With Summer (and my allergies) in full bloom here in New Mexico and I am in warm weather creativity mode. I have been motivated to make ankle bracelets lately. They are rolling off my workspace as inspiration flows over me like waves. Today, as I work, I have been thinking about all the different jewelry pieces I have loved over the years. Because of my jewelry obsession, I have worked some of these into my collections. Today, let’s talk about a few of my absolute favorites.

First off is the ever-lovely ankle bracelet. Anklets date back as early as the Bronze Age and were seen in Europe around 1800 BC. Worn as everyday ornaments by Egyptian women of all social classes in ancient Egypt from as early as predynastic times. Then most cultures believed that an ankle bracelet worn on the left foot was protection from diseases and bad omens. Ankle bracelets are made out of any material and are often unisex in design. A silver ankle bracelet from India with tiny bells was the first that I got when I was 15. I wore that bracelet until the bells fell off and it broke many years later. Always fun ankle bracelets add an extra little sparkle to your summer fun. If I didn’t have to wear socks, I would wear them all year round!

One piece of jewelry that has seemed to have made its comeback lately is the ever lovely ear cuff. My obsession with this pretty ear jewelry found me in the early ’90s. My cool college roommate from California had a pretty silver dolphin cuff that I loved to see her wear. Gold ear cuffs first appeared during ancient times, however, the exact origin remains unknown. Greek aristocrats wore them as a symbol of their wealthy status. This type of earring looked impressive and did not damage the ear lobe no matter how large and heavy the earrings were. With so many styles and designs to choose from, anyone can wear them without piercings or worry of metal allergies. They’re super cute and easy to wear too! See the new styles coming soon to my collection!

The bracelet connected to a ring known as hand chains or slave bracelets is another favorite of mine. They consist of rings that attach to bracelets with chains, bejeweled links, or other ornate connectors along the back of the hand. “Slave bracelets” or Harem jewelry were inspired by jewelry worn by enslaved women in Harems in the Ottoman Empire. They are stunning pieces of jewelry that I started making at the beginning of my jewelry-making journey because I couldn’t find them anywhere but had fallen in love with them during my time in Israel! Be sure to look for my take on these stunning bracelets in the Bracelets and Bangles section of my website.

So, these are just a few of my favorite summer jewelry styles that are super fun for warm weather and sundresses. I hope that you enjoyed learning a little bit more about them and hope you will give one a try. Be sure to pop by again next week for my next jewelry blog post. Until then, don’t forget your sunscreen and fun summer sandals!