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I am surrounded by a variety of orchids each summer in my NYC apartment—each one more enchanting that the next.

There was a true nod to creativity at this years shows as designers pulled out the stops and delved deep into their imaginations to offer a small world of gems, motifs and inspirations from around the globe.

From the runways to the red carpet, ornamental handbags continue to make a statement, but this season, there are a growing number of jewelry designers who are adding both clutches and larger structured bags to their collections. Armenta rings in another year with exotic skin bags that have dual functions—one of my favorite at The Couture Show-- was a clutch that you can slide your fingers into and your hand also become accessorized. Kara Ross also has added to her line of embellished skin bags, which a women can mix and match with her stackable bracelets and stand out necklaces to pop an outfit.

We all know that opals have been trending over the past five years, their fire-y changeable colors—the differences from various cultures and continents throughout the globe have offered both an antique and raw modern feeling to contemporary jewelry.

When I first found out almost two years ago that two of my favorite books “The Great Gatsby” and “Anna Karenina” were being made into new films, (I had seen the original movies as well), I was more than a little excited. When I found out that Tiffany & Co was doing the jewelry for “The Great Gatsby” and Chanel for “Anna Karenina” –I knew that I would be in heaven.

As I start gearing up for all of the draw-dropping jewels I expect to see at Couture and JCK and getting ready to do a story on engagement rings for INDESIGN and alternative bridal rings for INSTORE print magazines, I read a great article in The New York Times Style Section “Weddings and Celebrations”.

The release date for the film “The Great Gatsby” (originally set for Christmas 2012) is approximately 10 days away and those of us in the jewelry industry who have been writing about it since we first got wind of Baz Luhrmann’s remake have witnessed a trend in the making. I do believe that this has set a precedent as the trend has spread long before the movie has even hit the silver screen. For over a year, we have seen this direction take shape on the runways and red carpets in fine and fashion jewelry, in gowns and ready-to-wear, hair accessories and hosiery. The styles of The Jazz Age are already in stores and at all different price points.

Monica Rich Kosann has always been one who believed in jewelry with sentiment and pieces that tell a story.

The debut of Generation Next's Sparkle Award was presented last night to Cassandra Erin. Her work takes parts of letters, notes or doodles written and drawn by loved ones and reworks them into jewelry. Each piece is completely handmade in her St. Louis studio.

After moderating a seminar on introducing emerging designer lines into stores with a panel of esteemed designer oriented retailers: Jennifer Gandia/Greenwich Jewelers NYC, Gary Thrapp and buyer Dana Friedman, G. Thrapp Jewelers, Indianapolis and Jaimie Geller/ Jaimie Geller, Pacific Palisades, our audience which filled the room, took a tour with me through our Generation Next section of up & coming and independent designers. As our tour group spread out to meet the 15 talents that comprise the Generation Next Pavilion of the show, The trends and hot items began to come into focus that you will be seeing at the show Here are my first picks and preview for my WHAT’S IN Tuesday Blog which will feature the most prevalent trends at the show