Hi Friends, Family and Collectors!

I have just started a GoFundMe.com campaign. Through this campaign, I hope to find an editor for my memoir and to raise the funds I need to pay him or her. Please read on to find out why this is so important to me, and why I need your help to complete this project.

Wendy’s Memoir Needs an Editor

I have been working on a book for many years. Many people have asked me to write a memoir, and I want to tell my story.

As a jewelry designer and artist, I had a fantastic career in the 1970s–1980s. Many said I was number ONE in my field! I was on Oprah Winfrey’s show as her favorite jewelry designer, had more than seven Vogue covers, and enjoyed tons of press all over the world. The Walt Disney Company gave me a license to produce the characters from Disney as jewelry, scarves, and more. In 1990, we were making 3 million dollars a year and I had 45 employees. Disney also granted me a license for the Wizard of OZ. Creating these pieces was so much fun and the collection sold out. We designed a Wizard of OZ scarf which I still list on eBay.

All the details of my amazing rise to success and why we went out of business is in my book. I even tell the story behind my invitation to appear on the Oprah Winfrey show.

GoFundMe.com campaign to raise funds for Wendy Gell's autobiography

A few years ago, Vera Wang called and asked me to do a tiara for her perfume princess. It appeared in many print ads as well as on TV. It was a rental, so after the shoot was over, they returned my crown and I sold it to a girl—also named Wendy—in Australia through eBay.

GoFundMe.com campaign to raise funds to pay Wendy Gell's autobiography editor
Why Wendy Needs Help to Pay for a Book Editor

This year I got very sick. I had an intense surgery with many complications and was in the hospital for a whole month. For three weeks I was on a feeding tube in my stomach. At one point I had a hemorrhage in my esophagus and violently vomited blood. All I could think of was that I never finished my book, and what would happen to all my art and jewelry, for which I had never made arrangements?

I didn’t know then if I would live or die.

My emotions were so close to the surface that all I could do was write. I filled up several spiral notebooks, writing about my life and my dreams. After returning home from the hospital, I started organizing it into chapters. Now I am ready for an editor.

The first person I thought might work out called me back to say she didn’t think she should take the job, as it was too avant garde for her.

Thanks G-d, I am getting well again, and starting to eat more solid food, so I am looking for an editor and the money to pay him or her.
GoFundMe.com campaign to raise fund to pay for editing of Wendy Gell's amazing life story as a high-end fashion jewelry designer

Behind the Scenes, Wendy’s Secret Battle with Mental Illness

The hidden undercurrent beneath this amazing career was my battle with mental illness. No one knew about this at the time. Living with bipolar disorder has presented many challenges, but under medication I’m quite happy and stable. Panic disorder and a suicidal nature complicated my life, and I was hospitalized twice after suicide attempts.

For many years, I was afraid to tell my true story, but now I want to. Many people have the same struggle and I am not ashamed about it any more.

I have experienced so much love and appreciation and live in gratitude for what I have. I’m so happy now and grateful for my life. I want to share my story with you.

Here is one of my classic folded cuffs, featured in a Detroit newspaper when I did a trunk show there. Wendy Gell GoFundMe.com campaign

Pictured here is one of my classic folded cuffs, featured in a Detroit newspaper when I did a trunk show there.

Help Wendy Pay an Editor for Her Memoir and Receive Her Book

Below is a pdf file of a chapter from my book. When you read it, you will see why I want so much to share the story of my life, and also why I need help editing the project.

Anyone who donates to my fund will get an autographed copy of my book and so much gratitude from my heart for being an important supporter of my project.

Love,
Wendy

Download (PDF, 3.68MB)