Mattoon Art Fair

Please mark your calendar for the art fair being sponsored by the Mattoon Arts Council on Saturday, June 15, around the bandshell at Peterson Park in Mattoon, Illinois.  I believe the hours are noon to 7:00 p.m. – I’ll double-check that.  Briar Lane Studio will have a tent.  In addition to displaying our jewelry for sale, Barry will be demonstrating chain maille and I will be wire-wrapping.  There will be entertainment at the bandshell throughout the day.  Stop by and say hi! 

That’s a Wrap

I have to admit, I have a lot of passions, but my latest passion is wrapping.  Move over Ceelo!

I took a wire-wrapping class in 2011, but I got wrapped up in other things that did not include wire or gemstones.  I decided I’d try another class this year with the same instructor, and suddenly I was hooked and I had the time to work with it.  I’m not sure why, but I just can’t get enough of it.  I guess the timing was right.

I’ll wire-wrap almost anything if the size and shape are right.  Gemstones and rocks are the obvious targets.  I wire-wrapped a piece of broken china and have sold it already.  I’m thinking of trying wine corks…they would be quite a challenge.

Sometimes I add a few small beads and crystals on one of the wires for a little extra punch.  If the stone is dark or has a matte finish, a Swarovski crystal set in the right place can better bring out the stone’s characteristics.

So look for more photos to come of the things I have yet to wrap.  In the meantime, I’m going to have to shop for clothes to go with the Michigan Copper, Leland Bluestone, and Window Rock that I purchased for myself.  I’ll post pictures of those later.

Prices for the wire-wrapped pendants will be $45 and up, depending on the gemstone and whether I use silver or copper.  I plan to include a copper chain with the copper pieces.  All of them will accommodate most average-sized slide chains.  The earrings will start at $20, again depending on the metal and stone used.

And for now, that’s a wrap!