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!
You are so sweet to give us all this chance to promote the work of so many gifted artists. Blessing Always to you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing this hop, Rita! These pendants are so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank 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!
ReplyDeleteRita, you are absolutely right; the pendants of 'Wrapped up in Magic', by Audrey, are so exceptional, they are like magic, I just love mine!
ReplyDeleteMy friendly greetings to Audrey too!
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
ReplyDeleteThanks for hostig all of us, Rita! What a nice idea. I'll enjoy visiting some new shops today.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting this event. What a great idea. Lovely pieces that you featured in your window! Happy Holidays to you.
ReplyDeleteThat sand dollar is amazing! Everything is beautiful.
ReplyDelete