Article Photos: Jewelry designer Alexis Bittar in expansion mode

In two decades, Alexis Bittar has gone from selling his handcrafted pieces on the streets of Manhattan's St. Marks Place to bejeweling the First Lady Michelle Obama, blazing a trail for a generation of fashion jewelry designers. Here, a look at Alexis Bittar's Spring/Summer 2012 collection. (Courtesy of Alexis Bittar via Los Angeles Times/MCT)

In two decades, Alexis Bittar has gone from selling his handcrafted pieces on the streets of Manhattan's St. Marks Place to bejeweling the First Lady Michelle Obama, blazing a trail for a generation of fashion jewelry designers. Here, a look at Alexis Bittar's Spring/Summer 2012 collection. (Courtesy of Alexis Bittar via Los Angeles Times/MCT)