The solid-gold Queen of Scots snake tiara that I unveiled (ha!) last month on gorgeous bride Alyssa Brownell was the start of something new: The Wendy Brandes Wedding collection. Thank you to Brecken Branstrator, who covered the new collection for National Jeweler today. She was a nominee in the editorial category at last week’s Womens’…
Jewelry
What Wendy Wore: WJA Awards for Excellence
When I was nominated for a Women’s Jewelry Association award last month, MrB asked if I would be wearing a recently acquired dress to the dinner, or if I needed an even newer dress (What a nice man, right?). I said no to both. I wanted to wear a ’20s-style dress I got 10 years…
Wednesday’s Videos: I’m a WJA Winner!
A huge, huge thank you to the Women’s Jewelry Association for honoring me with an Award for Excellence for design Monday night! I was nominated for this award last year but didn’t win, and I sincerely expected the same result this year. The award recognizes a body of work, rather than a single design, and…
Wednesday’s Video: Jewelry With a Prize Inside
In today’s YouTube video, I talk about some of my locket designs and their inspirations, which range from Victorian mourning jewelry to a salty/sweet snack. Seriously! Subscribe to my YouTube channel so that you don’t miss the next video. It’s an extra-special one!
Jewel of the Month: Queen of Scots Snake Tiara
I started work on July’s Jewel of the Month in January, shortly after Alyssa Brownell — one of my gorgeous jewelry designer friends — got engaged. Alyssa, who has always had adventurous taste in jewelry, initially asked if my Cleves swan earrings in 18K yellow gold and onyx could be her “something borrowed.” She’s worn…
Celebrate World Emoji Day AND Made in America Week
It’s World Emoji Day and Made in America Week, so why not mark both occasions by buying some of my emoji jewelry designs, all made in New York City? I started making emoji jewelry in silver and 18K gold in April 2013, and now I have over 50 styles to choose from. CLICK HERE TO…
21 Savage Is in the Game. Your Move, Rick Ross.
Back in 2011, I was thrilled to find out that rapper Rick Ross owned a ginormous, diamond-encrusted chain portraying his own bearded visage. (This was a belated discovery; Ross was wearing the chain as far back as 2008.) Embed from Getty Images There have been a lot of jaw-dropping chains in the rap world —…
Flashback Friday: Pearls From the Past
The last day of June is a good excuse for one more post about the month’s birthstone, the pearl. I made this one-of-a-kind pair of pearl earrings in 2008. The pearls are set in 18K yellow gold and accented by 83 points of black diamonds (there are 100 points in a carat). It’s a much…
Pearls, Pearls, Pearls: June’s Birthstone Has a Moment
June’s birthstone is the pearl, and it’s having a fashion moment with the faux version turning up on denim and shoes. Gorgeous jewelry blogger Monica Stephenson wore pearl-adorned jeans by Tu es mon TRÉSOR to a gold-industry conference in April. I was up on the stage participating in a panel about jewelry and story-telling and…
Hathor Swivel Earrings on a Designing Woman
One of my earlier designs has become au courant in 2017! My Hathor swivel earrings — named after an Egyptian goddess — were worn by actress Margaret Anne Florence in March. This week, they were the accessory of choice for someone who really appreciates accessories: costume designer Melissa Toth (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,…