When we design and make jewelry or indeed create any art form, we put something of ourselves in the pieces. The reason I featured Toronto based Aparna Halpé before was because her wire work reflected both her Sri Lankan heritage and her music background.

Aparna has kindly offered this wonderful gold and bronze alloy wire bangle called Dreamtime for a giveaway. Perfect timing for Christmas! The bangle features a shell and freshwater pearl accents.

The choice of materials is not a coincidence because this is part of her new Nilaveli collection in her Etsy store, Melisma Wirework . 75% of the proceeds go towards coral conservation at the beautiful Pigeon Island National Park just off the north-eastern coast  Sri Lanka near the town of Nilaveli. "The marine park contains some of the best remaining coral reefs in the country."

Pigeon Island near Trincomalee in Sri LankaPigeon Island via Wikipedia


It's a wonderful effort on her part because coral reefs are threatened not just there but worldwide. The damage comes from rising ocean temperatures, over harvesting, degradation due to uncontrolled tourism and in the case of Pigeon Island, also the Asian tsunami of 2004.

Shown here are her other Nilaveli collection designs.

 

It was Aparna who told me that the Maharaja Exhibition - The Splendor of the India's Royal Courts which I wrote about before has now moved from the Victoria and Albert Museum of Design in London to the Art Gallery of Ontario. This spectacular exhibition will be on until April 3, 2011. This is the source of Aparna's Maharaja inspired collection so be sure to check it out. Lucky Aparna is planning to go.

GIVEAWAY

To win the above bangle, all you you have to do is make a comment below. Extra entries if you become or are a blog subscriber or follower etc. Please say so in the comments. The giveaway ends in a week's time at 6 pm EST Monday, December 6. I will pick the winner randomly and announce the results as soon as possible after. So be sure to come back and check!

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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
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