Thursday 1 March 2012

Magic Wire Spiders: How They Made Me a Jewelry Artist

My boyfriend and I went out for a drink in a local bar. We noticed behind the bar there were lots of wire spiders with glass beads as bodies and I loved them. We got chatting to the bar man and he showed us how to make them, with the promise that I wouldn't sell them in town. It fascinated me and when I got home I gave it a go. My first ever wire artwork was born. Well, from that moment on I was addicted. This is what sparked my interest in wire jewellery making.

I started out with just experimenting and I look back on my early pieces and think WTF was I thinking?! I had no references and I had very limited supplies but I had begun to teach myself. My Dad knew how enthusiastic I was about it all so he got me some wire jewelry making books. My nose was stuck in them and I was using all the new techniques they taught me. Now I have a lovely collection of supplies and tools I can't live without - my hammer and steel block for example. I have learned what I like but I still like to experiment with new things. My favourite things are fresh water pearls and crystals, so sparkly! My metal of choice is silver (plated for now) although I love antique bronze too. So now I have my etsy shop which I am nurturing to grow big and strong.

Here's a picture of one of my wire spiders, I thank them for guiding my into this passion of mine.
This guy is made with Aluminium wire and Glass Beads - 8$
Thanks for reading
~Chloe Louise

9 comments:

  1. Nice story! It is always funny to look back on the "wtf was I thinking" types of things haha!

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  2. That's cool. I see lots of variations of spiders.

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  3. It's so cool, and scary at the same time! (I'm terrified of spiders)

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  4. Great story. Isn't it interesting the things and situations which inspire us.

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  5. That`s SUCH a great story!! and do you ever talk to the barman now so he can see what he inspired back in the day?

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  6. Thanks for sharing your beginnings! So interesting...it is hard to look back on some of those first pieces.

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  7. Love to hear how people got stated with their craft! great blog!!

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