Heroes Among Us

Today's lesson:
A French word for jewelry

+ handcrafted by a small business owner

= the ultimate fancy buffalo.

I am currently obsessed with rose-cut cabochon necklaces. They are equally funky and romantic and they make me imagine my great-grandmother in the flapper days. Because of this, I must have one in every color of the rainbow.

A cabochon (kab-a-shon) is a highly polished and sculpted stone that is unfaceted. You can find them galore on Etsy.com, the place I go first when I am looking to buy anything from jewelry to vintage dresses to art to baby shower gifts. Etsy is a community of people who contribute to the world by making their own goods, recycling vintage goods and using organic products. It is an amazing place with amazing things, and the selection of jewelry I picked to showcase this weekend is no exception.

Take a moment to find a treasure at a reasonable price … and in the meantime, give a bit of support to one of the oldest and greatest professions of all time: handcrafting. Why buy from a factory when you can swipe up a unique item?

Featured Etsy store: Maria Elena Jewelry, Cherry Hill, NJ

When searching for cabochons, I stopped in my tracks when I reached the fabulous shop Maria Elena. These folks, located in Cherry Hill, NJ, handcut the one-of-a-kind cabochon roses from fine clay. Their necklaces are made to order with glass beads and silver or gold chains. The featured photo above is just one example of the nearly 30 colors and beads from which buyers can choose. They also have a vast collection of other jewelry: earrings, bracelets, necklaces, you name it. My favorite item from Maria Elena? These chunky emerald Swarovski teardrop earrings . The icing on the cake — Free shipping!

This and That

I assembled a little collage of random vintage-y cabochons for sale on Etsy…. links and prices follow. Enjoy! And buy handmade!

photos property of stores listed below. collage by fancybuffalo.com

1. hotpinkchick, Temple, PA …. $13 (+2.00 shipping)
2. candysart, Salem, OR…. $27 (+2.50)
3. OliviaIsabella, Temecula, CA…. $18 (+2.00 shipping)
4. laralewis, State College, PA…. $14 (+3.50 shipping)
5. OurCreations, Hinckley, OH…. $72 (+3.50 shipping)
6. ThesePreciousThings, Lebanon, KY …. $30 (+5.00 shipping)
7. gemsinsilver, Brighton, MA…. $89 (+5.00 shipping)
8. PidgApeg, Hendersonville, NC…. $15 (+2.00 shipping)
9. OliviaIsabella, Temecula, CA…. $18 (+2.00 shipping)

** These items were hand-picked at my discretion. Nothing in the “Artisans Across America” series is a paid advertisement. I simply feature things I like. All photos are property of shops listed.**

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