Christmas Cocktails...Martinis Anyone?

Who doesn't love a little sugar
around the rim?

White Gold
White Diamonds
Martini Earrings

The Startini
(Spectrum's very own martini)

2-3 parts Absolut citron
1 part sour mix
1 1/2 parts cranberry juice
1 part razzmatazz (any raspberry flavoring will do)
and a fresh squeeze of lemon or lime
Chill and shake like a martini

White Gold
Blue & White Diamonds
Martini Earrings


The Happy Elf Martini
(The festive red and green color makes
this a perfect Christmas Party cocktail!)

Combine in an ice-filled shaker.
1 ounce melon liqueur,
2 ounces citrus vodka,
1 ounce white cranberry juice

Shake vigorously, and strain into a cocktail glass.
Add cherries. Makes 1 cocktail.


White Gold
Garnet & Diamond
Martini Earrings


Euphoric Eggnog
(It's just not Christmas without eggnog)

Combine 10 scoops French vanilla ice cream
1 1/2 cups eggnog
1/2 cup bourbon
1/2 cup brandy
2 to 3 tablespoons orange liqueur
1/4 tablespoon grated nutmeg

Blend on lowest speed until mixture is smooth.
Sprinkle each serving with grated chocolate or nutmeg.
Makes 8 to 10 servings.


White Gold
Amethyst & Diamond
Martini Earrings


Blood Orange Margaritas
(Margaritas aren't just for
celebrating Cinco de Mayo)

1 quart fresh blood orange juice or fresh orange juice
(about 12 blood oranges or 8 large naval oranges)
1 1/2 cups fresh lime juice
(about 12 limes)
1 1/2 cups Cointreau or other triple sec
3 1/2 Cups silver tequila
Kosher salt
1 blood orange or orange wedge,
plus 12 thin blood orange or orange slices
Ice
1 dozen small sage sprigs or leaves

Mix orange juice, lime juice, Cointreau and tequila in a large pitcher.
Refrigerate until chilled - at least 30 minutes.
Spread a small mound of salt on a plate.
Moisten the outer rim of 12 martini glasses with orange wedge and then dip into salt.
Add ice to pitcher and stir well.
Strain into prepared glass.
Garnish with one orange slice and sprig leave.
Makes 12 servings.

White Gold
Orange Sapphire & Diamond
Martini Earrings

-Taylor

Gifts for the Nauti

Gifts for our Nauti family and friends...


In Dry Dock by Ben Keys
Oil On Canvas


Ocean Scapes by Anne Cunningham
Mixed Media Metal Art


Lucky Oyster Necklace by Sarah James
Sterling Silver, Brass and Glass

Glass Starfish by Luke Adams


Nautica II by Joe Digiulio
Acrylic on Canvas

"Bangu" The Lantern Fish
by Tripp Gregson
Sea life creations from recycled road signs


Blue Starfish by Laser Glass
(Also available in other types of
shells in orange and blue)


Pelicans by Larry Meyers
Aluminum cast heads and feet with
vintage outboard motor cowling bodies!


Dichroic Glass Shells by Karen Ehart


Blue Marlin by Stan Harmon


Nauti has never looked so nice!

-Taylor

Gifts for the Girlfriends!

Have some girlfriends you need to grab a little gift for?
Here are a few ideas in a range of prices!

Glass Oil Bottle

$58

You can also grab a bottle of
olive oil from Taste the Olive next door!


Possibility Box

$45

Each box has a sweet saying on it.
You can put another gift inside
if you want to add a surprise!


Becky Hemby Candles

$29-$112
The outside layer of wax doesn't melt away.
Have the candle refilled or use it as a votive!


Silk Jewelry Bags

$14
Perfect for the avid traveler.
Tuck a pair of Starsong earrings
inside for an extra surprise!


Woven Glass Ring Holders

$19
Decorative and functional,
they come in all different colors!

We also have a large assortment of Starsong
earrings with real gemstones from $20-$50!

-Taylor

Naughty or Nice

Has your wife been naughty this year?

Give her a "lump of coal" for Christmas

Starsong Lava stone and
Sterling Silver bracelet

(We make our Starsong jewelry right here in the gallery.
Looking for a specific color or type of jewelry,
we can make whatever you need!)


Is your husband always complaining
about the money you spend?

Give him "two nickels to rub together"

Buffalo Nickel Cuff Links

(We just got in a new assortment of
gentleman's cuff links in time for Christmas)


If they have been nice we have
plenty of gifts to cover that too!



-Taylor

My Custom Design Experience by Taylor Campbell

I had a custom ring designed for my birthday this year at Spectrum Art & Jewelry. It is something I have been intending to do for years but just hadn't gotten around to it. I am so glad that I finally did, I LOVE my ring! Here is the story of my long road to custom design.

This story starts when I was 5 or 6 years old (did I mention it was a long road?). My parents were vacationing on St. Maarten (St. Martin if you're on the French side). A friend who was with them worked in a jewelry store at the time and knew where to get beautiful gemstones and jewelry on the island at great prices. So they set off in search of the perfect gift. My mother wanted to bring back something nice for me (I hope out of guilt for leaving me home this trip). She decided against buying me jewelry because I was so young. Instead she picked out two gemstones, both my birthstone, Blue Topaz. She bought them with the intention of getting them set for my birthday when I was older.

So for almost 20 years they have been sitting in a box, waiting for me to grow up and turn them into a beautiful piece of jewelry. There were a few times that I took them out, thought about what I wanted and talked about doing something with them. But being young, easily distracted by "shiny new things" and enticed by immediate gratification, there seemed to be so many other things I really "needed." So time and time again I forgot about my gemstones and they remained tucked away.

After I started working at Spectrum Art & Jewelry last February I began thinking about my gemstones again. I grew more and more excited about all of the possibilities! I decided to wait until December to do a custom design. With my birthday and Christmas 10 days apart it seemed like an opportune time to ask for something special from my family. It also gave me almost a year to decide exactly what I wanted (honestly, the wait was not as easy as I thought it would be). When November rolled around, after 9 months of pondering I had made up my mind.

Blue is my favorite color, it always has been, so I really lucked out with my birthstone. The two stones my mother bought me had distinct differences. One was a standard size London Blue Topaz, which is a darker shade of blue. The other was a much lighter hue, an irregular size and had a completely different cut. Both were oval. Out of the two stones I chose the London Blue Topaz. So my first step was done: beautiful gemstone, check!
(My London Blue Topaz pictured below)


My next step: what in the world do I want the ring to look like?! I knew I wanted yellow gold but that is all I knew at first.

Some background information may help you understand my decision making... I grew up in Wilmington and my love for the ocean, beaches and boats runs deep. As my mom puts it, "salt water runs my veins." As a result I love everything nautical. I also love simple, classic and elegant jewelry designs. I kept my eye out for designs at Spectrum and I fell in love with The Golden Eye's rope stack ring. It fit my personality perfectly! It all clicked and I knew exactly what I wanted.


Spectrum Art & Jewelry designer Susan Drake sat down and talked to me about my options. I wanted the stone to be bezel set. Prongs are beautiful too, but just not my style. My stone was a standard size so we were able to order a gold bezel to match the band instead of hand fabricating one (which can also be done). We wrote down the specifications for my ring and handed them over to Scott so he could work his magic!

The custom design experience was a fun process. I'm finally at an age where I know what I want and what I like, I have very decided taste, which made my decisions easier to make. Spending the majority of the last year around talented and creative people who have extensive knowledge of jewelry design really helped too. But above all the fact that I love and trust our design team made it easy for me to hand over my beloved Blue Topaz that holds such great sentimental value to me. I knew I was in the best hands.

And the result, after 18 long years? The perfect ring for me!


The only problem? I am hooked on custom design!

-Taylor

The Bargain Box

This past Saturday, Star and I attended a wonderful event to support The Bargain Box of Wilmington. I have often heard of The Bargain Box, but never seemed to find the time to visit this unique thrift store located at 4213 Princess Place Drive, Wilmington, NC 28405. The fashion show and luncheon was held at St James Episcopal Church and an incredible variety of clothing and accessories were brought over for purchase by the attendees. Many pieces of designer clothing, some with the tags still on them, beautiful shoes and boots, fashion jewelry, hats....and on and on...it was a sight to behold.

I was amazed at the list of local charities that The Bargain Box supports with donations from their sales. Good Shepherd Ministries, American Red Cross, Food Bank of Coastal Carolina, Lower Cape Fear Hospice, Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, Association of Retarded Citizens and Zimmer Cancer Center are just some of the charities that benefit.

They carry clothing for men, women and children, household items, toys, sports equipment, furniture and collectibles. Stop by at your next opportunity to see all that they have to offer. Consider The Bargain Box when you are cleaning out your closet or your home. Isn't nice to support a local charity that in turns helps many charities in our hometown.

Store hours are Tuesday-Friday 11-6, Saturday 10-5 and Monday - Donations Only

With the holidays coming soon, what better time to reflect upon all the gifts we are given and to choose to live a life of gratitude. I love the ending line on The Bargain Box's card - "If we share what we have, we will all have enough."

Happy Thanksgiving to all,
Nancy Noel May


The Bargain box

The Bargain Box is a ministry of Church of the Servant, Episcopal

Holiday hostess gifts...that guarantee you'll get invited back!

Do you have any Holiday parties to attend this season?
Do you want to WOW your hostess?
Don't want to break the bank on hostess gifts?

Here are a few ideas...

Me 2 U
Cheese Plate and Knife
(To really wow your hostess bring with cheese and crackers)

Dottie Boscamp
Oil Bottles
(To make it extra special pair it with a bottle of olive oil)

Luke Adams Starfish
(Glass flowers, twists, medium & large starfish)

Hilborn
Serving Dishes
(Microwave, oven and dishwasher safe.
Bring a Hilborn dish with something tasty baked in it)

For recipe ideas see my blog post
"Recipe For A Good Time"

Becky Hemby
Candles
(The inside melts away leaving the beautiful outside perfect for a candle votive)

These gifts are unique and something everyone can use!

-Taylor