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Casa London: What comes first? The jewellery or the story?
Wendy: Both...and it depends on my mood. I usually have an array of jewellery parts on my studio workspace, and I just start assembling random pieces until I have created a finished product. I will then make a story to go with it because it inspires that creative aspect in me. Other times, it is the complete opposite, I will be inspired by something that is bothering me (bullying, etc.) create a story for it, then create a piece that pertains to that story. For example, I have a short story about gossip. The jewelry piece that I made for it contains a ring. A circle of eternal friendship, and signifying the need to have people around you, supporting you. Wearing it is a reminder that you can indeed depend on that support to get you through the tough times.
Casa London: Where does the inspiration for the jewellery pieces come from?
Wendy: At one point I found myself really wanting to make jewellery that was interchangeable, and I was thinking of doing it with magnets. This was years and years ago. I always make prototypes of everything. I originally wanted to make a children's necklace that said "Today I am" on the top...and then have an area for an interchangeable magnet for the bottom that said "happy”, "sad" etc. so they could change it up to let the world know their mood that day. Magnets didn't hold well, so I left the magnets idea for quite a long time.