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Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

By on February 17, 2010
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Dale “Cougar” Armstrong was one of our Tucson 2012 Instructors!

Dale “Cougar” Armstrong is the Education Consultant emeritus for Wire-Sculpture.com. A die-hard rockhound, lapidary, and wire jewelry designer, instructor and author, Dale credits her mom for spurring the main interest that led to Dale`s chosen career. Her mother was an avid rockhound and many, weekend family adventures involved traipsing through the White Mountains of New Hampshire in search of abandoned pegmatite mines. This is where Dale`s fascination with, and education of rocks and minerals began, some 40 years ago.

Dale/Cougar, has a diverse art background, training in two-dimensional art with Carl Haskins of Vermont, and William Keyworth of New Hampshire. She also spent several years receiving personalized instruction with Karl Drerupe, renowned cloisonné and repossé artist. Dale attended the University of South Florida where she studied fine arts and geology. She worked as a technical, advertising artist for several years, “before the age of computers”.

DaleUnder her studio name of Cougar`s Creations, Dale displays her works at juried art shows, where she has taken many awards. As a featured artist, Dale has been interviewed on live television and has works for sale in museums and galleries. Dale `Cougar` Armstrong is a regular contributor to Step-by-Step Wire Jewelry magazine and has been published in The Wire Artist Jeweler, Bead Unique and Art Jewelry magazines. She is a frequent instructor at Lapidary Journals` BeadFest events, and has made a series of instructional DVDs, produced by Jewelry Television. As an instructor, she conducts workshops in her personal studio and by request, travels to teach classes at beadshops and other events nationwide.
Related: Where did “Cougar” come from?

Wirework

Dale`s newest success is the recently published 2nd edition of her book entitled: Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping.

Dale`s Wire Jewelry DVDs are available exclusively on Wire-Sculpture.com!

 

Advance

Discover the Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Series of wire jewelry DVDs, as well as the Ring Series, with hundreds of hours of high-definition, top-quality wire jewelry instruction! Plus, learn how to sell your wire jewelry with the Definitive Guide, a 3-DVD set by Dale and the Wire Faculty.

12 Comments

  1. Pingback: Suzanne Hollingsworth

  2. avatar

    Sheila Nelson

    September 7, 2010 at 6:14 pm

    Hi Dale,
    I’ve had a wonderful time going through some of your free video classes and have gleaned some important knowledge. I have one suggestion though. As some of us older people have trouble with our eyesight, it would be to our advantage if you used a blue background when demonstrating how-to’s. The black of the tools tends to blend into the black background and is difficult to see exactly what you are doing. I intend to purchase all the videos soon. Thanks again for such wonderful and easy to understand instructions!!
    Thanks again,
    Sheila

    • avatar

      dalecgr

      September 9, 2010 at 11:22 pm

      Hi Sheila, we are glad you enjoy the free videos. Some of the earlier tips were done using a webcam, as I experimented. The professional videos are much better. Thanks for bearing with me as I learn : )

  3. avatar

    Shauna Pakula

    September 17, 2010 at 2:13 pm

    Hi Dale,
    I just purchased your DVDs, and I must say —
    I’ve never been so pleased with an online puchase, they are wonderful!!! I’ve watched all of my new DVDs three times each and now I’m trying to gather my tools and supplies. And, I’m hoping to order my sterling silver wire early next week.
    Can you please send me a list of the places you’ll be do classes at in the near future. I live in North-Cental Illinois, and would love the chance to take one of your classes in person.
    Thank you so much, Shauna

    • avatar

      dalecgr

      September 19, 2010 at 1:16 pm

      Hi Shauna, and thanks so much! Besides the classes and workshops I teach for WS, I also teach in a variety of locations (including my TN studio) that can be found on my personal classes page http://www.cougarscreations.com/classes.php And although I apologize for not being home long enough to update it recently–that will be happening soon : )

  4. avatar

    Glenda Black

    October 28, 2010 at 9:19 am

    Hi Dale.
    I’ve only just started wire wrapping. I bought your Wirework book at Joann’s Fabric store a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately it didn’t have the dvd. How do I get one? Having that companion dvd would be wonderful!

    • avatar

      dalecgr

      October 28, 2010 at 12:29 pm

      Hi Glenda, as my book with the companion DVD is a ‘second edition’, I am sorry but I have no idea if you can get the DVD separately. I suggest contacting my publisher, Interweave Press: http://www.interweave.com/Contact-Us/

  5. avatar

    ac lamers

    November 27, 2011 at 5:06 pm

    Dear Dale,
    You’ve taught me enough to go on again with my jewelry with my own ministry of teaching wire sculpture and beading to seniors and disabled persons. Nello Ministries gives this group a step up out of poverty, depression and poor self-esteem. Well you know…you did it for me and millions more.

    Anyway, I said that to let you know I am in the business of changing lives and when my co-teacher (former student), went home for thanksgiving, what a thanks giving she got! A needy friend heard she was into the jewelry making business and he ask her over. There he gave her a ROCK of Malachite; 30lbs of it. It is 12” x 9” x 3-4”!

    It has been polished in a way that the contour of the stone is the same just the rough rock removed, to show the deep greens and large bubble formations.

    Well this poor man tried to sell it in a small town flea market for $100.00 – no one understands what it is, where he lives. So, I said I’d only trust you and your blog and said I would ask you.

    The QUESTIONs ARE—

    Was there a lapidary strategy to polishing off just the rough and not cutting and polishing a flat “table” on the stone as a window to what’s inside?

    Who can both my friend and her needy friend, (my friend is poor too/Disabled), best place their trust in, that would want to buy it, or work out a fair plan to share the benefits all round from this rough to finished product, such as cab’s and be willing to pay a comparable price?

    Or
    What PLAN would YOU make, to make the most money directly for these two people that have been so uniquely blessed with this rough?

    Would you know of some reason that you would wait to sell it at some later time?

    When I was a bench Jeweler and went to gem shows I’d see those huge malachite balls of all sizes and large polished slabs that Interior Decorators loved to buy for offices and such. So, I want to believe this rock could be good most of the way through. However, I also know these things are gambles for both the buyer and the seller. There is really no foretelling what quality stones THIS rock could yield. Could you give us any thoughts you have along these lines?

    Thank you so much for your time and space to ask your advice.

    • avatar

      dalecgr

      November 28, 2011 at 11:13 am

      Hi! Thanks for asking about this questionable malachite. Please watch your personal email for my response, as I need to see a photo before I can give any suggestions to help your friends :)

  6. avatar

    Heather Wasson

    October 1, 2013 at 6:31 pm

    I had such a great time at your champagne bracelet class at Jewel School, you taught me quite a bit about working with wire. I have actually started wire wrapping cabs and well anything I can get my hands on! Haha! Thank you so much for taking the time to teach us and being so passionate about jewelry making. Looking forward to more classes!

    Love,
    Spider Lady.

  7. avatar

    Brandy

    November 21, 2013 at 5:57 pm

    Hi Dale,
    I am a recently re-started rock collector and have found some very interesting pieces and was wondering if you would like to see pics??

    I also make jewelry and will be doing my first crafts show soon!!

  8. avatar

    Isaac

    December 28, 2013 at 11:04 pm

    I have a collection or rocks that was given to me by a guy who used to collect back in the 1950. most of them are from Denver Colorado area. They include some Opel, turquoise and more that I can recall. I would like to sell them to someone who can make some use out of them.