New Orleans' annual Mardi Gras carnival is upon us! Mardi Gras, the New Orleans celebration of madness, mayhem, and the last time to eat meat before Lent, is upon us! You know what that means! Get out your masks and your designer jewelry!

Mardi Gras begins on Tuesday, March 8 this year.  It starts on or after the Epiphany and ends the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.  Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" and it's the last time one can eat fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the season for Christians.

Aside from the big parade and all that alcohol—Mardi Gras "favors" are always on hand.  Mardi Gras Krewe members and Royalty always give and receive gifts at annual Mardi Gras parties or balls.

Jewelry and glass beads designer Lee Archer has created a set of jewelry pieces especially for the occasion.  Among them, the Sterling and Swarovski Crystal Mardi Gras Charm Bracelet with a high-end Tiffany's style 8.2mm cable link chain with large lobster clasp and Swarovski Crystal dangles in official Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold.  There is also a sterling Mardi Gras comedy mask charm and a 7/8 of an inch round sterling disk that can be engraved.  The entire bracelet weighs 32.3 grams of sterling and Swarovski and costs $168.00

Archer also has earrings to match! His Mardi Gras Sterling and Swarovski Crystal Mask Earrings are sparkling dangle earrings that go with the bracelet.  They include real Swarovski crystals in purple, green and gold along with high quality sterling silver Mardi Gras comedy masks on the end as a focal point.  They are set with sterling leverback earwires for pierced ears and the dangles measure about 2 inches long.  These earrings are $54.00.

The other earrings are Archer's Mardi Gras Sterling Mask Earrings.  They come without the Swarovski crystal dangles, mainly for those who do not like long earrings.  These sterling silver Mardi Gras comedy masks are also set with sterling leverback earwires.  The masks measure 7/8 of an inch. They are $42.00

With the Swarovski earrings costing just $12.00, it might make sense to get those ones with the crystals, no?

Lee Archer and his Lady of the Lake Studio also exhibits his handmade jewelry and lampwork beads at the Artisans Gallery of the Imperial Calcasieu Museum in Lake Charles, Louisiana from 12-5pm Tuesday through Saturday. He's also an exhibiting member of The Juried Online Arts Festival for "handmade contemporary fine arts and crafts on the WWW."

Her Lady of the Lake Studio has been online since 1999.  Each of his glass beads are hand picked one by one, not mass produced. Archer is a New Orleans, LA native though his studio is in Lake Charles.  He sells his work in museum galleries, and designer boutiques   

She currently takes jewelry courses at the Gemological Institute of America, the foremost international authority on gems and jewelry.

Archer says inspiration for her work come from nature. She mainly uses sterling silver, glass, and gems from the earth and sea. 

 

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