Central Whidbey gains fame on shopping channel

A prominent jewelry maker featured on a popular home shopping network will visit Central Whidbey Island in early May. Albuquerque, N.M., jewelry maker Carolyn Pollack, whose show, “Sincerely Carolyn Pollack” is featured on QVC, will spend four days visiting the major sites of North and Central Whidbey Island.

By Nathan Whalen • April 27, 2010 5:42 pm
Carolyn Pollack displays jewelry she sells on QVC. Future creations will be inspired by a trip to Whidbey Island in May.
Carolyn Pollack displays jewelry she sells on QVC. Future creations will be inspired by a trip to Whidbey Island in May.

A prominent jewelry maker featured on a popular home shopping network will visit Central Whidbey Island in early May.

Albuquerque, N.M., jewelry maker Carolyn Pollack, whose show, “Sincerely Carolyn Pollack” is featured on QVC, will spend four days visiting the major sites of North and Central Whidbey Island.

“It’s just a gorgeous part of the country,” Pollack said in a telephone interview. She chose Whidbey Island to be the first in an uplifting series of shows about beautiful places around the country. She has visited the region before when her son was a student at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma.

She anticipates visiting such areas as Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, Coupeville, Admiralty Head Lighthouse, Greenbank Farm and Meerkerk Gardens.

“Coupeville may become sick of us,” Pollack joked during the interview. During her show, she will present a selection of jewelry that honors the Puget Sound region. She hopes to create more pieces inspired by her visit to Whidbey Island. Those creations should be on sale later in the year.

Pollack has been selling her jewelry through QVC for the past 15 years. She produces Sterling silver jewelry from her business, which employs 250 people, in New Mexico. QVC sells merchandise on television 24 hours a day seven days a week from its headquarters in West Chester, Penn. QVC was founded in 1986 and its broadcasts reach more than 98 million households in the United States.

For Central Whidbey, Pollack’s visit and show will provides some much-desired nationwide exposure.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to advertise our beautiful island,” said Lynda Eccles, executive director for the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce. She has been working with the show’s producers since February to come up with an itinerary for Pollack’s visit. She also gave the show’s producers information about Coupeville’s Memorial Day parade. The historic town is one of the few cities in the state to hold a parade to honor fallen veterans.

“It’s really good to work with them,” Eccles said of the show’s staff.

The crew for “Sincerely Carolyn Pollack” will film May 3 through May 7 on Whidbey Island. Her footage will first air Sunday, May 30 during her show that runs from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. on QVC, which, for Comcast customers, is Channel 16.