I was excited to see today’s Women’s Wear Daily story about the social-media-influenced fine-jewelry designs. While my signature Wendy Brandes line is inspired by women’s history, my WENDYB by Wendy Brandes diffusion line is all about pop culture, particularly the online world. My first design for the diffusion line was the four-ring swear ring set…
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“Exit Through the Gift Shop”*
I can’t resist a museum gift shop. When I’m at one in real life, I’m drawn to catalogs and books. On the Internets, I look at fashion. Last night, I was browsing some gift shops online when I hit the Guggenheim‘s site. Why didn’t I know that this New York City museum sells a reproduction…
Valentine’s Day Jewelry Sale at Max & Chloe
From today through February 8, you can get 15% off at online jewelry retailer Max & Chloe with the code VDAYMC. I suggested my romantic Cleves swan ring in silver. Swans mate for life, you know! Click here to see the rest of my Max & Chloe offerings.
Love Valentine’s Day? Hate It? I’ve Got Jewelry for You.
I bristle when I hear people complain that Valentine’s Day is a manufactured, consumerist holiday, then claim that THEY always express love with thoughtful gifts or acts on ordinary days. That would be lovely if it were true, but I suspect many of those folks of talking the talk, but not walking the walk. Blame…
February’s Birthstone is Amethyst …
… and I have no doubt that February babies will be thrilled to get any of my amethyst designs. It’s the last day of January, so let’s look at the options! My double-stone Clemence ring with amethyst and citrine set in 18K gold is available exclusively at Max & Chloe. I’ve only made one of…
Too Mainstream? Get the Fuck Out of Here.
The reaction to my “romantic, gothic, alien” jewelry that I hear (and enjoy) the most is, “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.” Other jewelers gasp when they see that my golden egg locket opens to reveal a tiny, diamond-eyed silver chicken … which, in turn, opens to reveal three gold eggs. I…
Appreciate a Dragon Day
The gorgeous Brittany Siminitz of jewelry-industry trade publication JCK tells me that today is “Appreciate a Dragon” day. How could I not know of such an important occasion?! I need to celebrate by wearing my Empress Wu dragon ring … … and my Empress Wu dragon earrings. I do a lot of animal-themed jewelry. If…
Jewel of the Month: Frog and Prince “Maneater” Ring
When I was little, I played with small plastic animals rather than dolls. My favorites were the horses, but I was happy with anything: cows, pigs, elephants, lions, fish, whatever. I would line up the animals in my room and lecture them. In first grade, I frequently tried to sneak an animal to school with…
For All You Lovers of Dialect AND Jewelry …
The American Dialect Society — founded in 1889 — voted “hashtag” as its word of the year for 2012. Social media has transformed the humble pound sign into a hot property! Celebrate with a sterling-silver hashtag jewelry design from my WENDYB by Wendy Brandes diffusion line.
New Jewelry Designs for Last-Minute Holiday Shopping
I picked up some just-finished designs from my manufacturer late Thursday. I don’t have the professional pictures of these pieces yet, so they’re not on my website, but because people seemed pretty excited about them on Instagram, I’m sharing some iPhone photos here. If you want any of these for holiday gifts (for someone else…