Hello!
I hope this finds you enjoying the festivities of the season!
It’s been far too long since I shared jewelry with you here so get ready for a stream of pictures! I am super excited to share this cover of Jewelry Affaire – the Winter 2014 edition due out next week. This is my first time being published in this beautiful publication and I received the biggest Christmas gift ever earlier in the week when I received my contributor copy. On the cover you’ll see a trio of bracelets I created over the summer, each featuring a vintage mesh chain. I was happy to find the beautiful work of many of my jewelry designer friends in the pages of this issue. I think you’ll be as inspired as I am when you browse through the pages in the weeks to come. I am so thankful to the JA editor, Christine Stephens, and the entire design team – especially photography, led by Johanna Love.
At artBLISS 2012, I purchased a bunch of mesh chains from Dia Daniels who brought her vintage wares to sell to fellow attendees. I was immediately drawn to the mesh chains she brought back recently from a warehouse in NYC. Maybe it was the old brass patina, maybe it was the mystery of not knowing what they were used for originally….I just knew I could use these 10 1/2″ chains for jewelry. The chain seemed too short for a necklace (although originally they may have been used as chokers with an extender chain) and too long for a bracelet. It didn’t take long to realize they could be used as a bracelet, a wrap bracelet! I personally love wrap bracelets and stacked bracelets so I had fun creating different variations. I also had fun with the jewelry photo shoot afterwards – as I’ve said before, I have just as much fun styling jewelry as I do making it!
You can really alter the look of the bracelet by adding suede, wrapped links or chain. I enjoyed the challenge of seeing how I could embellish the chain and add character with the beads and vintage findings in my own stash.
I recently made another wrap bracelet and listed it in my Etsy shop here. This one features a special vintage earbob – adorned with black beads and sparkly crystal. I added a mix of onyx, brass, Swarovski and labradorite beads to lengthen the bracelet.
Here’s another project featured in the Winter JA issue – “Cashmere & Cocoa”. This one is special to me. Earlier in the Spring my friend Vicki let me know about a series of jewelry color competitions at a local bead store, Beadazzled. The challenge focused on monochromatic design. I had never entered a jewelry competition before but happened to enjoy working with monochromatic colors. My focus was on finding ways to add interest by texture, shapes and by using wirework. I was excited to win the wirework category and received a generous gift certificate to the store.
I am very grateful to close 2013 feeling that I have accomplished many good things. I am especially thankful for the support and friendship of an amazing jewelry community – mentors and friends alike. Thank you to all who stop by this site – you are so appreciated. Enjoy the rest of the holiday season and Happy New Year!
– Cindy xoxo
Cindy Wimmer is a jewelry designer with a passion for combining vintage elements with modern wire design. She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. Her first jewelry design book, The Missing Link, was recently released this Fall.
