The Perfect Gift: Fulfill A Dream

If you're easily distracted by shiny, sparkling objects, you might find it hard to focus at , which sells a wide range of items, from ankle bracelets to earrings.

But when we asked owner Nancy Lirot to recommend a perfect gift, it didn't take her long to walk across her tidy shop to pick out a colorful bracelet and necklace from the window display in her shop, located at 769 Boston Post Road in Madison.

Both are from the Sarah's Hope Jewelry collection. Sarah's Hope is an organization dedicated to women and the struggles they face.

"At Sarah's Hope Jewelry, we have a special place in our hearts for women and the struggle that many of them face when trying to overcome the crippling effects of poverty," the Sarah's Hope literature says. "There are women all over the world who are driven, talented, and determined, who just need some help getting their dreams off of the ground."

Specifically, proceeds from Sarah's Hope supports small business micro-lending, with loans that start at $50, to help ensure the success of women entrepreneurs.

Part of the proceeds also will go towards Shoreline Soup Kitchen & Pantries in Old Saybrook, Lirot says, which serves the shoreline from Branford to Old Saybrook. Shoreline Soup Kitchens not only provides food to those in need, but also provides advice, fellowship, and other support.

The hand-finished jewelry is made from .925 sterling silver plated with rhodium. The stones are what Sarah's Hope calls e'sperene, a created stone that combines quartz crystals with metal oxides. Sarah's Hope says e'sperene means "the stone of hope derived from espère, French for hope, and -ine, a stone suffix."

Prices range from about $75 to $100.