Wire Wrapping Tutorials and Helpful Hints

I met Aurea on Twitter a few weeks ago and when I checked out her website, I was blown away by her originality of her jewelry – I had to share her designs with everyone!
Aurea’s jewelry business is named The Golden Plague. “Golden Plague is the translation to English of Portuguese words Aurea Praga. I started using this as a general name for my creations with my blog in 2008.”
Aurea tells me, “I live in Portugal, in Porto. At this time I teach drawing classes and I participate in some craft and design market shows. In my free time I try to draw (I wish I could do it more often) for my own amusement and post it in my blog. I’m always looking around for images, music, movies, books. I read a lot in my spare time. It’s a quiet pleasure that can race your heart. I love spending time with my family and friends. They inspire me every day. I have the privilege of being surrounded by interesting people from different areas and we share and support each other’s ideas and exchange opinions whenever we can. I often think of them as my secret intelligence.”
I asked Aurea how she discovered her jewelry design talent. “My link with jewelry was 4 years ago in the first classes I attended. At that time I worked a lot in the computer and I felt the need to get my hands into something more concrete. I found that metal working was the perfect media for my urge to communicate ideas, and they just keep coming.”
“The main material I use is silver. The thing that attracts me the most is that I can make a piece from scratch. The whole process from melting the silver until it’s turned to a completely new object that you had visualized. For the finishing touch I often use oxide or felt and stones to add some color. Recently I took a workshop on Japanese lacquer and in the next couple of weeks I’ll start listing new lacquered pieces on my sites. I’m always looking for new techniques to enrich my work. But I also like to mix different materials, like in my “Second Chances” Series, that is made out of cans and scraps from magazines. It all depends on what the idea asks for to come out.” I cannot WAIT to see the new lacquered pieces. Please be sure to post a comment on the blog with links when you post those!

My favorite….

Aurea has some really great goals for her jewelry. “My main goal is post graduation in Jewelry Design. I’m waiting to know if it will open this year and if it does I’m already in. My background education is on graphic design but in the jewelry area it’s mainly technical and I’m felling the need to improve my project concepts and it will give me a wider range of knowledge in many ways, some historical context, the ability to think where I fit in and to make my way with more certainty.

Another goal is to spread my work internationally. It would be so rewarding to see it travel across the world.

And that may be possible today through the internet. So, one of my goals is to grow online. I’m in DaWanda for about a month and I fell immediately in love with the handmade atmosphere I found in the internet. Every single day I see something that catches my eye. And I’m getting regular feedback on my work. That’s great! I’ve decided to always take some time to learn the new ways to live in it and deal with its new challenges.”

“Well, as I develop my jewelry work, I try to keep myself in a permanent learning process, taking courses and workshops whenever possible. And drawing, I’m doing a series of drawings (whenever I get the time) that I call “Girls are Weird” where I try to transport to images feelings like guilt or pride or even some feelings I can’t find a word to grab it, especially in the particular way women feel it. I’m a woman and I know that sometimes the way I react can look pretty weird. But the creative process has many different shapes and you never know what is coming your way.” I hope you will be sharing your drawings with us, too. I would love to see these – they sound very insightful!
What inspires Aurea? “Freedom inspires me, especially the freedom of being whoever you are with authenticity and wanting to express that to others. Most of my work is based in human emotions. I try to capture them in an image and jewelry is one of the means to do that. When you wear it you express your ideas, your moods and personality. I’m also inspired by this new open world where you get so many, too many information every day and every culture is mixed and blend. It’s a bit scary but most of all it’s amazing.” This is a great answer! I always think “That ring that I made is cool” – for me, everything is cool, self-defining but I never thought of it to the depth that you do. Thank you for sharing these thoughts with us!
Aurea can be found online at:

Golden Plaque Blog

Aurea Praga DaWanda

Aurea Praga Twitter

The Golden Plague Facebook

Thank you, Aurea, for interviewing with me! I look forward to seeing more of your original creations in the future.

I met Randel on Twitter and thought his prints and collages are very cool and unique! Randel told me “I remember drawing at a very early age. I think that the people around help me develop and grow as an artist. I mostly work in collage, printmaking and photography. I have a BFA in printmaking for Northern Kentucky University. I live and work in Northern Kentucky as a visual artist. When I’m not creating art I enjoy playing music, collecting mid-century modernist stuff, collecting first edition books and entertaining.” Sounds like really fascinating collections Randel has. I bet we jewelry artisans would be very inspired by the mid-century modernist stuff!

This is the best part of what I love about Randel’s collages. This technique really adds an abstract element to his work. “In my collage work I love using found items such as pages from old books, the inside patterns from security envelopes, printed tracing paper, letters or whatever else I might find and am drawn to. I love going to thrift stores to search for things to use in my work.”

I sell my collages and photographs on my blogs and also in galleries. Right now I have a few etchings and lithographs on Etsy and occasional I will post work on ebay.”

I asked Randel what his future plans are for his artwork. He told me, “I hope to be attending graduate school in the spring to get my MFA in printmaking. I am also planning an online business where I can curate and sell photographs from photographer around the world at very affordable prices.”

I asked Randel if he has any other creative outlets. “I used to create and design jewelry years ago. I love working with metals, especially silvers. I also enjoyed cutting gemstones. There is a lot of beautiful agate in Kentucky. Looking for it was as much fun cutting it open to find out what’s inside.”

This is currently my favorite but I have not yet had time to look at all of Randel’s prints so I might change my mind…but this one is totally cool!

And my favorite question of all my Featured Artisans Monday, what and/or who inspires you. Randel told me, “I find inspiration in many places. The work of other artists inspires me, and also the materials I find and use in my collages. Someone once told me that all artists are vessels, they take in everything around them. I believe that.” I completely agree with you, Randel. My sister-in-law once told me “You really see the world differently than the non-artistic person.”

Randel’s artwork can be found at several sites on the web:
A Collage A Day
R. Plowman Photography
R. Plowman Studios Flickr
R. Plowman Studios Etsy
R. Plowman Twitter

Thanks, Randel! I look forward to seeing your future creations

I have had the pleasure of knowing Theresa of Studio 618 for about four months now and like so many of my jewelry artist friends, I met her online. I asked Theresa how she came up with the name Studio 618, and she told me “About 4 years ago, I wanted to set up a business to sell my jewelry online. I wanted a business name where it can sound professional for me to sell both my jewelry creations and architecture services. Since I work out of my home studio, I used my house number as part of the name.”

“I have a son who started college last month. So it is now that I am able to find more time to work on my jewelry creations and the business. Now that I don’t have to share my car with him, I’m also spending time meeting up with artists living near me. It is these artists whose work, creativity and enthusiasm truly inspire me. I also enjoy meeting some incredible artist friends online through sites like Twitter and Facebook.” This is a great way to fill that “empty nest” syndrome and meeting with other artists is always a fun and inspiring way to spend time!

Theresa told me this ring was inspired by an artist friend of ours, Bill of Purified Art. Awesome – I love it!!

I find Theresa’s style to be very clean looking with great geometric shapes and lines. She told me “Using traditional metalsmithing techniques, I create simple and timeless metal jewelry, using highly recyclable silver, gold, copper and brass. Occasionally, I would add color accents by adding gemstones, glass, and pearls.”

“After working on monumental scaled architecture designs since graduation, I longed to work on something on a more personal scale. Although not as complicated nor as expensive as a building, jewelry is the perfect compliment. I took a jewelry making class at the local bead shop and I was hooked immediately.” Thank goodness you took that class, Theresa, so we can all enjoy the beautiful pieces of jewelry you create!

One of my all-time favorite rings of Theresa’s:

Theresa sells her work online, locally, and on the east coast. “My work is available year round at my Etsy and Artfire shops. I also sell at local art and craft fairs. Currently some of my Judaica pieces can be found at a gift shop near Boston.”

Theresa’s goals for her jewelry: “My future goals include having a bigger presence at retail shops for customers to touch and feel my work. I’m always open to additional explorations in other jewelry making techniques. I think I have the most fun when I’m learning, improving, and dreaming about the design of the next piece.” It’s amazing, isn’t it, how much we can actually learn and improve our techiques? I agree with you, Theresa. It feels great to figure out a better way to do something, to continually refine one’s style.

This ring is totally cool!

I asked Theresa if there are other creative avenues she would like to learn. I think she was destined to be a jewelry designer! “Sometimes I think I have too many interests. When I was little, I did embroidery and fashion design. Then I took interest and made wood furniture, using Japanese joineries such as dove tails and mortise and tenon. Well, I think metal is here to stay though.”

Theresa and her amazing jewelry can be found on the internet at the following sites:

Studio 618 ArtFire
Studio 618 Etsy
Studio 618 Blog
Studio 618 Twitter
Studio 618 Facebook
Studio 618 Flickr

Thanks, T, for answering all my questions and sharing your beautiful work with us!

Laurie makes very cool cards, digitally enhanced photos and prints. I love them because they are very colorful and abstract. I asked Laurie how she came up with the name of her business. She told me “Made by SwirlyGirl is the name of the business I started about 4 years ago after much prodding from my husband and friends to sell my cards instead of just giving them away. The name was created after my husband made a remark about the doodling I would do while I was on the telephone. I added the “made by” because there was an existing business with the name of Swirly Girl.”

In addition to creating beautiful cards, Laurie keeps herself quite busy with her family life. “I am a wife and the mother of two daughters, ages 13 and 8. The four of us live with our 7 year old German Shepherd/Australian Shepherd dog in the Los Angeles area, where my husband works as an actor, writer, and acting teacher. I was a professional ballet dancer in my “former” life, as well as a choreographer and ballet teacher, and I currently teach ballet part time at a dance school in the San Fernando Valley. When I am not working on Made by SwirlyGirl in some way or teaching ballet, I am taking care of our home, driving the kids to their school and activities, volunteering at their school, and all the things that most moms I know do. I have many hobbies, but have not had time for many of them since I began this business venture! Some of the things I really enjoy doing are hiking, traveling, camping, cooking, reading, going to museums, galleries, the theatre, the ballet, and anywhere that I can witness either nature or the creative imaginings of others.”

My personal favorite….

Laurie creates “note cards and matted photo art that I sell in my Etsy shop. I have several lines of cards: Made-U-Look, Kaleidoscope, Whirly Girl, En Pointe, and Plein Air, and will probably be creating another before long.”

I asked Laurie how she discovered her talent. “I don’t think of it as a talent as much as an interest that I took the time to explore and develop.” Hhhhmmm, I am going to have to argue that fact with you, Laurie LOL – I have been taking pictures of my jewelry for several years now and still struggle to get everything just right!

She further told me, “I’ve always had the need to create as far back as I can remember. As a small child, I painted sea shells and made pot holders and sold them door-to-door. At least I TRIED to sell them. (In all honesty, I think I sold 2 shells and one of them was to my father! The pot holders sold a bit better.) I’ve crocheted, knit, embroidered, sewed, needlepointed and cross stitched, learned some Native American beadwork, learned basket weaving, floral design, wreath making, faux finishes, covered photo albums and frames, made boxes and books, tried scrapbooking, jewelry making, quilting, and a few other arts and crafts. This is the first one that has kept my attention. What I love about making cards and photo art is that I can change it anytime I want to. I can create a new line, drop one, change the direction of it…I can’t run out of things to photograph and there are so many things I can do with each photo that I feel I can keep this up indefinitely! Plus, it satifies my need for immediate gratification, being a quick process from photographing to packaging the finished card!

The first cards that I designed were about 9 years ago, I think, when there wasn’t much disposable income and I refused to spend $4 or $5 on a card to send someone that they were just going to throw out after a few days, most likely. I thought:”For $5, I can buy the supplies to make many cards and those that receive them will actually want to keep them, too!” They were made from torn and cut handmade papers on cardstock with some beads, buttons, or ephemera added for texture. I then began working with gorgeous fabric remnants that a close friend would give me. When I got my first digital camera and began to experiment with a couple of photo programs, another door opened for me and the world was suddenly a new and exciting place to discover! My first cards came out of a happy mistake that became the direction I have continued to expand, my Made-U-Look line.

I’ve taught myself how to use my photo programs and camera and how to use my computer and the internet. I’m moved to create; I create; I like it or I don’t like it; I do it again and take what I learned with me into the next attempt;…it’s just about trusting myself and believing that if I like the way something has come out, there will probably be others who like it, too. But, even if there aren’t, the process is not motivated by pleasing anyone besides myself when I create, anyway. The process is worthwhile just because I’m moved to begin it.”

Materials that Laurie uses include “cardstock from office supply or arts and crafts supply stores and any handmade papers that I use I purchase at various paper stores or online. The ink for the computer, the photo paper, and the double sided tape are the costly items and I haven’t found a wholesale source for those, as yet, but I purchase my packaging supplies through an online wholesale source. The two items I look forward to being able to afford are a commercial printer and a commercial paper cutter. It’s quite tedious to hand cut each photo and much of the cardstock, and I would love to have more options with my printer (although I am very happy with the quality of my current printer).”

Laurie told me she would “love to see my images on household and personal accessories and would be thrilled if any licensing opportunities presented themselves! Also, my husband has been collecting wooden window frames for some time–(we have quite a collecion in our garage)–that he enjoys refinishing for use as frames for my photo art. We would like to have a number of these finished to offer my customers. I am also considering participation in some of the arts and crafts shows in our area.”

There are several other aspects of art that Laurie would like to explore. “I have basic skills in many different mediums, and jewelrey making and metal work are areas I’d like to explore further, along with sculpting, pottery, weaving, and stained glass. There aren’t many creative forms of expression that I’m not interested in trying! When I am creating, I am being the most “me” I can be. My world has unlimited potential and I am transported to a place within myself that is light, joyous, open, and free. The vehicle is not nearly as important as the journey itself, so I want to try it all!”

Lastly, my favorite question of all artisans, what and/or who inspires you? “There are all different kinds of things and of people that inspire me in many different ways, but we are talking about creativity here and not the other innumerable ways humanity can inspire. Color, texture, movement, shape, music, lighting, nature, art in any form inspires me…I’m a very visual person and nearly all of my inspiration comes from something I see, but if it is coupled with music, there is nothing better than that! I don’t know WHY something inspires me. Sometimes something doesn’t appeal to me on an esthetic level at all, but the sheer imagination that cooked it up just knocks me out! Other times, something will inspire me because it makes me want to dance or to write or to paint…as if it has just triggered a direct physical or emotional response and bypassed my analytic mind entirely. Or it might be taking something very simple and changing my perception of its potential that will send me on a quest to try out an idea. There are many people whose art and craftmanship I have been inspired by–from every branch of the arts–but I’d rather be inspired by the results of their muse rather than try to analyze them, which takes some of the magic out of it. For example, Andy Goldsworthy is an artist I’ve recently discovered and his art—using natural materials and the environment as his tools and his canvas–moves me deeply. But, he is just a man. It is the result that is the expression of his spirit which holds so much fascination for me rather than the path he has taken to get there. Maybe because I know my own process and attempting to put it into words somehow diminishes the experience.

To me, there is nothing in this world more inspiring than being surrounded by people who go inside themselves to explore and come out with piece of their own divine beauty and uniqueness to share with the world.”

Laurie’s beautiful photography and cards can be found on the internet at the following sites:
Made By SwirlyGirl
Made By SwirlyGirl Etsy
Made By SwirlyGirl Blog
Made By SwirlyGirl Facebook
Made By SwirlyGirl Twitter
Made By SwirlyGirl Flickr
Made By SwirlyGirl Soopsee

Thanks, Laurie!