Chicago - September 24, 2007

Golden Girl

Erica Weiner Jewelry

Chances are you have an uber-talented friend who inspires envy and wrath among your crew.

But you can’t hate her — she’s sweet as cream — so you’ve settled for premium bragging rights.

Erica Weiner is that friend. And because you don’t know her personally (pardon the presumption), you can indulge in her handcrafted jewelry with minimal resentment.  

Gleaning inspiration from quirky historical events like the Gold Rush, early 20th-century advertising, and Victorian mourning jewelry, Weiner pairs existing objects with metals to create funky, antiquey designs.

Case in point: To make her Liquor Tag bracelet, she etched the words bourbon and rye onto 14-karat plaques that used to dangle on bottlenecks in gentlemen’s clubs.

Weiner also collects vintage, ivory-covered plastic name rings (Shirley, Mary, June) and turns them into monogram necklaces.

When strangers stop you on the street to check you out, just revel in it.

That’s what friends are for.

Available at Una Mae’s, 1422 North Milwaukee Avenue, between Evergreen and Wolcott Avenues (773-276-7002); online at ericaweiner.com.