History

I always dabbled in the creative arts from a very young age. Hours would pass unnoticed as I lay on the floor in the solarium of my childhood home constructing each piece of a dollhouse from things found lying around. Nothing escaped if there was a use for it beyond its intent. An empty spool of thread and piece of scrap fabric would make a table and cover. There were no walls or roof to the house. It was an area underneath a sideboard that was safe from the household traffic. I fondly remember spending hours upon hours building that dollhouse, yet I have little to no memory of actually playing with the dolls. I grew up, my love to be creative stayed with me, and the house in which I now play got just a little bit bigger.

In 2001, I was asked by a priest to make a memorial vestment for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was a difficult time in my life, a lot of hand embroidery was involved, and I was unsure I could accomplish the task. With his encouragement, support and confidence in my abilities, I took the commission. From this, GaZelle was conceived.

My desire to give my talents back to God was starting to be fulfilled. The projects that came my way were mostly religious in nature. A signature label was needed, so I sought for one in prayer. While speaking to a priest I met at a conference, he suggested I look in the Acts of the Apostles because there it recalls the story of Tabitha, a woman who made garments. Gazelle, the meaning of the name Tabitha, is the inspiration for the label.

The GaZelle logo is a television lamp from the 1940's that initially belonged to my mother. She later handed it over to my Great Aunt Mary who was a seamstress and embroiderer of monograms for John Wanamaker, a department store in Philadelphia. In the late 1970's, my father uncovered the lamp in his plumbing shop and he gave it to me. For over 20 years this lamp moved wherever I moved. I always had a fondness for it because it's unusual and has a family history. Little did I know back then that this simple sentimental treasure would have a connection to my future. Besides, it still works!

I've come to believe that nothing happens by chance, there certainly are no coincidences, and every moment in time is allowed to happen for reasons we may or may not understand. For all eternity, God's desire for each of us is to return back to Him; our Creator, our Father. Because God is Perfect Love and Love is never forced upon us, arrival at our destiny is by our free will cooperation with God's grace. Our choice to accept and return God's love is a daily and lifelong decision. Life doesn't happen by chance and coincidence.... it's by God's plan, God's grace, and the choices we make.

When we choose Him ........Oh, what a wonderful world!