Now that we’re getting into that time of year when there are so many special occasions, I’m looking for some new gift ideas to celebrate Mother’s Day, graduations and a quinceañera. Are you aware there is an entire section of the Hollywood Farmers' Market that doesn’t sell fresh produce, food or flowers?

“Each gemstone on my jewelry designs tells a story,” said Elaine Maginn-Sonne, the owner and designer of Ancient Design, a jewelry stall at the market that’s filled with crystals and stone jewelry.

“Gemstones influence your body’s electrical connection that bonds you to the earth, sky, and beyond,” Maginn-Sonne said.

Maginn-Sonne has a Ph. D. in Spiritual Psychology and is also a Reiki Master, the Tibetan therapeutic art rediscovered by the Japanese doctor, Mikao Isui.

“The necklace I’m wearing today is called Earth Mother,” Maginn-Sonne said. “It has all of the elements that keep me grounded to the earth such as stones, sea shells and leather.”

The Ancient Design stand is charged with a magical energy coming from the beautiful selection of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. I’m just not sure if it’s because of the stones or from the graciousness of the magical owner.

“Beautiful rocks harbor the mysterious ability to heal, inform and transform our spirits,” Maginn-Sonne said.

If the spiritual world is a little too New Age and too far out there for your tastes, then located directly from Ancient Design is Cache, another private jeweler who makes custom jewelry from pearls, precious stones and Swarovski crystals, the luxury stones imported from Austria.

“We have many items that are inexpensive, or others that are a little pricier because of the materials we use,” said Joe Maya, who owns Cache with his wife, Amelia. “My wife and I design everything that we sell at the market.”

At Cache, the Mayas have a selection of earrings, necklaces and bracelets that are made with semi-precious gemstones such a jade, tiger’s eye and rose quartz. There are rings that are made from sugilite, jasper and amethyst. Each item sparkles in the morning light of the farmers' market.

“We spend the mornings designing our jewelry and listening to music that inspires us to do what we do,” Amelia Maya said. “Maybe our love for music is felt when you wear our jewelry.”

The price range at the Cache stand starts with a single pair of earrings priced at $20 to a pair of stunning tier-dropped earring that are priced at $500 because they are made with black-jet Swarovski crystals.

Please feel free to share stories and recipes of the items you also find interesting at the market. If you see me strolling about, please say hello.

The Hollywood Farmers Market is located at the intersection of Ivar and Selma avenues, between Sunset and Hollywood boulevards. Rain or shine, it is open every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The market is a certified open-air street market with approximately 100 farmers, 30 local artisans and 40 baked-goods and prepared-food vendors who sell their products every Sunday. It is a direct-to-consumer marketplace with all produce and products from local, California vendors and growers.

Parking: Cinerama Dome: $2 for first two hours with validation available at the information booth at Ivar and DeLongpre avenues. Metered parking: Check parking enforcement signs. Some meters free until 11 a.m. on Sundays.

Dog Sitting: Only tagged assistance dogs are allowed at the market, but this shouldn’t stop others from walking their dogs to the public event. There’s a dog sitting service provided at the corner of Ivar and Vine streets. Your prized pooch will get to socialize with other dogs while you do your shopping at the market. It charges a small fee of $5 per 20 minutes.

David De Bacco is a writer living and celebrating life in Los Angeles. He has worked for some of the world's most famous chefs and restaurateurs, and along the way he became a little savvy about food and wine. He has published articles and cookbooks for the Shibata Publishing Co. in Tokyo and is a contributing writer for Edge Publications. He is also the creator of the Cookin with Mama Blog, a meeting place to share recipes from our mothers.