Lynn Bridges shows pendants her shop offers. The Pilot/Arwyn Rice

Pretty things.

Swarovski crystal earrings and pendants – and pink stun guns and pink pepper spray holsters.

Women need protection, shopkeeper Lynn Bridges said. Why not make it pretty?

The products sparkle in the window of the new shop at 619 Chetco Avenue, next door to Redwood Cinema.

Inside, one wall is almost completely covered with both traditional and modern style tie-dye shirts. Glass cases hold sparkling treasures, many handmade by Bridges, a 20-year Brookings resident.

“I started making earrings around Christmas, 2010,” Bridges said.

Within months, her new hobby filled her home with more earrings than she could ever wear.

“My daughter said ‘Mom, what are you going to do with all those earrings?’.”

At about the same time, Bridges’ friends were complaining about the many empty storefronts in the downtown area.

“They wanted shops to go into while walking around town,” Bridges said.

On April 27, Bridges opened her own shop, to find homes for her creations and to fill one of those empty storefronts with attractive and inviting merchandise.

Bridges uses Swarovski and Austrian crystals in her creations, and is beginning to use more turquoise, she said.

In addition to Bridges’ handmade creations, the store also offers affordable  wedding and prom jewelry, belly button rings, toe rings and sunglasses.