Excited am I that my Agrippina poison ring is part of the Star Wars-themed window display at Steve Quick Jeweler in Chicago! The windows were designed by Melissa Quick’s nine-year-old nephew, Hank, who took great care to ensure that each scene represented a different movie as accurately as possible. “In the few weeks since they…
The Week in Review
In case you missed it, here’s what was on the blog this week. Monday, Jan. 15, 2018: The Jewel of the Month is my first-ever man brooch! The 20+ carat garnet at its center was sourced by ANZA Gems. Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018: I approve of some recent celebrity engagement rings. This is rare! Wednesday,…
Flashback Friday: This Pussy Grabs Back
Almost a year ago today, I was at the Women’s March on Washington, accompanied by a posse of my favorite wimmins, all holding pussy signs. #nastywomen waiting for a train #womensmarchonwashington @womensmarch #pussygrabsback #nasty #feminists #nofascism A post shared by Wendy Brandes (@wendybrandes) on Jan 21, 2017 at 6:29am PST Since then, I’ve gone to…
More About the Garnet Man Brooch
I already wrote about the garnet man brooch that is January’s Jewel of the Month on Monday, but here it is again! I can’t resist, because Monica Stephenson — ANZA Gems founder, garnet provider, and customer — shared the brooch on Instagram, and I’m amused by her caption. Shhh! Can you keep a secret? We…
Wednesday’s Video: Get the FACTS
I collect a lot of things — vintage clothes, squish-faced animals, dust — but baseball caps are not on the list. I’m not very sporty, to say the least. In fact, I can’t remember ever noticing a baseball cap until late last year, when I saw a guy wearing a snapback embroidered with the word…
Celebrity Engagement Rings: A Review
There have been a few high-profile engagements recently, and I’ve been keeping a professional eye out for the rings. Prince Harry gets a round of applause for one of the best celebrity engagement rings I’ve seen in a while. I like its well-balanced proportions and somewhat unexpected use of 18K yellow gold. Embed from Getty…
Jewel of the Month: Garnet Man Brooch for January
January’s birthstone is the garnet, so this is the perfect time to unveil my latest creation for ANZA Gems: a 20.36-carat rhodolite garnet “man brooch” accented with seven rose-cut diamonds and set in 18K yellow gold. All of my ANZA designs are special because I get to work with ethically mined gemstones that give back…
The Weeks in Review
In case you missed anything, here’s what has been on the blog since my last weekly roundup in December. Monday, Dec. 25, 2017: No one needed to “bring Christmas back.” It never went anywhere. Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017: Burgers and ’80s music for my semicentennial birthday. Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017: A look back at my…
Jewelry for My Imaginary Golden Globes Outfit
Yesterday, I showed you the two outfits I would have chosen between if I’d had gone to the Golden Globes last Sunday. Here’s a closer look at the jewelry I would have worn with either outfit — all my own designs, of course. (I had to raid the vault for this little photo shoot!) From…
Wednesday’s Video: The Golden Globes and Your Vote
I think I should be invited to all major red-carpet events just to prove that I can shop my closet for every occasion! Like on Sunday, when I was watching the Golden Globes, I thought of two outfits immediately. The dress code called for black, and I’ve been in a pantsuit kind of mood, so…