PmelsGems

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PmelsGems began as a simple hobby between a grandfather and his granddaughter, Pamella, starting with handmade keychains.

What began at a workbench has grown into a passion for creating one-of-a-kind pieces crafted from beautiful, exotic woods.

09/29/2026

A GOOD PEN HITS DIFFERENT. 🖊️

Not the pen you stole from the bank. Not the one that requires you to scribble on a piece of paper for 47 seconds before it decides to participate.

I’m talking about a REAL PEN. A good pen. A “ohhhh, THAT’S why people like nice things” kind of pen.

Handmade wood. Feels good in your hand. Writes like it has somewhere important to be.

And YES…we have BLUE AND BLACK INK because apparently, we are making serious adult decisions over here.

Just don’t let anyone borrow it.

Because we all know “I’ll give it right back” is the opening line to a missing-person investigation. 🖊️

http://www.pamellasgems.com/

09/27/2026

Grandpa is learning new machines, getting the new shop ready, and I am discovering one of the many benefits of being Pamella’s grandma…

THIS ONE IS MINE. ❤️

One of my favorite colors, one of those pieces where the little quirks and slight imperfections are exactly what make it perfect. I don’t want cookie-cutter perfect. I want WOOD. I want character. I want the little things that make every piece completely its own.

The new shop is coming together, new machines are being conquered, and by the end of the month our Etsy store will be up and running again!

http://www.pamellasgems.com/

09/16/2026

WE SURVIVED THE MOVE. Barely.

The move is DONE. The unpacking is… well… let’s call it a work in progress. There are boxes, there are tools, there is equipment slowly finding its new home, and there is absolutely no guarantee that anything will remain where we put it.

BUT… we are getting there!

Little by little, the new shop is coming together and before you know it, PMELS GEMS will be BACK IN THE SADDLE making sawdust, making a mess, and most importantly… MAKING GEMS! 🪵

We are seriously looking forward to getting the Etsy store restocked. It has been WAY too quiet around here, and frankly, the wood is starting to get suspicious.

And if you’re LOCAL — reach out! We are still doing local pickup/delivery because we love keeping our little wood-working shenanigans right here in our community.

We are also still very much involved with Promote Fox Lake. Facebook, however, has apparently decided that we are no longer worthy of posting in groups. 🤦‍♀️ We have no idea what exactly happened there, but apparently Facebook has its own plans for us. We’re working on it.

In the meantime, we are enjoying the new shop, unpacking approximately one box per day because apparently that is our new speed, and getting everything ready to start creating again.

The tools are coming out.
The sawdust is coming.
The Etsy store will be restocked.
And PMELS GEMS is about to start making some NEW GEMS.

You’ve been warned. 🪵

07/25/2026

We're officially in the middle of moving.

Fourteen days until closing, our woodworking equipment is buried in boxes, and somewhere during the great clean-up our boards and equipment decided they no longer wanted to live with us.

But here's the thing...

You can throw out our stuff, but you'll never throw out our love for Fox Lake. ❤️

Today I got a message from one of our incredible community members who said she has prepared not one... but TWO silent auction baskets from TWO different nonprofit organizations.

Come on. That's the kind of stuff that makes me ridiculously proud to live here.

A huge thank you to Grant Township Lake County IL and the Fox Lake American Legion Auxiliary #703. You all just get it.

So, here's the deal...

Come eat Sal's Pizza Company (seriously... people are STILL talking about it from last year), listen to Michael Lescher, bid on some amazing silent auction items, all while donating to the free Venetian Night celebration, we'll all enjoy, and hobnob with the people who know... and a few who think they know. 😂

This is Fox Lake showing up for Fox Lake.

Now... get your tickets already. 🍕🎶❤️
https://promotefoxlake.org/event/venetian-night-fundraising-dinner-2026/

07/05/2026

Yep... I'm flexing my Venetian Night Dinner tickets. 💪😂

Remember when everyone had a treadmill? Mine was a very expensive laundry rack. This? THIS is a much better investment.

Good food. Michael Lescher. Silent auction. Great people. Even better cause.

Now it's your turn... buy your tickets, flex 'em, and let's fill this room so we can put on the biggest drone show Fox Lake has ever seen! 🚁✨

Businesses... jump in as a sponsor!

Huge thanks to Fox Lake Harbor, our Presenting Sponsor, and our dinner sponsors Tracy & Sam Stella - Stellar Results Realty, Kelleher + Holland, LLC, and ACS Mortgage Corporation for making the magic happen.

Now let's see those ticket flexes! 🎟️

https://promotefoxlake.org/event/venetian-night-2026/

https://promotefoxlake.org/event/venetian-night-fundraising-dinner-2026/

07/04/2026

Happy 4th of July from PmelsGems! 🇺🇸

Today we celebrate freedom, family, friends, and the incredible privilege of living in a country where we can dream, create, and build something with our own hands.

May your day be filled with laughter, safety, gratitude... and maybe a board or two. 😎

A huge thank you to Tracy Sibley Realtor - Stellar Results Realty, ACS Mortgage Corporation, and Kelleher + Holland, LLC for helping make our move happen. Because of you, next year's boards are going to be made in a brand-new space, and we couldn't be more excited!

And to our dear friend who suggested this board... you know who you are. ❤️ You had a vision, and we can't thank you enough. Next year you get the first one!

Have a safe, happy, and wood-filled Fourth of July! 🇺🇸🪵🎆

06/30/2026

Come visit us at McHenry's Fiesta Days on July 18 at Veterans Memorial Park! 🪵

We've got big boards, little boards, colored boards, plain boards, thick boards, thin boards, chopping boards, rib boards.

Boards for bacon.
Boards for brisket.
Boards for snacks at midnight when nobody's looking. 😂

Honestly, if Dr. Seuss and a woodworker had a baby, it would probably look a lot like our booth.

Come for the festival.
Stay for the boards.

Leave wondering why you suddenly own three cutting boards and are planning charcuterie night. 🪵❤️

06/23/2026

Something to think about... 🎆🦟😂

The fireworks may be this weekend, but let's be honest, around here "fireworks season" lasts until approximately Labor Day.

Before you head out, stop by Living Roots Farm and grab some all-natural Outwash Acres bug spray. Your ankles will thank you.

While you're there, grab some greens, some jam, some Papa Valachy BBQ sauce, a PMELS GEMS board, and whatever else catches your eye because somehow, they have everything.

And don't forget the greens. Watching fireworks is way more fun when you're not recovering from a food coma and questioning every life choice made at the cookout. 🌿🎇🪵😂

06/21/2026

🇦🇺 Well... this board left for Australia today!

There was also a larger board headed out with it, but your overly excited social media gal got so caught up in meeting a new friend and celebrating that she completely forgot to take a picture. 😂🤦‍♀️

So somewhere over the Pacific Ocean are two PMELS GEMS boards representing Fox Lake and living their best international lives.

We're incredibly grateful for your purchase and for taking a little piece of our craftsmanship all the way to Australia. Safe travels, little boards. 🪵✈️❤️

Want to see boards that haven't left the country yet? Come visit us at McHenry's Fiesta Days on July 18 at Veterans Memorial Park!

06/20/2026

I walked into Living Roots Farm today and accidentally got a nutrition lesson.

We started talking about antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, immune support, stress adaptation, and all the supplements people buy. I mentioned the giant collection of vitamins in my cabinet.

Her response?

"Basil."

Just basil. 🌿

Apparently this little leaf has been out here doing the work while I've been funding the supplement industry.

So naturally I tried a leaf.

Better than expected? Yes.
Fresh from Living Roots Farm different than grocery store basil? YES
More cost effective than a cabinet full of bottles? YES
Was I expecting to become a basil person today? Not at all. 😂

Then I had to do a photo shoot with some PMELS GEMS boards because when something is this fresh and beautiful, serving it on plastic feels disrespectful.

Come see us at McHenry's Fiesta Days on July 18 at Veterans Memorial Park.

Bring your basil home to wood. 🌿🪵❤️

Address

Fox Lake, IL
60020

Website

http://www.pamellasgems.com/

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