Bon Voyage!

In my family, where uncertainty is completely normal, and where people who book carefully planned vacations 16 years in advance are looked at askance, the day when a ticket confirmation arrives in your inbox calls  for ringing of bells and a dance of joy.

I am officially-- irrevocably-- booked to travel to Paris, France in the new year! I have anticipated this two week sojourn in a small French village to study the language since summer, though in a rather loose, nebulous way. Now, tickets are bought, my "Paris" nail color is dry, accommodations are paid, and I am celebrating!

The first few days, I will spend paying homage to the great center of art and culture that is Paris. In a very exciting, and equally unforeseen plot twist, my mom will accompany me to the Eiffel tower and the Louvre, and stay long enough to visit my tiny village!

Look for me sipping hot chocolate and nibbling a croissant, French textbook beside me in the white winter solitude of the Loire valley starting January third:)

Also, over Christmas I realized that I never posted the photos of the gorgeous hand-blown glass necklaces I bought in Malaysia! Each one is crafted to resemble a vibrant local flower, and some of them even glow in the dark!
Each one is $15, cord included. Email me at karamartha@gmail.com to buy a piece of Malaysia:)

Christmas!

Okay, I know that Christmas is coming really quickly! If anyone needs teachers' gifts, or stocking stuffers, or a little something for one more friend, I have just the thing! Email me at karamartha@gmail.com, and I will ship your gift the same day. I will let you know the shipping (it shouldn't be much, because none of my current stock is heavy, and you can send me a check for the price of your items plus shipping.)

 Pearls. Need I say more?! I actually buy pearls for a local jewelry shop, where they will retail for upward of two hundred dollars. Because I buy locally in the Philippines, I can offer a 16 inch strand of high quality cultured freshwater pearls with earrings for $35.

 Tiger's eye and coral dangles. $7.50

 I love to see how these people will turn scraps of shell into something beautiful, like these shell earrings.

  These are crystal-- so pretty! I have amethyst purple, clear, Mediterranean blue, and grass green. $7.50

 I can't really choose a favorite.. but these might be them!

 The Philippines are famous for their jade, and the coral and cobalt were just too precious! I want a pair of each!

 Unless otherwise stated, my earrings are $7.50 each. These are a creamy stone, but due to the language barrier which I have only partly breached, the exact stone will remain a mystery;) How does marble sound?:P

 These mother of pearl utensils are perfect for holiday entertaining-- I imagine them as serving utensils for a buffet! They are twelve dollars for a set of three. You can request one of each, or three of a kind in your set of three.

 The photography credits go to Vanessa Phillips, of Glory Be Photography, my amazing cousin!

 These hand-woven bangles add just the touch that I need with an outfit, and I am only asking five dollars for a set of three, so they would make amazing teachers' gifts!

These bangle style bracelets are mother-of-pearl-- I am in love with them! I usually wear them three or so at a time, and receive tons of compliments! They have a lovely lustre, and I have never seen them anywhere else. I am asking five dollars apiece, or twelve dollars for three.