Now that's a financial incentive, but I don't have the inclination to make necklaces and bracelets. My schedule is fully-loaded as it is!
So, when I attended a neighbor's party on Saturday where Mary Kay products and Just Be Jewelry were featured, I thought hmmmm --
Jewelry making has really taken off, or maybe it's always been popular and I just haven't been paying attention. While I wasn't interested in the Mary Kay products (I'm loyal to L'Bri products, which work excellently for me and are aloe-based and almost purely natural), I spent a lot of time at the jewelry table. There were several bracelets in particular that I really liked. I'm not a bracelet wearer! I ended up purchasing two to take with me to Las Vegas for presents. I can only hope my friends like them, but when it comes to things like jewelry, taste is such an individual thing, one never knows.
You know, I didn't blink an eye paying $18 each for those bracelets, but really, when I think about it, that's outrageous when I look at the stock at Sam Moon, for instance. Yeah, I keep harping on Sam Moon, but for inexpensive and trendy accessories I don't think there's a better place to buy.
I know beads and beaded jewelry have been getting bigger and more trendy over the past couple of years. Those ridiculously expensive charm bracelets made up of individual beads/charms that cost so much -- today's equivalent of beany babies as far as I'm concerned! I think some of them are pretty but, really, I'm not into wearing a mini-fortune of charms on my wrist that won't hold their value.
Now, of course, the market has been flooded with fabulous fakes for cheapskates like me :) Hell, why pay for Pandora if I can buy something I think looks just as cute for under $10 for an entire bracelet? I'm not above using a purse gifted to me that looks much like a fake Coach bag, so I won't turn my nose up at inexpensive but trendy accessories. By the way, those bracelets I bought for my friends -- neither of them were beaded but one did have some little mini-pearls on it.
Sam Moon has a huge selection of bracelets; these are just three of many that show the range of the "beaded" look. They're not Pandora charm bracelets, but I'm not into the charm bracelet look:
Sam Moon: Filigree Ball Stretch
Bracelet
Item #: 368930 |
Sam Moon: Multi Bead Stretch
Bracelet
Item #: 365938 |
Sam Moon: Fashion Stretch
Bracelet
Item #: 359796 |
I selected the second bracelet because I like earth tones; I find the polished beads appealing next to the wood, and I like the juxtaposition of the silver toned divider beads with the warmer gold tones.
The third bracelet is delicate looking and reminds me of something a fairy princess would wear - not exactly sure why; maybe because it looks youthful and fun. It's a pretty little bracelet for a pretty little price!
I stopped by at Overstock.com and found many La Preciosa bracelets for sale for under $20. This is typical of what I saw - I selected this one because I the "black/white" scheme appealed to my chessly sensibilities:
Overstock.com: La Preciosa Glass Silverplated Black Glass Bead and Charm Bracelet $17.99 Item#: 13647571 This pretty bracelet from La Preciosa features black glass beads in various designs that alternate with silverplated beads and a single charm bead. The snake bracelet is crafted of silverplated base metal and secures with a lobster claw clasp. |
If you want to buy gold and silver, you can always shop at Pandora :)
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