Beautiful new pieces by Natalie Frigo

Black spinels peek out from organic silver shapes

Cognac diamond eyes!

We never know what new (to us) artists we will find for our store when we go to the Philadelphia Buyers' Market.  We picked up several this year.  Natalie Frigo is a New York City jeweler whose limited edition pieces look both ancient and modern.

New Maruca bags have arrived!

Kristan puts out the new Maruca bags we just got in.  The jacquard fabrics are wonderful, with a beautiful sheen that has to be seen in person.  These bags are handmade in Boulder, CO.  Maruca designs new fabrics every six months and has them woven in New York - truly an American-made product.

Local silversmith shines on First Friday

Kristan wears her pod collection

Local silversmith Kristan T. Winand debuts her collections in our store at a First Friday reception 5-9 p.m November 5.  Her pieces sometimes incorporate movable parts (all the beads move in the cuff pictured here).   Kristan can also be found working for us Tuesdays!

See more of Kristan's work on facebook and her website. 

bead it up cuff

Maruca on sale!

We've decided to join the rest of retail humanity and have a sale.  We have to make room for the new fall line of Maruca bags (handmade in Boulder, Co), so all of the Maruca bags we now have in stock are 25% off.  If you haven't tried these bags - well, they're wonderful!  Even Jude bought one, so you know they have to be extra special - sturdy jacquard fabric designed by Maruca and woven in New York.

Stamp out loud

Jude's having fun with a new set of alphabet stamps.  For $95, you can have a sterling silver ring with words of your choice stamped on it.  The center ring above, for instance, is stamped with PEACE  LOVE  UNDERSTANDING.  We call it the What's So Funny ring (thank you, Elvis - no, not that one, the more recent one).  She'll also stamp on titanium for $165 (the right ring above).

A local business we love

Lancaster Surgical Supply doesn't look like much, with its windows crowded with walkers, canes, and other medical equipment.  Treasures await inside, however.  When you enter, you'll hear, "May I help you?", and  you'd better take him up on it.

You'll need help locating, for instance, the world's best band-aids (Coverlets - we swear by them, and nasty things do happen to jewelers' fingers).  Or tidy little packets of alcohol-saturated pads, ideal for wiping down earrings before clients try them on.

The other day, Jude wanted to make sure the exhausted pickle* was neutralized before she sent it down the drain.  Off I went to LSS, on the off chance he'd have litmus paper.  He did - two kinds, one for alkaline substances and one for acidic substances.  I told him (I'd like to give the owner a name, but I don't know it - he did tell me he's a pharmacist) how we marveled at his inventory.  He gets calls daily, he said, from pharmacies looking for items they'd never heard of.  Chances are, he knows what it is and Lancaster Surgical Supply has it.

Lancaster Surgical Supply, 214 N. Duke, Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 397-2763

*a dilute acidic solution use to remove oxide (formed when heating/soldering metal)

The village smithy takes to the street

It's a windy, not-raining day for the block party, and here Jude is, plying her trade 'twixt shop and soft pretzel truck.