PiP the Frog

After receiving a request for e a wire and bead frog as a Christmas gift, I had to figure out how I wanted my frog to look. After seeking out many frog images, I decided to go with this cute cartoon style design of a tree frog in a meditation/prayer pose.

Figuring out a way to make his legs and arms stand out so that they didn't lose their definition and blend in with the body was my greatest challenge with this piece.

It took a few attempts, but I decided that I liked the a more delicate and spacious look for the body. Though getting all the lines and spaces perfect was a bit more than I could accomplish on this design. I still think the final product came out cute.

But, what matters most is what the customer thinks of it... I understand that she adores little PiP the frog!

I named this frog PiP. Because he is seeking Patience, Insight & Peace!

Wire Writing

I had a request to make a wire name/sign for Serendipity, Ink. At first I thought, "Wire writing? this will be so easy!" hahaha... it turned out to be a bit more challenging than I anticipated. In fact, at one point the wire broke, leaving me with the option to start all over or to figure out how to creatively mend it. After much thought, I decided to go with mending it. Can you tell where that mend may have occurred?

All in all, this project to be yet another experience to expand on creative wire usage and my techniques in wire art.

Skull n Snake Jack-o-Lantern

While filling a wire craft order for a friend and deciding what to make for her, I said "go ahead, challenge me."

With that, she decided that she would like me to make a replica of one of the carved pumpkins that her husband does, as she said it would commemorate his work. She then provided me with this image to work from.

As soon as I saw this. I thought "wow, that's some amazing pumpkin carving there." But, then a second thought came to me, that was something like "how am I going to pull this one off?"

Sometimes, I just don't know how I'm going to pull together a project until I start working on it. This was one of those. Every detail of this project was a challenge for me. I had redone every detail 2-3 times, before I felt that it was creating an essence similar to this carved masterpiece. I had tried many different style forms and techniques that just didn't make the cut with this project before settling in on the ones I ended up keeping.

But, not giving up when things get difficult, is what helps us overcome our limitations and helps us to expand in our abilities. I feel that this project has taken my crafting abilities to a new level, so I do respect being challenged in this manner. After all, I did request that I be challenged, and this was the end result of those efforts:

Goddess of Wholeness

I wanted to make a unique birthday gift for a dear friend, so I asked her what kind of a wire product and design she might be interested in.

All she mentioned to me was that she was interested in something she could hang in her window that was symboilc of wholeness.

With that in mind, I created this:

Why did I choose this design? 

Well, I did some research on wholeness symbols and came across the Cretan labyrinth, which represents a journey to one's center and then back out to the world. 

I decided to add the woman to the design as it represents the connection of feminine energy and spirituality.

Finally, the color arrangements are a representation of the chakras. The arrangements start from the center of the labyrinth as one journey's outward.

Once I got the design laid out in my mind, I knew it was absolutely fitting for her, and it has also become one of my most favorite creations so far.

When creativity flows, everything amazingly and easily comes together! 

 

Turtle! Turtle!

Yay! I may have been away from my creativity for a while, but the creativity wasn't gone for good!  This cute little turtle came to me as an inspiration when I decided to make an ornament for my turtle loving sister-in-law!

I love how the use of spirals for the shell and larger glass beads for the coloring came together in this most adorable creation!

Expanding my wire creation skills beyond crochet.

Over this past summer, I began to work on crochet wire jewelry and have found something that I truly enjoy doing. I have found that working with wire has become my passion and tends to spark lots of creative ideas for me.

Because of this, I have expanded my skills to create other types of delicate wire works. Here are some of my latest creations in shaping and wire wrapping. I used a stronger 20 gauge wire for the outer shape and 26 gauge wire for the details.


Here is a pendant I created by bending wire.

However, not everyone 

wears jewelry. So I was 

inspired to shape & bend

wire to create colorful
bead sun-catchers/
ornaments, like this
dolphin and waves
creation.

I have also been shaping & wrapping wire to make elegant pins.

Creating wire shapes was first inspired by books like these;

and then later by filling the interests of customers.