Noya Jewelry

Blogdigger Media search for Gemstone
Blogdigger Media search for Gemstone

Wendy Brandes Jewelry

Sterling Silver Designer Jewelry

Wendy Brandes is strongly influenced by the stories of fascinating women, whether they lived in the 16th century or the Swinging 60s. She creates pieces that are bold and eye-catching, yet feminine and organic. Mechanical pieces that open and close, unscrew or twist are her specialties. Wendy began designing jewelry in 2004 after 15 years in media and marketing, including key positions at the Wall Street Journal, CNN, People.com, and investment banking firm Lehman Brothers. Her first jewelry designs were her engagement and wedding rings.



Sterling Silver & Blue Topaz 'Fulvia' Ring
Of the Roman noblewoman Fulvia (wife of Marc Antony), the historian Plutarch wrote, "She was a woman who took no interest in spinning or managing a household, nor could she be content to rule a husband who had no ambition for public life: her desire was to govern those who governed or to command a commander-in-chief. And in fact Cleopatra was indebted to Fulvia for teaching Antony to obey a wife's authority for by the time he met her, he had already been quite broken in and schooled to accept the sway of women."
$1000



Lotus Flower Necklace
The lotus flower is revered as a symbol of purity and elegance.
• Sterling silver and sapphire
• 3/4" pendant on 16" chain
$155



Evelina Perma-Stacked Ring
Looks like multiple stacking rings, but it's actually one big sterling silver ring. Inspired by and named for the mother of Wendy's friend Siobhan.
$625


Wendy's main collection, Vivat Regina, is Latin for "Long Live the Queen." Each piece is named for a royal lady. Lockets and poison rings are an important part of this collection, because naughty royal ladies are the most interesting. The It Girls collection covers other notable women, ranging from fabulous friends and family members, to a Stone Age redhead, to a legendary female pope. The Eden collection is inspired by the highest-ranking woman of all: Mother Nature.
How Carefully Do You Read Those "No Parking" Signs?

I got the idea for this story after I saw this funny photo blog at LAist  in which South Bay photographer and Flickr user jakerome  documents the fun of parking in Hermosa Beach (a beach community in the Los Angeles area):  "No overnight parking. Except for residents. No parking at all Monday 10 until 2. 1 hour parking during the summer months, from 8-5, unless you have a resident OR day permit."

I'm a lucky one: I can park a guest in my garage, or in one of the few guest parking spots in my little tiny gated neighborhood. Or, visitors can park on the street outside, which thankfully doesn't have any requirements for street sweeping, or summer weather, or whatever. But I used to live on a street where street sweeping happened on one side of the street one morning from 8-10, and the next morning from 10-12 on the other side of the street, so woe to the hapless person who forgot which day of the week it was.

Motivated by jakerome, and in tribute to those whose parking lives are dictated by signs, I've assembled a fun collection of no parking signs that I found entertaining. I hope these are not in your neighborhood!

Enjoy!

Brandy Schaffels
AskPatty.com Editor

Photo Credits:
Hermosa Parking Sign by jakerome at flickr
No Parking At ALL by Gemstone at flickr
Do Not Park Here by NiallKennedy at flickr
Unauthorized Parkers by ThomasHawk at flickr

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