Now I know this may be a little woo-woo for some, but it's a subject near and dear to my heart. Being the analytical sort that I'm sometimes prone to be, the idea that stones might have metaphysical properties has had me somewhat... enamored. There's a beauty in the mysticism and power of nature, that we are, despite our preoccupations and cell phones and technology, just a small part of a wonderful tapestry of energy, for lack of a better word. For the sake of argument (and because it's fun), let's just assume stones have this special ability to affect our physical, emotional and mental capacities, to access within us a little untapped potential and bring a little joy to an otherwise hectic and fevered life. I mean, really now...... how is this a bad thing? As a jewelry artist, gemstones play a vital role in the work I do and the pieces I create.... how I create, I'd even say. I get to be unapologetic with my habit of assigning personality to the shapes my wire form, so much so that, of late, I've taken to naming my creations: the "Goddess Gaia" pendant, for instance, or the "Shakti" pendant. And these creations become an extension of my own energy or vibration, or whatever esoteric word you might like to ascribe to the creation process. I've had, since my childhood, a propensity to fidget. I tap my foot, rub the hem of my shirt between my fingers, move the hair from my face fifteen times an hour. Perhaps this is a symptom of my life-long battle with anxiety, or perhaps (if I dare get a little spiritual here) it might be the symptom of a disconnect with the energy of earth. Follow me here. Have you ever, even once, perhaps in your youth, owned what many have coined "worry stones"? Those smooth, palm-sized gemological miracles with that glorious little divot perfect for our fidgeting thumbs? I had a whole collection of them. Still do in fact. And, over the years, I've discovered that which stone I choose to soothe my fidgets is entirely dependent on my mood, or the circumstances for my anxiety. When I am sad, for instance, the warmth of citrine is my stone of choice. When I'm anxious, hematite grounds me. When I'm distracted, black tourmaline sings to my creative soul. And, when I ache for a little self-love, amethyst answers the call. Whether or not these properties or uses meet any social "standard" among the metaphysical community is far less important to me than the very organic ways in which these stones find me when most needed. I think there's a beauty to that. To the natural pull we feel to stones, whether we associate that pull with any ethereal, indefinable energy or not. If it pleases us, gives us peace, allows us to smile when we otherwise might have reason to frown, I'd say their purposes in our lives are well met. Tell me, do you have a stone that calls to you when you are sad or anxious? Do you find yourself naturally gravitating towards the peaceful pull of rose quartz or the transforming allure of malachite? I'd love to hear about your experiences with your favorite stones. Leave them in the comments below! And until next time, my gems, happy weaving! Nicole
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Inspiration. It literally comes in all shapes and sizes. And sometimes, no matter how prolific and limitless inspiration is, it can sometimes elude us. I am as much a victim of the fickle nature of creativity as the next person and have, I admit, taken to some drastic measures to inspire my work.
That wide-eyed pair sits on a shelf in my living room ....eyeballs me with its blank stare... practically daring me to be inspired by it. I mean, really now, owls are never not adorable, am I right? So let me extend to you a challenge, of sorts. Look around the room you're sitting in right now. Take in the art on your walls, the family photos in frames, the knick-knacks and baubles on shelves and tables. Keep looking until your eyes naturally settle on one thing. Just one.
Now.... with that in mind, go create. And when you're done, come back here and let me know how it goes. Leave me a link to your creation in the comments below. If you're inclined, write your own blog post about the process. I'd love to hear all about it! Happy weaving! Nicole
Back then, we were a single-income household and I was desperate for a time-sucking, mind-numbing hobby that could distract me from the pile of bills and empty cupboard. It was real life. It was struggle. There are many who will, unfortunately, understand that reality. So, in my desperation.... and it was desperation... to put my mind on things of comfort and ease and simplicity, I discovered jewelry making. Initially, I was so wrapped up (no pun intended) in what I was seeing others do while I researched techniques and styles and aesthetics of the current trends, that I failed to see how I could affordably translate those styles and trends to jewelry. But let's be real. I didn't need a $50 larimar cabochon and 14k gold wire. I didn't need torches or tumblers or dapping sets (I'm still not quite sure how to use those things). I just needed a $2 strand of freshwater pearls from Michael's Arts & Crafts, and a pile of recycled electrical wire. And, ahem, the pliers I'd confiscated from my husband's tool box.
So yeah. Beads. Glorious beautiful beads. The local craft store was awash with them. And they were pretty and sparkled and, despite a relatively low price tag, allowed me ample opportunity to test the waters of this new creative endeavor.... and, along the way, offer my anxiety a little reprieve. $2 bought me 16 beads. 16 awesome opportunities to create. And yes, even $2was sometimes a stretch for our budget, so I learned to allow the wire (mostly free and fairly prevalent) to represent my vision and used the beads to accent that vision. And to this day, I am an advocate for the use of beads in wire and metal work. I was recently offered a spread in an un-named prolific magazine on the condition the work submitted utilized no beads. "Beads", they said "are not representative of the quality of our aesthetic". Well, okay then. Needless to say, I declined their offer. Because I love beads. Beads were my gateway drug. They were the snowball before the avalanche. They were the tiny balls of beauty in a life that once couldn't afford much else. So to those who say beads are not for "artists", I say who are you to define for me what art is? Art is a salve for the soul. And for every strand of beads, I had a palm full of remedies. Use your beads, my friends. Go and create. Happy weaving! Nicole
And, that productivity has also paved the way to the next long-awaited "Finish It!" Tutorial Design Contest, which was originally slated for last September but, you know... life and all that jazz. However, where there is a will, there is wire! And the contest is now live! I've also been highly addicted to a new design aesthetic I call "chaos" wraps. I know the word is not entirely original. It's been used to describe all sorts of varieties of wire wrapping beauties in the community. For me, however, I settled on the name for this reason:
So, I've revisited my love for beads while creating a little chaos. Beads. Now there's a subject I can talk about in depth. Maybe I will.
Stay tuned! And happy weaving! Nicole I began my wire wrapping journey more than 10 years ago. It seems ages, yet I'm still learning and inventing and designing and creating with a passion as new as the day I discovered it. This is, in part, due to the vast talents of other jewelry artists who inspired me. And sometimes, that inspiration came in the way of wire wrap tutorials. One such tutorial was the Net Bezel by Eni Oken (pictured below), which was the first tutorial (though certainly not the last) I purchased.
There seems to be a rather prevalent opinion in some sub-sets of the jewelry community that work derived from tutorials is somehow "less". Less artistic. Less original. Encompassing less talent. To that I say this: Shush. We are meant to empower the creative endeavors of others. Not belittle them. I discovered there are two popular uses for tutorials, and one is no more or less important or valid than the other:
And both of these uses are important in furthering the creative process for anyone who utilizes lessons provided by others. Don't let anyone tell you the work you create, whether original or not, is in any way "less".
And eventually my nets became cleaner. My bails moved from a coil to a basket weave. I embellished these bezels with beaded frames. My experience with wire weaving grew. And I created. Now, some ten years later, I've found my voice, or am still discovering it, at any rate. And this is due in large part to the willingness of Eni and other like-minded artists who share their creative process with the masses. "Whether or not for sale or personal enjoyment, lessons allow freedom from creative stagnation." I provide lessons for a number of reasons. As an homage to those from whom I learned, definitely. But as an artist who experiences the same creative blocks as anyone, lessons allow me to create when my mind is too full of "life". We all worry or stress, and I always appreciated the opportunity to work with my hands without the pressure to "be an artist"... whatever that means, right?
Every tutorial I purchased and used, by Eni or Iza Malczyk, IMNIUM or Lonely Soldier (to name a few), was simply another tool in my drawer, as important and useful in my progression as my pliers, my wire, the beads I use... even my own two hands. I owe a great deal of thanks to these talented stars in the wire wrapping world. So thank you. Thank you for the gift of creation, for the freedom from stress and the pressure I (all too often) placed on my shoulders. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to find my own voice. I hope you find your voice too. Happy weaving! Nicole I will start by clarifying that, without permission (so we're not talking about tutorials here, which each grant their own permissions and terms of use), it is never okay to copy a complete design, not for commercial nor personal use. If you've followed me and my work for even a hot minute, you'll know this tired tirade of mine quite well.
There is a distinct difference between technique or style (not protected by copyright) and design (protected by copyright). Ideally, artists are best complimented when our process is supported through the purchase of our work, or our work is appreciated and shared so that others who are able may purchase it. There's this perpetuating idea that art and profit are mutually exclusive, but I think it's a beautiful thing when artists can support their families doing what they love... which becomes exponentially more difficult when work is copied without permission. While techniques have been used and shared by hundreds and thousands of artists over the years, "there's nothing new under the sun" seems to imply that design is dead, which is an insult to the creative process. New techniques might be far and few between, but new designs are absolutely endless, because the artist's stories are each unique. Taking techniques and weaving them into our own personal stories creates a page in the book of our life. While I love writing tutorials and sharing designs, there are some original works that are very personal to me, that I hold sacred, that have allowed me to explore and express a spiritual journey, even, and the floor falls from beneath my feet when that work is copied without permission. The years I've spent wrapping, beading, drawing, writing poetry, photographing my cats, my sadness and happiness and successes and failures, all of those things come together to complete a creative whole, no matter the medium each project utilizes. So, there's definitely some "preciousness" that we each hold as artists and designers that can sometimes cloud our understanding of the use of technique vs design. If a design is copied, noticeably, recognizably copied... it's not "inspired by". But this is a world of Pinterest, I know. Where everything goes on a DIY board and the internet seems to give everyone carte blanche ownership of every story.... the it's-online-therefore-it's-free mentality. This is when we each have to be accountable for ourselves, protect our own stories as much as we're able, evaluate how we define that "preciousness" we each hold about our art, and give of ourselves and our stories when we can, holding close to what we cannot give, so there's a beautiful circling relationship between artists that protects our individual stories while allowing the collective story to grow. But we also have to be accountable for how we utilize the techniques of others in our own work, how we allow design to influence or inspire us and move us forward creatively, so we aren't tarnishing or muddying our own story when we create. This is just a bloated letter to say that I understand the hurt. I think we've all, at some point, held our work so precious to ourselves that we feel immobilized by the hurt of it being copied by others. And we each have to define for ourselves when and how we'll fight to protect our stories, or where our energy might be better suited. It's a difficult journey for anyone in a creative industry. And while I will never suggest we should enable the behaviors that hurt us, we do have to pick our battles, not just according to law, but also according to our own moral code and the preciousness by which we value our art. So I understand. I get it. I'm with you. I believe in your rights. I understand the preciousness of your art. I strive to support it.... to support you.... to allow you the opportunity to continue to explore your story and express that journey through art. I'm looking forward to your next beautiful chapter. And perhaps some day, I hope, I'll purchase from you a little piece of your story to help move your book along. Nicole I've learned a little something about myself since the new Pantone Color of the Year was announced. I've learned that I'm easily swayed by subliminal messaging, apparently. I mean, really, while I'm not such a fan of this particular shade of green that I'll redecorate my house and live in a jungle of draperies and pillows, I find myself oddly comforted by greens, in general, these past several weeks. Not just comforted, but inexplicably drawn to them.
So, this is just a quick reminder that perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss what's "popular" or trending simply because (if you're like me) it's popular or trending. Yes... I know... that's an ugly truth to admit about myself, that I often turn my nose at convention, the expected, for fear that somehow lumps me in a common social core, and goodness forbid I call myself common!
But you know what? It's fine. It's not just fine. The expected and popular has merit and worth and sometimes we don't always have to be the trend-setter ourselves because, let's face it, I imagine that's exhausting! I'm happy to accept that I drank the Pantone kool-aid and I'm owning it! I'll ride these coat-tails for as long as I can this year, I think. And really now, we can still be fabulous with the same color everyone else is sporting. Because it's all in how you wear it! I plan on going big, going bold, and falling into the graceful, natural grip of GREENERY. Who's with me? And also, who hates this color? Ha! I know it can't be that popular! I've never been much a fan of the whole New Year's "resolutions" trend. Something about the word resolutions lends itself to negativity. Like it's such a horrible thing to give up smoking, drop a few pounds, work harder, achieve goals that you have to be "resolute" about it. That makes it sound like such a chore, doesn't it? And it doesn't have to be! Nope. I much prefer the phrase "setting intentions". It has a happier ring to it, don't you think? And lately, all across social media, I've been seeing posts regarding your intention-setting word for 2017. Mine is SIMPLIFY. And yes, to those who follow me on Facebook, this means I will not be buying new metal clay supplies this year, new planners, batches of cabochons and beads. Why? Because there are still oodles of things I have yet to discover with wire, and I think I owe it to myself take that journey further. I have pounds of wire still sitting here, still unused through all of 2016, and I can't wait to get started with it! What is your word for 2017? "The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals." - Melody Beattie As well all know, 2016 had it's fair share of disappointments and challenges, many of which seemed to be expressed world wide. But it was also full of inspiration, successes and enjoyment of the little things in life that make life really worth living. I want to thank you all for being part of that with me, for sharing in my journey, supporting my craft and, as a result of that, supporting my family! I made some of my favorite pieces this year that I'm happy to say have all found their forever homes where I hope they are as loved as they were while I created them. I enjoyed time with my photography and got to shoot senior photos.... and lots and lots of cat photos, much to the chagrin of my pets. I started an additional blog to discuss spirituality and pulled out my art supplies for the first time in what seemed like forever! And I've made some amazing connections through my business and hobbies that I will always cherish. Thank you.
Thank you for being there. I hope to see you in 2017. Happy New Year, everyone! And happy weaving! Nicole
Can you believe 2016 is almost rounding to a close? And what a crazy year it's been!
I've been a little quiet in the blog-o-sphere while some personal passion projects occupy my time, but I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things with my "This Week in Words" posts... a casual look into the world of a wire wrapper. So definitely expect to see more of those in the coming weeks. Though, I'll admit, there may be a few "This Month in Words" when I forget to post regularly! Still, writing is a joy, and I'm making a promise to myself to do more of what makes me happy. And that's the gist of it, right? Doing what makes us happy? I've allowed some of my most favorite past-times to wade into the deep end of the pool and slowly struggle for footing, and it's time I threw a life vest its way. Sketching, poetry and fiction will all make new appearances in 2017, hopefully regularly, though photography is (and has been) a pleasant constant. Wire wrapping is always a joy, and I'm looking forward to experimenting with new techniques in the days to come. I'm learning to worry less about "getting it right" and more about "getting it done", because the learning is in the doing. I'm reminded of the parable from Art and Fear:
So, I'm trying not to drown myself in the details. The worry and stress comes from that, don't they? And simplifying my life is the goal for 2017, reducing stress, learning to enjoy the "doing" without thought to the "result".
Also, because the end of the year has taken its toll, on a personal level, I've had to postpone the "Finish It!" contest scheduled for November. At first I'd considered moving it to December, but that seemed an undertaking best suited until after the holidays. I have three tentatively scheduled for 2017: February, June and October. So keep an eye out for those. If you aren't already subscribed to my newsletter, please feel free to do so, as I'll make announcements for contests and giveaways through the newsletter and social media platforms. You can find the subscribe form in the right side bar! I've got a few wire wrapping projects planned for 2017 that are still in their infancy... just vague ideas floating around in the mental jumble, so more announcements will be made soon as ideas come to fruition and I get them all sussed out in my head. But one is a video series and the other is a PDF series, both of which have me quite excited.... even now, while they are both still incorporeal ideas. I'm also hoping to have the means (and space) to offer local workshops, here in Michigan, in the 2017 year, though likely late in the year. So I think December is shaping up to be a month of ideas and planning! Keep your fingers crossed things come together for these projects smoothly! And that's really it for now... just a small ramble, mostly to get my fingers moving on a keyboard, which is an act and art I've missed of late, and keep you all in the know. Until next time, happy weaving! Nicole
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Recently, on a video, someone commented inquiring why I "waste all my time" on copper. Now, those of you who've followed my blog for a hot minute may know exactly why I turn to copper. But some new to my work and my site may be surprised at the multitude of reasons I have at the ready. Let's discuss a few of them!
"Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides." Junichiro Tanizaki
This discoloration should not be confused with an allergic reaction, which is rare, and more likely to occur from ingestion than surface contact. However, if you suspect an allergic reaction, please contact a health care provider.
And, while copper jewelry does require more care than it's silver counterparts, and certainly more than gold jewelry, it's very easy to maintain. A simple, quick bath in a bit of Worcestershire Sauce (yes, you read that right), or a quick brush with a super fine steel wool pad (affordable and easily available at any hardware store) is all that's needed to maintain a beautiful finish. If worn frequently, an occasional gentle scrubbing with dish liquid beneath lukewarm water will keep your copper jewelry clean and fresh. Just dry thoroughly and store in a sealed container when not worn to slow the oxidation process. And that's it! You can enjoy the warm, earthy tones of copper, even enjoy its metaphysical healing properties (which you can read more about here), without a concern for it's "worth". Beauty and worth is, after all, in the eye of the beholder. |
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