Nov 11, 2012

Window Shop Blog Hop Tour: Wrapped Up In Magic



Featured Shop: Wrapped Up In Magic
Featured Artist: Audrey Allen


Wrapped Up in Magic is one of my favorite handcrafted jewelry shops. Artist Audrey Allen has created a magical gallery of wire work art focals. The pendants are lovely, one of a kind, and reflect a deep respect and honor for the beauty of mother earth, nature, the ocean, and woodlands. 


Wire wrapped sand dollar with ocean photography by scuba diver & photographer Nathan Rich


Wrapped Up In Magic art pendants range from unique wire wrapped beach glass, gemstones, sand dollars, fossils, and pottery shards to gemstone and lampwork glass trees of life. Each pendant is one of a kind, often created from special materials such as rare fossils and authentic beach glass from Rockport, Massachusetts.


"Coral Reef" Sea Glass with Copper Splash, copper



Halloween Pottery PendantWrapped in Pristine Black Para Wire

Rose Quartz and Copper Tree of Life on Etsy



My first purchase of many from Wrapped Up in Magic, my sweet fairy


Wrapped Up In Magic offers pendants, necklaces, charms, and suncatchers. There is also a wonderful vintage costume jewelry section with treasures like  rhinestone encrusted floral pins and bakelite dress clips. 


Wrapped Up In Magic Vintage Costume Jewelry

 
 I have a collection of Wrapped Up in magic jewelry, and am so impressed with Allen's art that I gifted a pendant to my Bead Soup Blog Party partner, Margareta Saari of Finland. Here is the stunning necklace Margareta of Mags-koruja created with the one of a kind, rare fern fossil focal. 


Margareta Saari of Mags-koruja designs for Bead Soup Blog Party 6 with a Wrapped Up in Magic Fossil Focal



Wrapped Up In Magic




Meet the artist Audrey Allen

“Reach high, for stars lie hidden
in your soul. Dream deep,
for every dream precedes the goal.”
Pamela Vaull Starr, Audrey's  favorite quote


Audrey Allen is a self representing artist living in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. She has two adult children and a grandson. I admire Audrey Allen for her positive outlook, her gentle soul, her love of nature and her powerful art celebrating Nature.



What do you like about living in Chippewa Falls?
I have always been a country gal by heart.  I find pleasure and contentment in the simple things that life has to offer. I thoroughly enjoy and am awed by Mother Nature and the spiritual outlook on life that she and the Creator present.

If a young person asked you to share advice, what would you say is your outlook on life?
Always listen to your heart, gut and inner most thoughts. Let them be your guide. Do not allow others to mold you into their image…always allow your own inner light to shine through. When I have a hard decision to make, I always visualize a forked  path in the woods…I will sit by the side of the path…listening to and watching my surroundings until I decide which direction to take knowing that I can always turn around.

On success?
Passion…passion…passion! Always let your passions lead you and you will find success. I feel so strongly about this, that one day this quote came to me and I wrote it down as a reminder. "Passion is what happens when you let your Spirit take over and your Soul shines through."

What would you say is the best advice you've ever gotten?
To me true to myself and to not be compromised by others

What are your favorite beads?
I really do not have any favorite beads…I love them all, but I have a special spot for natural gemstones, especially the ones that I find myself.

How long have you been working with beads?
I only use beads as accent pieces to my wire wrapping.

What is your jewelry making style? And what attracts you to this style?
I love wire wrapping as the possibilities are endless. I love the feel of the wire in my hands. I was drawn to wire wrapping because over the years, I have been an avid rock collector. I needed to find something to do with my collection.

 Do you have a favorite technique?
Not really…I like to challenge myself and continue to learn new techniques.

What are your favorite metals to use?
Copper is my favorite metal to use. I love the color, warmth and grounding abilities.

Do you have favorite tools?
Guess I would have say my round nose pliers and I love making swirls.

Have you always been an artist?
Ever since I was a little girl I have been involved in arts and crafts. From a very young age my parents instilled that homemade gifts were gifts of the heart.

What is your advice to those just beginning to make jewelry?
Breath and jump right in! Don’t let fear of failure hold you back from cutting that first piece of wire!

What is your favorite color palette?
A palette of natural colors from Mother Earth.

How did you begin creating jewelry?
As I stated earlier, I am an avid collector of stones and I needed to find something to do with my collection. I am also disabled so I needed to find a way to subsidize my income and to find a new way to keep myself occupied.

 What is your favorite stringing medium to use?
At the moment I only use wire.

Other artist/designer(s) you admire?
There are many talented artisans that I truly admire, but I would have to say that it is Dale Cougar Armstrong who inspired me to attempt the art of wire wrapping.

Where do you want to be in 5 years from now?
I have never been one for setting goals or looking to the future. I am a day to day kind of gal.

Favorite time of your life and why?
To have given birth to my two amazing children! I delivered both of my children with natural childbirth with the assistance midwives. To be fully in control of my body while welcoming new life into the world is indescribable!

What else would you like to try creating? In life?
If I could have one wish granted in life, it would be to see the universe full of love, light and happiness.

Favorite book? Or movie?
Favorite Book: Earth Dance Drum by Blackwolf Jones
Favorite Movie: Avatar

Favorite childhood memory?
Gathering around with my three siblings on my Mother’s bed for stories and discussions.

Wrapped Up in Magic Sun Catcher made from multiple colors of para-wire and fire painted copper splashes



This is the Window Shop Holiday Hop


Feel free to window shop and browse 
the handcrafted shops at your leisure: 





Toltec Jewels is an author by day, jewelry maker by night. Her literary work is housed by the San Fransisco MOMA and is published internationally in popular magazines, literary quarterlies, and university publications. She has won a number of awards for literary and jewelry arts. She is happiest making handcrafted jewelry with her entire family, snuggling with her doggies and grandkids, sewing, singing, reading, laughing out loud and learning new jewelry techniques. Join her at Jewel School Friends on Facebook for networking, fundraising for Beads of Courage, jewelry making challenges, contests, give-a-ways and of course, cool beads and jewelry!

8 comments:

  1. You are so sweet to give us all this chance to promote the work of so many gifted artists. Blessing Always to you!

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  2. Thanks for doing this hop, Rita! These pendants are so beautiful!

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  3. Thank you so much for hosting this hop! While you are on my first stop it is always nice to add a new shop to my favorites! Thank you!

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  4. Rita, you are absolutely right; the pendants of 'Wrapped up in Magic', by Audrey, are so exceptional, they are like magic, I just love mine!
    My friendly greetings to Audrey too!

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  5. Thank you very much for including me in the Shop Hop. I am so honored and I have tears of joy in my eyes. Hearts for all that you do <3

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  6. Thanks for hostig all of us, Rita! What a nice idea. I'll enjoy visiting some new shops today.

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  7. Thanks for hosting this event. What a great idea. Lovely pieces that you featured in your window! Happy Holidays to you.

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  8. That sand dollar is amazing! Everything is beautiful.

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Gracias for your comments and for visiting! I appreciate every word :)
Namaste --
Rita