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Today, we’re taking a short break from the Archive-Along so I can participate in the blog tour for Totally Twisted, a new book from jewelry artist Kerry Bogert.
Totally Twisted combines really interesting wire-working techniques with beautiful handmade glass beads. The designs are whimsical and elegant, and the educational quality of the book is excellent. There are plenty of clear, step-by-step photos to teach you how to manipulate wire into amazing shapes.
Kerry did a little email interview with me about her work. Enjoy!
All jewelry images in this post by Kerry Bogert, and used with permission.
Kerry, what first attracted you to wirework?
The very first time I thought to pick up a spool of wire was in December of 2003. I had the idea in my head that I wanted to make a necklace, like the ones you see sometimes at street sales, with my daughter’s name. By the end of that first night, I had 23 pairs of earrings! (Though I never did make that necklace, ha!)
I was instantly smitten with beading, but didn’t really focus on wire until a couple of years later when I learned lampworking. Glass and wire really are a match made in heaven, and I love dimensionality that wire can give to jewelry.
What I love most about your work is that it manages to maintain a tricky balance of simplicity and complexity. How much design development, on average, goes into your pieces?
There are two kinds of designs for me, personally. The ones that just pop into my head as I am driving down the street or reading a book are one kind and the other is the kind that comes from experimenting with what is right in front of me. Once an idea pops into my head, as I am working on other pieces, I ,step by step, start to build the new one in my mind. I think about all the layers to it, what order I will lay colors down with the glass, I work out what colored wires will work best, I decide each twist and turn of the wire, and how it will all come together in the end.
I can spend a week or more working out details in my head before ever lighting my torch to make the beads. And it is all that mental planning that makes the finished piece only take a few hours to make (or minutes even if it turns out to be something easy!)
As for the second kind of design, really, I just take what I have in front of me and I start playing!
I am 100% impressed by the consistency of your wire loops and twists. How much practice does it take to get your hands working so confidently?
Oh my stars, the very first time I tried to make a wrapped loop it was horrible. I remember working it so much the wire snapped right off!! I thought for sure that it was impossible to make them consistently. I found that, when I was just starting out, making BIG loops at the back of the pliers was easier. There was less “wiggle” room for the wire to move on me.
You want to use a slightly heavier gauge wire too when practicing. Fine gauges bend way too easily and that can get frustrating. Also, take a permanent marker and put a little dash on your plier jaws. If you always wrap your wire around that same spot, the loop size will always be the same!!
Looking at all the wonderful handmade glass beads in your book, I was struck with this nerd question: how do you organize your bead stash so you can find just the right bead among all these unique choices?
This is such a good question! I have to very embarrassingly admit that my beads are horribly unorganized. I joke on my blog that I have an OCD inclined alter ego, that spells her name Carrie, who loves to clean and organize. Oh how she gets mad when she sees my bead desk!! I do have several small dishes that I sort beads into. I have my “good beads,” “so-so beads,” and “bad beads.”
Bad beads rarely ever see the light of day. They are ones that have cracked from compatibility issues with the glass, or ones that have ugly coloring. So-so beads almost always get used eventually, HA!. They just have to be patient until the right project for them comes along. Good beads, of course, are my favorite. And thankfully, most of the time I am making beads, I make them for a specific project. That way, I don’t have too too many laying around waiting to be used.
If someone wants to get into wirework, what are three essential tools they need?
All you need to get started is round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, and wire cutters. That is it!
You can check out the rest of the Totally Twisted Blog Tour here.
Now, for the giveaway!
Interweave Press has generously donated a copy of Totally Twisted for me to give away! To enter to win, leave a comment here and tell me about your favorite jewelry-making experience.
I’ll draw a winner on Tuesday, April 6th, at noon PST. Good luck!
My favorite jewelry making experence was using beads that I inherited from my Grandma who did crochet beaded jewelry. I then gave the pieces to my Sisters and nieces.
I would love to win a copy of Kerry's book! Kind of boring but…..I was really excited when I was able to figure out how to make a perfect wrapped loop.
I've done a little wire work and I'd love to branch out. Also, I would love to add some color to my jewelry collection and this would be a great way to do that.
Oh, I'd have to say when I first learned how to draw a bead on the end of sterling. I got to conquer my fear of fire by using a torch and it was just so cool to watch the beads form. I still get excited about making jewelry when I think about torches and metal!
I just love making jewelry! I would have to say I enjoy working with my metal stamping.
One of my best was when various ceramic and lampwork beads I'd hoarded for a long time finally all came together – the color combination is what beadygirl beads calls “turple” (turquoise, purple and lime green) and included beadygirl beads lampwork, jennifer jangles ceramic and another ceramic artist I'd bought from at a show. Add some sterling silver wire-wrapping and voila! Love it.
Kerry's jewelry makes me smile and we could all use a few more of those these days. As for my favorite jewelry-making experience, I was making earrings out of crystals and sterling wire for a seasonal gift shop at a local gallery when one of my 12-year old daughters stopped by the house for a visit. “Wow”, she said, “they almost look store bought”!
When I was in High school, way way waaaaaaaaay too long ago to mention, my aunt brought home a box of broken jewelry, mismatched earrings, unstrung “pearls”, that had been the collection box for her department store's “throwaways”–she rescued it from the trash and brought it to me! My girlfriends and I mined that box for parts, for single earrings, for altered art…it was a treasure trove. I still have bits and pieces from that box in both my jewelry box and my art supplies. The most recent bit I used was an old mother of pearl bracelet, that I hotglued into the peak of a chiffon fairy tent for my daughter's 4th birthday, as a hanging ring.
I have tried wire wrapping before and have had inconsistent success…I was probably using too thin wire for a beginner. But I recently unearthed the pliers and was thinking of starting again. This book would be a big help!
My favorite part is when I can get a darned crimp cover placed properly…frustrating when it doesn't work.
Great interview…thank you for the giveaway.
I've been really getting into crochet the last few years and just before Christmas last year I discovered that you could crochet with wire. I was really excited and started playing around with some beads and craft wire I had on hand. But because it was Christmas eve my husband’s family was all in town and they wanted to go to dinner. I was torn between really wanting to be crafty with my new project and being social by going out to dinner with everyone. So I compromised, I packed a little tin box with pliers, wire, beads and my hook and took it with me to the restaurant. Needless to say, half my family thought I was either nuts or just really weird and the other half thought it was really cool. I ended up making a tiger’s eye chip and gold wire necklace that I wore with my red Christmas sweater the next day.
I was excited when I first learned how to use a jewelry saw. I always thought of metal as being hard to work with but the saw made it much easier and opened up a whole new world.
I love making my jewelry, and I love teaching my students in my Basic Wire Wrapping class. I have been doing it for six years. To this day, the excited “AHA!” moment when students are watching my pliers and wire and they realize that they can take one wire-wrapped bead with an open loop at one end, hook it on to a another wire-wrapped bead, and begin a chain of beads that way is a deep thrill for me. This reaction happens in every class, and I just love it.
Yesss! So cool.
My favourite jewelry making experience? When I was a child in Rocklin California, there was a bead store down the street. I loved that place!! They hosted birthday parties too, so of course, my mom surprised me with a party there. They let each of my guests make one necklace, so I made a pastel wire choker. I still have it sitting in my jewelry box today!
beyourownsaviour at gmail dot com
This is so inspirational! I have wanted to do lampworking forever and it is finally going to happen! The class is very soon and I have expermented with wire wrapping. I have a firend who makes beautiful jewlery who is taking the lampworking class with me. This book just seems the perfect thing! And her birthday is coming up, but I want one too!
I was able to take a beading class at a local bead shop and loved it. I love this book. Here beads are beautiful and the pieces are unique and colorful. Gorgeous!
I love Kerry's jewelry. Such happy colours! I tried working with wire a couple of times and the experiences were not great. I decided wire just isn't for me, but this book might just change my mind!
My favourite jewelry making experiences have to do with teaching. I enjoy teaching basic techniques to beginners (e.g., right-angle weave, peyote stitch) and I just love to see the “Aha!” moment when a student gets it.
My daughter makes beautiful lampwork beads, and I would love to learn these techniques to compliment her work, instead of just stringing them! I love making jewelry that adds some personality and “pop” to an otherwise mundane outfit.
Great interview with Kerry – she is a real talent. Learning to work with wire is my optimal experience, as you continually improve and learn new things. That plus a silver jewellery course I took last year which taught me to be more patient.
Isn't every jewelry making experience great? One I really loved was taking a class at a tiny local bead store in downtown Plymouth, MI, with my sister in-law. Very cozy and very nice company. We made a wire wrapped bracelet, that I still have today.
Favorite jewelry-making experience? The first time I made an “all me” necklace, meaning using only my own handmade beads, my own polymer clay designs and some wire to create it. Awesome feeling that I still get:) Kind of like a kid saying “I made it all by myself, using only stuff I created”.
Beautiful interview:) And thanks for this giveaway.
I wanted to take a bead class to learn how to make a crocheted rope, but the class was full, so I took a class to learn peyote weave (that was in 2003), I have not stopped beading since!
My favorite jewelry-making experience was earrings with glazed ceramic beads I made myself. But my best jewelry-making experience with wire and glass is ….. to come. The pictures and the interview are really inspiring!
I think my favorite experience was when I was wearing a necklace I made another jewelry designer asked me how I got my wire wrapping so perfect. That was pretty cool since I work very hard at my wrapping. My fav making experience (so far) was when I learned to make a hollow metal clay bead. The feeling of making my own beads was awesome!
My favorite experience was when I FINALLY decided to pick up my pliers and just “GO FOR IT” !!!
I was terrified. I have never taken any wire working classes…just bought books or figured it out on my own. I saved my money to buy supplies and then they just sat there. I was scared to waste my wire…never even thought about using copper to practice with. LOL. One day I just went for it…..and it was scary but satisfying. I LOVE WIRE and all the POSSABILITIES !
I remember learning to make a wire spiral with my Dad when I was about ten years old, then snipping the loops into circles and making a necklace out of it. It was far from perfect but it was great fun!
I would so love to win a copy of Totally Twisted. I have been reading the reviews and am in awe of Kerry's talent.
I think my favorite experience was my first caterpillar bracelet using E beads and crystals and pearls. Once the base bracelet was strung , You go back through them all with beading thread and assorted beads and crystals. It makes a lush bracelet and it only took my three hours. so much COOL in so little time.
It's nice when family comments on jewelry, but it's REALLY nice when a stranger comments on a piece that you have created. When I'm with my sister, she counts the comments. That is when I think I've made something really good.
My favorite comment about something I have made is a woman asking my sister if she got her bracelet from Tiffinays!!
My favorite jewelry making experience was the day I learned to solder! I like working with fire and what it does to metal. I also like beating up metal with hammers, stamps and punches!!
This is some of the most original beadwork I've ever seen! So, so cool!! I think my favorite jewelry making is when I made a necklace for my daughter's wedding. It was totally hers. Thanks for the chance!!
wow, that looks like a gorgeous book! (and i need a neat alter ego to help me with my beads and buttons) my favourite jewelry-making experience was learning how to knit with wire with annie modesitt. i'd made jewelry with fabric and other soft fibers before, but never thought that i'd be able to work with something like wire. annie is an amazing teacher, and i still have that first bracelet i made — it makes me smile, and reminds me to try new crafts all of the time.
My favorite jewelry story is about an unknown needle/beading artist who sent me seven (7) different scissor fobs, four (4) she had made herself. I had signed up to be in a scissor fob exchange, you were to make a scissor fob in your favorite medium and send to someone else and you in return were to get a scissor fob from someone else. I made mine and sent it but never received one in return. You were to post a picture of the fob you received online when you received it. At the end of the given time period, I was the only one who did not receive a fob. I waited but after 3-4 months told orgnizer I thought I was not going to receive one and that was okay. 2-3 months later a package arrived in the mail…no return…no name but seven scissor fobs, a couple pair of scissors and wach was wrapped with a note about the scissor fob. Two were purchased and cute at they could be….but of course my favorites were the hand made ones. This lovely person had decided to learn how to bead; her first attempt was with wire and so this one is very fagile, second one was with thread, it is also very fragile, third one is with beading thread and you can see how my beginning beader has improved; and the last one has my name in the beads and is a work of art. I keep them all together with my sewing collections and have gotten scissors for them all…They are very special to me. Thank you whoever your are who made my stitching fobs.
i love working with wire and would love to make some of the projects in this book! my best jewelry making experience was a necklace i made for my daughter. i crocheted some tiny beading wire (about 3 yards long) and then folded and folded it till it was necklace sized and hung a beautiful citrine pendant (her birthstone) from it. it lay around her neck like a lacy scarf with that bling of the gem. she loved it and got so many complements. it was such a simple gift but it really made me happy to give it to her!
My favorite part of making jewelry is when everything comes together, and I add that last little piece that “makes” the jewelry, whether it be a little dangle or adding the clasp and trying the piece on.
I love being able to take workshops with my friends and family. It's great to actually DO something together once in a while.
My favorite experience happens when fusing fine silver wire and links come out perfect. Then creating designs with the links and lampwork beads is the most satisfying as each is truly one-of-a-kind.
my favorite started with the feather earring fad. I wanted them to but in no way was about to spend $75 for a pair. Figuring out how to make them myself, with less than $10 worth of supplies was an utterly fulfilling experience. And my bank account is also happy. Thanks for a great giveaway!
My favorite jewelry making experience was making beaded embroidery faces. They were just randomly stitched and turned out very nice. I haven't got the hang of making jewelry with wire yet. Still practicing.
I just started to make button necklaces. I have yet to finish one but I love the look of them and I love sorting through all my vintage buttons.
My favorite experience was my very first class. I was nervous since I had never even picked up a tool or wire or anything to do with beads. The instructor put us all at ease and we quickly learned how to do a simple loop, wrapped loop, and the proper way to crimp. I enjoyed spending that time with other beaders!
My favourite experience was the first time I walked into a bead store with my 12 year old neighbour. I had offered to pick him up after school and a new bead shop had opened up nearby. He wanted to go in and check it out. I felt totally overwhelmed by all the choices!He rushed around and made himself a necklace. I figured if he could do it, I could too, I made myself a bracelet and have been hooked ever since!
I remember learning to work with thick brass wire in a highschool jewelry class during the 1980's. We'd make wire spirals, hammer them flat, then solder them together to form intricate rings and wrist cuffs. They'd turn our skin a bluish green color, but we thought we were cool wearing them. That was my first experience making jewelry, and I've been hooked ever since. Now…if I could just learn to make perfect wire wrapped loops!
Hi! My favorite jewelry-making experience was when I finished my first frivolite brancelet, despite of my faithless mother. I made it!
I'm really into your giveway:)
Best regards – Weronika
http://www.koralikowaweraph.blogspot.com
I made earrings for my mom and sister one Christmas. I thought I'd chosen the colors of the beads perfectly. However, it turns out my mom like the red beads in my sister's earrings and my sister like the green beads I'd used for my mom's. They switched and were happy with the gifts. I was a bit miffed (at the time, I've since recovered) as a designer in that I was wrong in my color selection. The best part about making jewelery for my freinds and family though has been seeing them wearing something I've made years later.
Every time I make something it becomes a favorite and when someone else loves it I will give it to them. It's nice to see others wearing something I made. Love to try new things and wire is one of those. Love Kerry's work and also her alter ego Carrie, I have one of those too who tells me it's not good enough.
I would love to win this book. I am just starting to dip my toe into the pool of jewelry making creativity so I don't really have any stories yet, unless you count having helpful felines who have to stick their noses (and paws) into everything. I'm sure you can see where that leads. I have done a little bit of wire work, but not for jewelry.
My favorite experience was my first bracelet. A friend showed me how, spent hours in the bead store picking out the beads and when the bracelet was done I was hooked.
I'm such a poor beader that I don't know if I have a favorite experience. I did make a button necklace that I really liked once. have considered digging it up and incorporating some wire into it. Great photography in the book.
I just found out I won and I cannot thank you enough. I have been drooling over this book and I am so excited to finally get a copy of my very own!
Thank You
regardless of the fact I'm too late for this, I had to come here and say how absolutely wonderful these pieces are. Kerry really has an eye for color and design. I've done wire work like this, and I know it's not easy. It takes a LOT of time and practice. Your hands and fingers have to move in a new way and the practice is like forging a trough bit by bit for your fingers to follow.
None of this makes sense, but my coffee is due.