The pieces in this collection all utilize multiple stones, gathered together in a bezel of wire that is sometimes chaotic but always organic. Once I've chosen an ancient archetypal story to tell, I sit with the stones and the wire and allow the characters to manifest in my thoughts before taking to task the tools at hand.

I suppose it's a rather abstract representation of Gaia, for instance, to see a collection of Imperial Jasper and carnelian stones huddled together in a nest of curling copper. And her story may not be immediately clear to the casual observer. But I come to know her, or what her story represents, while I sit with the wire and allow it to move and dictate to me the direction it takes. Though I've been told or have read her tale many times over the years, each piece that I make in my effort to express her story in art is always unique, always showcasing an emotional connection that I've made to the Gaia in me, for lack of a simpler explanation.

I imagine this collection will be a long-standing one for my work. The opportunity to tell these ancient stories, however limited by my skills and technical knowledge, is one more step towards embracing the goddess within.

Alas, I am also obliged to say that I am no longer accepting requests for custom work, for an indeterminate amount of time. I will not be maintaining a waiting list of requests, since I currently have no plans to open to requests in the foreseeable future. This will, I hope, allow me the opportunity to focus on learning and utilizing new techniques and materials in the months and years to come, expanding my "mental toolbox" if you will, and adding to the skill-sets involved in producing my creations. All available work is posted in my store and updated as frequently as I can produce and will, undoubtedly, often indulge the one-of-a-kind tendencies of a raving wire-weaving addict!

I want to wish you all an amazing up-coming holiday season at least until we see each other again (soon, I hope!). May your days be as stress-free as possible while you track down all the weirdly specific items on your holiday gift-giving list! My son wants a light saber stick-shift USB port for his car and I'm not ashamed to admit that I have no idea what that is! Ah, Christmas. Good times.

Stay creative, everyone!
Nicole