Today We Turn 10! Looking Back on a Decade of Betty Belts.

It’s really hard to believe it’s been 10 years.

All month long I’ve been posting images from the Betty Belts vault on our Facebook page and it’s been interesting looking back at all the cool things we’ve done, with people we love. I begin to realize, I could write a book about it all…

Team Betty in downtown Ventura 2008. From left, Sierra Partridge, Jeanette Ortiz, Mary Osborne, Bo Stanley and Hailey Partridge. © David Pu’u

Team Betty on the boat to go surfing in Bali. © David Pu’u

I am joyfully grateful to still be here, inspired and making beautiful things to express one’s love of the ocean. I want to extend a heartfelt message of gratitude to all of my mentors over the years, to my lovely surfing and ocean-loving ambassadors “Team Betty”, to my wonderful retailers, to my extended family in Bali who have grown with me over the years making ever better products and to all of you who wear and love my belts, jewelry and accessories and spread the aloha everywhere you wear them.

Me and some of our staff in Bali. I am sharing photos from home on the iPad.

I am especially grateful to my husband, David Pu’u, who from the start was always there (I hired him for our first-ever photo shoot)… even long before we became an “item”… mentoring, capturing iconic imagery, inspiring me, helping to cultivate a brand, a lifestyle we love and live. David always understood what my deeper goals were in having a positive effect in our world.

David and I on a trip to San Francisco, a place that provides a lot of inspiration.

Here are some images from that vault. Some of my favorites over the years. There are many more where these came from… Hopefully I will get to publish that book and share them with you one day.

Mary Osborne in a very early Betty Belts poster, 2003… photo: David Pu’u

Sierra Partridge of Team Betty © David Pu’u

Hailey Partridge in a shoot for Hobie Girl, wearing Betty B. One of my all-time favorites from our first year of making upcycled surfboard resin jewelry.

Jeanette Ortiz wearing the Compassion necklace. © David Pu’u

A favorite of Jeanette Ortiz modeling one of my red carpet sea glass necklaces in a tidepool on a private California beach.

Me in the Betty Bus, an old favorite from the image vault, circa 2005.  © David Pu’u

An ad we ran in 7Sky, a European magazine 2010.

Giving Back On Thanksgiving Weekend: 25% of Our Total Sales to Sandy Relief

Instead of the typical Black Friday sale, adding to the flood of emails you are inevitably receiving (I know I sure am) from retailers competing for your eyeballs and wallets, we really want to offer something different here at Betty B.

I consider this whole Black Friday hoopla a race to the bottom I do not want to participate in as a retailer. I would rather join the race to something different, something human and out of a space of generosity for others not so fortunate, not out of greed.

It’s so funny because my daily read Seth Godin blogged about this very subject today: In a Hurry to be Generous

So here it is, my Thanksgiving Weekend Special:

• All Weekend Long Thursday-Sunday we are donating 25% of all sales in the online shop to Clean Ocean Action, a cause currently devoted to coordinating a rebuilding, recovering, and restoration program for communities affected by Hurricane Sandy.
• And 25% of all Ventura shop sales on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be donated to Clean Ocean Action.
• I have a free surprise gift for all shoppers on all three days who come in to the retail store and spend $25. What is it? Come in and find out!
• Saturday is a big day for AMEX users, as they can get a $25 statement credit for shopping small and that includes Betty Belts. Sign up now if it’s not too late (offer is capped): https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/Shop-Small/

Throughout the weekend, I will be posting how much money we’ve raised so far on the Betty Belts FB page as tie allows. Thank you notes go out to all making online orders here stating the amount from their purchase that gets donated. My first online order came in this morning and I am happy to say so far it’s $49.75. If you are planning on buying some of your holiday gifts from me and want to make a difference with your wallet, do it before Sunday night, please.

That said, we are planning another cause day December 2nd for Friends of the Ventura River.

Oh, lest I forget! My husband, David Pu’u, has jumped in and will be donating 25% of his royalties from his print sales until the end of December to Clean Ocean Action. Read about it in his blog: Tis the Season. Enjoy a tiny sampling of his work below.

“Gratitude” by David Pu’u Surfer: Sean Tully

Light Fantastic: Happiness by David Pu’u Surfer: Sean Tully

“Enlightenment” by David Pu’u

Sierra Partridge by David Pu’u

Pink Champagne Barrel by David Pu’u Surfer: Larry Ugale

Find us at the Jade and Ocean Art Expo in Santa Barbara, June 16th-17th

This weekend I will be setting up my booth with my genuine sea glass and other jewelry and belts for Ocean Lovers at Earl Warren Fairgrounds in Santa Barbara. Come be fascinated by the world of jade, much of it from our California Beaches. View and buy art created by passionate individuals who are inspired by the ocean. Mediums include jade, shells, driftwood, sea glass and much more.

I will be bringing a beautiful selection of my sea glass jewelry and upcycled surfboard resin as well as other pieces for ocean lovers. And I will be sharing my booth with legendary artist and icon Greg Ray, who will be carving tikis on site. Greg has some amazing stories to share, so don’t miss this opportunity to meet him.

• Where: Santa Barbara Jade & Ocean Art Expo, Earl Warren Fairgrounds
• When: Sat.& Sun. June 16th & 17th, 10-6 PM  both days
• Free Parking and Entry

Meeting Icons, a Designer, a Luau and Art: A Day in the Life of Betty

Wow, it’s not every day the founders of Surfaid International walk into your shop.

What an honor it was to meet Dr. Dave and Randall! Surfaid has been one of my favorite orgs to give to over the years for the amazing work they do preventing Malaria and especially after the Tsunami in Indo. David and I, along with Robb Havassy, attended the SA Fundraiser in Malibu last night. I got to meet Donovan Frankenreiter and his beautiful family and hear him perform for the first time in more than 5 years. They sounded just brilliant! What an amazing day to be followed by another amazing day: today. Read about this here on David’s Blog.

Donovan Frankenreiter and his band performing at Surfaid International's Behind the Palms Fundraiser in Malibu

Robb is in town to do a phenomenal show together with David tonight at a truly amazing location, The Stoneworks Gallery. David wrote about it here. There will be a Luau in the garden tonight, complete with roasted pig, mai tais, tikis and hula. And I will have a Betty Belts table set up to offer my ocean-inspired adornments (including sea glass jewelry and my upcycled Surfboard Resin jewelry and plumeria flower hair clips to add tropical style. You should come! Details below.

But first, I will be at the Stewart+Brown Sample Sale, selling my samples and seconds at my table there. We are truly blessed to have these places and people in Ventura, an international organic fashion designer who makes absolute gorgeousness. I wore a Stewart+Brown dress to the event last night and got stopped twice about it. : ) Want to come? 955 East Front Street, Ventura, 93001 from 12-5.

And tonight, the Luau! At 300 Ventura Avenue, corner Park Row (entrance gate on Park Row). 5-9 Includes Feast and Entertainment in the garden $45 at the door (bring cash). After 9pm free entrance to see the art and gather around the fire. Questions? 805-643-5431

Don’t miss this blog David wrote this morning on this very subject!

Onward!

Betty Belts/ Betty B. Ocean Inspired Accessories all over the ASR SWIM 2011 Fashion Show

This is something really cool from the ASR Trade show last weekend. We gave them a box of our hottest accessories and they ended up on almost every model in the show. Here’s an opportunity to see great ways to style the goods.
My favorite is the two of my white bangles stacked with two black bangles and the sea glass quad pendant. Aloha, Donna

PS My apologies for slacking on the blogging process here, folks. The good news is you can stay very much up to date on our Facebook Fan Page which I update almost daily! : )

Betty Belts/ Betty B. in ASR Fashion Show SWIM 2011

Betty B on the Green T Show!

Check out “Green T” Tamara wearing the Betty B. “Hala” recycled glass necklace and wood peace earrings at Nicole Sherwin’s Green Lounge!

Green T at the Green Lounge with Nicole Sherwin