A Work in Progress

I have been working on new wire projects with a vengence since my Wild Wire Woman's Retreat and I am proud to present my lastest new necklace which is still unfinished. Stay tuned for the next installment. I will be asking for feedback and would love to have your input.

Matching Earrings

What is it about the combination of copper and turquoise that is so eye catching? These hand hammered, copper, 16 gauge, wire earrings seem to do just that. When I finished these earrings , I had a hard time deciding whether or not to antique them because the turquoise ceramic rounds looked so pretty on bright shiny copper. I decided that antiquing them would give a richer look and contrast just as nicely with the turquoise. Hope you like the results!

Great Instruction is the Key

I have been talking quite a bit on this blog about the wonderful Wild Wire Woman's retreat where I studied under master teacher Sharilyn Miller at her home in Idywilld,Ca. Even though some of the techniques we learned were challenging and frustrating, my persistence has certainly paid off. Practice really does make a big difference and having Sharilyn's DVDS has helped tremendously.

Although I still enjoy working with genuine gemstones to make some feminine and delicate jewelry pieces, wire working has been so much fun and I find that I love wearing the bold, chunky pieces as much as the delicate ones. Working with wire is a very satisfying experience and I particularly love antiquing my pieces in liver of sulpher. Check my blog to see my current metal pieces.

Just Do It!

These three words have become my mantra after my fun and fabulous wire retreat at the home of Sharilyn Miller. Often people will sign up for a instructional course, buy all the materials, learn the techniques and then feel hesitant about trying them out once they are home in their own workshops. It's human nature to go back to what is easy for us and to push the challenges aside. This time, I decided to listen to the words of my teacher, Sharilyn and "just do it" with the help of her wonderful book Bead on a Wire. I am really pleased with the results and have so enjoyed working with silver and copper wire. So next time you are feeling insecure about trying something new, give a whirl and "just do it."

The Joy of Wire Wrapping

I am very excited about my new creations. As I mentioned in earlier posts, I recently attended a woman's retreat at the home of Sharilyn Miller in Idyllwild, Ca. where I learned to make the wire components of many of my new jewelry pieces. These two pieces are a result of my effort and yes frustrations in Sharilyn's workshop. Although I found some of the techniques to be difficult everything I learned was well worth the effort.

Sweet Spring

These are photos of my home in New York. There is nothing more glorious than this beautiful spot in early spring. The photos represent some of my favorite springtime delights. I love the view of the pond and the views of the mountains on a warm spring afternoon. The grape hyacinths and tips of hosta leaves poking through the ground are such a welcome sight after the long and cold winter days. Perhaps the most wonderful thing about this season in the Berkshires is the smell of the air and the sweet scent of my Carlesii viburnum.

Proud to Present my Latest Creations!

These are two of my latest creations with wire wrapping. I learned wire working techniques and methods from Master Artisan, Sharilyn Miller, at her Wild Wire Women Retreat, at her home in Idyllwild, California (see my previous posts). Her wonderful books and DVDs are available on her website. Add these to your collection and perhaps you will be inspired to take one of Sharilyn's wonderful workshops. I did and couldn't be happier with the results.