The freeform design shows how a wire wrapped pendant can achieve an unlimited number of unique designs. The student will learn how the wires can be moved across the cabochon to bring out certain patterns in the stone. If your cabochon is a solid color, you can use this as a canvass to highlight interesting wire designs.

This is a beginner/intermediate level class.

About Jim McIntosh, Jewelry Artist
www.macjewels.com/

Compared to a lot of other wire workers in the world, I haven’t been at this for very long. You’ll
talk to wire artists that have made thousands of pieces over a period of 10 to 15 or more years.
Because of their experience they feel that they are an authority on the subject. To them I say,
great! The world needs authorities. In the time that I have been doing this, I have produced
thousands of wire wrap pieces. Am I an authority? I don’t know…do I look like one?

I can tell you though that I am extremely particular about the work that I produce. I love to see nice straight wire, tight wraps, tight border wires, and strong bails. Over the years, I have made everything from simple earrings and bracelets, to handmade prongset rings. Each piece has had to pass a very strict quality control team (my wonderful
wife and daughter) before I ever display any of my finished pieces, and boy are they critical.

I went into this type of art because of my previous employment. The type of job that I had been doing for almost 15 years was very analytical, no creativity whatsoever. I had been looking for a creative outlet so that I could exercise the other part of my brain. The problem was talent. I can’t draw a straight line to save my life. My abilities as a painter were even worse than my drawing. I can’t even sculpt. My traditional art skills were so bad that they gave a new definition for abstract. However, I did have a strong desire to create some type of art.

I have always been interested in southwestern jewelry and how it was made. I can remember a
ring that my mother purchased at a Cherokee Trading Post when I was a kid. I loved the way that
the artist designed the piece and the color of the turquoise against the silver. This prompted me to
look for some course to make silver jewelry. In this quest for knowledge, I came across a web site
that gave instructions on wire wrap jewelry. I had never heard of this type of jewelry, so I started
to do more research. It was so unique and not like anything that I had ever seen before. My search
opened a whole new world to me. I discovered that there were a lot of people that did this type of
jewelry art. I also found chat rooms and web sites dedicated to the art.

This was the start of my new career; I was determined to become a wire artist.

Lunch Options:
Within easy walking distance are these lunch places:
Applebees
The Yellow Porch
Sam & Zoes
Baja Burrito
Subway
Pizza Hut
Wendy's
Calypso Cafe
Mediterranean Cafe (short drive)
Cafe D' Pranza
Pfunky Griddle

Lodging:
If you are coming from out of town, the closest motels are
La Quinta Inn (Sidco Drive near Harding Place and I-65)
Red Roof Inn (Sidco Drive near Hading Place and I-65)

There are additional motels 1 exit south on I-65 on Old Hickory Blvd in Brentwood.

See:
Location, Lodging,
Access by Car, Plane