What We Heart

Erica Weiner Jewelry

by Lauren Fleming

$30-$110 at Vagabond Boutique, 37 N. 3rd St., 267-671-0737, ericaweiner.com

It's tough to find jewelry that's affordable, sophisticated and not pinned to a plastic card bearing a Claire's inscription. That's what makes Erica Weiner, a New York native who crafts moderately priced earrings, necklaces and rings, such a rare gem.

Weiner knows rare gems well — she finds her material at closeout lots across the country, making her vintage jewelry line ever-changing and unpredictable. Some recent discoveries include gold buttons and coins, miniature crossword charms and lockets with old photographs inside them. All romantic yet eerie, her standout accessories include a stag head necklace, '50s shoe clips and a "penis bone" necklace. Most pieces are available in gold, silver or brass, but some are also made with snake bone, wood and gun metal. With its quirky, last-century style, Weiner's jewelry will make you feel as if you're raiding your grandmother's jewelry box — had Granny been a fashion-conscious archaeologist.