The Coming of Age Accessory

Jewellery is often a gift saved for the most special of occasions, to mark milestones in life, celebrate remarkable achievements or commemorate important occasions. Parents often want to give their child something beautiful that will not only be treasured for time to come, but also something that they will like and make use of. It is thus the gift of choice for a sweet sixteen, a newly eighteen year old, a graduation present or something to mark a new beginning at college.


Buying gifts for your teenage girl is notoriously difficult especially when it comes to jeweller items. What may seem like an elegant and tasteful pair of diamond earrings to you might not necessarily be in style given the fast changing trends of fashion today. That exquisite pearl necklace is likely to come across as mature and standoffish from your teenager’s point of view.


In interesting alternative to the more traditional jewellery gift items, would be a Bracelets. Simple gold, silver or platinum Bracelets are remarkably versatile accessory that can be incorporated into a number of different looks, spanning different fashion styles from preppy to punk. Simple Bracelets can have an astounding number of possible uses. Worn on its own it can complement an evening gown or even a conservative suit worn to a college interview or an important presentation. It can also be worked into everyday wear no matter what the young lady’s prevailing sense of style is. For those that love accessories, the Bracelets can be layered with other hot pieces of the season like chunky wooden bangles, kooky rings or even leather arm bands for girls with a more rock bent.It is this versatility that makes it a most appropriate coming of age gift. Your teenage daughter will be able to have an exquisite reminder of how much she is treasured in the form of simple Bracelets that transcend trends and styles. The effortless charm that simple Bracelets exude makes it the jewellery gift that is most likely to be not only worn regularly but treasured deeply.

Add Elegance To Your Personality With CZ Jewelry

Life cannot be fully enjoyed without some lively and vivacious things in it. As a matter of fact, boredom and mundane routine can be given a new spark with accessories which are colorful and elegant. For some, health may matter most for enjoying life in its full bloom. But for jewelry freaks, there is another thing to add spice in your life. Is it a new revelation for you? If so then keep on reading because there is much in store for you.

CZ jewelry is definitely the thing to go for in order to make yourself attractive and elegant. CZ jewelry is available in various styles and designs to keep you mesmerized and engrossed. Moreover, a vast variety of shapes and carvings have made this piece of jewelry all the more becoming and charming.CZ jewelry is definitely the thing which can make you stand out in the crowd of stylish and elite class. The best feature of CZ jewelry is its affordable price tag. Isn’t this a treat for you? Yes, surely it is as in this age of economic recession, affordability is the basic factor under consideration. You may be thinking that cheap price tag is due to the cheap quality of CZ jewelry; this is surely not the case indeed as CZ jewelry fabulously strong built and durable. The reliability of CZ jewelry cannot be challenged in any case.

All of those who love diamonds but are unable to afford them can, for sure, go for Cubic Zirconia jewelry. This jewelry closely resembles pure diamonds and the priceless fact is that they are not cheap replicas like some other pieces of jewelry available in market. In other words, CZ jewelry is the best alternative for middle-class jewelry fanatics.

What are you waiting for? The best and affordable CZ jewelry is quite in your reach now. Accessorize yourself with CZ jewelry and flaunt in parties and weddings. After all, no one is going to ask about the price you paid for this jewelry rather they would definitely be flabbergasted by the fantastic glitter of this Cubic Zirconia. Wear CZ jewelry and make yourself prominent by giving a unique and chic look!

Article source: Add Elegance To Your Personality With CZ Jewelry

Sweetness In Plume Agate Quartz

This is more of a simple, just elegant design for those who are looking for a little less than the bold. A very nice sized Plume Agate pendant in non-tarnish gunmetal wire and accented with faceted Cherry Volcano and Smoky Quartz and a sprinkling of freshwater pearls in a champagne color.

This and many other artisan crafted designs are available for purchase on our website.
Smoky Quartz: Believed by some to lift depression and dispel negative moods.
Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility. Agates: Balancing physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies; perceptiveness, strength, inspiration, awakening talents.

Patterned Powder Rooms

Jonathan Berger

I suppose I've been on something of a bathroom kick recently. After putting the finishing touches on my master bath last month, I painted my upstairs' guest bath turquoise last week. Next up on my bathroom "to decorate" list is the powder room. What I love about decorating powder rooms is how you can really go all out. Since powder rooms are separated and closed off from the rest of your house, you don't have to worry too much about matching it to the rest of your decor or simply getting sick of it (after all, how much time do you really spend in your powder room?). Unencumbered by any sort of obligation to make it work with the rest of your home, a powder room is a great opportunity to try out crazy color schemes, bold patterns, etc. And, from a practical standpoint, a powder room's small size also equates to fewer dollars spent (particularly important if you're working with a pricier wallpaper) and an easier time redoing everything should you find yourself regretting your leap of faith.

As I've been contemplating the direction I want to take my powder room over the past six months or so, I've also been saving inspiration photos of particularly inspiring bathrooms. When looking back over these shots, the one thing that's immediately apparent is that I have a thing for patterned wallpaper in powder rooms. The wallpaper used in the powder room by Jonathan Berger above is Lysette in Magenta by China Seas and I love the bright pattern and how well it works with the white fixtures. The hot pink is also a great reference back to the main floor of the house, which incorporates hot pink throughout.

Meg Braff

If the wallpapers play a starring role in these powder rooms, then the vanity mirrors are without question the award-winning supporting actresses and actors. In this bathroom from Meg Braff, the organic pattern of the wallpaper (Potalla Background in Jungle Green by Alan Campbell) is nicely set-off by the geometric greek key on the mirror. Just like white woodwork against dark walls, a white mirror creates contrast and even architectural interest where there was none before. There are so many incredible mirrors available on the market today that can be hard to pick a direction but the best advice I can give you is not to limit yourself to mirrors that are expressly for bathrooms. For a roundup of my favorite mirrors, see HERE.

Joe Nahem

This powder room from Joe Nahem is almost too pretty for words, but the Barbara Barry mirrored vanity shifts the mood from girly to glamorous. Describing this wallcovering as "wallpaper" is probably an insult -- it is in fact hand-painted and embroidered silk wallcovering from Fromental. A serious investment, to be sure, but it's undeniably gorgeous.

Jeffers Design Group

Jeffers Design Group out of San Francisco is consistently one of my favorite design teams. Their work is colorful, dramatic and unique, but there's enough traditional elements to keep it from feeling completely off-the-wall -- and that's exactly how I would describe this powder room. I'm a huge fan of wall-mounted faucets, especially when the sink is deck-mounted. I also love the variety of materials used in this room -- nothing matches but it still all works together. And that, in my opinion, is the hallmark of a design professional.

Alessandra Branca

I actually have a number of powder rooms in my inspiration files that have a wonderful "tented" trompe l'oeil effect, and I love the effect in powder rooms that are particularly cramped and/or have low ceilings. Instead of trying to hide the lack of (horizontal or vertical) space, the small size is celebrated. Since my powder room is tiny and tucked underneath the stairs, I contemplated going this route myself.

Thom Filicia

I love how Thom took the wallpaper (Cavern Home's Blackbird Wallpaper) and ran it all the way up and over the ceiling. Not only does it stretch the ceiling height, but it also helps enhance the fantasy-like quality of the paper. To keep the room from being overwhelmed, however, Thom left the wall behind the vanity white (also a great cost-savings measure) and kept the fixtures very sleek and modern.

Monique Lhuillier

Designer Monique Lhuillier's home is still one of my favorite spreads in Elle Decor (see HERE). It's a gorgeous example of how a predominately neutral palette (most of the house is decorated in black, white and grays) can still be incredibly glamorous, dramatic and feminine -- and Monique's powder room is a great example of this. The custom wallpaper is a KWID Imperial Trellis look-a-like from Astek. KWID's classic print is not available in black and white, but you can find it in a tone-on-tone black as well as charcoal and white.

Canadian House & Home

There's something about yellow and white that just makes me happy and it's the perfect palette for a bathroom with little or no natural light. The wallpaper is by Telio, which appears to be available in Canada only. If you're looking for a similar look from a resource available in the use, try Farrow and Ball, which has a great selection of yellow wallpaper in a variety of patterns. If you'd like to see this entire home (which is just as darling as its powder room would suggest), I did a post on it last summer you can view HERE.

Miles Redd

The genius of Miles Redd is that he takes very traditional design elements -- even "granny-ish" elements -- and makes them feel young, hip and new. I absolutely love the sink/faucet in this bathroom, but of course it's Scalamadre "Zebra" wallpaper that really steals the show.

Kristen Buckingham

Okay so I've cheated here a bit: the wallcovering here isn't actually wallpaper, it's one of my favorite fabrics ("Domino" print by Duralee), but if you're looking for a wallpaper in a similar pattern, try the Lydford Pagoda in Black on White by China Seas. I think I would have instinctively stuck with the black and white theme and gone with a white mirror in this bathroom, but I think the antique brass mirror really adds a wonderfully unexpected (and traditional) touch.

So when it came time to select the wallpaper that would go in my powder room I really agonized over the decision -- which is pretty atypical for me. Normally, I select paint colors, fabrics and even furniture relatively quickly. I tend to love things on sight and if the price is right, I go for it. But wallpaper admittedly intimidates me quite a bit. After all, it's not nearly as easy to change as paint and the price can often make a quick change prohibitive anyway.

Last June I ran a poll on wallpaper options. And, while I still love both patterns (and agree with the majority's choice of the Banswara pattern), I decided to go a slightly different direction, primarily because I wanted the powder room to tie in with the adjacent family room and entryway. After much internal debate and hand-wringing, I've decided to go with a classic: Summer Palace by Osborne & Little (shown above). Not only is the print in my beloved blue and white, but it's in a classic chinoiserie pagoda pattern that will stand the test of time. And as for my fear of getting sick of it? Well, I had a nearly identical print (though in a more muted palette of cream and champagne) on the walls of my childhood bedroom. I figure if I still like the initial choice that I made at 16, then it should stand the test of time.

And so, with Summer Palace as a jumping off point for my inspiration, this is my vision for the powder room:

I would love to swap out my existing pedestal sink (similar to the Kohler one shown above) for something a bit sleeker and more "me", but that quite simply isn't in the budget right now. Besides, it's hard to justify ripping out a brand-new sink just because I'm not in love with it, especially when there are far more pressing items on my design "to do" list. So the plan is to stick with the existing sink and hardware and spend the bulk of my budget on the two items that should make the most impact: the wallpaper and the mirror (Williams-Sonoma Home's Hampstead mirror in white, which Dave gave to me for Christmas). Since the pedestal sink is seriously short on storage space, the plan is to pick up a small storage unit like the Newbury etagere from Restoration Hardware ($259) to store necessary sundries...and to display a few pretties as well.

While I'd love to invest in a few hand towels from Leontine Linens, I'm quite sure that, with hand towels starting at $90 a piece, I would never, ever allow anyone to actually wipe their hands with them. And so, in the interest of not completely freaking out my guests, I'll be picking up a few hand towels from Williams-Sonoma Home embroidered with pagodas. Even better, they're currently on sale for $18 a piece. Because all powder rooms should be gorgeously scented, I'd use one of Delirium & Co.'s Blue Period candles (shown is Delirium & Co.'s Blue Absinthe candle ($38)). Finally, for art, I'd hang Anne Harwell's Blue and White Ginger Jar print, which I picked up over the holidays but hadn't found a home for yet.

Unusual Old World Style

A great find from our Tucson trip in a Madagascar Goniatites; but it’s not in the usual black/brown/white colors. This one is cream/brown shades and has a small amount of ‘fiery’ opec reflection that catches the light every now and again and a very tiny amount of dark green leafy patterns on the one side. There is also some ‘ribbing’ on the fossil, giving it a nice texture in such a large sample. To accent and bring out more of the earthy tones, I paired it with very nice colored ceramic Tibetan beads that are filigree bronzy/coppery end-caps and Coral chips (dyes) in a variety of earthly tones; the wiring is handcrafted in non-tarnish brass to highlight the entire stone and necklace.

This piece along with many others is available on our website for purchase.
Coral is known to protect against negative energy while also preventing loss of energy; it also symbolizes joy and happiness, to bring enjoyment in life to the wearer.

Brace Yourself; It Just Might Be Time To Buy Your Man A Bracelets.

Gadgets, ties, cuff links and boring old gizmos galore usually dominate the list when you are shopping for that special man in your life, whether it is for your handsome husband, a good friend, a brother or your dear old daddy. How about something a little bit different this time around? Something to inject some much needed swagger to their usual get ups? Bracelets just might be the answer. Taking the lead from off the runways and out of the glossy fashion magazines, a leading number of fashion forward men are donning the newest accessory of choice; the Bracelets.


Throw out your impressions of dainty, flowery pieces on feminine wrists, Bracelets for men are nothing of the sort. Designs are range from spiky rock star glam to chunky metal pieces that exude masculinity. Bracelets for men can be worn on either wrist; on the same hand as your watch or on separate hands.
When picking out Bracelets for someone who does not usually wear them, a good indicator of their personal style would be their choice of watch, shoes or belt. Clean cut leather shoes and belts reflect a more conservative style. For these individuals, the Bracelets design should be simple and fuss free, a design that is easy to wear with everyday attire.


Guys who are more adventurous in their choice of shoes, watches and belts, generally opt for more elaborate designs or items with a unique individual flavor. Buying Bracelets for this group of guys will be a more exciting shopping experience. Look for designs that complement their distinct taste in shoes, watches and belts. This can be done by picking Bracelets made out of a similar material or those that have a complementary color scheme.Whether you are introduction a new fashion trend to someone or adding to a fashionable males’ collection of accessories; buying a Bracelets for your man of choice should be a novel and fun experience. One that will definitely beat shopping for the boring old shirts and ties that we are all guilty of giving. It is guaranteed to be a fun and fashion changing experience for the receiver; even if a few coaxing words are first needed.

Eclectic Picasso Mixes

Picasso beads are very diverse; with their marbling and colors almost anything is possible. I got the opportunity to try some Picasso beads along with some very nice sterling silver pieces and toggles from Artbeads.com. This collection of Picasso beads has a few different cuts; teardrop, rondelle, oval, and round coin. I love the different colors and the ability to build in any direction with colors.

Here, to the left, I’ve paired the oval and coin round Picasso beads with Turquoise that has a strong color of green to blue and matrix in the same brown and rust patters at the Picasso beads; in-between each is a very nice, very tiny sterling silver square bead that has tiny bubbles on all four corners, which gives nice texture to the necklace pattern.

In this piece to the right, I’ve mixed the faceted rondelle Picasso beads to bring out the blue and green of the stones used; mixed with cracked navy blue glass beads and green/blue Serpertine stones; highlighting with textured oval tube sterling silver beads and a lovely Petsky Coral Fossil pendant.

Legal Disclosure/Disclaimer: As a reviewer of products for Artbeads.com, I received the sterling silver beads, toggles and Picasso bead products free of charge. I have not been paid nor compensated by Artbeads.com for my endorsement of these said products. I have been asked by Artbeads.com to review these products and provide my own honest feedback, whether it be positive or negative.