The Betty Blog » surfing

New David Pu’u Gallery Sneak Peek

donna — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 18:54:10 +0000

David had been working on a new edit of his online gallery for the past week and has been meticulously selecting from 400,000 + images of his immense library from recent and older work. These are some of the gems he unearthed, many of which have rarely or never been seen. Bookmark his website: www.DavidPuu.com

Finally one will be able to order prints of any of them in a variety of cutting edge mediums to add a window of beauty to any wall. Stay tuned…

Meanwhile enjoy this sneak peek!

Rincon by David Pu'u

PCH by David Pu'u

Pacific Common Dolphins, Santa Barbara, by David Pu'u

Angel by David Pu'u

Hannah Mermaid by David Pu'u

California Poppies by David Pu'u

Underwater by David Pu'u

Surfer in the barrel by David Pu'u

Exploding Wave by David Pu'u

Andalusians by David Pu'u

Andreini Hot Curl by David Pu'u

Surfer Larry Ugale in the barrel, by David Pu'u

San Francisco Surfer Samuel Witmer by David Pu'u

Hula Dancer Rainbow by David Pu'u

Inside the barrel, by David Pu'u

San Francisco Bay at Night by David Pu'u

Pelican and crashing wave by David Pu'u

Sunset Surfers by David Pu'u

Sunrise Inside Barrelling Wave by David Pu'u

Watching the Sunset in Seychelles by David Pu'u

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

donna — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 15:56:48 +0000

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!

My Story and How Betty Belts Happened in Skirt Magazine

donna — Fri, 13 May 2011 16:41:01 +0000

Here’s my story and how Betty Belts came about. It’s a fascinating read, I have to admit, a little strange for me, seeing it here in print. The Skirt reporter, Charlene Ross, did a great job of piecing it all together from a two hour long recording of my ramblings, jumping from one subject to another, going off on interesting tangents. Not an easy task!

Enjoy! – Donna

Donna von Hoesslin: Surfer – Designer – Activist

Author- Charlene Ross for Skirt Magazine

Donna Surfing at Queens, Waikiki. Pure bliss. Photo copyright David Pu'u.

Donna von Hoesslin is a California girl who followed a drummer to Europe at the age of 17 and ended up living in Berlin for 17 years. She married into German nobility and was living the fabulous life of the social elite. During her time abroad she held various jobs as a fashion designer, translator and back-up singer for a European two-hit wonder band.

But the very first time Donna stepped on a surfboard at the age of 31 her life changed forever. She was hooked instantly and became passionate about surfing and would travel often to faraway places so she could ride the waves. Unfortunately it was a passion her husband did not share. One day after returning home from a surf trip Donna and her husband Elmar realized that their marriage had turned into a convenient friendship and the word divorce hung in the air between them. They both cried. Today they are separated by 5,000 miles, but truly remain the closest of friends.

Betty Belts

Donna came back the states and moved into a shared beach house in her hometown of Santa Cruz so she could make surfing a part of everyday life. To make a living she became a…

(Click here to read rest of story. Or on the link below.)

http://ventura.skirt.com/shes_so_skirt/donna-von-hoesslin-surfer-designer-activist

My New Collection of Jewelry Made from Upcycled Surfboard Resin

donna — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 03:43:57 +0000

I just cranked out this ad for DEEP Magazine, featuring Sierra and Hailey Partridge of Team Betty and debuting my Surfboard Resin jewelry collection.

The surfboard resin jewelry is a fantastic achievement. We finally found a beautiful solution for the waste byproduct resin created by surfboard building. It took a year of R&D, but the results were well worth the wait and I have to say, everyone who comes into the shop and sees these pendants and earrings is completely enchanted by them and even more so when they find out the story behind them; Each stripe in the jewelry is excess resin from a locally made surfboard, connected to a surfer riding that board, connecting to the ocean.

I debuted the collection at the Sacred Craft in Santa Cruz. Check out our little cameo in this video about this important surfboard culture event, which Betty Belts has been a part of for the past four years.

The jewelry is not yet available on our website, but can be ordered through the Betty B. retail store in Ventura at 805.648.6997

You can also see more photos and shapes on our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/bettybelts

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

donna — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:48:25 +0000

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 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.

Check out our Facebook Page and become a fan!

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)

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