Golden Thread founder, Jennifer Welker and sample of her monogrammed gold disk necklaces
As everyone knows, shopping local is all the rage these days and how fun is it to be able to find a talent in our own backyard that has a great success story to tell. That is the case of Jennifer Welker, Houston’s jewelry designer that has made gold and personalization her signature and not only are the locals loving it but it’s bringing her global recognition with celebrities and clients all over the U.S. and across the pond. This Sugarland native and Second Baptist graduate went on to U.T. where she was a cheerleader. After college, she began a career as a NICU nurse in our medical center which can be a very stressful job and found making jewelry, a category of fashion that she had loved since her early childhood, was a great creative outlet for evenings at home. And so the story goes…….she was married, became a Mom to two beautiful children and along the way, her friends loved what she was doing so much that they encouraged her to make more, put it on a website, sign on for ETSY and before she knew it was selling her signature monogrammed pieces in many small boutiques around the city, as well as online. All of this began only three years ago and is continuing to grow leaps and bounds. Her jewelry can be found at a bientot, Kuhl-Linscomb, Magpies, the Monogram Shop on San Felipe, Hemline and others in Houston, Dallas and Austin, as well as other U.S. cities. However, her first big step into the large store arena is this week when she appears with her jewels at Saks Fifth Avenue for her first trunk show there on Thursday and Friday, October 10 and 11.
Below are some of her most popular pieces; prices ranging from $20 to $1,900. Her small single initial pendant necklace, her single initial on a chain, monogrammed initial large disk with diamond bezeled edge, all favorite pieces. I love the monogrammed earrings and what I’m crazy about are some of the endless ways that you can combine pieces, either on one chain as we’ve shown below or as Jennifer is wearing in the photo above, which is layered singles in different lengths. Visit her site, Goldenthread for more details and to purchase pieces that you must have or stop by Saks this week to meet and chat with Jennifer in person and see her best designs there with her. Where to next for Jennifer….she says, Men’s cufflinks and tie tacks and maybe some other accessories categories could be in her future as she has always had a passion for all things that accessorize!
Styling Tips from Jennifer: Layering of necks and bracelets are so popular now. Try different monograms worn at one time…..example, your monogram, your children, husband, combined mono for you and hubby……a sweet way to include the people you love in your life. They obviously make wonderful gifts for special occasions and holidays and can be added to and worn together easily, either on one chain or on multiple length chains.
A high profile fan and client of Golden Thread is Pippa Middleton, who Jennifer sent a sample to on a whim just to see if she’d wear it and she has since worn it and been photographed so many times wearing it that it has made Jennifer’s initial pendants a very popular item that she now sells to many English gals, who want to follow the look of the Middleton sisters. Also, Jenna Bush Hager, a college friend of Jennifer’s wears her Golden Thread pendant and got recognition for the brand on the Today Show as well as many of the fashion magazines such as the one featuring Jennifer Aniston.