant of fine silver, copper-wrapped Chrysoprase)
Wrapped up (earrings of copper, Labradorite, Aquamarine, fine silver)
Blue Reflections (pendant with fine silver, crystal)
Miss Kitty (pendant with fine silver, copper, Garnet)
Soapstone on copper-wrapped with fine silver bail.
Fine silver, copper earrings.
17 Dec 2012 2 Comments
in Fun stuff!, News Tags: Arts, beads, Bloomington Illinois, Crafts, holiday, Jan Brandt Gallery, Jewellery, Jewelry, Ricky Lee Jones, Silver, studio, unique, woman cave
For some reason, when I was trying to think of a catchy title for this post, all I could think of was…
Ricky Lee Jones singing “Last Chance Texico” which is a great song for a day like today.
It’s gloomy, drizzly, and chance to sip a hot cup of tea and make jewelry in my studio.
(Here’s the link if you’d like to listen too.)
Or woman cave as the refinance guy called my studio last week.
He said he’d never seen a woman cave before, but my studio qualified!
I think it was the refrigerator that cinched it.
Except for the beer opener, I try to keep it covered up…
Serendipity struck on Saturday when I wandered into The Garlic Press and started talking with artist Jan Brandt.
She opened a new gallery in June 2012, Jan Brandt Gallery, at 1106 E Bell Street Bloomington, IL 61701.
As we conversed, she noticed the jewelry I was wearing.
(Thank you my dear husband for always telling me to wear something I made, even though I do wear other artists’ work that I love…)
One thing led to another and Jan very generously asked if I would join her “Wine and Shopping” event on
Thursday (Yes, THIS Thursday!): December 20, from 5 ~ 8 PM.
(I was going to go anyway, just for fun, but… now I’ll be offering some jewels and have fun too.)
Like a little elf, I’m still working on new pieces.
Pardon my messy bench.
Lots and lots of earrings and more.
Attention desperate gift-givers! (You know who you are!) Please stop by.
Holiday bags mean already wrapped.
And, if you’re not that confident the special someone in your life will come through, select something for yourself.
Jan has a beautiful space and it’s filled with lots of unique artwork, all ready to go home with someone.
11 Dec 2012 Leave a comment
in News Tags: Christmas, Etsy, Gift card, Green Leaf Massage, holiday, Jamey Spain, Jewelry, New Year, Silver
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to an unforeseen circumstance, Jamey Spain and I are very sorry to cancel our event, Saturday, December 15, 2012 as part of the Uptown Normal Christmas Market & Artist Walk, and apologize for any inconvenience this might cause.
Jamey and I hope to offer a “Spring Fling” after the New Year.
Massage gift cards are still available HERE.
This development might push my Etsy website into existence, which will be shared as soon as it is ready.
Please visit my “Here I Am” page for for a list of locations where you can find my jewelry.
Thank you for your support and patience.
Hope you have a wonderful holiday!~ Gayla Betts
07 Dec 2012 Leave a comment
in News Tags: Arts, Bloomington, Bloomington Illinois, December, First Friday, holiday, Illinois, Jewelry, McLean County Illinois, Merlot, Silver, United States
Wow, this has been a crazy busy month and it’s only December 7th!
I’m thrilled to announce my jewelry is now being shown at the Main Gallery 404,404 North Main Street, downtown Bloomington, IL, 309.828.9500. Okay, my name isn’t in there yet, but… I need to send some photos of my work.
Here’s how it looks in the case (Yep, squeezed in 42 pieces…):
My first event there is TONIGHT for December’s First Friday, which runs from 5 – 8 PM. It is also Downtown Bloomington’s annual Live Window Vignettes. All the shops will be open and offering lovely delightful treats!
My own little spot ~ all silver pieces.
Thanks to the above opening, and multiple venues where my work can be seen tonight, I’m dragging my poor husband to make the rounds. Don’t think he’ll have an issue though once we get out and about.
For December, this promises to be a mild weather evening; perfect for a stroll through Downtown Bloomington.
Here’s a list of places in Downtown Bloomington you can find Silver Charmer Jewelry:
Main Gallery 404, 404 North Main Street, Bloomington, IL
The Grey Dove Studio & Gallery, 105 B West Monroe Street, Bloomington, IL
Off the Wall Gallery, 318 North Main Street, Bloomington, IL
Merlot and a Masterpiece, 412 N. Main Street, Bloomington, IL
McLean County Arts Center, 601 North East Street, Bloomington, IL
Kelly’s Bakery & Cafe, Art-on-the-Wall, 113 North Center, Bloomington, IL
Hopefully, I’ll bump into you somewhere!
04 Dec 2012 Leave a comment
in News, Uncategorized Tags: Crafts, Dichroic glass, exhibition, fine silver, holiday, Jewelry, Merlot, Mosaics, pendants, Shopping, Wine
I’m honored to be participating in the first Art Circle Member Show at Merlot and a Masterpiece, 412 N. Main Street, Bloomington, IL.
It’s in the paper, so it’s official!
The show begins with an opening on Friday, 12-7-12, from 5 ~ 8 p.m. and runs through the month of December.
And, yes… there will be refreshments this Friday. Yaay!
Two of my pieces are being shown. Here they are:
I See An Angel.
Fine silver with dichroic glass.
Blue Sky Sun.
Fine silver with micro-mosaics.
04 Dec 2012 Leave a comment
in News Tags: holiday, Jewelry, Massage, open house
A huge Thank YOU to all of you who made it to our Open House Holiday this past Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012 from Jamey Spain @ Green Leaf Massage and yours truly.
Ready to go!
We had an absolute blast seeing old friends and meeting news ones.
Thank YOU, Thank YOU, Thank YOU!
And Happy Holidays!
Silver Charmer Jewelry 