Galleria J. Antonio

RED IS MY COLOR FOR XMAS 2011

2011-11-18T20:18:00.000-08:00

I was in a fashion funk this holiday season when it hit me that RED is something to explore.

One of my friends ( Michele Rothman) came in and we are making her a necklace from an antique broach she got in a thrift store. Thats a bunch of fun

We tried black crystals with A.B. accents ----. No

We tried teal with amber---- NO

Perhaps Purple , Again?????????

Then it hit me-------- RED ---------is the new accent color. Its close to purple , its more vibrant than orange , and it packs a big impact with the right make - up.

Red , White and Black are a classic.

It was Red !!!!!!!! Red Onxy, Red Crystals ,and Red Zirconias , in a blend that was sure to please everyone.

My Chinese customers swear by the color , and the rest of the customers will just have to catch up.

I'm so tempted by the color that I think I will paint one wall in my living room

RED

to see how long I can stand it . Ha-ha-ha

Think RED

WEDDING GIFT ????? OR SOMETHING FROM THE REGISTRY ???

2011-07-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

Wedding gifts are always a problem for some people.

In 30 yrs of Galleria's existence ,I, have, heard it all but I'm sure there is room for more.

He's Jewish- she is not

She's Jewish- he is not

I want to give them something they can both use.

I do not know what their new place looks like

I don't want to carry anything on the plane -train-or subway

They have everything -already.

The registry is boring-too expensive$$$ - or, from a place I do not like

Do Same Sex couples get the same kinda stuff I get my hetro friends?

She's my best friend and I hate him.

Is it tacky to share a gift with someone else?

I'm unemployed but don't want my gift to express that.

Can they return it without knowing how much I spent?

How long do they have to return this gift ? and do they need the receipt?

Can I pay 1/2 in cash and 1/2 by credit card so my spouse does not know how much I'm really spending????

I wish people who have come here for my wedding gift ,rather, than some on-line service.

Do you gift wrap & ship?????

Will you gift wrap some items I did not buy here? and put it in the same box??

At Galleria J.Antonio I have managed to solve most of all those concerns , with a smile , with systems that get all that stuff done .

I always recommend shipping their gift to the "Mother of the Bride" , if possible.( are we talking to each other durning the wedding stuff)

The couple, take off ,even, if its for a week-end and your gift will reach them.

Thank God for those over organized mothers.

I know that the gift that is being given at a wedding represents Galleria J.Antonio and the eyes of many of the people that will be surrounding the "Opening of the Gifts"

In private or in public its all the same .

THEY GAVE YOU WHAT !!!!!!!!!!!

MARRIAGE EQUALITY AT LAST?

2011-07-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

I was at Pride Shabbat-@Congregation Beit Simchat Torah on 28th street to hear Cynthia Nixon give a message of love and accomplishment to all the organizations that stopped fighting long enough to pull together and help Gov. Cuomo get MARRIAGE EQUALITY passed.

I was so moved that I found myself crying, singing, and then crying some more.

I got home just in time to hear the words " The billed has passed"

Jesus and I ran over to the west village and were met by 300 dancing and cheering straight and gay people.

Standing in front of STONEWALL where it all began was where I wanted to be.

While I hugged Jesus tightly I noticed--- 39 Christopher street . That was where the first J.Antonio was for 10 yrs.

As a, very, tall, young, man handed us a flower each, the memories of all the years (1979-1989) flew by me. The opening of THE MONSTER-Shasha, Marsha the STREET DRAG, Rollerrina, Greetings- the card shop, New York Leather, The Pink Tea Cup, etc etc.

Jose Antonio & I (20yrs together) did not get to that night together but Jesus & I did.

New York 1--- mini cam ---was there and before we knew it Michael Herzenberg had Jesus and I on camera asking what it meant to us. Jesus said he was from Venezuela- we already had our immigration fight to keep Jesus here on the FEDERAL level.

I, of course said "RINGS" lets -----shop,----- buy -----, and wear our rings !!!!!

I got calls from Fla. and California that saw my clip on NIGHTLY NEWS.

The locals would give me the heads up that they saw me on NEW YORK 1.

Galleria J.Antonio sells silver, non-traditional wedding rings. They are for the couple that do not want that 47th ST gold band look but need bands that can be worn everyday without fanfare.

Lots more thought will be put into that department. Stop by and look.

Oh yes -- Jesus and I have not set a date for our wedding but we will!!!!!

MADE IN U.S.A. ????????????

2011-07-04T08:31:00.000-07:00

I continue to sell, showcase, and encourage American Crafter

to show work to my friends and customers @ Galleria J. Antonio-

Does it sell? Will it fit ? Will someone steal my idea?

What's important is to regurgitate the idea and project.

Put it out there and don't worry about the results.

Move through it and onto the next creation of your creativity

This 4Th of July 2011--I had tourist that were glad to obtain an American made product.

Or a product designed by an American Artist and mass produced to meet the Wal-Mart mentality of clients.

I say that with an idea of affordability- rather than sarcasm . It is a tough economy and clients want to be able to afford items , rather , than overreach their budgets.

I enjoy knowing that this week-end visitor's from- Germany, Thailand, and Australia

bought Sandy Baker earrings N.Y.C. ,

Donald M. (Boston) Stained glass mini-mirrors -

and a Galleria J.Antonio WATCH . NYC

The made in U.S.A. products are always going to be up against an uphill financial and distribution battle.

I am determined to keep my lights on and always promote and sell crafts from small crafters.

Its more rewarding and all I have ever done-so-why change now?

Thus - my mantra - always helps me say focused when $$$$ is hard to come by

"HAVE A PLAN HAVE A SPIRTUAL- GUN AND HAVE A GET-A-WAY-PLAN"

Happy FOURTH OF JULY -

ART HEALS

2011-06-30T07:24:00.001-07:00

FOOD,MUSIC, AND ART HEAL

TRY ALL THREE TODAY

Green Amythest and Peridot necklace by Joni Sarah White N.Y.C.

is it ELITIST to expect people to pay for HANDMADE?

2011-05-24T18:06:00.000-07:00

It is safe to say that as goods become more disposable, demand, for craftspeople have shrunk??. Shoes, bags, furnishings ,and paper ect ect On line -off line- 99c shops- Wal-mart, and other discounters have made it easier to replace rather than repair.
To sell cheap goods companies engage in unfair labor, and who knows where you bargain were born????

. Also, we have been taught to look for a bargain , for everything , so goggle and eBay help us feel we have landed a bargain.
At what real cost??????????????? when our shops and neighbor's disappear. Tax revenues shrink and we got a bargain.

What about a balance of bargains and buying local and handmade. ??????

Galleria J Antonio, like many retailers of goods are up against the cheap look alike of our creativity. Its been like that for the
30 yrs Ive been in existence. Quality, Service ,and unique always live up to the clients expectation of letting some cash go for an item.

Some crafters have added commercial pieces to their lines and have knocked themselves off -That does not diminish their roll as an artist. That to will be their creation so that the one of a kinds can sit until someone owns them.

Sometimes Cheap is not worth it because it
: looks cheap , wears cheap, falls apart and the only one that won was the manufacture of that item. maybe?

The New York Times had an article about the number of young people that are turning away from corporate America -these college kids are turning towards something their grandparents did. People are trying to get their hands on something to do that makes a difference on the earth and their communities.

HANDMADE : is for the client that wants one of a kind , not , mass production.

I just had a retailer ask me what a craft was ? He said the term is vague and does not defind a product . Again, it shows me, my world is for a special audience.
I'll drink to that.

Galleria J.Antonio has its own WATCH line

2011-05-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

I started selling watches in 1972 at a place called J.J.Elway on Fifth Ave & 42nd street -Its now called -DECO nyc
Quartz was the rage and our Pulsars and Longines lines were popular.
Then I moved on to : Tiffany & Co - Gindi Madison Ave - J.Antonio Christopher St -The Watch Doctor ,Seattle Wa
Time Will Tell Madison Ave ( Stuart Unger) SWATCH 57th st ( I WAS DR. SWATCH ) What fun I had!!!
and then after Graduation from N.A.W.C.C. (National Assoc. of Watch & Clock Collectors) to my present location at Galleria J.Antonio

I have always had sketches and ideas of having my own watch line in an already crowded WORLD OF WATCHES.
I felt no one would buy my watches, if lines like INVICTA sold thousands of units to Americana's on T.V. and every major line had its own store.

I was wrong. That kind of - Google-EBAY-overexposure of product- discounted lines and confusion makes a perfect place for my own private line of watches.
I am not a celebrity or an overexposed person but an ordinary watchmaker that understands that
AUDACITY AND EXPERTISE is what Galleria J Antonio represents.
AUDACITY is an idea, an impulse,or Chutzpah, that needs expertise in order to transform itself into a product.

Its my expertise as a watchmaker and - 30 yrs of retail- that make my small , limited , watch line an elegant , whisper in a collection.

Please visit me at :
Galleria j Antonio 47 Ave A , New York N.Y 10009 212 5059400 - to experience The Ultimate Luxury Timepieces,

Sincerely Jesse Antonio

THE EAST VILLAGE IS CHANGIN-AGAIN

2011-05-17T13:20:00.000-07:00

I have been down here for a long time and the one thing everyone complains about is the ever changing change of the neighborhood.
East village, alaphet city , lower east side , Loisada anywhow you look at it we are still going through changes.

Did anyone see me on Channel 11 pix? The new venue accros the street that is part of Saturday Night Live-- Loren Michaels Upright Citizens Brigade. ----- is opening up a comedy club. The sign HOT CHICKS ROOM was the issue and when they asked me on camera I said that the sign was a target for the tagers to cross out the CH and fill it in with a BIG BLACK D . It would be an easy target for a tager to make a name for him or herself -on the avenue.

One thing is still true The Crafts that are here at Galleria J.Antonio are still in demand as gifts and treasures. I am always having people ask me "When did you Open" I never saw this place before. That gives me another chance to make a friend or customer.

If you have not had a chance to see us come down and look at all the new places to eat, shop, or just plain look at.

Hannukkah is early this year?????

2010-11-01T18:42:00.001-07:00

I keep hearing that it is early this year 2010. The truth is that it will come exactly when it suppose to and we have to adjust to it on the time frame in our 2010 life.

The window at Galleria J. Antonio --------has 3 of the most georgous one of a kind menorahs in the world.

The lights play all over the glass and metal that make the holiday of lights the one we all feel in our hearts.

I need my colorful, candels immediatley.

Happy holidays

Halloween and Fashion???????

2010-10-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

Its a few days before Halloween and the Lower East Side are filled with people putting together something for Halloween

I found these adorable hats from Sud bury Mass. Frogs Penguins Sharks Monkeys and Cats.
Lions Tigers and Bears !!!!!! ala The Wizzard of Oz.

The husband and wife team worked on 3 great design points.

#1 There is a plastic button that makes the hat fit a child and when the button is let out -It will fit an adult --or a growing child.

#2 The fleece is soft , warm , and colorful red blue green yellow --

#3 The hats are washable!!!! Yea!!!! Mom's love that. Maytag and Woolite friendly

I have them in the window as my slash Halloween / contribution to the night.

all you need is a black sweat shirt and jeans and your a shark ---then the hat can be used this winter

for real- Snow and rain friendly.

Happy Halloween to everyone -

I'm giving out candies (economy candies) to the tons of little people that fill up my doorway and smile at me every year.

Women at the crosswalks of New York

2010-10-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

I have been walking into stores all week in New York
Uptown -Soho- Mid-town & around L.E.S.
It seems people still want that retail experience .

New York knows how to make shopping an experience. Fashion--- fun and more fun.........
I got an idea for a new book--Women at the crosswalks of New York ---
I get to the crosswalk and look around me . At any given moment I see women dressed for sport, lunch, or just going on an errand. I saw an 80 yr old with cluster clips that were going up her ears like Lena Horne. I just smiled at her and she knew it was a look of approval because she smiled back with that " Told Ya So " warmth.
I younger gal had a big belt on with a Hugh silver snake head that matched the snake tattoo on her forearm.
I love New York women!!!!!! Out of the cars and onto the pavement runways of Manhattan

I love the women who can pull off accessories to make their clothes look better. The sun shines in their hair and through their earrings. Shoes are so important for comfort ----- that its become an art form---- or an Olympic category ----on how to change your shoes in the ladies room , when you get there.

I love the grey/black/tan clothes on Madison ave. They are perfect for the things Galleria J.Antonio is showing this fall.

Less is best or one big dramatic necklace . I am looking forward to going back to work and helping my customers trim last years garments with this years treasures.

I better get back to work speaking of trim--yours truly has been hitting all the new places to nosh on the lower east side.

R ETAIL-RETAIL-RETAIL

2010-07-29T19:01:00.000-07:00

Its been 10 years since I walked in thru that door at 47 ave A.
I have been very happy here since It has been my pleasure to meet so many crafters that need a place to show their work as well as the people that buy them.

I have decided to take a real vacation and close for the month of September. I have plans to spend the high holidays with family and to rest rest rest.

Please come and see our renovation sale and I 'm gonna miss this place for 30 days.

I already have separation anxiety love ya

new yorks east village fall 2009

2009-09-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

A big hello from New York's Lower east side.
Fall 2009 is filled with fresh ideas and combinations to outlive what the banks and real estate industry have landed on us.
OUCH!!!!!!
I sit here with a gallery full of crofters that are running to other states, adjusting their balance sheets, cutting corners and are creating ----new corners.
Artist need to work and regurgitate their ideas . Money has nothing to do with what we do or who we are.
I am so proud of the people I represent.
I am going to share some of the advice I gave to all of them this fall .

#1 Look at what you do right ,then, keep doing that.
#2 Don't worry about someone or corporation taking your idea. Photo and mail documentation is the poor mans copyright.
You will come up with more ideas.
#3 Business is driven by cash , not love , so price one thing for cash and the other for love.
#4 Art, has nothing to do with cash -so- do it for the sake of the work - not for the cash.
#5 Take pride in your product-returns and repair are also part of your product .
and last but not least
#6 remember that Galleria J.Antonio will always be here for you.
I am committed to my work , my reputation , and the magic of keeping this place here for the people of New York
Tell your friends to appy: I am thristy for new crafters all the time.
Galleria J.Antonio 212 505-9400
A big hug Jesse Gee

Why do some necklaces sell faster than others?????

2009-06-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

Words by Jesse Gee

Photographs by Ken Francis

I'm always asked my crafts men and women why I think some of their work sits in the store for a long time and others fly out before you can say "handmade."

First of all I always tell them that each piece has it's owner and is just waiting for them to come by and take them home.

Also, materials and composition plays a big part.

I enjoy gold-filled rather than vermeil parts and clasps. So does, our in-house designer Jesus Guevera .

He found that his pieces take on a richer look and can be combined with 14k and 18k jewelry . Also the length of a necklace can make it more attractive. I find that all my petite and short customers love 16" to 17" lengths. They always say " It's so nice to find a piece of jewelry that fits me properly as soon as I put it on. As, do my tall women who need the opera length of 30", to feel comfortable.

I found this new stone called Lodolite for this beautiful multi strand necklace . Its from Brazil and in Portuguese the word LODO means mud. It's not rutilated quartz but minerals and fossilized mud inside of quartz. The length will insure its sale because of its comfortable 30" length.

One of my favorite customers bought a 16" necklace from me for an expensive gown she already owned. It was a 16" blue fresh water pearl and blue topaz necklace with a great double clasp.
She said she got so drunk at the wedding she came home and could not get the necklace off because it fit so perfectly. She said the next day she got up and still could not get the necklace off and called out to her husband to come into the bathroom and help her get it off. He gasped at her standing there with nothing else on but the blue pearls. Needless to say she never returned it and told me whenever she wants a romantic time , she reaches or that 16" blue pearl necklace.

A short necklace made of Opals, Labradorite and Fluorite

TIME IS GOLD functional art by J. Guevara L.E.S.

2009-05-31T14:51:00.000-07:00

Words by Jesse Gee

Photographs by Ken Francis

Time is the most valuable thing you own. I say this to people and they all agree and shake their heads
Yes it is -everyone agrees 100% , but , what do you do with that time?????
Then I get a blank look.

The TIME IS GOLD clock series speaks to that very issue. There is no refund on time . It's what you cannot recover as the day goes , the hour, or the minute or the seconds.
Its to be treated with care and respect and you must remember that TIME- cannot be given to people or projects that do not appreciate it.

The clocks are functional art ------$350.00. 15" X 21"
a real clock (AA) sits in a hand built wooden case and is plush with colors (acrylic) that vibrate with the blurr of seconds and of minutes that represents the fleeting thing we call " our life."
Guevara's strokes make you feel the speed in which life can be one way one day and one way the next.

I had a lady stand in front of one of the clocks ,and say to me. "That's why I am so angry. Its not that my boyfriend dumped me -Its the time (3 years ) he took from me. "It's that time you were talking about that makes me angry."
I told her to love herself and move through that anger . I then smiled and said "That will be $75.00 for the session " It made her laugh and come back from the deep moment she had experienced in front of a total stranger.

To Much information. !!!!!!

I have sent a letter to : White House Curator William Allman in Washington D.C.
Mr. Guevara has made one called "Time for Change" That he are donating to the "Committee for the Preservation of the White House".

Guevara was born in Venezuela and despite being over 50yrs old , having an established career, moved his life to New York to seek the changes he needed in his life . He knew that "Time was Gold" so he packed his bags six years ago and ended up as permanent resident of the United States, living and working in the Lower East Side of New York .

-Jesse Gee

Jesse Gee Talks Stewart Unger, Master Watch Collector

2009-05-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

Words by Jesse Gee, curator
Photographs by Ken Francis

I first met Stewart Unger in 1974 or 75. When we work at things for a long time Life becomes a blurrrrrr.

I was the manager of Gindi 816 Madison Ave @ 68th street. I was the President of the Madison Ave Block Association Merchants and a Maditude (Maidison Ave -retail attitude) person. Ha-ha

Stewart was at a metting wearing a vintage watch that I admired and the next day he showed up with a box of rebuilt American vintage watches (Hamilton-Bulova_Waltham-Ect). Bob Gindi had three stores and all three featured the top accessories designers of the 1970's. Bob was a brillant merchadiser but never paid his bills so that combo made for an interesting week.

Stewart and I made an arraingment so that he could get paid as the watches sold and the rest is history. He was a great vendor and his smooth low key manner got us through a very stressful Gindi experience. I used to call it Bobbyitis.

Years later in the 1980s I ran in Stewie and I told him I had an inevitable fight with Bob Gindi (of course) and opened up
J. Antonio in the West Village at 39 Christopher Street, New York. I asked him for some watches and he told me Bobby told him not to sell any watches to me. He also mentioned he was going to open his own place on Madison Ave and if I needed a job, to call. " Your the best watch seller I have ever met."

Years later in 1990, Jose Antonio had died and I moved to Seattle Washington and opened THE WATCH DOCTOR 711 on Thrid Ave. I later Graduated from The National Association of Watch and Clock collectors in Pennsylvania and moved back to New York in 1997.

That same year while strolling down Madison Ave I found TIME WILL TELL. I walked in and Stewart recognized me immediatly. I found out Gindi had died and Stewart had hired some of my ex coworkers to work with him, "Gindi-ites," like Gary & Cecil.

He offered me a job and I set out to sell more time pieces than he could stock. I told him that one of the books I had studied and bought in Seattle, was AMERICAN WRISTWATCHES, a book he himself Stewart Unger, had authored. I got him to autograph a bunch of them for fellow watch students in Pennsylvania.

I left TIME WILL TELL when Mr. Hayak needed me to open his SWATCH flagship store in 1998 on 57th street and Fifth Ave. I told Stewart I was going to be "DR. SWATCH," the person in charge of telling customers, and tourists why the watch they were looking at was so special and that Swatch actually stood for Second Watch!

Stewie laughed upraorously and said "Good Luck." He thought I was nuts for leaving.

I Lasted as Dr. Swatch for a few months because I got the opportunity to open my own place again in 1999 :
Galleria J.Antonio at 47 Ave A, and every once in a while I would hear a thing or two about Stewart.

May 2009 many many moons after 1974 this perky Stacy Hoover , a beautiful blond with a sweet southern accent walked into Galleria J. Antonio without an appointment and tells me she is the representative for a vintage clock line I have had for years. I placed an order and then she pulled out the Bakalite TIME WILL TELL watch line . I said "don't tell me this is your own designs that you came up with in New Orleans!"

She explained Stewart Unger had died and she bought the rights to the line.

Thus----this playful , colorfull collection of watches that Stewart Unger gave birth to are now in the window of Galleria J. Antonio, 47 Avenue A.

Its funny to tell people that they are bakelite. I pull them out to show a client and say " Lets see how old you are ? Theses are bakealite. I either get a internet stare or a gleefull, "They Are!!!!!!!!!!!"

Thank you Stacy (kiss-kiss) for bringing Stewart's look to my watch counter, it was a welcome addition to the lines that we carry here at Galleria J. Antonio. I still do overhauls and general watch repair besides represent all the crafters in the store.

No wonder I still have dishes in the sink at home !!!! oh Vey !!!!!!

-Jesse Gee

Greetings from Jesse Gee (Curator)

2009-05-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

Words by Jesse Gee, Curator

Photographs by Ken Francis

Its a beautiful day in New York and the sun is playing on all the shinny things in the Gallery. It makes me feel good that this is what I have chosen as a livelihood.

Galleria J.Antonio is a financial conduit between American craft makers and the general public.

To see someone's idea, hard work, and training, turned into a product ---- fall into a box and then shopping bag, to be gifted or worn ----- still makes me feel good all over after being in the industry for forty plus years.

I want to use this blog to introduce the Internet audience to the people that make Galleria J Antonio such a great place to be.

Yesterday I got a box from CASA DE LA SERNA Seattle ,Wa. The fun part of this job is that its like Xmas every time you undo another box and dig inside its contents, it's yet another Xmas experience.

Casa de la Serna is a new source that we tried out last year. Seattle has only two types of consumers. One group that looks like they are in need of a shower and dress in old, worn, ripped-up but clean, clothes and the other looks like they fell out of GAP catalogue.

I did not know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised to find this twisted, faceted, black, spinel with faceted, white topaz necklace with a sterling silver clasp.

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The artist has been selling fine art for years and it shows in the product's detail and execution.

The other necklace is a simple strand of light & deep green -- light warm brown tourmaline's. The occasional faceted black onyx bead ties the piece together for a person to wear it all day with anything.

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That's what I like jewelry that you can wear all day long without having to think about it.

Speaking of daytime I saw my favorite street person today. He said everyone has gone mad and talks to themselves . He said they use to have medication for that condition instead of calling plans.

I have another box to open see y'all later. Jesse Gee