I'm BAAAAAACCCKKKK!

I'm back from a few days away! My little red doxie (Ollie) hurt his back & I've been on pins & needles with him...after many sleepless nights & a heavy duty steroid shot & pills he's doing a little better. It's so hard when the fur-kids are sick! I know he's 11 years old, but he's my baby! He's my fist child--that I've raised myself. He's taken care of me many times when I didn't feel well & I hate to see him get old and hurt. He has no paralysis just excruciating pain due to a calcified disk out of alignment. We've been through this before, but his recovery is slow this time around. I want to see him back to the way he was...like in this picture.

Is this the life or what!?!

Don't you wish you could spend your day laying in the back yard like this!! This is how sally spends her day when she's not hunting for rabbits and chipmunks!

What is Wire Wrapped Jewelry?

Wow! When I started blogging, not to long ago, I assumed everyone knew what wire wrapped jewelry was...OOPS! Just because I am surrounded by it every day (literally... not just on my workbench... it's on the kitchen counter, the coffee table, the bathroom, the car, sometimes the washer, and probably even in the freezer) doesn't mean everyone knows what it is!

If you haven't heard of it, you're not alone... wire wrapped jewelry isn't available at your local deparment store. It is unique, this type of jewelry can not be created via mass production or by machine. That is the beauty and allure of wire wrapped jewelry! That is why when you wear a piece someone will undoubtedly stop you & ask about it or compliment you on it!

Oh, where to start...by definition... wire wrapped jewelry is a method of crafting jewelry by hand, with wire & a few simple hand tools....

It involves wrapping, weaving, and twisting wires together to create wearable jewelry. The tools consist of many types of pliers, cutters, hammers, & files...NO torches, kilns, solder, chemicals, or machinery is used! The result is beautiful, TRULY handcrafted jewelry with every piece being One-of-a-Kind! Wire wrapped jewelry has exisited since Ancient Egyptian and Babylonian times!

There are many different types and styles of wire jewelry, and I'm sure new styles are born every day. All of them share 2 common factors--they are made with wire & by hand.

• Wire Wrapped jewelry consists of bundles of wires that are wrapped together to create settings and jewelry framework (photo of blue opal is wire wrapped).
• Wire Sculpted jewelry is similar, however, instead of wrapping bundles of wire they are swirled and curled to create an ornate framework of bindings and intricate designs to hold the piece together (photo of amethyst pendant is wire sculpted).
• Wire Crocheted jewelry is crocheted just as you would with yarn, beads and stones are often woven into these creations.
  
• Wire Knotted, Woven, & Sewn jewelry, as the name implies, consists of intricately woven or sewn structure to create unique designs.
  

Wire wrapped jewelry creation is much like handwriting...every artist has their own methods and style! Even when I teach someone, they have their own style and unique way of manipulating the wire without even realizing it. Like any art, each artist has their own interpretation and naturally aquired techniques.

Wire Wrapping Vintage Jewelry

Did you know wire wrapped jewelry is a great way to salvage or repair vintage and/or broken jewelry!! Got an earring you lost the match to? Got a broken piece of jewelry? Got a tarnished ring? Got antique buttons or coins? Got a little shell or pebble you picked up while on vacation years ago? We all have these bits and pieces in the bottom of our jewelry box that have irreplaceable sentimental value...yet they stay hidden away in a box...probably never to be worn or used again! When we're gone--someone will throw them away not ever know what they meant to us! Why do we do this? GET THEM OUT AND DO SOMETHING WITH THEM!!!

I can recreate a new beautiful piece of jewelry with these old treasures! These photos are of a pair of vintage earrings a customer of mine had broken...she loved them so much she saved the broken pieces for years...she couldn't believe her eyes when she saw I created a beautiful NEW pair of earrings out of them for her!! I have re-set cabochons & stones (amber/jade) and I have even wrapped vintage costume jewelry and rings that were tarnished & peeling to breath new life and purpose into them for people that treasured these things for years -- and yet did nothing with them! Got something you'd like wrapped--contact me!! The holidays will be here before you know it...cool idea for someone huh?!?

A Renaissance Wench!

Hey it's me in one of my Renaissance gowns! Before I got hooked on creating jewelry I sewed renaissance gowns and loved quilting and creating holiday decor! This is an OLD photo I found of me, in one of my gowns! This was for a Scottish festival in South Florida. I wore this beauty for the day with a triple krenlin in 95 degree plus heat -- INSANE!! I don't know what was worse - my broken back from wearing a corset all day or heat exhaustion! I tore this outfit off in the car on the way home!!! By the end of the day...I lived up to every letter in the Renaissance word WENCH!!

If you asked me 2 years ago...I never would have imagined I'd be creating jewelry and clay art full-time! I was an Admissions / Marketing Director for Nursing & Rehabilitation Centers in Ft. Lauderdale for years!! I have a bachelor's degree in Health Care Management! I love working with patients & families & the physicians & Hospitals....I am a wiz at Medicare benefits & like to educate people about this ever evoloving & confusing world of benefits!!

I still stay in touch with friends and clients down there in Florida (i'm in NY now). I miss them all the time! I could easily have a blog dedicated just to healthcare marketing & benefits!! Hmm! I miss it! I'm hoping to be able to do both in the near future--create jewelry & work in healthcare!

Like Bugs?

Even if you're not big on bugs...this is a cool caterpillar! We found him crawling on my boyfriend's leg..after he jumped and flung him to the ground...I gave him a new home. I couldn't resist taking a photo. He looks like a bearded little old man. Anyone know what he is? I've never seen a white caterpillar before. Hope it doesn't mean we're in for a hard winter.

Wire Wrapped Phantom Crystals & Chakra Jewelry

I'm back! We survived the gem show in Massachusettes this past weekend!! I'll post photos soon of some of my treasures & awesome finds! I have been doing lots of wire wrapping today! Wrapped lots of new and unique crystals- -lithium phantom crystals, chlorite phantom crystals, aqua aura quartz crystals, and some beautiful lavender & green ocean jasper cabs!! It's amazing how new stones and crystals inspire new creations! My hands hurt & I want to keep going!

I have really been into creating crystal healing & chakra jewelry. I released a new line of chakra pendants last week. They feature a wire wrapped charm holder with a crystal woven into the design and 7 removeable gemstone charms representing each of the 7 chakra. These have been a lot of fun to make and they are very unique. They have become one of my favorite designs to make and to wear!

How Can You Say NO to thisFace?

Just as the heading says..How can you say 'no' to this face? This is Miss Sallie, The Huntress. Miss Sallie lives for her daily walk. Hunting for rabbits, gophers, or any creatures lurking along side the road is her PASSION! She never sees them, even when they're right under her nose, but boy does she enjoy hunting for them!! I have to practically throw her at the bunnies for her to notice them. I thought dogs had a keen sense of smell to sense prey with, not Sallie. I guess it doesn't matter, it's just the fun of the hunt, like playing hide and seek. Even if she caught a little critter I don't think she'd know what to do with it!

Why do I mention this? Well..ALL DAY Sallie brings me little rubber mice, stares at me, wiggles her rear end & makes honking noises, and scratches at the side of my leg until I give in & take her for a walk. She'll even find her way onto my workbench or chair to bug me. Some days are worse than others...today was one of those days! When the walk is over what does she do...flop down sleep & for the rest of the evening, happy as can be with one of her little mice, as if it was the real thing! If only life was that simple for all of us!

Polymer Clay Fall Focal Beads & Cabochons!

This weekend was a polymer clay weekend!! Despite the hot weather I had Fall on my brain! I created lots of metallic raku and antique bone clay butterflies, leaves & faces!! The colors on the raku pieces came out perfectly (a blend of purple, copper, russett, & bronze). I can't wait to make some beautiful jewelry with them. I put a bunch of them in our Ebay store too. I will have to put photos up of the beautiful creations a few of my talented Ebay customers have created with these! As much as I love gemstones & crystals I love these clay pieces too. They look great, wear well, & open up a whole new world of design ideas and themes!

China Doll Sterling Silver Wire Wrap Bracelet!

This is a 'China Doll' Bracelet... one of my signature designs. I created this piece earlier in the week. I love these lampwork focal beads. This design won 2nd place (A.K.A 'Honorable Mention') in the mostly metals category of the
Rings n Things Your Design Here Contest 2006!! I was so proud, my first award & in my first year of creating wire wrapped jewelry! Hopefully I can acheive 1st place next time!

I'm making polymer clay focal pieces this weekend...I'll be sure to post a photo or two when they are finished. Getting ready for fall and winter designs....I'm in no hurry, but cooler days will be here before we know it!

Red Hot Wire Wrapped Collar!

Today I'm trying to come up with a new design for a catalog entry. I'm shooting for a dramatic neckpiece. I crafted this necklace centerpiece with brass, copper, & red jade cabochons...I'll be making the final piece out of sterling silver. I like to practice with copper & brass when I'm trying to come up with a new design that needs lots of wire...this piece would have eatten about 3/4 of an ounce of silver (ouch! at today's silver prices).

I think I like it, but I was hoping to incorporate a few beads into the design...unless I work them into the chain. The sleek scrolls and arches in this piece might be out of place with beads....we'll see what tomorrow brings!

We're getting ready to go to a HUGE gem show in Massachusettes next weekend...I can't wait! I've got gem show fever!! I can't wait to find lots of little treasures to wrap & create new things with!

Wire Wrapped Ice...Cool Kyanite Bracelets!

Another HOT day today, heat indexes are over 110 degrees! Today I decided to stay in and organize my dusty, dirty workbench. Crystals, stones, beads, and snips of wire have crowded me out of my workspace. Now they are organized and I won't be able to find anything for a week!

What better to wrap on a hot day than a cool, ice blue stone! Kyanite is one of my favorites...its crystalline icey and sapphire blues are gorgeous. I created these 2 kyanite bracelets. The stones have a beautiful icey blue shimmer & the wraps have a sleek celestial feel. They are a classic wire wrapped banded style bracelet with strands of 20 gauge half-hard wire swirled around the kyanite & Bali bead focals. The swirls protect the focal beads and look good too! You can find these in our Ebay store.

My First Blog Entry

Here's my first entry! I envisioned this entry as a philisophical introduction into my life as a Wire Wrapped Jewelry artist. I wanted to flood you with photos and deep thoughts...It's too hot for that!

The swimming wiener dog wins today...After a HOT weekend, swimming with the dogs & visiting family took precedence over creating jewelry! Sometimes you need to recharge your batteries... particularly with the weather we've been having. It's amazing how a cool swim can breath new life into an 11 year old dachshund. He swam for hours-barking, jumping, splashing, chasing toys, and creating chaos with 2 boston terriers for two days at Babcie's house (Babcie is Polish for Grandmother). Now he's exhausted and struggles to make it up the stairs, but boy did he have fun! The only thing missing in this photo is a little shark fin and the theme song from JAWS!