Happy New Year Everyone!  I hope this year is starting out very well for all of you and continues to be a healthy, happy and prosperous year.  

I thought I would take a moment and tell you about a few new things happening here at Gayle Winde for 2012. I've been spending quite a few hours on the website working to make it easier than ever to contact us and order a custom strap. Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming with all of the ideas and decisions that can go into ordering custom and for that very reason I redid some things here on the site. This should help clarify and hopefully make it easier for you.

I've simplified the features and pricing page and also have begun to add more items to the online store offering other choices for those of you who do not care to order a full blown custom piece. You will find some one-of-kinds there as well as some of my stock designs that can be easily special ordered by a simple PayPal purchase process. It will be very easy and secure at checkout  with the shipping all calculated in for you. I have also added  "Gift Certificates" in different amounts which are valid for one year from the purchase date, and can be gift wrapped for you free of charge, just drop me an email to let me know. As with all items sold through the website I will be in close contact with you to verify shipping addresses and any other pertinent information,

This year I will be introducing more leather accessories to the online store. There will be more womens and mens cuff/wristbands, leather harmonica mic bags, a beautiful leather pouch available to keep your guitar strap in or as an added item to present your guitar strap as a gift. I am also planning  to have available some stock sax straps and Mandolin straps, and other surprises :)  This will create a store with more options for you with my goal to keep up with inventory changes so things stay interesting and fresh! I will be linking to my other small websites too, both Etsy and FaceBook so you will be able to find some items there that won't be here on this site. With FaceBook being more of a social site this should round out my online presence and make everything more interactive and fun for you all.

I'm excited and looking forward to what 2012 has ahead, hopefully hearing from you again and meeting new friends as well.

Best Regards Everyone!

Gayle 

Hello everyone  :)

Before I start my Holiday Blog, I want to take a moment to thank "my Wonderful Customers" for your support, networking, and your positive feedback!  I really appreciate you all very much! 

It's hard to believe that we are already fast approaching the Holiday's and starting that busy time of year again! This year I want to announce my new "gift certicates" found in the website store and also post the deadline date for custom orders that need to be finished and delivered for Christmas. I found that last year as Christmas got closer so did the amount of custom orders.  A custom guitar or bass strap makes a "wonderful gift",  I do want to stress though that with custom orders comes the needed time to create them. With the intensity of the Holiday's and the volume of packages flooding the postal service,  for those who may be considering a custom strap as a gift, please put your order in early.

The final date for "custom" strap orders to be "delivered before Christmas" , is November 15th. I like to allow  three to four weeks design time for custom with five weeks if the strap is extremely detailed. Shipping at Christmas becomes hectic and the US postal service has their "gauranteed by Christmas" cut off time as well which I believe is December 18th. If not interested in custom, I have ready to ship straps available, please email if interested and I'll get right back to you promptly.

I always strive to keep my customers more than happy and to create a beautiful strap for you, but each strap is created individually by me. Compromise of quality due to time constraints won't happen, therefore if I put you on the order schedule I can be realistic and fair to everyone as orders come in. This is where the "Gift Certifcates" come into play. If you happen to miss the deadline date for "custom by Christmas",  there is always this option. It actually has a nice plus to it, being that the recipient of your gift will be able to work directly with me in the choice of design he or she may want. Both your designated person and myself will have something exciting to look forward to in the "After Holiday Duldrums". I'll be mailing the gift certificates in a gift wrapped box with my brochure and business card and your personal message included on a nice notecard if you so desire.  I have posted a picture of what the certifcate looks like and it will be available in a few different price points. You'll find it in the on-line store by clicking on the certificate picture. Your certificate is paid for in the same format as if buying a product from the store. You put the certicate of choice in your shopping cart and at checkout will be directed to PayPal's secure site for payment. I am notified immediately and will email you to verify the shipping address. I check my emails every morning and at close of business daily and will email as soon as I find PalPals notification in my mailbox.  Important: "Please be sure to put your "correct email address" and "physical address" of where the certicate is to be sent!.

Gift certicates will be placed on the order schedule according to the purchase date (first ordered, first in line to be started as soon I receive an email from your lucky party).

I'm excited for the Holiday's and look forward to working with you both before and after the Season.

Cheers everyone :)

Gayle Winde 

 We are happy to announce that Wolfe Guitars Brentwood, Tn. store will now be carrying Gayle Winde Custom Guitar and Bass Straps and select Thin Man Amp Covers.  We will design straps that will be exclusive to their store and will only be available there.  We feel honored to be associated with Wolfe Guitars as they sell some of the finest guitars and boutique amplifiers available and they are proud that 95% of what they sell is American made..  They offer G&L guitar and basses, Hamer guitars, Breedlove acoustics, boutique pedals and their Jupitor, Fla. flagship store is the largest seller of Heritage guitars in the U.S.!  We couldn't be happier with the alliance.

On March 16, 2011 Gayle Winde Designs lost a true friend, Lawrence Hightower of Tacoma, Wa..  Lawrence passed away from complications while in the hospital for emergency heart surgery to correct an aortic anyuerism.  Lawrence was instrumental in the development of our company, helping with our first MySpace page, taking pictures of our straps and even using basses he made himself in those pictures.  The results were marvelous and we can't thank him enough for what he did for us, including introducing the bass community around the country to our straps.  A spectacular musician and a better human being, Lawrence was a devout Christian and we know he's in a good place right now.  Our sincere condolences go out to Lawrence's family and all who knew and loved him.  R.I.P.

In 2010 we branched off into making high quality custom harmonica belts and bandoleers.  

For 2011 we are excited to introduce a new custom product line to the Gayle Winde brand, Thin Man Amp Covers.  We see a need to add personality, not just a utilitarian cover to protect your prized amplifier.  Made from the finest quality vinyl to exotic leathers,  they will stand out in a crowd with not just attention grabbing designs meant to reflect your individuality , but also possess the highest quality construction you've come to expect in our guitar and bass straps. 

As with our straps, Thin Man Amp Covers are not off the rack mass produced items.  We work with you to design a custom work of art, now for your favorite amplifier.  You provide us with your amps dimensions, give us with a little insight, we'll bounce around ideas with you and produce a unique cover that you'll be proud to own.  The possibilities are endless, from making your cover look like a 50's vintage amp, use your bands name, add a logo or design; whatever suits your fancy. 

Prices will vary due to the complexity of the design and also the materials used.