11 Comments

  1. I am very interested in your jewlery, as a designer new to the industry
    I am fastinated be technic and would love to share or be privy to the secrets of others in the industry.
    Your stuff is amazing and anything you could pass along or direct me in ther area I might learn more woould be most appreciated.

    Thank You
    ours truly

    L. D. Spear

  2. Hello Diane,
    I just wanted to start by saying I love your work! It is absolutely beautiful!!!! I was so excited when I saw that you do lessons and then I saw that you are in Canada and was very disappointed. I live in California and definately do not have enough money to go out to Canada for jewelry classes.I started making jewelry about six months ago; mainly for myself, family and friends. I was wondering if you might have some advice artist to artist. Thank you so much. Hopefully, one day I can make jewelry as beautiful as yours. 🙂 Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you again for your time. I’m sure you get asked this all the time.

    Sincerely,
    Holly Hudson

    1. Hi Holly –

      Thanks for your comments! The one important piece of advice I can give you is “Save some of your first pieces.” As you get more experienced, and your skills improve, you’ll look back at what you’re making now and be amazed at how far you’ve come. You may be tempted to take those early pieces apart because they’re not as nice as the work you produce later. Don’t give in! I still the very first piece I made, and it always reminds me of how excited I was at the flood of ideas that came after I finished it. We tend to forget about how enthusiastic we were when we first started making jewellery. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or to “waste” wire – some of my favourite designs have come from taking a wrong turn!

      Yes, my classes are in Canada, but I’d love an excuse to come to California 😉

      All the best,
      Dianne

  3. thank you so much! If you are ever in CA just send me a message. I would be interested in taking a class for sure. 🙂 I will keep your advice in mind. I will deinately hold on to a few of my beginning pieces. Here’s to hoping you get to come out here sometime.

    warm wishes,
    Holly

    1. wirejewelryworkshop.comHi Holly – Nola’s comment reminded me that there is an instructor in CA named Wil Peterson, who lives in Escondida. He works primarily in round wire, and does a lot of traditional wrap along with some of the more baroque looking “wire sculpture” style. http://www.wirejewelryworkshop.com

  4. Hi from nippy cold Toronto to those in “sunny Cali” I am a member of two forms of mineral clubs (North York Faceters Guild and Scarborough Gem and Mineral Society.)Luckily, Dianne is in our area. My Scarb Gem club has arranged a January advanced workshop with Dianne learning to make the bracelet in the photograph. Perhaps you can check out the gem clubs in California.In addition to one club meeting every month, mine arranges very interesting workshops chosen by member request.Some are al day.For example,we do cabbing (cabochon)which is using the machines to take a rough stone to the finished polished shape for jewellery.We do wirewrapping, chain making, stained glass copper foil technique using agate. Go to Google and click images and type wire wrapping pendants.

  5. Hello Diane,
    I just wanted to start by saying I love your work! I am very interested in your jewelry.I myself am is into jewelry making,but your work take my breath away .They are all unique and beautiful I especially like the copper key and the basket .I would love to learn the art of wire bending .I personally think the art is dying out and needs to be preserved.

    Yours respectfully
    Ronnie

    1. Hi Ronnie! Thanks for your comments! There are lots of resources online for learning wire jewellery. If you would like to send me a private message, I may be able to help you find something close to where you are! All the best!

  6. Hi, I’m Shellie from Gulf Shores, Al. I also love your work but admire you much more for interacting with other artists in such a personal way. I started out wanting to make homemade lotions and soap but somehow it morphed into jewelry! One day I looked around and quite suddenly had beads and lots of other makings everywhere!! I’m so happy it did, too. I learned everything on an iPhone only!! (hard to see tutorials for sure). I fell in love with wire and FINALLY quit waiting tables. There are almost no other wire artists around here which is good and bad. I have items in 4 consignment shops locally but it’s very seasonal here and I didnt really get it going until summer ended this year. Consequently, I am making almost no money. They love my creations though!
    So I’ve been forced to be extremely creative without those tips! I have not had good responses from any other artists online so I am very excited to see that you’re interested. I would love to hear more about you.

    1. HI Shellie – Wow! I can imagine that trying to follow tutorials on an iPhone *would* be challenging! Congratulations on making the leap and I hope that 2013 brings you lots of success!

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