I have never believed that we were meant to become what the world thinks we should be, but rather what your Spirit urges you to make of yourself, how else will you fulfill your destiny? It's not the mind that causes creativity,
it speaks to us from somewhere deep within...
I have always been involved with the arts in some way. As a young girl, I was facinated by animals, especially horses. I was drawn to their power and strength, yet touched by their gentleness as well. I had the opportunity to work with these noble creatures, and when not in the saddle, I sketched, painted and drew them all. Later I took classes in painting, illustration, pottery, fused glass, lapidary, and working with metals.
None of this related to any of the work I do now, and what most inspired me to start to learn wire wrap surprisingly was my dear friend and elected little brother who could whip wire around a stone like a Magician. I may have picked up where he left off, but I still give him the credit for showing me what I was supposed to be doing with my life!
For the last 20 years I've been developing my own wire wrapping techniques. In the beginning, I would work for hours trying different techniques with tumbled stones like tiger eye and hematite. I started Bella Nova Jewelry on a shoestring with a
coil of sterling silver wire and a handful of tumbled stone.
Nature's wonders, hidden deep within the earth,
Not so pretty when first extracted.
Set upon the lapidary wheel, turned and polished.
The bit of earth groans with the pain of change....
The gem in the rough becomes a sparkling jewel,
One would never have known,
But for a vision of what it could be and behold!....
Now it is transformed, revealing the beauty
of it's own hidden truth, hidden for what may have
been a thousand thousand years.
Transfixed, almost an intoxication,
mesmerized into the center,
So deep I am drawn into the depths
of that bottomless pavillion,
As if conciousness itself danced in a spiral,
a kaliedescope of facets so tiny,
Yet an entire Universe is inside....
I never tire of working with the beauty of Nature's creation.
The gemstones, each amazing and unique,
like each individual who will wear them,
reminds me of the wonder and potential in us all.