Sweet Bead Studio — Handcrafted jewelry by Cindy Wimmer

Boots & Bliss coming to artBLISS!

by Cindy on January 14, 2014

Jeanette and I are excited to kick off the new year by offering a new artBLISS mini retreat. We’re welcoming our two favorite Texans, Diane Cook and Deryn Mentock – designers who are known for their big hearts and big talent (they say everything is big in TX!). The round-up will take place over two days in March – something fun to look forward to during these chilly winter days.

Here’s the lowdown:

March 22-23, 2014
Sterling, VA

Deryn’s workshops: Eruption Fold Form Cuffs and Prairie Pearl Pod Pendant

Diane’s workshops: Stix and Stones and Ruffled Poppies

We’ll get together after class on Saturday for good old-fashioned socializing! Relax with your friends old and new, as well as mingle with your instructors. We’re thrilled that Deryn will be signing her book, The Jewelry Maker’s Design Book: An Alchemy of Objects. There will be door prizes with extra chances to win if you wear your boots!

For more information and to register, click here.

Diane made up a blog badge for us – please help us share the word about Boots & Bliss!

Come dressed for the West and join us for a stompin’ good time (just couldn’t resist the lingo!)! 🙂

– 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.

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Here’s to new beginnings!

by Cindy on January 8, 2014

Happy New Year!

I hope 2014 is off to a great start for you. I know I’m excited about the possibilities of a new year and I’m eager to start fresh. Like many of you stopping by, I have high hopes for changes and growth this year. High hopes, dreams, and of course a few plans. 🙂

One thing that won’t be changing is my love of history, the past, old places and forgotten things. My kids got on-the-fly history lessons as we took a few mini trips over the holiday break, amidst other activities. We did make it to a museum, but the rest of our history appreciation came from driving and walking through a few old towns and handful of new (to me) antique malls. I’ve collected some of my favorite pictures to share here.

A well-loved classic Ford truck. {Lexington, VA}

I stop for ghost signs. Can you see the Coca-Cola sign underneath? {Salem, VA}

Sky and steeples {Salem, VA}

I stop for abandoned homes too. I can’t help but think of the hustle and bustle of the families that may have lived here in the past. It looks like a wheel chair ramp was built on the right. {Christiansburg, VA}

The Cambria Emporium – what an amazing antiques mall – with a historic train depot right across the street. Trains sped by the building adding to the ambience. The building itself has so much character with the wood floor and stamped metal ceiling. We found a special piece here that will make unusual bead storage – will share that one in a future post. {Christiansburg, VA}

Bringing home this vintage tulle skirt for one of my dress forms. {Roanoke, VA}

Oh the donuts! Resolutions and all that, who can resist? 🙂 {Richmond, VA}

Absolutely smitten by this section of Cary St. – Old buildings, cobblestone alleys, ghost signs and mysterious doors. {Richmond, VA}

Just a few blocks from my old dorm (grad school), we discovered the Museum of the Confederacy and Jefferson Davis’ home, The White House of the Confederacy. Although reluctant at first, once we stepped inside the 1818 home, the kids seemed just as interested to learn more about President Jefferson Davis’ home where he lived with his family from 1881-1885. Our tour guide was an incredibly knowledgeable and articulate freshman attending William and Mary. We saw personal family pieces (furniture, prints, toys) in the mansion and listened to interesting stories about Jefferson and Varina and their children. The couple is buried nearby in Hollywood Cemetery – I shared photos of this famous cemetery last January in this blog post.

A wavy glass window and finial on the steps at The White House of the Confederacy. {Richmond, VA}

Thank you for visiting and stepping back in time with me. I have one last photo – one I took in Blacksburg along with a well-love quote……

Now on to the present.….. Happy New Year and here’s to new beginnings!

– Cindy xoxo

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Vintage Mesh Modern Wrap Bracelets

by Cindy on December 27, 2013

Jewelry Affaire Winter 2014

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!

Vintage Mesh Modern Wrap Bracelets - Cindy Wimmer

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.

Vintage Mesh Bracelets by Cindy Wimmer

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

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