Eye Candy Interlude - Exciting Bracelets by Giftbearer

Moss Chilled By Autumn - 7 1/2"-8 1/2" with extender.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=15993456
This bracelet includes artisan-made ceramic beads made by a co-op of African women, lampwork beads, bone rondelles, irregular Vintage bone-colored glass disks and a daring combination of brass, copper, and vermeil.

Silver, beads, copper, lampwork, vermeil, you name it I've got it! You don't have to pass up what you really want if you start your holiday shopping early this year. Just set aside some funds from each paycheck and buy a piece here and there between now and December and before you know it everybody on your list will be taken care of. You'd be surprised how well this works rather than rushing at the last minutes to buy everything in that one pay period. Then in December you can sit back and relax because it's all done!

How many of you have had to settle for gifts last year that were cheap and fast but weren't quite right for the people close to you because time got short and you were afraid that you couldn't get shipping before the holidays?

You didn't realize where your money went and where your time went and suddenly there was not enough of either. You were stressed and frantic, trying to finish up your last minute shopping and somehow what should have been an enjoyable experience became instead a dreaded nightmare you just wanted to be done with. Soon you were looking for any gift with your last few dollars and didn't care what it was.

I want your experience to be better this year, so I'll be posting some possible suggestions on this blog, and maybe this can be a win/win for us both. Hopefully I'll gain some repeat customers, and you will thoroughly enjoy your holiday shopping experience, and your friends and family will be thrilled with just how perfect and thoughtful your gifts are.

Opulent Mystery - 6 2/8-7 6/8 with extender.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=12207568

If you like big and bold bracelets this one will strike your fancy! It includes some very luminous lampwork beads, sterling chain, feathers and spacers, and the centerpiece is an impressive tumbled freeform nugget of Turquoise.

Caravan by Moonlight - 8"

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=12903155

Constructed using bead crochet, this bracelet uses an unusual AAA Lapis square with a hole in the middle as a focal and a toggle clasp. I always have fun making innovative features in my jewelry and this is another example of something functional but fun; one of those things that makes you go, "Hmmmm..."

Offerings to the Gods

Dina Cuomo of Elektrajewelry has worked with stones for over 10 years and loves working with 18 or 24 Kt. gold vermeil because of her Greek heritage and her travels to that country which have made a strong impression upon her. She also works with sterling silver, and recently brought back some Murano glass beads from Greece over the summer. She will be making more of these designs available in the near future.

One of my favorites of hers is Multicolored Tourmaline Bracelet with colors ranging from a rootbeer brown to a yellow-green, bali sterling silver clasp, and nugget spacer beads with facets that reflect the light and mimic the faceting on the gemstones used.

Her Sunstone and Turquoise necklace similarly gives off a warm glow, but in this one, the Turquoise adds contrast between cool and warm, lending another layer of interest.

Purple Passion has big, smooth organic chunks of tumbled Amethyst, a bali focal bead, and lemon opalite. This piece reminds me of fruit juice with its rich, velvety colors.

Pictured at top is Dina’s Carnelian Candy necklace. I first thought the metal was vermeil but then read in the description that it uses brass chain. It has a very elegant design, and the Carnelian rectangles have such a glow from inside. Note the luxurious length!

Until recently, being a fulltime teacher and mother prevented her from pursuing this full-time, but Dina has now launched her business full-force. She currently lives in Goldens Bridge, New York. To see her whole collection go to her Etsy store at:
http://Elektrajewelry.etsy.com

and to learn more about the artist, read her blog at:
http://elektrajewelry.blogspot.com/