They will make the perfect gift for you or someone special! The necklace will be featured in Bead Style Magazine’s November issue. There you will find all the details about how to make them and where to purchase the components. But if you can’t wait and want one already made up, you can purchase one of mine through the website or at Opdyke’s Holiday Showcase, 308 Sea Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ.

Opdyke features the finest crafts made by extremely talented craftsmen from all over the country. Some of the most beautiful things I have ever seen and will never see anywhere else. These are truly special gifts! Visit Opdyke to see more of Les Bijoux’s new holiday inventory. Also, don’t forget about the beautifully handmade crocheted and knitted accessories. Sure to please anyone! With the holidays fast approaching, be the first to own one of these necklaces or one of Les Bijoux’s beautiful pieces of jewelry or accessories while supplies last!

A FLORAL THEME Unites Elements
In Life, the key to harmony is often finding common ground. It’s definitely true in jewelry. The floral theme in this necklace brings together seemingly disparate Lucite, leather, materials beautifully. Plus, combining pastels with taupey browns, fuchsia pinks and a bit of metal makes this look wearable year round. Combine Glass, Lucite, Leather And metal accents

Venice Tips & Places
This week one of our customers asked us for recommendations in Venice and Murano. Since many of you may be planning travels. We’ll share a few of our tips with you.

Visiting a Furnace: There are 2 ways,
1) DELUXE: Ask at your hotel who always has an arrangement with a furnace in Murano. They will pick you up and take you in a taxi. You’ll get a grand tour, history & info on making the glass.
At the end you will be escorted to the “showroom” where you will get an aggressive sales pitch. Some people enjoy the personalized visit, want to spend a chunk of Euro on glass and they are happy. Others enjoy the tour, but have no intentions of buying.

This makes the furnace owner unhappy, so probably there will not be a taxi to take you back to your hotel and you’ll have to find the public vaporetto. (So read carefully #2 below)

2)DO IT YOURSELF (My Pick): Take the public vaporetto to Murano. Take the 41, 42 or the DM (departs Venices from Piazzale Roma or the train Station only). The 41, 42 take about 40 minutes, the DM about 20. Get off at Colonna (its the first stop on Murano).
When you arrive, there will likely be several men (with badges) who will offer you a tour. It’s a short walk with them and you’ll get part of the DELUXE and less of the sales pitch. There will be someone making little horses or animals and it is still interesting.
Afterwards you can wander around the islands (yes there are more than one) and maybe catch another tour.

Shopping in Venice and Murano: 2 Pieces of Advise.
1) If you see something you love, must have, buy it. Don’t think that you will find it somewhere else cheaper because chances are you won’t and secondly chances are you won’t be able to find the first store again or run out of time and then dream about it forever!
2) If it’s cheap it is not Murano Glass. This goes for jewelry, vases, anything glass. The “Merchants” of Venice will let you think it is. Sometimes they will downright lie to you (and to me).

Eating in Venice: First about the food in Venice. It’s a lagoon and their local cuisine is derived from fish and shellfish. Just visit the Fish Market any morning (before noon) and you’ll see the locals buying their daily supplies. The local traditional foods are seppie neri pasta (it’s squid with the ink in the pasta), baccala (dried cod in paste), sarde & soar (onions, sardines & vinegar) and Fegato alla veneziana (liver).

The good news is that the wine, even good wine, is inexpensive.
My favorite Prosecco, Carpene Malvoti, is about 6 Euro in the local grocery. In the US, it’s $24.00 plus tax!
A cappuccino cost about 1.5 Euro, yes it’s a bit smaller but vastly superior!
The other great thing is that there’s no additional tax. What you see on an item is the price, the VAT (equivalent of tax) is already included. Makes figuring out prices a whole lot easier.

Morning Pastry:
In Venice, one of the oldest pastry shops is Pasticceria Rosa Salva. It’s a century old and there are 5 in Venice and one in Mestre (mainland). Ask any local and they can point you in the direction.

Indulging in Venice:
Many Americans make the pilgrimage to Harry’s Bar, but for my 50 Euro, nothing beats sitting in the Piazza San Marco (pick any of the cafes with outdoor seating) and listening to the bands, drinking prosecco and just enjoying being in this historic center with a backdrop of the Chiesa San Marco and the lagoon.

Perlavita Bimbi

Announcing our new Perlavita Bimbi (Children in Italian) with a 2mm Sterling Silver Bracelet in 5, 5 1/2 and 7 Inches. Matching scaled down Perlavita authentic Murano Glass Beads to match and small Sterling Silver letters. Great for Mother-Daughter projects.   Remember authentic Murano Glass does NOT contain lead. Also, look for our new designs using our new Dichroic Sparkle Beads from Italy!   Just stunning!

SPARKLE Beads in PERLAVITA

For those of you who loved our sparkle beads and can’t wait for them to return, our first delivery is in the PERLAVITA line.  We have a new producer who takes care of the sparkle.  On our last trip to Venice, we met this lovely family who takes great pride in their techniques.  And even better they are willing to work with our designs, a new generation of Venetians!  Remember, these beads are compatible with Troll, Pandora, Chamilia Bracelets and Necklaces.

This first line is with an opaque background bead but I fell in love with the transparents, so look for those in the future.  They are more subtle and muted.  The new KLIMT is simply exquisite!  This is just the beginning.  We can do the sparkle beads in any shape we want.  I’m thinking Twist and Pebbles.  What’s your suggestion?

Swarovski Devoted 2 U Heart Pendant
The Devoted 2 U Heart Pendant celebrates passion’s fire and energy and features a unique asymmetrical design inspired by overwhelming desire. It is the creation of India’s most celebrated design talent, Manish Arora, who has once again worked his magic. In partnership with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, he has conjured up a witty, touching and deeply romantic story on the theme of love in a series of 5 heart shapes.  It is easy to see a design or an elegant pendant necklace in any of these and matching earrings from the smaller size.  Available in 36, 27 and 17mm. Look for this gorgeous pendant hanging on the end of one of our beautiful sun catchers.   And don’t miss the Swarovski 6260 with the traditional center hole, and even more colors.

Helpful Hint: MM to Inches Conversion 1 Inch = 25.4 mm

12mm = ~ 1/2 Inch        20mm = ~ 3/4 Inch     25mm = ~ 1 Inch     40mm = ~ 1 1/2 Inch

More Swarovski

The Swarovski 6228 XILION Heart Pendant, 10.3mm x 10mm, in Crystal Bronze Shade. This new color, part of the 2012 collection, is a color that exhibits a metallic flare mixed with an earthy color, which you will find, can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. The 6228 itself  has an array of different uses from earrings to charms to dangles.

Elephants in Venice

While Venice is always an amazing city, one hardly expects to encounter a live elephant.  The most lavish event staged in Venice in recent times was the wedding last week of Pramod Agarwal’s daughter.  He is an Indian born (lives in the UK) trader of metals and commodities.

The wedding party reserved the entire island of San Clemente (near Lido), a 5 star hotel, 800+ guests and at least a couple of elephants and fireworks in a traditional Hindu ceremony.  It is estimated to have cost him about 15 Million Euro (More than 25 million US) with chefs and designers being flown in from Delhi.

About San Clemente: The island of San Clemente history dates back to 1137 when a church was constructed on it. Now this exclusive 5 Star hotel occupies the complex which was built in the second half of the 17th Century as a monastery of the Camaldolesi order (Benedictine).  There are no vaporetti (public boat bus) to the island, the only access is on its private motoscalfi (taxi).
As always we appreciate your business and wish you the very best.

Happy Mother’s Day!   There’s still time to shop for that special Mom!

Pick up a beautiful Clutch bag or a gorgeous piece of jewelry or accessory!  There’s lots to choose from at Les Bijoux Boutique.

Just got some stunning ribbon yarn from Karabella!   It’s called Silk Organzina.   It is absolutely beautiful and will make gorgeous accessories, whether it be a bag, scarf or shrug!  Can’t wait to start working with it!   It’s 100% silk and made it Italy!

My Jewelry and Accessories will be at Lash Out in Red Bank soon.   Visit www.lashoutpro.com to find out more about Lash Extensions and Lash Out!  AK is the owner and you will love what you see!

Also, don’t forget to visit Studio 50!   Edward Lopez is the owner and an extremely talented hairdresser!   You can shop for my Jewelry and Accessories at the Salon as well!

Visit the website at www.lesbijouxboutique.com.

Remember, 15% of my profits are donated to help find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.  Shop for a cause and know that you helped make a difference!

Gorgeous Italian Merino Wool Cowl in a Sedge stitch in shades of greens, purples, browns

Beautiful Italian Merino Wool Scarf in a puff stitch in shades of camel and beige

Beautiful Crystallized Elements by Swarovski Sun Catchers
Leaf, Starfish and Heart – all will make a great embellishment on any window or door

Had a wonderful experience at Monmouth Festival of the Arts!   Sold so many beautiful pieces and got orders for 4 clutches!  Been really, really busy!  These clutches are gorgeous and make fabulous gifts for any occasion!

I am attaching here pictures of all the new pieces I made.   Beautiful  Italian merino wool scarf in a puff stitch and cowl in a sedge stitch!

Take a peek at the beautiful sun catchers too!   Used gorgeous Crystallized Elements by Swarovski.   These look great on any window or door and definitely reflect and catch the sunlight to give you a rainbow of colors and bring life into your home!

I always need to be working on more than one project.  So, while crocheting the clutches, I am also knitting a beautiful ruffled scarf using Trendsetter Flamenco yarn!   I love it!  Wait until you see how “now” this scarf is!  Great colors too!

My jewelry and accessories are now at Studio 50 in Ocean, NJ on West Park Avenue!   Visit the Salon.   You will love Edward, the owner!  Very talented hairdresser!

Visit the website at www.lesbijouxboutique.com.   I will be adding the pictures of the new items!  I think you will love them!

Remember, 15% of my profits are donated to help find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.  Shop for a cause and know that you helped make a difference!