Stick Your Neck Out
Hi everyone, happy Wednesday!
Ok yes, so I did veer off schedule and skip two weeks of WIWO in a row; to be fair, I’ve been in the middle of coordinating a move, so I’m gonna go ahead and cut myself some slack here. But on the bright side, the weather has been warming these past few weeks, and honestly I was a tad startled by the intensity of the euphoria that 60 degrees has inspired in me.
Now that we’re finally casting off our scarves and turtlenecks, I can air out my décolletage a bit, which means all the necklaces that have been sitting forlorn on my dresser can finally get their day in the sun. Here are three of my favorite jewelry artists, all of whom I’ve commissioned to make me something custom, that I’m most excited to rep this spring — if any of their work speaks to you, I highly encourage you to reach out!! All three makers are very sweet, very accommodating, and create absolutely beautiful works of art.
Winging It
CRADLE WING BRACELET - GEMWING STUDIO ($80)
GemWing founder Syd Davis describes their creations as “floating in their own microworld… beings that evoke dreamscapes, imaginative organisms, and youthful play.” And there is something organic yet otherworldly about these delicate sculptures of candy-colored glass beads suspended by invisible fishing wire, like a creature you’d find in a Zelda game. You could imagine the slightest puff of wind causing them to stir and flutter off from where they’ve nested by your ear or against your collarbone.
The Webs We Weave
IMITATION TEAR NO. 2 - PEMAKO SHOP ($165)
I wouldn’t describe Pemako Shop’s pearl necklaces as strands so much as webs. Artist Alison Sherpa has no interest in stringing together neat, tidy Jackie O jewelry; rather, their necklaces almost resemble creeping vines, the way they trail and tangle. Nor do they go for the perfectly creamy, oyster-smoothed pearls; Sherpa’s necklaces are crafted from pearls in oddball shapes and sizes, all iridescent shades of silver and pink and lavender, interspersed with vintage miyuki beads knotted together to form an intricate lattice.
What’s in a Name
WIRY CUSTOM NECKLACE - LANE WALKUP ($104)
I’ve been a fan of artist Lane Walkup for years — and now that I’m moving into a bigger place, I’ll finally have the room to display one of her sculptural bouquets. In the meantime, however, I’ve made do with her custom wire name necklace. I’d wanted a nameplate necklace for a while, but never felt like the dainty cursive ones really jived with my style; these sterling silver ones, however, dangling from a robust rolo chain, were right up my alley.
Tried one of my recs and loved it (or hated it)? Wanna get something cool on my radar? Drop me a line at kittylguo@gmail.com or swing by my Twitter @kitguo!