My Mom has a talent that was well hidden until recently. A few months ago, while looking for a new pasttime, she discovered wire wrap. While she loves beads and stones, she says she just didn’t have the desire to “string beads together” so started playing with wire design and accenting the pieces with beautiful, natural stones. Starting with copper, she learned to wrap beads, make chains and clasps, hammer and antique the metal. Once she got comfortable with the copper, she moved on to sterling silver. The results are amazing! I can’t believe she has had this talent hidden somewhere for all these years.

I have to admit, I’m addicted to jewelry. I love a nice, chunky, handmade necklace just as much (or more) than the next girl, and the two nails on the bathroom wall can barely hold all of them. Since Mom started making her stuff, I have to find a new place to store my collection! And then there are the bracelets. One of a kind, gorgeous, chunky yet delicate bracelets. Yum.

I think what impresses me most about her jewelry is that the true beauty is in the chains and clasps. Sure, the stone beads are pretty, but they really just serve as an accent to the uniquely-shaped metal pieces. And it’s not just chunky bracelets and necklaces - some of the chains are over fifty inches long, designed to wrap once or even twice, giving it an elegant yet funky look.

I have started to list some of Mom’s work in my Etsy shop. We’ll see how that goes and just might set up a shop of her own in a few months.

I just wish I could wear more than one at a time.