Dear Readers, Not being a jewelry person myself, I rarely if ever get excited about the latest in jewelry trends. This season is the exception, however. These artful pieces by Freywille of Vienna, Austria, absolutely knock me out. 
harper's bazaar magazine My dear friend Carolyn Pann actually designs and makes jewelry and recently started her own company. Her particular aesthetic is what I would call alluring. Yes, the pieces are creative, modern, versatile and her prices are remarkably reasonable. But what I love the most is that the materials Carolyn chooses, as shown in the necklace below, are not only fine quality, they are ever so sensual.  Carolyn made a bracelet for me for my birthday a couple of years ago. I told her that wearing it makes me feel cool and sassy and I love how it looks on my wrist. Lucky me. You can see more items by Carolyn and her design team at her company website: luckyme-jewelry.com I own a couple classic pieces that are my go-to accessories. When the occasion calls for something a little more dressy or professional (not sassy), my pearl necklace and my Paloma Picasso gold earrings always fill the bill. But now and again, pretty bracelets and interesting rings grab my attention, as well as my wallet. For example, these unique Freywille bracelets (top photo above) could not be more tempting. But I need to stop and think about a few things here . . . like the price, which considering there are no prices shown on the website, I suspect will be mucho dinero; the fact that, as a trend, wide cuff bracelets are beginning to fade; and ultimately, I need to ask myself . . . do I really need them? As we all know, wants and needs are often two entirely different things. Let's face it. Does anyone really NEED jewelry? Of course we do, Silly. But, like great clothing, a piece of well chosen jewelry is not right unless it's modern, versatile and proportioned according to my body size and shape (MVP). So, if I'm seriously considering buying one of these gorgeous bracelets, I need to decide: - Will this bracelet be a versatile piece for my small (but quite adequate, thank you) jewelry collection? Sure, it would be beautiful in spring and summer with all my tans and whites, but what about in the dead of winter? Would it still work with my blacks, greys and chocolate browns? And what about patterned or print tops? What then? - Are the metals used in the making of this item extremely high quality such that I will not break out in hives? Not very attractive when that happens. - Exactly how big are these little beauties? Hard to tell from a mere photo. I'll need to find them in a store and try one on. (Just exactly how far is New York City?) Hmm. Definitely food for thought. And speaking of food, I'm beginning to feel hungry for a New York deli hot pastrami sandwich. Uh oh. Best regards, Nancy PS. Summer Studio Workshop dates are still available and one of them has your name on it . . . 708.579.1016. Let's talk! studio workshop information | 
