I started writing this blog close to 14 years ago because of Britney Spears. Seriously. I had set up a free account on Blogspot on July 23, 2007, but that was just a placeholder. I published one post that said I would start blogging “soon” but not quite yet. Two days later, I learned that…
Specially Priced Wendy Brandes Jewelry on 1stdibs
Photographer George De Castro Day and designer/stylist/model Stacy Lomman — my dream team — have been helping me take some fresh “as seen on” jewelry photos over the past week. I’ve been wanting to do this for ages! I’m so excited that I put all the freshly photographed designs on sale on 1stdibs for the…
Wendy Brandes Jewelry in Story Magazine
In my previous post, I thanked stylist and fashion journalist Marian Kwei for putting my Queen of Scots tiara on model/DJ Tolula Adeyemi for an Oscar party AND writing it all up for Story Magazine. Marian is a full-service operation! After the Oscars, Marian did so much more for me and turned my jewelry into…
Jewels of the Month: Tolula in a Tiara and More
In 1985, I listened to British singer Belouis Some‘s song “Imagination” on repeat. Kids these days don’t appreciate the dedication it took to play a song obsessively back then! It was a delicate operation, what with lifting the turntable needle up from the vinyl record and moving it to that flat, grooveless space in between…
Throwback Thursday: 2005 Hair, Dog, and Dress
While searching for some old jewelry photos, I came across this May 25, 2005, photo of me and the late, great Gigi the dog. My first reaction was, “OMG! She looks so young and beautiful!” I mean, I look okay, but Gigi was ravishing. Clearly, she had just been groomed, because she hadn’t gotten one…
Remembering George Floyd, Part 1
Today, May 25, marks a year since George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis by then-cop Derek Chauvin — a death that triggered one of the largest protest movements in U.S. history under the rallying cry of “Black Lives Matter.” Memorial marches, rallies, and vigils are planned in many locations. If you’re in New York City,…
TV Tonight: Borgia Poison Ring on The Blacklist
It’s a two-episode arc! Last Friday, my Borgia poison ring was a guest star on NBC’s The Blacklist … … but the poisoner was thwarted … … so the ring returns in tonight’s episode! The costume and props people at The Blacklist are going to get me some nice stills, but I can’t resist sharing…
Tonight’s Must-See TV: The Blacklist
Tonight! 8 p.m. (ET)! NBC! You need to watch The Blacklist, starring James Spader. One of my jewelry designs is making a guest appearance in Season 8, Episode 16. I’m not giving anything away the jewel’s identity yet … and neither is the trailer. My jewelry shot its scenes last month, so I was surprised…
Jewel of the Month: Black Diamond for Purrkoy
April’s birthstone is the diamond, so my procrastinating ass is going to squeeeeeeze in an April Jewel of the Month post at the last possible moment! Behold, the black-diamond version of my 2010 single-stone platinum Gravity band. This design was originally created as a unisex wedding ring, but I made the new ring as a…
Same Time, Last Year: Braving the Outdoors
One year ago today, I ventured out of my neighborhood for the first time in six weeks. New York City had locked down for COVID-19, but I decided activism couldn’t wait any longer; I didn’t want the former guy to become a lifetime dictator with the help of a pandemic. I met up with activist…