I’ve fallen victim to this… But usually I challenge the Status Quo. In fact I now no longer acknowledge the existence of it… Food for thought. Short read. Seth is always brilliant. Read his new book “Linchpin” if you want to really make a difference or of you just want the ultimate early adopter status symbol on your desk…
The beautiful Balinese people who I have been working with for six years now on the production of Betty Belts and Betty B. can teach us a lot about generosity, love and appreciation. One thing I have never seen among the Balinese is a sense of entitlement. They practice gratitude every day with their daily ritual of offerings and frequent ceremonies. It’s mind-boggling for a westerner to see how much of their productivity is spent (not wasted!) on offerings, but eventually you understand that it is what makes them who they are and it would be a terrible thing if that should ever change. As a society, they have a balance that is enviable for the rest of us. It’s why we are so enchanted with Bali.
So I’d like to offer up a post about Appreciation in the New Year because I know it will enrich our lives to practice more of it. There is so much to appreciate. Always look for it.
Tell people you appreciate them.
Tell God you appreciate him and what he has given/created.
Look around you and appreciate what you have, because there is always someone out there who has less to appreciate than you do.
It might not be an easy habit to develop, but it will benefit so many that the benefits will be innumerable.
I appreciate you.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for enjoying.
Thank you for keeping the Betty Brand pulsing in these unsteady times.
I’m wishing you a new year (a lifetime!) of love, sweetness, joy and most of all, appreciation!
Smiles from Ventura,
Donna von Hoesslin
Owner/Designer at Betty Belts/Betty B., Member Team Betty
P.S. For more frequent updates than I offer on this blog (plus great insider specials), please become a fan of Betty Belts on Facebook or follow us on Twitter
The Partridge twins prove powerful role models
Despite the packed schedule that comes with being in demand, or perhaps in order to give thanks for the associated good fortune, Sierra and Hailey Partridge generously donate their time to numerous charities. To watch the twins execute exquisite carves off the lip of an overhead wave or see them smiling sweetly from their window ads at the O’Neill Surf Shop on 41st Avenue in Capitola, you wouldn’t know that these local surfers-turned-models were… (read rest of article on the Good Times Blog)
Enchantment is the word that flows through my mind throughout this trip. Bali is incredibly enchanting.
Inspiring…
Gorgeous…
The land of the Gods.
We are almost done here. I’ve been working on new designs with my artisan friends and also with each of the young women from Team Betty who joined us for a portion of the trip. Mary Osborne, Jeanette Ortiz, and Sierra and Hailey Partridge. We surfed, we designed, we created beautiful images. David Pu’u and Aaron Marcellino are along documenting everything in stills and motion for several editorial features and, very excited about this, a film.
Below are some of the images from the trip. Please also read David’s blog, as he has been posting several chapters of our adventure here.
Smiles from Bali!
Donna
Welcome Message from David Booth of East Bali Poverty Project. Copyright David Pu'u
View from the upstairs bedroom at the villa. David shot time lapse of the rice field harvest for an entire day. copyright David Pu'u
Breakfast: Nasi Goreng. Copyright David Pu'u
On the boat to Kuta Airport Reef. Copyright David Pu'u
Sunset at Kuta Reef. The girls are surfing. Copyright David Pu'u
East Bali Poverty Project School Students Line Up for Independence Day Ceremony. Copyright David Pu'u
Mary Osborne and Jeanette Ortiz of Team Betty with the kids from East Bali Poverty Project. Copyright David Pu'u
David filming East Bali Poverty Project festival with his Canon 5D.
One of the students of East Bali Poverty Project weaves Vetiver grass, which is the miracle plant for many of their sustainability projects
Hailey at the edge of infinity. The drop below her is several hundred feet down to the Agung River. Copyright David Pu'u
Sierra modeling a Stewart+Brown dress and the Betty B. "Bo" leather hoop earrings. Copyright David Pu'u
Hailey Partridge looking stunning with Stewart+Brown. Copyright David Pu'u
Sierra Partridge looking sexy in an O'Neill bikini at the pool. We did a lot of shooting in this pool. Copyright David Pu'u
Sierra at a ceremony at Gusti's house tasting the blessed rice cakes. She is wearing the Betty B. Sea Glass drop earrings. Copyright David Pu'u
This is an awesome online magazine, complete with soundtracks and short videos to go with the stories, a very hip must-read (See Kate Hudson on the cover). It’s the Vanity Fair of the sustainability movement. And even better, there’s an interview with me in it where I got a chance to talk about some of the cool things happening with Betty Belts and Betty B.. Just click through to page 86-87 to check it out!
Here’s the synopsis for the documentary we are shooting while in Bali shortly. This is going to be an amazing trip and I am thrilled to be able to share the making of my designs and the good energy that goes into them with the rest of the world. Stay tuned! Love, Donna
Mary Osborne floating over coral reef
Organic Reprisal
By David Pu’u
We leave the troubled shores of the U.S. soon, for the exotic environs of Indonesia where Donna von Hoesslin’s creative muse lies, on the Isle of Bali.
The excursion will be a little different than Donna’s usual solo pilgrimage to her mecca of creativity and harmonic bliss. This time she brings along a group of young women whose names have become synonymous with her Ventura-based fashion accessories company, Betty Belts/Betty B.
The group will experience the process of design and symbiosis that occurs between U.S. and Balinese culture through the sustainable philosophy of Donna’s eco-based product line.
Taking an ensemble of beautiful, talented young athletes, and throwing them into the chaos, mayhem and exotic allure that is this ancient Hindu-based culture, will launch the crew on a voyage of discovery, designed to acquaint the uninitiated with what really goes on behind the scenes in developing the
humanitarian ethics of this unique company, whose product line is emblazoned with the names of an extensive collection of powerful and talented water women.
Film makers David Pu’u, Aaron Marcellino, and Jason Wolcott will take the viewer on a richly textured, exotic and visceral look at Balinese culture that examines the impact one woman’s personal vision can have on two very separate cultures.
Mary Osborne floating over coral reef – photo copyright David Pu’u
Children, the future, the best motivator. Photo copyright David Pu’u
Bali Sunset – Photo Copyright David Pu’u
Bali Lotus – a great source of inspiration for Donna. Photo Copyright David Pu’u
Partridge Twins are joining us on this trip – Photo Copyright David Pu’u
An amazing trip is being planned. A journey with a gaggle of the bright lights which make up a good part of the Betty Belts Surf team: Mary Osborne, Jeanette Ortiz and Twins Sierra and Hailey Partridge.
David Pu’u will be directing and shooting this ambitious project about designing and contributing, grace and cultural respect, spirituality and sustainability, and of course some surfing. He is often better able to express what exactly I do in Bali when I go there to work with the Artisans who hand make all Betty Belts products. So I’m very excited about this!
To follow this journey, follow me on twitter
http://www.twitter.com/bettybelts