Her first attempt at dressmaking (in the summer between sixth and seventh grades), won a prize from Singer Sewing as the best-designed outfit in her age group. At the same time she was designing clothes, she was pursuing an education in music and the arts.
Classically trained in piano, violin, voice and dance, Gayela majored in Music, Design and Art History at the Universities of Oklahoma and Arkansas from which she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. After many years of being a Navy wife and
living in the South and California, she found her true home in the Washington, DC, area in 1979. Gayela is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and currently serves on the boards of the National Press Club, the Summer Opera Theater and Opera Camerata of Washington DC, and the Advisory Committee for Americas Heroes of Freedom. Gayela recently began designing bracelets and note cards to raise funds for “Michelle’s Angels” (honoring her daughter-in-law, Michelle Bynum, who was diagnosed with advanced stage 3 breast cancer)
The “Michelle’s Angels” team was formed in the fall of 2005 Austin, Texas to walk in the Komen Race for the Cure. Gayela has since formed teams in DC, Dallas, Oklahoma City, San Diego and Hawaii that walk simultaneously with the race in Austin, in support of Michelle raising over $70,000 for breast cancer research. Gayela also designs bracelets, patriotic boxes and note cards for America’s Heroes of Freedom (AHOF) foundation that serves America’s wounded heroes.
Gayela Bynum Creations, (formerly The Carpet Bagger, Ltd.) features her distinctive designs including jewelry, greeting cards, clothing, accessories to wear and to use in the home, needlepoint and handbags. Her custom designs are made for both individuals and businesses. Her numerous clients include the House of Representatives Gift Shops, Gatsby’s Tavern Museum in Alexandria, Virginia, The Inn of Mount Vernon Gift Shops, Tides Inn Gift Shop in Irvington, Virginia. Unique, individualized wine caddies provide the gift for the individual who has everything. Fashion greeting cards – some decorated with individualized hats, coupled with matching gift bags make perfect presentation packages. Gayela recently added beaded salad serving pieces and alphabet bracelets with beautiful Swarovski crystals and semi-precious beads to her collection.