Mary Gayle was born and raised in Maryland, and moved west in 1976 to attend Utah State University. From there she juggled a few different careers, and found herself living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for about twenty years prior to moving to Idaho. She currently resides in Northern Idaho along the shores of the exquisite Lake Pend Oreille’s Garfield Bay. Mary Gayle and her husband Skip run a small grocery store called Bayside Grocery in Garfield Bay. She and her husband are also devoted parents to four wonderful children.
Mary Gayle has been a jewelry designer for thirty years. At an early age she began creating things with her hands; baskets, candles, loom weaving, and batiks. She then discovered the magic of beads and gemstones as new medium to work with, and they have provided her with an endless flow of creative energy.
Like fellow artist Susie Pace, Mary Gayle also finds inspiration for her jewelry designs in nature. Mary Gayle blends a striking mix of semi-precious gemstones, glass beads, sterling silver, and recycled materials to craft her custom jewelry. Color, texture, and natural materials are the focus of Mary Gayle’s jewelry designs. Her designs bring to mind an assortment of bold and beautiful, stunning and simply elegant, as well as dainty and delicate pieces.
A key element to Mary Gayle’s work is her usage of recycled materials that are featured in her eco-designed earrings, pendants, and necklaces. Her husband Skip plays a vital role in her jewelry designs, since he cuts all of her recycled metals. Her most recent creations include recycled materials such as copper, brass, and other discarded metals, which she uses to create her eco friendly art.
Mary Gayle finds it a blessing to live in the visually rich environment of the Northwest, and is grateful that she is able to create wearable art in her home studio. Her work may be found in Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho based boutiques, art galleries, and salons across the country. We are delighted to have Mary Gayle as a member of the Bayside Jewelry family, and we are inspired by her eco-friendly jewelry designs to use reusable materials whenever possible.