Trinkets 'N Whatnots by Janet Galla to Shine at GBK's 2013 Academy Awards Gift Lounge with Signature Button Necklace and Ring Collection

    BEVERLY HILLS, CA, February 23, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- When Janet Galla ended her tour of duty in Iraq as a Navy hospital corpsman in 2005, she turned to making jewelry as a hobby. That hobby turned into a lucrative career, and eight years later, under the name Trinkets 'N Whatnots, an array of her dazzling Swarovski crystal rings and one of her signature mother-of-pearl button necklaces will be on showcased at the GBK Gift Lounge for the 2013 Academy Awards on February 22-23 in Beverly Hills, California.

What will no doubt surprise visitors to the gift lounge, one of Hollywood's most popular celebrity events of the awards season, is the unexpected and not-so-apparent focal point of her pieces--buttons.

It was after Galla took up wire wrapping, eventually creating her own technique, that she found herself increasingly drawn to making rings with exotic Czech glass buttons, then Swarovski crystal buttons and fashion buttons. Soon a world of new creative possibilities open up for her.

"I was impressed with the versatility and uniqueness that buttons embody--they can be vintage or contemporary, and their diverse shapes, textures and materials, from glass to crystal to mother-of-pearl, provide so much variety for me to work with," Galla said.

With her original wire wrapping technique Galla creates pieces that are elegant, feminine, classic and yet, modern.

Although she once considered herself the non-artistic member of a creative family (her sister quilts and her mother paints, knits and works in ceramics), Galla tried her hand at craft shows, where her unique and eye-catching designs were an immediate hit, encouraging her to open a shop on Etsy in 2007, where sales of Trinkets 'N Whatnots took off. www.trinketsnwhatnots.etsy.com

"People don't realize my rings and necklaces are made out of buttons," Galla said. "When they find out, they are just amazed and tell me how novel they find them."

The high sparkle factor and femininity of her line, along with the creativity, is a big part of what Galla enjoys in her work, perhaps as a reaction to the strictness of her former naval uniform. "In the Navy, women can only wear stud earrings. You can't be very feminine or unique. Maybe that's why now I am having so much fun with the whole 'girly' aspect to my jewelry line."

Galla's collection of elegant crystal rings and the one-of-a-kind necklace made of mother-of-pearl buttons in the shape of flowers will be part of a display by The Artisan Group, an elite organization of designers and crafters, and one of the most popular exhibits at the at the GBK Gift Lounges.

Galla will also be gifting her signature Trinkets 'N Whatnots Swarovski crystal rings to celebrities who will receive them in swag bags from The Artisan Group at the event. Members of the press will receive mother-of-pearl button necklaces.

Trinkets 'N Whatnots rings were also on display and gifted to celebrities at the 46th Annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, and another exquisitely crafted piece is slated to appear on an episode television's The Client List (S2.05.)

These items can be found in her online store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TrinketsNWhatnots?section_id=5478521

About Trinkets 'N Whatnots ....
Trinkets 'N Whatnots was launched in 2007 with Janet Galla's original jewelry designs based on Swarovski crystal and Czech glass buttons. For more information visit the shop at www.trinketsnwhatnots.etsy.com or to schedule an interview with Janet Galla please email her at [email protected]

About The Artisan Group
The Artisan Group (http://www.theartisangroup.org) is an elite art promotions group representing talented small business artisans at the best celebrity gift lounges. The organization provides a collective sampling of handcrafted products to celebrities and members of the press at top luxury gift lounges such as those leading up to The Academy Awards, The Golden Globes, The MTV Movie Awards and The Primetime Emmys. Membership in The Artisan Group is juried and by invitation-only.

Trinkets N Whatnots - Handmade Crystal, Button and Pearl Jewelry. We are proud of our very unique, affordable creations. We welcome wholesale/consignment opportunities. For further information contact: [email protected]

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