Rose Petals & Broken Windows

Given the news of the past few days, it was an odd little discovery to make this week. Jewelry designer Michael Michaud noticed how many roses--and rose petals--were left at Ground Zero each year on September 11 and used them to create glass necklaces and earrings. Judy at Portfolio Gallery in Five Points told me about them when I dropped by in search of items for our June product page.

Rose petal necklaces at Portfolio Gallery

I like Michaud's Silver Seasons jewelry and own one of his little pea pods. He casts his pieces from items found in nature. But I wasn't in search of jewelry so much as I was in search of items with a floral theme.  As you might imagine, there's plenty to choose from.

Nana Bags at Bohemian in Five Points....

Nana bags at Bohmemian, made by Columbia's Sally Peek

Hair thingies at Handpicked....

Flowers for your hair at Handpicked on Devine Street

And small bags in a variety of colors at both Handpicked and Just the Thing on Devine.

Wristlets at Handpicked or with a long shoulder strap at Just the Thing

I wound up choosing a pair of earrings (though not the rose petals) at Portfolio to use on the page. While they were wrapping those for me to take to photographer Molly Harrell, I remembered to ask about the Portfolio window on the Devine Street side. 

The much-abused window at Portfolio

It's been broken so many times that Judy has covered it over with lattice for the moment.  You've got to wonder what idiots are getting pleasure from doing that. 

PS: Laura at Portfolio emailed me a different (better) photograph of the rose petal necklaces and this comment from the designer:

Michael Michaud for Silver Seasons: "Every year during ceremonies honoring the victims of September 11 visitors strew roses and rose petals at the site as a gesture of remembrance.  With that gesture in mind, this collection of Rose Petals in rose, yellow and white colored glass honors those who lost their lives on September 11th."
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