If you didn’t already see the movie Hidden Figures about the black female mathematicians who helped the U.S. win the space race, I highly recommend that you catch up with it now. It’s based on the best-selling book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly. I saw it with MrB and my designing friend…
History
Wednesday’s Video: Dogs, Cats, and Tudors
This is my lucky day because the famous “distracted boyfriend” meme of 2017 has been given the Henry VIII treatment … this meme has finally been perfected pic.twitter.com/9fHfJH1Q01 — julien (@eggsandbread) January 24, 2018 … just in time for my Henry VIII/Anne Boleyn-themed pet video. Yep, I’ve got dogs and cats and the Tudors all…
Wednesday’s Video: The Story’s in the Metal
This week’s YouTube video provides one answer to the frequently asked question of “Where do you get your inspiration?” For me, jewelry design is all about the metal (18K yellow gold, usually) rather than the gems. As a bonus, you get a lecture on 12th-century English history. Seriously! The jacket I’m wearing in the video…
Flashback Friday: Bonn, Vienna, Empress Sisi
After a few days in Paris in June, MrB and I went to Bonn, Germany, where MrB was taking part in the Global Media Forum. I attended a panel he did about Trump and the media, and live-tweeted it; check out his description of the way in which Trump differs from Nixon. Then we went to…
Jewel of the Month: Toi et Moi Ring for ANZA Gems
For a long time, the primary birthstone for the month of August was the beautiful green peridot. Accordingly, the ring that I’ve chosen for this August’s Jewel of the Month features a beautiful green … tourmaline. Ha! Fooled ya! Check out the new design in this video by A Thousand Facets. Absolutely stunning ring by…
Monika Reports on the Young Royals
This is random, but too exciting not to share: When Prince William and Princess Kate visited Poland this week, my Warsaw-based friend Monika was part of the crowd that turned out to greet them. Okay, anyone can join a big crowd, right? But not just anyone can get to the front of the crowd, shake…
The Handmaid’s Tale and American Slavery
I’m normally quite negligent when it comes to watching newsworthy, high-quality television shows. I’m sure I’ll end up consuming Orange Is the New Black the same way I did Breaking Bad and Mad Men, belatedly cramming in every episode right before the series ends. However, the current political climate inspired me to keep up with…
Jewel of the Month: Queen of Scots Snake Ring
June’s Jewel of the Month is my Queen of Scots snake ring … … and if you don’t know why I associate Mary Queen of Scots with a snake, watch my new YouTube video to find out. I figured it was time to do a jewelry video after four weeks of talking about vintage clothes. My…
Jewels of the Month: Amethyst Studs, Madame Royale
Amethyst is February’s birthstone and I’ve got a fresh pair of luscious amethyst cabochon studs in stock. The studs are featured on my website as a set with 18K gold FitzRoy the Cat earring jackets. To get the studs by themselves for $550, inquire at info at wendybrandes dot com. First come, first served —…
Prescient
It’s remarkable that Martin Luther King Jr. said this nearly 50 years ago: “When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” It sounds like he’s talking about what’s happening in the U.S. today. And…