OOVOO from Vietnam
We don't get many and they don't hang around
for long.
The owner of OOVOO is Pauline Lewis. Here's what she
has to say:
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"Those
closest to me are amused that I am in the handbag business. Prior to oovoo™, I had 3
bags in my closet; all of them plain black. Now, I have an entire warehouse full of bags in brilliant colors and lush
textures!
I started oovoo™ because of my love
for all things handcrafted and a desire to build a business model based on positive working relationships, especially among
women. Almost all my customers and vendors are women – this network creates a full circle of support for the women
of Vietnam by the women in the United States, and vice versa.
Many customers ask me if oovoo™ means
anything. oovoo™ has it’s roots in the word “ovo,” which is defined
in the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary as “from the egg,” or “from the beginning.” This goes back
to the circle of women that I work with, which is fully represented in the oovoo™ brand." |
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Pauline left the corporate world a few years ago and traveled back to Asia. She was inspired by the women she met along the
way and started to work with Vietnamese women to design and make distinctive women’s accessories. She started to work
with one Vietnamese designer in particular: Ms. Le Thi Hong Tu, better known as Hong Tu. Hong Tu's designs, combined with
Pauline's vision and direction, are the cornerstone of Oovoo™ design.
Thus, Oovoo™ handbags have a unique blend of Asian and Western influences
that translate into handcrafted works of art.
The bags are 100% hand-embroidered and carefully crafted. No embroidery machines
are involved in making these bags, and therefore no two bags are ever the same.
The manufacturing locations have been carefully chosen to ensure provision of
workers’ rights in accordance with trade regulations. These beautiful bags are made by people who are well-treated in
their work environment.
This alliance
between two woman-owned enterprises has grown to support over 600 women in Vietnam with 120 full-time employees in the southern
region of Vietnam and 500 part-time embroiders in the North.
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Anuschka is a unique creation that blends art and functionality.
All of their accessories feature superior soft cow leather and handpainted designs, resulting in products that are exquisite
in form and color. Whether it be a cosmetic case, checkbook holder, everyday tote or evening bag, every piece reveals
an unmistable creative vision that has a broad appeal to women for business or pleasure.
Anuschka /an-ush-ka / n. like no other.
About Caring for your Leather / hand painted handbag:
If your hand painted Anuschka® bag requires cleaning, use a slightly damp cloth to clean. Do not
use any chemicals or cleaning solutions.
For all other plain leather bags, you may use the various leather care products
available at fine leather stores. Please make sure you read all the instructions before applying any chemicals on your
leather bag. We don't take any responsibility for any damage to your bag resulting from the use of any Leather Care
product available in the market.
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Other Handbag Designers:
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Sondra Roberts
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Lupe
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Zina Eva
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Kenneth Cole
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Ellington
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Franco Sarto
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Kenzie
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Derek Alexander
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Georgio Ferretti
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Y&S
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AmeriBag
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Puma
JEWELRY & OTHER ACCESSORIES
Looking for that perfect jewelry or accessory item that you can't
find in the average store? Look no further! Lorla's carries jewelry from around the world that reflect your personal
style and imagination.
- Unique Modern & Ancient Jewelry from Israel
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African Hope Crafters Jewelry Benefiting HIV/AIDS
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Fair Trade Jewelry from Peru and other accessories from
Ecuador
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Ogon Frame Credit Card Holders
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Love Linkz (inspirational jewelry)
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Sunglasses
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Wallets and Change Purses
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Umbrellas
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Clippy Friends
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Belts
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Belt Straps & Buckles
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Watches
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Rings
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Hats
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Headbands & Hairclips
- Legwear
- Shoe Care Products: Pads, sprays, brushes, etc.
- Music - Watch for the newest CD's from local musicians
HATS: Puma, DeLux and Goorin Bros. We have doubled our inventory, but narrowed
our selections. With the DeLux and Goorin Bros. lines, you will not see repeat styles. We've only ordered one
of each of our selections to make sure your purchase is extra special.
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The Delux brand has been a huge hit at Lorla's. You will love their fashion hats - new each season, and their character hats
and mittens - winter season only.
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African Hope Crafts
Helping Other
People Earn
A
Christian Job Creation Program
Living Hope Community Centre
Cape Town, South Africa
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us ...
if it is encouraging,
let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously..." -Romans 12:6, 8
The jewelry has been handcrafted
at Living Hope Community Center in South Africa by HIV+ mothers and fathers, ages 17 to 50, who live in a nearby shanty town.
Our prayer is that orders will increase so that more
can work and provide for their children. Please pass this page around and pray that their spiritual and physical needs are
met.
We are pleased to announce that we now have the African Hope Crafters Jewelry at Lorla's. The sets
are $20.00 each. That's right $20.00 for a necklace, earrings, and bracelet. Your purchase not only puts food
on the tables of those much less fortunate than you. Please help us help families with HIV+ in Africa.
Check them out at www.africanhopecrafts.org
Every purchase of our African
Hope Crafters Jewelry
goes to benefit men, women and children with HIV/AIDS! Did you
know that we share the profits with them as well? We bought them cow!
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Nomnikelo, one of our long-time crafters, got married this month. She is very happy and so
are we. She is the third to marry her live-in boyfriend since we began talking about the importance God places on marriage,
and two other crafters are seriously considering this. Labolo, an African sort of dowry, has been a major stumbling block
for many. If a woman is "worth" anything in the eyes of the man, then he will pay the bride's parents with the number of cows
they request. Cows cost more than $200 each and many parents want ten or so, and in Nomnikelo's case, fifteen (which we feel
she's certainly worth!) With wages low and unemployment high, many couples opt to simply live together. There are many valid
reasons behind the tradition of labolo, one being that the husband has to pay an extra cow should he ever hit his wife. Also,
the parents are often supporting extended family and friends and may be unable to find work themselves or be approaching old
age and need the cows for milk, meat and trade. We knew we wouldn't be successful convincing them to abandon centuries of
tradition, but we also knew that their living arrangements were not God's plan for them. Three things came together for this
major shift in their lives. One, their hearts were being softened to hear the word of God; two, we asked them to talk to their
families about accepting a few cows upfront with more to come over time; and three, Kensington Community Church friends, Dale
and Gale Adams, sold the idea of "buying a cow" to their small group and others. Each "farmer," as the Adams refer to them,
donated enough for one or more cows. Nomnikelo's husband had saved for a couple of his own and along with the "farmer's" cow
he had three when he went to his father-in-law, along with a promise to pay the rest over time. You just can't imagine how
happy this young couple, as well as their daughter, are.
So .... anyone else want to be a farmer? |
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Ancient Glass
This unique piece of art/jewelry
is designed and handcrafted by the artists at Goldsmith Studios (Tziyion, Israel - United Kingdom - United States).
It is inlaid with a fragment of ancient glass, discovered in archaelogical excavations in Tziyon, Israel since 1947.
It's "patina" and "opalization" (exquisite surface coloring) was created by chemical interaction with the earth over
the course of 4500 years. These one of a kind designs, as well as the fine workmanship involved in the manufacture of
the jewelry, is truly ancient elegance.
Each piece comes with a
Certificate of Authenticity.
The
only place to find this "museum quality" jewelry in the midwest is Lorla's. Please call for your personal viewing appointment,
or inquire in the store.
Patooties
High-end, trend-setting, and quality conscious,
Patooties brings you the best of Israeli design with a guarantee of quality materials. Vibrant, urban and artsy, Patooties
satisfies customers with distinctive jewelry that makes a statement that nobody can ignore.
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Sea Smadar: Urban, Modern,
Sophisticated Art Jewelry |
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The Smadar collection's signature piece, the terrifically
popular Swarovski and metallic leather wrap, is a combination of crystals, multiple strands of rich metallic leather, and
tiny 24K-plated charms that create versatile wrapping jewelry that is shockingly gorgeous as both a bracelet and as a necklace. The
classic leather wrap is now joined by several others in striking suede and mixed colored leathers with various charms. The
dominant colors for the leather wrap include chocolate brown, dark crimson, and midnight black.
This Israeli line is fun, innovative and creative. Check out the newest
designs on www.patooties.net.
Glamorous Israeli jewelry priced between $35 & $200. Swarovski and Czech
crystals, gold, bronze, silver leathers, 24k plated rose gold & silver. Silk string and charm elements. Dramatic illuminating.
Hand crafted bronze dipped in gold. Artistic and sophisticated. |
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HELY ROTBARD
Hely
Rotbard designs cutting-edge jewelry, belts, and other accessories that are exported all over the world, including the major
fashion centers of Amsterdam, Tokyo, Nagoya, Frankfurt, Lyons, Athens, Milan, London, New York, and Los Angeles.
Each
item is handmade with the highest regard for quality materials. The metals are imported from Germany, the crystals are imported
from the Czech Republic and Austria, and other quality raw materials are exclusively made for Hely. All items are designed
solely by Hely Rotbard and manufactured under strict quality control. The Hely Designs logo and label assures our customers
of the quality of materials, original design and personal touch put into each of our pieces.
Hely Rotbard had always
had a passion to design and create fashion. It was 2002 when Hely finally decided to turn her hobby into a business. Though
she began by designing and creating by herself, growing interest from the local market allowed the business to rapidly expand.
Today, in addition to herself, Hely has eight employees on permanent payroll. In Mid-2003, Hely began exporting her designs
to customers in Europe. Today, 60% of her business is exported all over the world.
Born, raised, and living
in Israel, Hely is 30 years old, married and a mother to two children. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications
from Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) in New Jersey.
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The rings come in large or small
Czech crystal. They fit any size finger and are very flexible. Feel great on your hand and make a lovely statement.
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Poppi is the fun and clever alter ego of Dawn Benedetto. It's a line of jewelry that doesn't take life
too seriously. The glass and sterling rings are Dawn's invention and are unique in that they stretch to fit most everyone.
Poppi adds a splash of color to jeans or an extra spark to ignite a little black dress; heck, it'll even brighten up a trip
to the grocery store. If nothing
else, it's a statement. Poppi laughs. Poppi flirts. Poppi screams. Poppi says it all without you saying a thing.
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Poppi necklaces are just as fun as the rings.
Whimsy at it's artist best!
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THORNETTA DAVIS
Covered Live at the Music Menu
Singer, Songwriter, Recording Artist, & Actress
For over fifteen years
this multi-talented native Detroiter has graced and dominated Michigan's most attended events. She has performed
over two hundred shows a year with grace and stamina. Her voice is strong, commanding, melodic and smooth. She
tells her stories with incredible delivery and leaves her audiences wanting more.
Thornetta has opened for
legendary blues and R&B greats such as Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, Etta James, Buddy
Guy, Koko Taylor, Junior Wells, Lonnie Brooks, Johnnie Johnson and many more…her history is extensive and her performances
are memorable…like the time she opened for Bonnie Raitt at Michigan's Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz festival in
1992. Bonnie asked Thornetta to join her and Katie Webster (queen of the swamp boogie) for an encore song which
received a standing ovation.
In 1999 Thornetta brought
down the house with her astounding performance at the"Lillith Fair" at Michigan's Pine Knob Music Theatre hosted by
Sarah Mclachlan…that same evening she attended the "Detroit Music Awards" where she proudly accepted 2
of the over 20 Music Awards that she has won over the last 15 years for "Best R&B/ Blues vocalist" and "Best R&B Group".
If you're from Michigan
you are sure to have seen Thornetta in the Michigan State Lottery commercials. Coca-Cola selected Thornetta
to revive the late 1960's "I'd Like to teach the world to sing" commercial. Pizza Hut loved our
blues diva enough to "twist and dip"
It's clear that the Motor
City knows just who Thornetta is and now it's time the rest of the world found out. So we would like to introduce to
you in all her splendor a Detroit talent as original as her name.
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Chris Cheshire - Thank You
Chris Cheshire's CD "Thank You" is so good! A wide variety of styles with spirit. Produced by
Danny Cox and Michael King. Some of the greatest musicians in Detroit back up Chrissy on several of the most endearing
tunes you will ever hear. Ask to hear it in the store.
Christian Comtemporary
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Danny Cox - Hallowed Ground
Christian Contemporary. Haunting and revealing. Danny's gift as a singer/songwriter is
moving and enlightening. Ask to hear a sample of it before your purchase. I guarantee you'll LOVE IT!!
Christian Contemporary
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Stand firm then, with the belt of truth
buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness
that comes from the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:14-15
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