Design Your Own Jewelry - Event with award winning jewelry designer, Alice Bilello, Sept 2 & 3, 2013 from Noon to 3pm

Award-winning jewelry designer, Alice Bilello, will be setting up her tools and jewels on Labor Day, September 2 and Tuesday, September 3 from Noon to 3pm in Greater Good Gallery at 228 Craven Street in downtown New Bern. Bilello will help you design your own jewelry for yourself for the perfect gift. Choose from a variety of colors to assemble a necklace or earrings with semi-precious stones, Czechoslovakian beads, cultured fresh-water pearls, Swarovski crystals, freeform, polished coral, Mother-of-Pearl, variegated green agate, green picture jasper, greenish-grey fluoride, onyx and quartz.

Bilello designed her first piece of gold beads, pearls and Malachite 32 years ago, however she kept her full time job and it was just a hobby. Four years ago, Bilello's sister encouraged her to pursue  jewelry design and since then, she has won two national awards including a pearl design competition in a national jewelry publication. Audrey Brinson, a graduate with a Bachelors of Fine Art in jewelry and metals, taught Bilello the tricks of the trade - how a jeweler makes jewelry. Bilello shares, "Audrey sent me to a gem show where I was instantly inspired by the beautiful display millions of stones." The excitement from the gem show spurred Bilello's passion to become a full-time jewelry designer. Bilello started her own creative business, Harbor Island Designs.

Bilello will be demonstrating her craft during Artwalk, September 13 at the NC History Center Museum store where her jewelry creations are currently on display. While in Oriental, you can visit Marsha's Cottage to see more of her contemporary jewelry designs.

For more information, please visit www.greatergoodgallery.com or call 252-649-1712.

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