New Jewelry Store Brings Glitz to Love Lane

One woman's dream will become reality on Saturday in Mattituck when she opens the door to her first new business. 

Linda Stavrinos, the owner of Glittzee Gal Creations, which is located at the corner of Pike Street and Love Lane, said her passion for jewelry creation -- all of the pieces in her shop are handmade and personalized -- was born as a hobby.

A former diamond buyer for Fortunoff, Stavrinos said she brought professional experience working with jewelry to the proverbial table.

After she moved to Mattituck and got married to her husband, James, and her children, Alexis, 8, and Nikolas, 6, were born, Stavrinos felt the need to find a new outlet for her professional pursuits. "Coming from a career life, I was going crazy -- I needed a little something," she said.

Stavrinos began taking a series of courses at Michaels in Riverhead, including crochet lessons.

"Then, I took a basic beading class and from that moment, I knew I was hooked," she said.

Fueled with fervor for her craft, Stavrinos began making gifts for friends. Next, she saw an advertisement for a wire soldering class at Suffolk County Community College and signed up.

"That's when it really took off," Stavrinos said. "I love to be able to manipulate the metal."

Stavrinos began making "Mom" and initial pendants from sterling silver; today, personalized sterling silver pieces are a specialty.

Stavrinos began setting up card tables at house parties and selling her collection, but as she continued to create, she amassed enough pieces for a larger space.

A member of the Southold Mothers' Club, Stavrinos met her close friend Vicki Trapani, whose career included experience as a window dresser for Armani, Bergdorf Goodman, and the Gap. "She offered to help me set up my house parties," Stavrinos said.

Now, rapani is onboard as a member of Stavrinos' staff as she launches Glittzee Gal Creations, as is another Southold Mothers' Club member and friend, Gabriela Samolewski, who will help with photography and bookkeping. 

Stavrinos' daughter studied at the Dance Center of Mattituck on Pike Street. One day, while Stavrinos was setting up a case at the dance studio, she noticed an extra room in the space -- and her dream for opening her own retail space began to take root.

Stavrinos asked Cheryl Kiel, the owner, what she was doing with the room -- and soon, began setting up her new shop in the space. Customers enter Glittzee Gal Creations through the dance studio.

Next, Stavrinos said, she found jewelry cases on Craigslist. "It was meant to be," she said. "Everything began falling into place. It's been a wild ride, and I've loved it."

Her husband, Stavrinos said, fully supported her vision, even converting their garage into a workshop for her jewelry.

All of Stavrinos' pieces are unique and personalized, and her collection includes bracelets, rings, pendants and earrings -- everything from elegant jewelry items to bottle cap necklaces for little girls. She can also "revitalize tired jewelry pieces," and focuses on jewelry "designed to catch your eye."

Inspiration can be found "in everything -- everywhere," Stavrinos said. And, with the beauty of the North Fork a canvas for her collection, the designer also works with sea glass.

While opening her first store makes Stavrinos "a little nervous -- it's my first time out, " she said she is surrounded by good friends and a loyal following for her work.

Finding a shop on Love Lane, she said, "was just the extra bonus." Originally, Stavrinos had eyed a space in Southold. "That fell through," she said. "But I'm a big believer that with every door that closes, another opens."

With Mother's Day coming, Stavrinos said her personalized pieces are perfect gift ideas -- and there is still time to order and have them personalized for Mom.

Down the line, Stavrinos said she might offer classes either at her shop or the local library, where she would like to give back to the community. "I'm a big supporter of local, local, local," she said.

Glittzee Gal Creations will celebrate its opening day Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. After that, business hours will be Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., with additional hours on Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. The store will be closed on Tuesdays and Sundays.

For more information, call 631-433-4946.