We love sparkly things, and we love bangle bracelets, so when we stumbled across both those things at the fairly new Helianthus boutique in the Village, we had to share them. This cute little shop has a mix of American and European clothing and accessories, but what kept grabbing our eye were the stacks and stacks of bangles, which range in price from $22 to $42 -- hot pink, black, clear, silvery, white, and all twinkling with rhinestones and crystals.  The shop is located at 522 LaGuardia Place, between Bleecker & West 3 Sts., near Washington Square Park.  (212-677-6888; www.helianthusny.com)

It's that time of year again, although it's hard to believe....but you better.  The tree at Rock Center is going up as we speak and the first day of Chanukah is barely three weeks away.  So, it's time for that wonderful sale of handsome, handmade gifts at the Upper West Side Jewish Community Center.  It runs for two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, November 13th and 14th, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.   The Center's very talented studio art/craft teachers sell their goods, so count on everything from exquisitely crafted, beaded, blown-glass, gold, and silver jewelry; textiles/scarves/wovens; and ceramic sculptures and utilitarian objets, among the many fine craft items these pros produce.  

The shops at the Metropolitan Museum of Art have been having a sale the last few weeks (shame on us, we were out of the country, so we just didn't get a chance to attend to blogging, but more about that in later posts), which ends on Monday, so here's your chance to get last licks in. The Museum has reduced tons of items (stock up now for Christmas, because it's not too early to think Santa -- despite the fact that it feels like summer outside!), and take advantage of the reductions up to 50% off original retail. 

We're not sure just what this sale is promising today, but we're going to check it out later and we'll report from the front.  It's allegedly supposed to have Gucci and Pucci…and Chanel and Hermès.  We shall see just how much of each of these houses it actually has for sale…and for how much off.  The material sent to us by our friends at Lazar Media says that there will be clothing and accessories at 75% off.  Stay tuned for tonight's report.  But in the meantime, here is what you need to know:  It's today and tomorrow, at the Shoreham Hotel, 33 West 55th Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues), Ground Floor; from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.....credit cards accepted.

Tourneau is having a BIG sample sale, up to 70% off (so forget your cousin in the biz who could get you a "good" watch for 30% off).  It started on Saturday, but you have until Thursday, the 20th to stock up on all those Jaeger LeCoultres and Vacherons that you've lusted after for so long.  There will also be some estate pieces and some pre-owned timepieces.  Hey, it's worth a look-see, for sure, even if your pockets aren't bulging with moolah, or watches, for that matter. Daily, from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the usual Soiffer Haskin joint:  317 W. 33rd St., just west of Eighth Ave.  Again, as usual, no children, no strollers, no cash (credit cards only), and come with time on your hands, so you can buy some more.   

With a birthday of national importance upon us, today seems like the perfect day to check out early. “Gone Fishing,” a notion we like very much, works for us. But at the moment, we mean “fishing” in a different fashion. Our hook is from MacDaddy’s Fishing Lures and it’s wrought from solid platinum (30 times more rare than gold, thank you very much) and accented with a pink ribbon crafted from rosy sapphires. It’s an alluring little trinket, at a price that is also a bit of a lure (just a tad under $5,000) for those with some loose change in their pockets…and 10% of the sale proceeds goes to charities dedicated to cancer prevention and recovery.  Forget about trying to catch flounder with it.  Just wear it around your neck.  Available at www.macdaddysfishinglures.com and at fine jewelry stores nationwide.

SOFA New York is a wondrous annual show of fine craft art; the acronym stands for Sculptural Objects and Functional Art, and if you've never been to SOFA, you must head over to the Park Avenue Armory (on Park at 67th St.), Friday through Sunday (June 1st through the 3rd) of this week. There will be nearly 60 international galleries displaying some of the most amazing, refreshing, beguiling work: jewelry, fiber art, glass, wood, ceramics, paper, and who knows what else. This is a serious show for collectors, it’s true, but it’s also a show for browsers who want to be educated, the curious who want to see outstanding, exciting art, and for shoppers, too. (There are many price tags that are very friendly to a pocketbook that isn’t bulging.) WE have never been disappointed by this show: It’s awe-inspiring and actually thrilling to see just what creative minds and hands can do with paper or yarn or molten silica.

As our mother used to say:  “…a day late and a dollar short.” Well, we’re definitely not going to be short on the buck (because this sample sale has really FAB prices), but we’re definitely a day late. Meant to post this yesterday, but somehow the day got away from us. BUT, do not miss the Graziano sample sale. Today and tomorrow, at 389 Fifth Ave. (36th St.), Suite 310, from 11am to 5:30pm.  Graziano sells his costume jewelry to all the best department stores and to the boutiques that really know how to merch for a discerning eye; he has a wide and varied line -- cool stuff, elegant stuff, hip stuff, clever stuff, and on and on.

Just last week at the ENK Accessories Show, we were admiring particular bijoux at a booth and cooing to ourselves over a designer’s fall line, writing notes in our trusty little black book. We looked up to catch the designer’s name to jot it down, and it was -- mirabile dictu! -- Graziano! That is how diverse Graziano’s line is -- that we, who know his beautiful jewelry so well, were taken aback by the new jewels for fall. Expect to find a really diverse lot of jewelry: rings, pins, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, lariats, and so on. And if past sample sales are any indication, you’ll be thrilled with the sample sale prices. 
 

The teachers from the design and art/craft departments at the Jewish Community Center on the Upper West Side are holding a sale of their works next week, just in time for Mother’s Day. It will take place in the lobby of the JCC building on May 8 and 9, Tuesday from 11am to 8pm and Wednesday from 11am to 6pm. We’ve written up the instructors’ December holiday sale before, and know from first-hand experience that they showcase beautiful goods for reasonable prices (ranging from $15 to $500). You’ll find handmade jewelry (gold, silver, glass, and beaded bijoux), ceramics, scarves, pillows, and much more. Shown here is a handmade, one-of-a-kind, show-stopping necklace from artist Melissa Terman. If you’re on the Upper West Side those days, stop in, as you will not be disappointed…and hopefully, your mom will not be, either!  The JCC is located at 334 Amsterdam Ave. at 76 St.  (Cash, checks, and credit cards accepted.)