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Betty Belts Owner Donna von Hoesslin in Wall Street Journal Magazine

donna — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:42:34 +0000

I always wanted to be in Fast Company Magazine, and I’m pretty sure that will still happen one day.

But for now I’ll have to settle for the Wall Street Journal Magazine. Full page. Me. Surfing. With a big smile on my face.

Life is good.
Life needs a LIKE button.

Photo Copyright David Pu’u

What We Do.

donna — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:47:02 +0000

David Pu’u is, as you probably already know, a very gifted photographer of beautiful things. He and I are both blessed to work with some amazing people, including twins Hailey and Sierra Partridge. Here is his most recent blog about what that means…

Model Models

by David Pu’u

Recently, NYC based production company Silent Crow was in Ventura. Two writers with the company happened to have connected with Donna Von Hoesslin of Betty B and learning a little bit about her female inspired Eco Fashion line. They came up with an idea.

Producer Matt Bennett showed up to do a little bit of discovery work, and honed a reality show concept that deviated from the norm, in that it endeavors to look at the personalities and lives of the women in both my and Donna’s lives. Silent Crow named the show Bonafide.

Donna and I have long exchanged working relationships with people who we see as unique, and able to be involved in both the editorial market, and branding process, both for the model as a product, and for Betty B’s unique, ethics based, fashion accessories line.

What Matt discovered is that each one of these women is a story unto themselves. Tricky thing to formulate a show upon. I just saw the teaser reel that Silent Crow Produced, and that I contributed footage and stills to. I think they get it. Not an easy thing to do, getting something that is a world unto itself… (continue reading and see more gorgeous shots)

Betty Belts in the Media: Donna’s a Cover Girl!

donna — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:06:55 +0000

Wow, I’m blown away!

I’m a “Cover Girl” today!

Check out this inspiring article below from this week’s VC Reporter…

Betty Belts Owner/Designer Donna von Hoesslin graces the cover of the VC Reporter with one of her all time favorite quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Commerce, Compassion and Community

by Claudia Pardo McFayden

The sweet scent of African freesia wafting through the store and onto the street entices visitors into the carefully decorated eclectic space that is Betty Belts. Cradled in a corner just off the beaten path in Downtown Ventura, the cozy yet vibrant ocean-inspired accessories shop, owned and run by Donna Von Hoesslin, is replete with beautiful and unique jewelry and accessories — ceramic necklaces, metal pendants, leather cuffs, colorful scarves, elaborate belts, cute beanies, intricate hairpins and more. It’s a delightful bazaar of one-of-a-kind, handmade treasures.

Established as an online store back in 2003, Betty Belts, also known as Betty B., is older than its current brick and mortar location. It began as a wholesale and online brand of belts in Santa Cruz, with a later addition of jewelry. “The brand existed before I opened the store,” says Von Hoesslin. Operating out of a warehouse on the basis of win-win — people, environment efficiency and women’s surfing, Betty B.’s promise has been to show up in the community while offering a unique and accessible product.

A surfer herself for more than 10 years, Von Hoesslin finds her inspiration in the beach and in her time spent out in the ocean. It was her passion for surfing that caused her trepidation about opening a retail store. “I didn’t originally want a physical location,” she admits. “I was afraid I would not have time to surf, have a life.” Her boyfriend and biggest supporter, David Pu’u, Santa Barbara native and celebrated photographer and filmmaker, encouraged her to get the space. Von Hoesslin took her board out to sea and found her answer in the place that inspired it all to begin with. She opened Betty Belts in 2007. “It was the best decision I ever made.”

Since then, Betty B. has become a hub of connectedness in the community. Offering an array of uniquely designed jewelry by local artists and artisans from Bali, it remains true to its original promise: to contribute to the community and build relationship through a unique product. Work by local artists including that of the skillful Hands of Stone, a group of women who make eco-friendly ceramic necklaces with ocean-influenced elements, Kathleen Fitzgerald’s one-of-a-kind, exquisitely crafted, hand-made earrings; Guy Q. Goods’ metal jewelry for men and women; Lise Solvang’s cozy alpaca and bamboo knits; Tiki Tony ceramic tiki necklaces; and David Pu’u’s attention-demanding prints that serve as the main wall décor in the shop.

Women are especially responsive to Von Hoesslin’s enriching collaboration with the artists, not only the female patrons but all the women who become interconnected through Betty Belts. There is a tangible female bond that begins with Von Hoesslin as the connector and is often sparked by chance meetings at Betty Belts. “I introduce women who come to the shop to each other, and cool things happen,” she says. One particular connection is mothers and daughters.

“They wear the same jewelry. I dig it,” she says. Often she will find the mothers coming back to the store to purchase a new piece because their daughters are wearing theirs. The common faux-pas of being caught wearing the same accessory is instead a thrilling commonality among her female customers.

A recent collaboration between Von Hoesslin and what is affectionately knows as Team Betty, a group of female surfers who have become essential in the promotion and marketing of Betty Belts, resulted in the personal design of a piece of jewelry by each of four local sufers: Mary Osborne, Jeannette Ortiz, Hailey Partridge and Sierra Partridge.

Together with Von Hoesslin and Pu’u, they traveled to Bali, where they worked and executed this creative project.

In addition to working with local artists, Von Hoesslin employs several artisans from Bali, where most of the pieces are made. Having worked for close to seven years with the same artisans, Donna has established a work ethic based on fairness, skill, good quality and, most important for her, community…

Continue reading here:

http://www.vcreporter.com/cms/story/detail/commerce_compassion_and_community/7661/

P.S.

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New Designs!

donna — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:29:20 +0000

Our sweetest new designs are ready for you!In time for your holiday giving and wishing.

Here’s a taste, click on any to go see the rest!

With lots of love from your favorite Betty!

Come see my new sea glass designs and why beach glass is such a cherished ocean gem for the most unique jewelry!

Come see the new Karma jewelry.

And my beautiful new “Shawn” leather cuff named after the wonder woman Shawn Alladion of famed K38 Rescue and Team Betty!

More at www.bettybelts.com

PS Use the code FRIEND at checkout for 10% off your order!

Partridge Twins Featured in Good Times, Santa Cruz

donna — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:48:30 +0000

Sierra and Hailey Partridge on their way to a surf session at their home break Steamer Lane. Copyright David Pu'u

Read about Sierra and Hailey Partridge of Team Betty in this great article on the Good Times Blog.

More Than Meets The Eye

by Kelly Vander Kaay

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)

Note From Bali: Enchantment (from August 30th)

donna — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:01:14 +0000

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

See more images and read more about this trip on David’s Blog www.davidpuu.com/blog

Anxiously Awaiting Finalist Results in Intuit’s Small Business United Contest

donna — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:52:38 +0000

The judges are judging, the votes are being tallied. Tomorrow I will find out if my video submission won my company a small business grant from Intuit.

You can’t vote on it any more, but please come watch my video and be inspired!
Fingers crossed, my friends!

SMiles and Aloha,
Donna

Inspiring Video from Betty Belts Can win 25K with your votes. A must-see and enjoy!

donna — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:58:17 +0000

Read Readers of The Betty Blog,

As you may know, I’m a finalist in the Intuit Small Business United Contest.
I submitted my story, it won among over 1900 entries as one of 50 finalists with the help of many of you who read my story and rated it as Inspiring Funny and Useful.
So for the next round, I had to create a video, which is now live.

http://community.intuit.com/contests/aP3kaUx0aqllvkab8P4pmk

This video expresses how one can turn a passion into a viable business.
I think this video really hits a nerve because the free-fall that I experienced when I left Berlin and struck out on my own once again is not unlike what many are experiencing today in our economic disaster era with the loss of stability connected to the loss of the status quo on so many levels.

This shift is a time of true opportunity.
One CAN create a business based on passion.
There’s nothing to lose, really, if you think about it…

http://community.intuit.com/contests/aP3kaUx0aqllvkab8P4pmk

Bonus: you will finally get to hear me sing. ; )

How to “vote”:
-click on link above and watch the video
-rate it as INSPIRING USEFUL and/or FUNNY (you get THREE votes, one each category)
-Create an Intuit Community ID and password (sorry! But it’s very brief)
-Leave a comment if compelled, but not necessary
-Spread it far and wide via your blogs, social networks and more

Thank you!

With love and gratitude,
Donna

Ban Styrofoam Now: It’s easier than you think.

donna — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:59:30 +0000

I received this email letter today from Environment California Legislative Director Dan Jacobson.
Very important subject and ridiculous that nothing has changed yet. But it is easy to change if we simply ask for it at places that sell take out food and beverages.
Right now companies are more than ever willing to listen to their customers and take action.

It’s not just in the ocean, but in our streets, in our landfills and in our parks. Let’s stop it now!

***

Have you ever been at the beach and noticed all the tiny pieces of Styrofoam in the sand?

Or, have you ever worked to clean up a beach only to realize that nothing you could ever do would remove all those little pieces of Styrofoam? That’s why we need to ban single-use Styrofoam containers today.

Join the 7,000 people who have called on the governor to take action.

Why not just ask the fast-food chains to use bio-degradable takeout containers? It just seems crazy that we would use something for 10 minutes and then have it float in the ocean, or lie in the sand, for hundreds and hundreds of years.

The benefits simply do not outweigh the costs.
Styrofoam (expanded and extruded polystyrene foam) is getting more and more pervasive in the marine environment. When littered or blown from trashcans, it is carried from streets and through storm drains out to the ocean. It breaks into smaller and smaller pieces that wash onto the shore, and which animals mistake for food.

Styrofoam has not been around long enough to know its true life. Most scientists agree that it will break down into increasingly smaller pieces but never disappear.

Let’s ban single-use Styrofoam takeout containers before they cause any more damage. Click on the link below to tell the governor that you want to take back your beaches. And please, forward this e-mail to your family and friends.

http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/action/oceans/say-no-to-styro?id4=ES
Thanks for standing up for our beaches,

Dan Jacobson
Environment California Legislative Director
DanJ@environmentcalifornia.org
http://www.environmentcalifornia.org

Join The Betties For a Fun Fundraiser

donna — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:57:28 +0000

Come to Wahine Wednesday to celebrate women and surfing, April 1st, at the Sandbar in Santa Barbara.
This event is a fundraiser for Heal The Ocean

Great performances by Todd Hannigan and our own fabulous Zuri Star!

Surfer Sister book signing with Betty Belts Surfer Mary Osborne!

Buy gorgeous surf jewelry and belts from Betty Belts and David Pu’u photographic prints with 20% of sales going to Heal The Ocean.

Awesome Raffle with prizes from Betty Belts, Patagonia, XCEL and KUSTOM
Zuri goes on stage at 8pm, so don’t miss her beautiful voice and vavoom.

$5 cover charge includes one raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets $1 each.
18 and over.

To see more details and RSVP (not necessary), follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=1519680037&k=4XB3266ZRZ4M5CAAPJ26TR

I hope to see you there!

Smiles,
Donna