RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Art pieces carved from jade by Nikolai Tsang sell for $300 and up. When fans of her work didn't know what to do with the sculptural pieces they'd collected, she started transforming them into jewelry.

Those lucky enough to catch Buz Tennant and Broadway-ready Shawna Masuda in Army Community Theatre's presentation of "Kismet" early in the holiday season were reminded that "Baubles, Bangles and Beads," are enough to make any heart sing through the holidays.

Christmas shopping statistics seem to bear that out, with the National Retailing Federation reporting that holiday jewelry buying accounts for 32 percent of annual jewelry sales.

On the plus side for jewelry, any museum offers proof that diamonds really do last forever, whereas that T-shirt will fade and that designer frock most likely has a one-season expiration date.

Now that ornamentation is in, designers are only too happy to accommodate magpies' race for ever bigger, shinier, blinding bling.