Check out all the eye-popping baubles, just in time to start thinking about…should I say it…holiday gift giving.

International Gem and Jewelry Show
Timonium Fair Grounds
2200 York Road
Timonium, MD (map it) (about 20 minutes north of Baltimore )

Dates and Times – Friday, October 31 – Sunday, November 2, 2008.

• Hours – Friday – Noon to 6:00, Saturday - 10 to 6, and Sunday - 11 to 5.

Tickets – $7:00, and are available at the door.

Parking – Limited paid parking is available.

Public Transportation – You can travel from DC’s Union Station to the Fair grounds, using MARC trains, but it’s a 2-3 commute requiring multiple bus transfers.  Visit Maryland’s MTA website for details.

Images – Flickr – Turquoise Necklace, Diamond ring

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Post from: The DC Traveler

NIDO, a cool Georgetown boutique that specializes in women’s jewelry, handbags and accessories

Jackie, the friendly owner of NIDO (nest in Spanish), studied design at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). She opened the small store about a year and a half ago by first, traveling the globe to find suppliers that fit her one-of-a-kind niche. Then, as word spread, artisans started to find her, some by simply walking into the store with a case of their samples. 

The store excels in unique purses. One, pictured here on the left, is from a series of round bags made from recycles metals.  The mostly metal painted bag has chrome end caps that are as shiny as a 1955 Chevy hub cab.  Another feather-accentuated purse had a unique feature, a couple LED lights built in that automatically turn on when the bag was opened and then shut off using a timer, something many women may find to be a cool feature in a dark nightclub, theater or in a car at night.

Another major product set at NODO is the hand-made jewelry. Again sourcing from jewelry makers form around the globe, there are pieces that range from subdued to colorful and fashion forward. Jackie mentioned that one of her jewelry makers personally delivers new items every few months all the way from Argentina.

NIDO also caries other items — women’s clothing and a few men’s  pieces, fun shoes for little kids, hats (more fall and winter season), and more. 

Her customers  ranges from young to mature, but with one common element, they love to be stylishly different.

The store doesn’t have a web site yet, as their inventory moves too fast to keep one updated, but she was hoping to launch one this summer.

NIDO
1425 Wisconsin Avenue, near P Street
Washington, DC (map it)
202-333-5445

Hours - Tuesday-Saturday – 11:00 – 8:00, Sunday – Noon – 6:00. 

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Foggy Bottom – Orange and Blue lines, then a 1¼ mile walk or cab ride or use the DC Georgetown Circulator which stops just a couple blocks away.

Parking – Free and metered street parking (look for the new meter system) is available in the area.

Images – from personal collection   © 2008 – Jon Rochetti 

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Post from: The DC Traveler