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 me as a sort of pocket-sized security blanket. I always felt more confident when I had a little company within petting distance.
I never totally grew out of that, though my animals became fancier and funnier over the years. When I was in college in New York City in the 1980s — when sidewalk vendors were often selling good arts and crafts rather than plastic handbags made in China — I found a man selling a silver bell shaped like a dragon. The artist told me it was a “happy dragon.” I had to ask: why was it happy? “Because he had a really good knight,” the guy said, turning the dragon over to show me the tiny knight-shaped bell clapper inside. I thought that was the cutest!thing!ever! I bought it, and you can see from my jewelry designs that the concept of hidden treasures left a huge impression on me. I have a gold egg locket that opens up to reveal a silver chicken (who, in turn, opens up to reveal three little eggs) …
Click for more photos of my chicken-in-egg locket.
… and a gold acorn that houses a tiny gold squirrel.
Click to see more photos of my acorn necklace.
My love of tiny animal totems inspired my new jewelry collection: the Maneaters. The first design for that collection — my 18K gold Frog and Prince ring — is January’s Jewel of the Month. This complicated piece took me a full year to complete. In October, I gave my Facebook followers a sneak peek of the frog.
The green dots are ink showing where I was going to set gems.
If you look closely at that picture, you’ll see the frog’s back is 18K green gold (which is actually yellow with a slight hint of green), while the rest of him is 18K rose gold. Here’s the same view of the finished frog.
Photo by SquareMoose. Click to view on my website.
The frog’s green-gold back is set with eight custom-cut tsavorite cabochons. On each side are three pink sapphires …
Photo by SquareMoose. Click to view on my website.
… and he has diamond eyes. The frog is perched on an 18K-yellow-gold “branch,” which is studded with a third of a carat of brown diamonds.
Photo by SquareMoose. Click to view on my website.
The influence of the 1980s dragon bell can be seen inside the ring, where I placed an 18K-white-gold carving of a prince with diamond eyes.
Photo by SquareMoose. Click to view on my website.
To sum it up, that’s four colors of gold (totaling 22.9 grams of gold), four different-colored gems, and a luxurious little frog “toy” that you can wear openly on your finger instead of hiding it in your pocket.
I feel more secure already! Click to read about my nails.
I’ve made only one Frog and Prince ring and the price is available upon request. If you think you’re ready to splurge, email me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com for more information.
The wax models are ready for my next two Maneater rings, and now that I’ve finished the frog, I’m starting the metal work on the second design. I can’t tell you what that one is yet, but I can tell you what it’s not: a dragon and a knight. I’m saving that one for later!
Absolutely adorable and incredible! There aren’t enough words to express how awesome the details of your jewelry are.
So I’ll share a tidbit instead – my mom recently thrifted a little ceramic cat. She uses small pots to keep her jewelry out of reach of our thief cat, York. I found out when you lift off the ceramic cat’s head – he has a tiny mouse carved in his ‘tummy’.
Love that!!
Wow wow wow. I love that there is a little secret inside. I have a little envelope necklace which I thought should have a letter. It didn’t come with one so I had to write one myself!
And what did you write? Do tell!
Very cool! I love all the texture you put into it. Very neat.
I like branches to look like branches! 🙂
Love, love, LOVE this new design Wendy! It never ceases to amaze me just how intricate your designs really are…just when I think you can’t top a design, you do! One day I will be available to afford your fabulous high-end pieces…until then I’ll keep saving (next on my wish list is the chunky Juana skull ring!) and acquiring from your diffusion line!
Chunky Juana is a good choice…I want to do one in gold ASAP!
Wendy, I love this ring so much. The green gold, the brown diamonds, and most of all, the hidden prince. The Frog Prince is my all-time favourite of the Grimm’s Fairy Tales (go back and read the original!), ever since I first read Susan Mitchell’s wonderful poem, “From the Journals of the Frog Prince” back in first year English in university: http://inwardboundpoetry.blogspot.ca/2005/11/22-from-journals-of-frog-prince-susan.html
I love seeing what new and creative idea you will come up with next. Brava!
Thanks for sharing the poem…I keep rereading it!
What a stunning piece! It’s so beautiful – you have the best ideas and designs Wendy but this one is just gorgeous.
Thank you, Sulky!
Stunning and full of heart. I love the jewels like droplets, the world-weary frog expression and curious angle of his head, the froggy toes, and the dear prince inside. Incredible work!
Great poem shared by Sheila too. 🙂
Can’t believe I never read that poem before. Fantastic.
The detail is extraordinary and so so beautiful
Thanks much!
Hi Wendy-that really is a truly beautiful one of a kind piece. The intricate and detailed work is exquisite and it looks so lovely on-well done indeed! xxx
Thank you, my dear! You’ll try it on in the summer over Pimm’s.
LOVE it of course! Also, brilliant ides – “F” “U” earrings.. I have a need 😉
Already got something better in the works. Email me!
Fantastic! The prince inside is brilliant and makes me happy. You are such a design genius, and I love knowing a little background on your inspiration.
xoxo
So awesome. I LOVE all of the detail!
Thank ewe 🙂
Wendy, you outdo yourself with every new design. I love the exquisiteness and fun creativity of this new piece. Well done!
Thanks, Susan!
what a great ring!
this is fierce
That frog ring is awesome! Love the secret prince carving on the inside. Happy New Year!
Thanks and happy new year to you too!
Seriously, Wendy- you are a genius. I wish I was a rich lady because my jewelry box would be overflowing with frogs, dragons and WTFs!
Trust me, I wish you were a rich lady too! 😀
This is the most adorable story I think you\’ve ever shared. The fact that you would line up your toy animals and lecture them is too cute to me. This ring is stunning, it\’s gorgeous and as with all your other pieces very detailed with an element of surprise. Love it.
Marti
jayzizcrustalmightyagnes.
I’ve never seen anything that beautiful. You’ve outdone yourself.
Thank you ((hug))
Speechless!!