Great Lakes Boutique is packed full of stunning selections with loads of sparkle
By Patricia Nugent
To put a little extra sparkle in your holiday spirit, the jewelry experts at Great Lakes Boutique have filled their cases with a bevy of goodies.
Angel Mastandrea—who does the buying at this Mentor shopping destination—has her finger on the pulse point of what’s hot this season.
She spends all year researching emerging trends, leading-edge designs and new artists hitting the scene.
“Our customers appreciate that they’ll find treasures here they won’t find in other stores, things that have a unique and thoughtful story behind them,” says Angel.
Unlike the online shopping experience, which can be lonely, and the mall shopping experience, which can be harried and stressful, the vibe at GLB is personal and fun. Angel and her friendly staff treat customers like family and hope you’ll come in and stay awhile, relax and enjoy.
“Love One, Love All”
That’s the hopeful phrase behind the acronym LOLA, a popular line of handcrafted pendants. Based in Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, the company handcrafts vibrant and colorful pendants, bracelets and rings that celebrate special moments in people’s lives.
The pendants feature designs on one side, and inspirational sayings on the flip side. New this fall is the Heart Pendant collection.
“Simple, bright and cheerful, these pendants are perfect for spreading the love to people in your life, or yourself,” Angel says. The engraving on the back states: “Do everything with so much love in your heart that you would never want to do it any other way. All you need is love.”
Another style people are gravitating toward is the Octopus Pendant, featuring a darling creature waving its tentacles. With “Sea Life’s Beauty” engraved on the flip side, it’s the just-right gift for the ocean lover in your life.
Layering necklaces with tag pendants is a huge trend, and LOLA offers the coolest gold-plated tag ever. The front is in French and symbols: “+qu’hier-que demain” and its translation is on the back, “I love you more than yesterday, less than tomorrow.”
Plus, there are many holiday-themed pendants, too.
Scout Curated Wears and Luca + Danni are two other lines that are perfect for gifting. With lower price points, they are great for buying for teachers or friends as well as stocking stuffers.
The newest line of high-end genuine gemstone jewelry comes from a well-known artist in Chagrin Falls, B. Fatica.
“I describe her custom-made pieces as feminine and tranquil, with the intent of healing the mind-body connection,” says Angel.
Jewelry with a Past
“Our department of estate jewelry is bigger than ever,” she says. “For anyone who thinks ‘estate’ means older styles, that couldn’t be further from the truth. We have gorgeous modern-day pieces from Tiffany, David Yurman, John Hardy and James Avery. All of the diamond and gemstone earrings, pendants and bracelets have been inspected and authenticated. You can buy them for a fraction of their original price.”
Whether it’s jewelry that’s pre-loved, or pieces that feature beautiful and personal sentiments, there’s no better place to find memorable gifts for the people you love than Great Lakes Boutique.
Great Lakes Boutique is located within Mentor Corners, at 8920 Mentor Avenue, in Mentor. Looking for extra cash? They will buy gold and silver jewelry. Hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 440-266-8900 or visit GreatLakesBoutique.net for more information.