Ornamental Sparkle
Not all that glitters on a Christmas tree is gold.
Sometimes its crystal, glass or wood.
Every year some store owners in Butler County try to forecast what ornaments the county's tannenbaums should bear.
This year, Tim Moses, an owner of Moses Jewelers in the Clearview Mall, Center Township and Seven Fields, said the store continues its tradition of carrying Swarovski Crystal ornaments.
The 2009 Snow Flake design marks the 10th year Moses has carried the highly collectible pieces.
They are the only ornament the store carries, Moses said, and only at the Clearview Mall location. They usually start selling in August.
The Unicorn Shop, 221 S. Main St., carries a line of hand-painted glass ornaments made by Ne'Qua Art, according to Nancy Monday, store owner.
Monday said the ornaments are painted on the inside of the glass and come in different shapes, such as round or bell shaped.
"This is the second year we have carried them and we sold out last year," she said.
Sharon Malley, owner of The Meridian Station, 298 Meridian Road, is featuring several different kinds of ornaments, from the fancy glass finial spindles, which hang like icicles on the tree, to blown glass Pittsburgh team-themed ornaments.
"People love the Steelers and Penguins ornaments we have," Malley said. "I had a few last year, but this year I got more because they were so popular."In the gift business for 30 years, Malley said her advice to shoppers is if they see an ornament they like, they should buy it right away."It may not be there when you go back, especially the closer we get to the holidays," she said.
