Photos by David Richmond
Cross Your Sweetheart -- Spiritual
and lovely at the same time are wire-wrapped stones fashioned into crosses
of several sizes. Choose from a black-wire cross
with geologic wonders ranging from purple quartz to "fool's gold," $149.95;
a more slender silver-wire cross with red beads and hematite stones,
$79.95; or a small pendant- or ornament-size cross with polished lapis
chips, $24.95;
all by Dallas artist Rebecca Ellis, available at Das Schulerhaus (701
Dante St., Suite C, 864-1201).
Treasures from the
Heart -- Everyone
needs a place to put special treasures, and here are two stellar versions
that will suit either gender. For large troves, select a red metal box with
a delightful curved shape, gold trim and a painted Chinese scene, $88; or
hide a present in a spangled and beaded gold box that can hide treasures
afterward, $12.50; both from Prince & Pauper (639 St. Ann St., 524-0980;
2801 Magazine St., 899-2378).
Flying Fancies -- Your loved ones will
never be bugged -- not in a bad way, anyway -- when gifted with the winged
creations from local artist and shop owner India Stewart, such as a red wood
frame with swirling designs on it and a silver dragon fly, $38; a small pewter
vase with gold leaf in the shape of bamboo with a butterfly on the lip (also
available with a mosquito or butterfly), $48; all from India Stewart Designs (5419
Magazine St., 894-1014).
Scarlet and Feathers -- Red tapestry
hand-woven in Argentina forms the background of this lovely handbag with
silver handles and black swan feathers on the front by Tere Craig, $210;
dress up the rest of your best girl with a necklace that has a 1930s square
drop with crystals and rhinestones and ruby-colored beads, $150; and a three-strand
bracelet with black nail-head beads, ruby-colored beads, topaz and crystals,
$210; all from Mon Coeur (1537 Metairie Road, Metairie, 831-2043).
Toast to Love -- Celebrate your special
day of love (and many thereafter) with wine glasses with hearts etched in
them, $24 each; and decorative blown-glass hearts with swirls of color in
them, $24 to $44; all from Sable V Fine Art Gallery (3420 Magazine
St., 894-9444; www.sablev.com).
Hearts and Kisses -- Sweeten Valentine's Day for your favorite sweetheart
with a thin-wood box embellished with a heart and lips and filled with Hershey's
kisses, $5.95, from Das Schulerhaus (701 Dante St., Suite C, 864-1201).
All That Glitters -- It's gold and
so much more: necklaces with hearts ringed in diamonds, including a 14-karat
yellow gold pendant with 20 round brilliant-cut diamonds with a total weight
of more than 2 carats suspended from a 14-karat gold wheat chain, starting
at $2,900; and a 14-karat white gold and 20-diamond pendant (available in
varying carat weights) suspended at an angle on a cable chain, starting at
$625; both from Aucoin Hart (1525 Metairie Road, Metairie, 834-9999).
Nature's Bounty -- Lengths of small
bamboo root form the frame for a large square handbag with a curved handle
and velvet lining, $77; and a larger tube of bamboo is used for a cylinder
handbag with a curved bamboo root handle, $40. Mother of pearl and tortoise
discs are woven in three strands on a leather necklace, $30; all from Fairy (3634
Magazine St., 269-2033).
Heartfelt Presents -- You'll certainly
win her heart when you adorn her life with these versions from international
jewelry designer Mignon Faget. Pictured here are a sterling silver heart
with a rhodolite jewel on a pearl necklace, $135; a rhodolite jewel on a
sterling silver heart pin with an arrow through it, $185; and a sterling
silver sweetheart key ring, $80; all from Mignon Faget Ltd. (710 Dublin
St., 865-7361; 3801 Magazine St., 891-2005; 333 Canal St., Canal Place, 524-2973;
3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Lakeside Shopping Center, Metairie, 835-2244).
The
Way to Her Heart -- Perhaps
the quickest way is with a heart she can wear, particularly if it's
an 18-karat yellow gold heart pendant
with a green sapphire on green venzanite beads by jewelry artist Betsy
Barron, $1,670, from Katy Beh (3701 Magazine St., 896-9600). Photo by Susan
A. Campbell
Buttons and Bows -- Bestow a gift of
creativity with a container of 20 different kinds of vintage beads and buttons
as well as the clasps and wire needed to make jewelry, $55; or select from
an assortment of vintage ribbons in varying widths, textures and colors,
2 yards for $5. Kick in a little sweetness with fudge brownie truffles in
a snazzy gift box with a large red teardrop crystal ornament, $4.50 for one
piece and $6.50 for two; all from Ladybug & Chocolate (6107 Magazine
St., 899-8120).
Boundless
Love -- Once you step into this luxurious 1999 Country Coach by
Monaco for a road trip, you may never want to go home. The upscale
motor coach comes
with all the comforts of home: carpeting, plush furniture, a full kitchen,
washer/dryer, shower, bedroom and a living room with a floor that slides
to double its width when parked, $189,000, from Road
Show Coach & RV Center of New Orleans (10940 I-10 Service Road,
520-9928).
