Meet Michele: The Artist Behind Creative Wire Wear

Creative in nature, Michele has tried various medias to express  herself and relieve the "burnout" often associated with her "day job" in nursing. Now happily retired since 2023.

In 2003, Michele stumbled upon the art of wire wrapping. Soon  others were expressing the same enthusiasm, felt by Michele, over her jewelry creations. The foundations of Michele's skills and techniques in wire wrap were learned through Carole Wilkinson, Connie Fox, Dale Nichols, Preston Reuther, Wil Peterson and the Wire Art Guild of Orange County. Michele completed courses at Santiago Canyon College in her ongoing effort to "network" with other jewelers, learn more about the stones used in her jewelry creations and to eventually become a Certified Gemologist. The varying styles in the jewelry created by Michele is due largely to the influences of these individuals. 

More recently added are Michele's own creations in dichroic glass and the use of Art Clay Silver, a pure metal powder mixed with non-toxic binders  and water. It can be rolled, sculpted, stamped, sanded, filed, engraved and drilled. After firing, the result is pure, 99.9% silver. Michele's foundation in the use of Art Clay Silver has been learned through Art Clay Master Instructor, Cindy Pankopf. Designs in Art Clay Silver found here add to the uniqueness of Michele's jewelry creations and come from techniques learned through Candace Steppes, Cindy Pankopf, Gordon Uyehara and Michelle Loon.