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.