{"id":46748,"date":"2021-12-19T21:02:09","date_gmt":"2021-12-20T02:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/?p=46748"},"modified":"2021-12-30T15:43:15","modified_gmt":"2021-12-30T20:43:15","slug":"jewel-of-the-month-holiday-earrings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2021\/12\/jewel-of-the-month-holiday-earrings\/","title":{"rendered":"Jewel of the Month: Holiday Earrings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>It&#8217;s not too late to get someone &#8212; or yourself &#8212; the perfect pair of holiday earrings. These platinum and rose gold diamond danglers have &#8220;Happy New Year&#8221; written all over them. Not literally, of course. I feel like I need to clarify that, because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/jewelry\/necklaces\/pendant-necklaces\/wendy-brandes-black-diamond-gold-skull-necklace-mirror-writing\/id-j_5054191\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">I do write on some of my jewelry<\/a>. But these aren&#8217;t the earring version of a Christmas sweater; I promise you can wear them all year round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/jewelry\/earrings\/chandelier-earrings\/wendy-brandes-platinum-18k-rose-gold-diamond-chandelier-earrings\/id-j_14054762\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/dangle10pairresize.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46749\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/dangle10pairresize.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/dangle10pairresize-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/dangle10pairresize-300x375.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Click to shop on 1stdibs.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>These brand-new earrings have an interesting history. My original inspiration was a lariat necklace that I made for myself by attaching a rose gold bar to a white gold pendant I bought elsewhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/jewelry\/earrings\/chandelier-earrings\/wendy-brandes-platinum-18k-rose-gold-diamond-chandelier-earrings\/id-j_14054762\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/barnecklaceresize-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/barnecklaceresize-1.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/barnecklaceresize-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/barnecklaceresize-1-300x400.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>My necklace isn&#8217;t for sale but I can something like it.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I was enthused about this necklace and wanted to make something similar to sell, but with platinum, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/wednesdays-video-wendy-brandes-platinum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">which is my white metal of choice.<\/a> Did I do the easy and reasonable thing and remake my personal necklace? No, I did not. I designed a delicate choker instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/barnecklacebefore.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46751\" width=\"400\" height=\"237\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/barnecklacebefore.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/barnecklacebefore-300x178.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption>Platinum and rose gold choker.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Pretty, right? Too bad that it spent most of its time like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tangled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46752\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tangled.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tangled-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/tangled-300x400.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption>Definitely knot what I was looking for!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I couldn&#8217;t sell a misbehaving choker, so I was now the owner of many short strands of expensive, hard-to-find platinum chain and custom-made 18K rose gold bars that needed a new life.  I thought about making earrings from for years, but I knew it would be a big project, requiring more metal and diamonds. So I put it off, and put it off, and put it off. Then, during this bizarre year &#8212; while I slacked off on absolutely everything else &#8212; this unfinished jewelry business became more than I could tolerate. I guess I needed to be in control of something, and that something was chandelier earrings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/jewelry\/earrings\/chandelier-earrings\/wendy-brandes-platinum-18k-rose-gold-diamond-chandelier-earrings\/id-j_14054762\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/dangleresize1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46754\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/dangleresize1.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/dangleresize1-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/dangleresize1-300x375.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Modeled by my gorgeous friend Debra Lewis.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This redesign turned out to be an even bigger project than I anticipated. I had to buy additional, larger diamonds; create new platinum settings for those diamonds; make a sixth rose gold bar; make changes to the existing five rose gold bars; trim some of the platinum chains; and then tinker with the design repeatedly to make sure the earrings hung perfectly. Frankly, it would have been easier to start from scratch, but I am just <em>that<\/em> stubborn when it comes to reusing what I already have. At least I&#8217;m happy with the result!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/jewelry\/earrings\/chandelier-earrings\/wendy-brandes-platinum-18k-rose-gold-diamond-chandelier-earrings\/id-j_14054762\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/debrawithearrings.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46755\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/debrawithearrings.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/debrawithearrings-300x240.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Earrings are available on 1stdibs.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The earrings are 3 1\/2&#8243; long but as light as a large feather. (I have a lot of large <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CH1oB8qlRtd\/?utm_medium=share_sheet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">feather earrings<\/a> to compare these to.) There are more than two carats of diamonds in the pair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/jewelry\/earrings\/chandelier-earrings\/wendy-brandes-platinum-18k-rose-gold-diamond-chandelier-earrings\/id-j_14054762\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/platearringsblog.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46756\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/platearringsblog.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/platearringsblog-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/platearringsblog-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/platearringsblog-320x320.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Click to purchase.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you buy these (or any of my other designs) on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/dealers\/wendy-brandes-jewelry\/?search=wendy%20brandes%20jewelry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1stdibs.com<\/a>,  you get free shipping and lightning-fast turnaround on my end. I&#8217;m proud to say I recently got an order at 5:30 p.m.. and dropped off the package at UPS by 6:30 p.m! These days, shipping companies aren&#8217;t as reliable as I am, so I can&#8217;t make any promises on their behalf, but I can assure you that if you order now, your jewelry will start its journey from me to you almost immediately.  So, if you&#8217;re feeling bold enough to be with other people in a festive environment on New Year&#8217;s Eve, these earrings will add some dazzle to your masked visage. If you&#8217;re ringing in 2022 at home, like I said, these earrings are comfortable to wear. Get fancy in your living room! Switch out your sweats for a pair of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/life\/fashion\/farewell-to-bras-hard-pants-and-business-casual-how-covid-19-has-changed-what-we-wear-and-how-we-feel-about-clothing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hard pants<\/a>; add a black top, red lipstick, and your new earrings; and pop open a bottle of bubbly.  (The three diamonds swinging from the bottom of each earring have always made me think of Champagne bubbles.) And let&#8217;s all hope that the next year will be kinder to us than the past couple have been. Maybe if we <em>all<\/em> do something we&#8217;ve never done before, we&#8217;ll create an atmosphere of change. I&#8217;ll give you two suggestions: Dive into local and national politics by joining <a href=\"https:\/\/indivisible.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Indivisible<\/a>, and up your exercise game by trying <a href=\"https:\/\/bodyandpole.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pole dancing<\/a>. I&#8217;m already doing both of those (the pole dancing is definitely harder), so if you have any ideas for my &#8220;new thing for 2022,&#8221; let me know! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s not too late to get someone &#8212; or yourself &#8212; the perfect pair of holiday earrings. These platinum and rose gold diamond danglers have &#8220;Happy New Year&#8221; written all over them. Not literally, of course. I feel like I need to clarify that, because I do write on some of my jewelry. But these&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2021\/12\/jewel-of-the-month-holiday-earrings\/\">Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":46749,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1611,120,60,291,295,719,112,578,722],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-46748","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-1stdibs","8":"category-diamonds","9":"category-earrings","10":"category-featured-jewel","11":"category-jewel-of-the-month","12":"category-jewelry","13":"category-platinum","14":"category-redesigns","15":"category-shopping","16":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46748"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46760,"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46748\/revisions\/46760"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}