Don’t overlook the interesting and affordable at local shops

When we think of buying jewelry, especially the fashion variety, we usually think of going to a department store or a boutique-type clothing store where we find the latest trendy item probably made outside of this country. But there are several sources for interesting and affordable jewelry in Topeka that are often overlooked.

Art galleries and shops are wonderful places to find one-of-a- kind jewelry pieces that aren’t only made in the United States, but are very likely handmade in Topeka by both well-known or emerging artists.They provide manifold services and all kinds of jewelry such as wholesale costume jewelry,fashion jewelry wholesale,wholesale jewelry,jewelry supply,pearl jewelry,body jewelry etc. Follow galleries and shops can give you what you wanted and also may make you enjoyself.

The Collective Gallery

The Collective Gallery consists of a consortium of artists working in a variety of mediums, including jewelry. Allison Shaefor, daughter of local favorites Bo and Doug Sheafor, of the Albo Glass team, is showing some of the most innovative jewelry. She places small glass beads inside organically shaped blown glass pods, which are hung on chains and leather bands as pendants.

Laura Timmons, of Leawood, weaves fibers and metal wire with gems and beads to make softly textured neck pieces in subtle, elegant colors. Linda Gebert, of Wichita, works in silver, clay, 24-karat gold, gems and cloisonne enamel.

Glass Expressions

Just walking into Glass Expressions is a feast for the eyes, not only for the collection of fine glass home accessories but for the display cases full of jewelry. A consistently popular artist is Eleanore Macnish, a former Topekan now living in Albuquerque, N.M. She makes “happy” jewelry, as she calls it, that incorporates bright, colorful lampwork beads. Her signature bead is a black bead with raised white dots on it. The store can’t get enough of her black and white earrings to add to the collections of her followers.

Margie Weidenbaker and the Glass Expressions staff spend a lot of time educating their customers about the processes used in glass bead- making. You can learn more about cased, sparkling glass beads that have glass pigment under clear glass from internationally known Penrose Designs; dichroic glass, a material that manipulates light to simultaneously produce two very different colors; and Kromastones from the technologies of “thin film” physics and vacuum deposition, refracting colors that shift when viewed from different angles. And if you don’t care about any of these details, the jewelry is just plain gorgeous.

The Phoenix Gallery

The Phoenix Gallery represents so many jewelry artists that it takes some time to really see all of the selections. Brooches and bracelets by Connie Bentjen incorporate vintage silver spoons that take on the forms of angels; wonderful hand-twisted silver earrings - — each one different, so mix and match — by Topekans Stacey and Monique Davis; and refined silver necklaces, rings and bracelets with asymmetrically cut gemstones by Lilly Barrick to wear with contemporary business attire.

And you mustn’t overlook the outstanding vintage American Indian silver and turquoise from the collection of gallery owner Kyle Garcia.

Mulvane Art Gallery

The Mulvane Art Gallery, located on the Washburn University campus, is a hidden treasure for jewelry-lovers. You will find charming amulet-type pendants created with the gardener in mind.

Carletha Kosky combines ribbons, beads, and wrapped paper collages of garden scenes. Laura Smith, of Kansas City, makes large, chunky and whimsical heart brooches using beads, buttons and other found objects.

Frankie Parman, the acquisitions chairman for the museum, says that women are wearing brooches almost everywhere except on a lapel - — on handbags, belts and skirt pockets. The museum’s business is especially successful during the holiday season.

So think outside the box when considering gifts for someone special or adding to your own unique jewelry collection. Topeka has it all.

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Today, her heart might go pitter-patter. His might have done the same at the cash register. But even with gold at an all-time high of more than $900 per ounce, Oklahoma jewelers are reporting strong Valentine’s Day sales.

Ask Kevin Moody, vice president of Moody’s Jewelry, about the jump in gold prices and expect a confident, quick answer.

“The good news is that it hasn’t had a negative effect on business,” he said. “Most people would believe that people would be scared away, but the fact that gold has gone up is a rather small impact on us.”

The National Retail Federation estimates Valentine’s Day spending will be up this year from last. But it also said spending for jewelry will slightly decrease.

Regardless, the jewelry industry is counting on the idea that people will still shell out the big bucks for some glittery items.

Jim Clark, chairman of B.C. Clark Jewelers, with three Oklahoma City stores, said each year Valentine’s Day becomes a stronger holiday for the store, second only to Christmas.

The store also sees a boost from procrastinators.

“Valentine’s Day is primarily a two-day holiday when it comes to selling,” Clark said. “Most men will wait until the last minute, so we have a big rush on the 13th and 14th without fail.”

Despite rising gold prices, Clark said customers have not shied away from the precious metal, which has jumped to more than $900 an ounce.

Instead, Clark said customers are often more focused on lines such as Hearts on Fire, a collection of the world’s most perfectly cut diamonds.

And even if the diamond is set in gold, Clark said the price is often only slightly affected.

The high price of gold in many instances has even sparked customers’ interest in the metal.

“People see the price of precious metals increasing and that increases their desire for it and the knowledge that gold is pretty valuable,” he said. “They also hanker for kinds of jewelry which are valuable and exalted such as wholesale costume jewelry,fashion jewelry wholesale,wholesale jewelry,jewelry supply,pearl jewelry, body jewelry etc.”

Clark said the only gold items where customers will feel the price increase are items that are mostly gold, like a man’s solid gold wedding band.

Clark said some customers have also been looking at alternatives to gold, not due to the high price, but because of what he described as several interesting new metals such as tungsten carbide.

Gold often costs about one-and-one-half to two times as much as tungsten carbide.

Despite some rising costs, Clark said shoppers - particularly Valentine’s shoppers - have been unabated in their desire for jewelry for that special someone.

“It even surprises us sometimes what people will spend on Valentine’s,” he said.

Michael Guillory, manager of Moody’s on Utica Square, said because so many couples get engaged on Valentine’s Day, he does not see any reason for a decrease in sales regardless of the current price of precious metals.

“It’s been a good holiday and I see it being equally as good as last year,” he said. “You can never go wrong with jewelry; it’s expressing a celebration of love.”

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About 90% of teens and quite a few adults are affected by acne. In fact, each year, the acne product industry sells billions of dollars worth of products to help treat acne. However, the best and cheapest way that you can deal with acne is to make sure you don’t get it at all. There are a variety of things that you can do to avoid acne. So, here are a few simple ways that you can avoid acne that you should remember and practice.

Way 1 Cleanse Your Face Cleansing your face is one of the most important things that you can do to avoid getting acne. You should wash your face twice a day, in the morning and at night, and if you work out and get sweaty, you should wash your face afterwards as well. This can help you to avoid getting acne. Just make sure that you don’t scrub at your face, which can irritate the sensitive skin on your face. Make sure you pat your skin dry as well instead of rubbing it.

Way 2 Keep Your Hair Away Keeping your hair away from your face is also important if you want to avoid acne. Your hair has oils in it and this can get on the skin of your face, leading to acne breakouts. If your hair is not kept short around your face, use accessories such as barrets or headbands to keep your hair from falling in your face all the time.

Way 3 Eat Right Yes, eating right can help you to prevent acne as well. When you eat vegetables and fruits that are full of good vitamins, they help to keep your body healthy, which can help to prevent acne as well.

Way 4 Drink Water Consuming plenty of water each day is another way that you can prevent acne. It helps to get rid of the toxins in your body. You see, acne is started on the inside, not on the outside of your body. So treating and preventing it from the inside is important if you want to be successful.

Way 5 Use Cosmetics that are Natural Natural cosmetics can be helpful as well if you want to avoid acne problems. Make sure that your cosmetics are hypo-allergenic, but if you can, avoid using any cosmetics on your face at all, which will help you keep your skin nice and clean all the time. Also, if you do decide to use cosmetics, be sure you wash all of it off before you go to bed at night.

Way 6 Avoid Touching Your Face You should avoid touching your face at all times, unless of course you have to. Your fingers have bacteria and oil on them and you don’t want to spread this to your face, so just avoiding to touch your face if at all possible can really help.

Pat Dee is the publisher of 7 Secrets to Acne Free Skin a guide on fighting acne and using the right products with your skin type for acne free skin. To learn more acne treatments visit her blog at Exposed Skin Care or her web site at Acne

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

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by: Villas Luz, Lda.

All of this is now less than an hour drive from Lisbon International airport along the new A8 motorway, linking the vibrant capital of Portugal with historic Oporto in the North. As there is also a proposed new international airport to be located at OTA, this little known region is opening its doors to the outside world. For decades the Algarve has been the only realistic location for overseas buyers to enjoy the unique hospitality of the Portuguese, but prices there have put it out of reach for most. Now we are pleased to invite you to experience the heart of Portugal - a secret we can all share.

A region for life

Exploring the tranquil towns, villages and countryside of this beautiful region will confirm to you that here is a place that genuinely has the best of both worlds. Whilst offering a life of rural calm amidst the spectacular scenery, at the same time it is perfectly equipped with access to all the modern facilities of transport, healthcare, education and leisure that make life a pleasure for all generations. The Western Region enjoys entertainments and events throughout the year: concerts, art exhibitions, the Torres carnival - ‘the most Portuguese event in Portugal’, the Caldas da Rainha ceramics and fruit fairs, the Bombarral wine festival, Peniche’s Festas da Nuestra Senhora da Boa Viagem, the Montejunto popular festival (Cadaval), Alenquer’s Feira da Ascensao, festivals in Sobral, Monte Agraco and Arruda dos Vinhos, Feiras da Cebola e das Tasquinhas and hundreds more fairs, festivals and popular gatherings. The region has many hotels with superb facilities and innumerable restaurants, bars and lively venues which ensure that one’s first visit to the Western region is never the last. For golf enthusiasts the Western Region is the new destination in Portugal. Golf Courses at Praia d’el Rey (18 holes)and Rio Maior (18 holes) are complemented by 9-hole courses at Consolação and Porto Novo - Bom Sucesso and Perola da Lagoa 18-hole courses are actually already under construction and the brand new project of the 18-hole course of Foz do Arelho, which will be the hugest should begin within the year 2007. The natural abundance of the area is enhanced by beautiful fine-sanded beaches, where the sands shimmer like silver, at Santa Cruz, Porto Novo, Areia Branca, S. Bernardino, Consolação, Peniche, Baleal, Foz do Arelho and Salir do Porto. Local crafts can be found in Peniche, which is notable for its lace, and in Caldas da Rainha, which is one of the most important centres for ceramics in Portugal. The new Peniche recreation centre is a base for water sports, with a haven of fishing and scuba-diving in Berlenga. Santa

Cruz and Peniche (Supertubos beach and Lagide beach) are the places for surf lovers. The Obidos lake has sailing, rowing and windsurfing. Montejunto, Serrado Socorro and Santa Rita beach are the main locations for paragliding and hang-gliding. The Santa Cruz aerodrome, with its flying school, offers flights in light aircraft and gliders. There are equestrian centres in the Hotel Golf Mar, in Marquiteira (Lourinha), in Atouguia da Baleia - at the Quinta das Tripas and the Quintas de Bom Sucesso - Lourinha, S. Sebastido - Arruda dos Vinhos, Quinta da Ferraria and Cortisada - Rio Maior.

A region for health

Healthcare facilities are modern and efficient and offer a good range of public and private services for all your requirements. In addition the region offers several thermal baths: Vimeiro (digestive system, circulatory system, respiratory system and skin), Cucos (metabolic and endocrine systems, rheumatics, muscular and skeletal systems) and Torres Vedras and Caldas da Rainha - the oldest in Europe (respiratory system, rheumatics, muscular and skeletal systems).

A region for Gourmets

Gastronomy in the region is rich and varied: there are many delicious pork dishes, oven baked kid, stewed rabbit with rice, celebrated fish stews, baked or boiled sea bream and rock bass from Peniche, eels and cockles from the Obidos lake and shellfish from the beds at Porto de Barcas (lagosta suada - ’sweating lobster’ - is a delicacy which can only be found in the Western Region). The gastronomical influence of history is evident in trouxas de ovos, lampreias de ovos (sweet dishes made with eggs) and cavacas (light crisp cakes) from Caldas da Rainha, bean pies from Torres Vedras and paes de lo (sponge cakes) from Landal, Painho and Rio Maior. All are complemented by the taste and aroma of apples and pears.

The Western region is also one of the largest wine growing areas in Portugal and indeed the world. The area boasts full-bodied, aromatic red wines with excellent alcoholic content: the wines of the south (castas Camarate, Periquita and Tinto Miudo) are lively when young, intense yet well balanced and with an exquisite bouquet when aged. The white wines of the north are deliciously fruity (castas Arinto, Fernao Pires, Vital). Out of this diversity, the wine-growing areas of Obidos and Alenquer, Arruda dos Vinhos and Torres Vedras were born in 1989. The region is also known for its light wines with lower alcohol content, and for the only DOC (controlled standard of origin) classified brandy in Portugal - Aguardente Vinica from Lourinha.

PORTUGAL - COSTA DE PRATA - THE SILVER COAST

Aveiro in the north is unique: it is criss-crossed by canals grandly embroidered with art nouveau houses and spanned by hump- backed bridges. Here in colourfully painted ‘moliceiro’ boats, seaweed is gathered in the vast saltwater lagoon. Further inland you can sample the curative waters of the elegant thermal spa towns of Luso and Curia, fashionable since early this century. And in the Bucaco forest nearby, stands the Palace Hotel, resplendent with turrets, arched galleries and an enormous marble staircase: a perfect hideaway for romantics.

The lively University city of Coimbra is a mixture of ancient and modern. Its streets are filled with the chatter of black-caped students and the soulful tones of fado. The university library, one of the best in Europe, is a Baroque fantasy where the rooms each lead into the next creating a telescope-like effect. The old Cathedral is one of the most important examples of Romanesquc architecture in Portugal. In the Marchado de Castro Museum, you’ll find religious art treasures and can actually explore the ruins of the Roman crypt over which the museum was built. An even more impressive sight is the nearby Roman city of Conimbriga. On the west coast, the town of Figueira da Foz has vast beaches and a famous casino.

Further south is the charming town of Leiria with its crenulated walls towering high above an almost perpendicular rock. From May to October, the roads nearby are lined with pilgrims - many on foot - visiting the famed shrine of Fatima where three shepherd children claimed to have seen visions of the Virgin Mary.

Thirty four kilometres east is Tomar where the bastion of the Knights Templar later became the Convento de Cristo. Tales of mystery and hidden treasures echo around it’s cloisters and its crowning glory is the ornate Manueline window.

Another magical place is the Castle of Almmourol, just south, which stands on a tiny island and is steeped in legends of giants and knights.

Further opulent architecture can he discovered at Batalha in the Santa Maria da Vitoria Monastery, with its flying buttresses, gargoyles, pinnacles and the intricate stonework of its cloisters. Close to this is one of Portugal’s most awe-inspiring monuments: the Monastery of Alcobaca, which has been given UNESCO world heritage status. The kitchen, with ovens big enough to roast six oxen at once, even has two streams converging through it into one. The monastery also contains the tombs of King Pedro and Ines de Castro whose passionate love story has inspired writers and poets all over the world. Many of the farming methods and agricultural science of the region introduced by the Cistercian monks are still in evidence today.

The delightful town of Obidos, with white houses adorned with bougainvilleas and honeysuckle was captured from the Moors by the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, in 1148. D. Dinis later presented it to his wife, Queen Santa Isabel. From then until 1883, the town of Obidos and the surrounding land was always the property of the queens of Portugal.

Encircled by a ring of medieval walls and crowned by the Moorish castle rebuilt by D. Dinis, which is now a pousada, Obidos is one of the most perfect examples of our medieval fortress. As in olden times, the town is entered through the southern gate of Santa Maria, embellished with eighteenth-century azulejo decoration.

Inside the walls, which at sunset take on a golden colouring, one can sense a cheerful medieval ambience of winding streets, old whitewashed houses bordered with blue or yellow, Manueline embrasures and windows, reminding us that King D. Manuel I (sixteenth century) carried out major works here, and masses of colourful flowers and plants.

Be sure to visit the Igreja Matriz de Santa Maria (Parish Church of Santa Maria), the pretty Capela de Sao Martinho (Chapel of S. Martinho) and, outside the town walls, the Igreja do Senhor da Pedra (Church of the Senhor da Pedra).

Among the events that take place every year in Obidos, the most important are the Holy Week Festivities (recreating the steps on the Way of the Cross), the Ancient Music Festival in October and, for the more gluttonous, the International Chocolate festival in November, which includes an international competition in which the recipes are judged by an international jury of experts.

Fatima - With its origins deep in history, it was during the Arabian occupation that this settlement developed and was named. According to legend, during the Christian Reconquest, the Templar knight Goncalo Hermingues, also known as Bringer-of-Moors, fell in love with Fatima, a Moor captured in the course of an ambush. Reciprocating the love, the young woman converted to Christianity and adopted the name Oureana.

In the sixteenth century, the settlement became a parish in the collegiate church of Ourem within the Diocese of Leiria.

Its subsequent development dates from the events known as the Apparitions of Fatima, in the early part of the twentieth century. It has become one of the key centres for the Cult of the Virgin Mary in Portugal and has been recognised world-wide by the Catholic Church.

The first apparition took place in 1917, in Cova da Iria, at the site of the current Sanctuary. The most important celebrations are held on 13th May (including the Candlelit Procession on the night of the 12th and the Farewell Procession closing the event on the 13th) and 13th October. Furthermore, the 13th of every month between these two dates is also a day of devotion.

For those interested in the historical context of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, visits can be made to the houses of the shepherd witnesses in the village of Aljustrel.

In the gardens of Casa de Lucia, there is a monument commemorating the second apparition of the Angel of Peace and the end of the Via Sacra which begins in the Sanctuary.

Along this route, there are 14 chapels donated by Hungarian Catholic refugees in the West. Of particular note is Valinhos, 400 metres from the village where monuments commemorate the fourth apparition in 1917 as well as the place chosen by the angel. Here, in 1916, the shepherds saw the Angel of Peace for the first and third times.

On the coast is the fishing village of Nazare where you’ll find fishermen in knee length plaid trousers, and women in full skirts and seven petticoats, mending nets. The walled town of Obidos should also not he missed, with its narrow streets of brightly white-washed houses and striking towers of the Castle that’s now a splendid Pousada Take just a short trip south and you can explore the active fishing port of Peniche which has a dominating 16th century fort built for protection against marauding pirates. The Silvercoast is one of the most peaceful and romantic places of all.

Buying Property in Silver Coast Portugal

Buying property in Silver Coast Portugal is currently popular with Europeans, but as of yet, not so much with the British property buyers. This is because properties are relatively inexpensive and transport links to/from the UK are getting better and cheaper to the Silver Coast. Buying property in Silver Coast Portugal offers superb beach holiday facilities with a great summer climate, great culture, architecture and history. Also, the Silver Coast is tipped to see significant capital property value rises in the coming years.

Portugal is an evergreen in the overseas property market. Build quality is high, property prices have grown a steady 10-15% per annum since the Millennium, and there’s a broad choice of property across the price range and country - within the Silver Coast the price grow within the following years will possibly reach the 25 - 35 %.

Buying property in Silver Coast Portugal offers good prospects for rental from both the local market and from holidaymakers, and with the potential of significant property price rises on the Silver Coast Portugal, this could be the ideal place to invest in a holiday home.

Buying property in Portugal still has great appeal as it has a benign tax system which allows avoidance of the worst effects of capital gains and inheritance tax and can put you in a lower tax band.

Why buy in the the Silver Coast

Property experts have been advising clients to look beyond the Algarve, with its pockets of overgrowing, and invest instead in homes 45 minutes’ drive from Lisbon on Portugal’s Silver Coast. Maddison says, “The Algarve used to be the most popular area. However, it is now rather overrun with Brits and over commercialized. In other words it is too popular now, with many of those looking to purchase in Portugal now looking elsewhere.”

According to international property specialists the Silver Coast is now the up-and-coming area in Portugal. “Many Brits are selling up in the Algarve and moving up to the Oeste Region, which is located just north of Lisbon. This area is still very Portuguese, with farming the main source of income for the locals. It does not die in the winter because most of the locals are Portuguese. The cost of properties is so much cheaper than on the Algarve - so there is still room to make money in this area”.

But what of the place itself? The Silver Coast stretches from Porto down to Portugal’s capital Lisbon and hugs the North Atlantic coastline; it is home to beautiful beaches, amazing cliffs, quaint fishing villages, lush rolling countryside and some of the most fascinating historic sites in Portugal. Here you can discover pretty villages and a real Portuguese way of life. The Silver Coast is a particularly good bet for those with holiday lets in mind, thanks to the new A8 motorway which has cut journey times from Lisbon to the Silver Coast considerably, opening the atmospheric towns of Caldas da Rainha and Turcifal, and pretty villages, such as Peniche, up to tourists and investors.

There is a wide range of property available on the Silver Coast. You can find traditional farmhouses in need of renovation, but there has also been a fair amount of developments popping up and luxury villas with pools and apartments in complexes are easy to find.

Access to the area is becoming even easier as more and more airlines now offer frequent flights to Lisbon.

Hope to see you soon in the Silver Coast of Portugal - http://www.silver-coast-properties.net

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The Gurrlie Girl income opportunity is designed for those who love fashion. Basically, what the Gurrlie Girl business states is that you would be a fashion consultant during home shows. The business is based on your owning your own business and working from home. You just have to buy the fashion accessories such as jewelry to become a Gurrlie Girl fashion consultant.

The Gurrlie Girl business offers jewelry for women and children that you are able to show off to friends, family, and co- workers. This type of business works in the same way many of the home business opportunities do. You buy the merchandise, have a friend host a party, and then have a show with food and drinks. The idea is that the more you purchase, the more variety you have to sell to your clients.

With Gurrlie Girl, the fashions are regulated to a Christian-based theme. There are going to be many types of crosses, scripture bracelets, and necklaces for those who would like to have faith based jewelry. This limits your clientele just a bit, but it may still be successful as long as you promote to the right market.

The Gurrlie Girl Company is based out of Nevada and California. The Gurrlie Girl Company is trying to create interesting jewelry that will change over time to offer stylish and affordable jewelry for those interested in Christian-based pieces. It is important as a consultant with your own business that you know the product line and can speak intelligently.

The idea of the Gurrlie Girl home based business is that it works for who you are and the needs you have. If you are just looking for a little extra income it seems that is possible, or you can increase the income by doing shows as well as private events as your sole career. The Gurrlie Girl fashion consultants are supposed to be professional in the demonstration of jewelry as well as be able to market it.

The idea behind the Gurrlie Girl fashion consultant business is that you are handy when the customer wants to buy something from you directly rather than going to the website and waiting for the shipment to go out and arrive. They are also trying to create the business so that it is in the hands of the customer as soon as possible and fresh products.

There are a few ways you can offer Gurrlie Girl fashion consultant work with your business. You can be part of the home shows in your area such as festivals, fairs, church socials, and other gatherings or the traditional hostess show. When you host a show you are able to get benefits like free jewelry for how many items are purchased at the show.

For the home show, according to the website, the jewelry is available for sale, and can even be packaged. Basically you are the medium for the Gurrlie Girl Company to get their products out there for customers and to help you earn extra income.

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