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Announcing the NEW WireJewelry Blog

By on September 21, 2015
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by Judy Ellis, Wirejewelry.com

WireJewelry Tip for September 21st, 2015

Announcing the NEW WireJewelry Blog!

I have to admit, it’s felt a little like the night before a big holiday around our offices lately – filled with anticipation and excitement! We’ve had so many changes taking place and I’ve been on the edge of my seat waiting to share them with you!

So… today, finally I can!

I’m am thrilled to give you the first glimpse into our NEW Content Contributors. We are so thrilled to have these amazing instructors and artists on board with us. What you will be seeing from these incredible contributors are NEW tips, NEW Educational Articles and NEW Patterns covering all aspects of wire wrapping and metal working in a myriad of techniques and styles.

So, without further ado, I give you our first two 2015 – 2016 WireJewelry.com Content Contributors:

Dale “Cougar” Armstrong:

dalehead_180

Dale “Cougar” Armstrong is the Education Consultant Emeritus for Wire-Sculpture.com; a diehard rockhound and lapidary, and a full-time wire jewelry artist, instructor and author. Dale credits her mom, an avid rockhound, for spurring her fascination with, and education of rocks and minerals. Combined with her background in sales and display, the fine arts, cloisonné and repoussé, Dale utilizes more than 40 years of experience in her field of ‘Traditional Wire Jewelry Design’.

As a purist of this media form, she uses absolutely no solder or glue in her jewelry designs, and teaches her techniques at jewelry making events around North America, Russia, Ukraine, Switzerland, and Germany. Dale’s award winning work is sold in galleries and gift shops and has appeared in many printed publications. Author of numerous magazine and Internet articles, and the bestselling book, “Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping”, Dale has authored and filmed more than 70 instructional DVDs; has appeared on the PBS broadcast show ‘Beads, Baubles & Jewels’, and is a member of the Beadalon Design Team.She also works as an expert instructor and live presenter for Jewelry Television’s Jewel School, and has produced many Free Video Projects that can be found on YouTube. Dale conducts workshops year ‘round in her personal studio, ‘Cougar’s Creations’, located in southeast Tennessee.

Vivitar

Being able to turn yesterday’s memories into tomorrow’s heirlooms is one of Dale’s favorite challenges. This is a custom designed pendant that incorporates an antique hand carved coral rose with a hand carved emerald leaf; constructed from 14kgf wire.

Created using 14kgf wire, the top bracelet is Dale’s “Victorian Bangle”, and was designed to include an 18x13mm amethyst cabochon and freshwater pearls; while the example on the right uses a combination of argentium, 14kgf, and sterling silver pattern wire. The imperial jasper was custom cut, in studio Cougar’s Creations, exclusively for this bracelet.

Created using 14kgf wire, the top bracelet is Dale’s “Victorian Bangle”, and was designed to include an 18x13mm amethyst cabochon and freshwater pearls; while the example on the right uses a combination of argentium, 14kgf, and sterling silver pattern wire. The imperial jasper was custom cut, in studio Cougar’s
Creations, exclusively for this bracelet.

This design, titled “Starfire”, is a variation of Dale’s ‘Celebrate the Stone’ prong pendant; an original set, made using 1960 corundum rubies and 14kgf wire.

This design, titled “Starfire”, is a variation of Dale’s ‘Celebrate the Stone’ prong pendant; an original set, made using 1960 corundum rubies and 14kgf wire.

Custom designed for a museum curator, the solid gold ring was either a nose or ear ring for a person of status within a pre-Columbian tribe of South America. To protect the artifact, Dale used super-soft goat hide as a padding between the item and her handcrafted 14k wire frame; which was then embellished using natural gemstone beads.

Custom designed for a museum curator, the solid gold ring was either a nose or ear ring for a person of status within a pre-Columbian tribe of South America. To protect the artifact, Dale used super-soft goat hide as a padding between the item and her handcrafted 14k wire frame; which was then embellished using natural gemstone beads.

Olena Bugrimenko:

Olena Burgrimenko

I was born in the wonderful city of Kharkov, Ukraine. Like any girl, I loved jewelry- not only wearing it, but even holding jewelry made me happy. (Back then, I had no idea that one day I would make jewelry myself!) I graduated from the Polytechnic University, majoring in chemical engineering, and began working in my field.In 1999, my life changed a lot! My husband, daughter and I moved to the USA. It was a new start and a new life, so I decided to do something new too. I began making my own jewelry!

Just like many others, I started with a simple bead jewelry scheme I found online. It caught my eye and I started to look for a seed beads to make it. I found all materials I needed in the local Michael’s store. Few days later, after three or four unsuccessful attempts I got it right. This is how my obsession started.I made jewelry using seed beads; beautiful, yes, but it wasn’t enough.

Then I discovered the art of making Chain Maille, and now it is one of my favorite techniques. I love combining this technique with beads, gems, and wire. Sometimes the result is unexpected and very beautiful, and a unique, new design is created!It’s been several years ago. Today my work “Flower meadow” won 1st Place award in Fire Mountain Gems and Beads contest in Swarovski category and has been used by FMG both as a cover advertisement and inside their catalog. In 2010 I won the Bronze Medal award with my “Wedding Necklace” in FMG’s Wirework and Chain category. I have been published in the “Make Jewellery Magazine”, German “Perlen Poesie”, Russian “Fashion” magazine, and in a book “Mixed Media Jewelry Techniques”

.I have been published in a book, Mixed Media Jewelry Techniques, a collaboration with Lana May, Dale “Cougar” Armstrong, and eight other talented jewelry artists.

Olena’s Gallery of Work:

lenagallery

We are so thrilled to have these two fine jewelry artists and instructors as part of our new contributing staff. Stay tuned this week to see some of their latest tips and techniques and don’t miss next week’s announcement of our next two instructors!

Happy Wrapping!

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One Comment

  1. avatar

    Pat Kolar

    September 25, 2015 at 4:16 am

    Dale will miss you from jewel school. Glad i found you here. We have talked before you liked my willow tree design. Could you please talk about copyrighting your work. I recently had someone steal one of my designs and get a copyright on it. How do you copyright your work to avoid these kind of problems.
    Thanks,
    Patricia Russo Kolar