The Association of Image Consultants International has honored jewelry designer Cynthia Sliwa with its Rising Star Award for 2005. Sliwa received the award May 15 at AICI’s gala awards banquet in Atlanta. More than 200 image consultants from around the world were in attendance.

Sliwa, a former corporate attorney who had dabbled in vintage costume jewelry as a hobby, took classes at the Gemological Institute of America and eventually created a line of jewelry called Apprecia Fine Jewelry, which Sliwa defines as “fine jewelry with presence specially designed to flatter the generous curves of the full-figured woman.” Apprecia, which has been featured in InStyle, Good Housekeeping, and Bridal Guide magazines and on ABC TV’s The View, can be found at www.appreciafinejewelry.com.