Featured Artist - MaggieMays

Recently, as a result of the guild It's Better Handmade promotion of our artists, I've had a chance to begin to know some wonderful artists. One day, I stopped by the shop of MaggieMays Fine Jewelry on Artfire. I love the pieces in MaggieMay's shop. For example, how about these -  Mystic Diamond Drop Earrings .

Topaz Diamond Earrings

These earrings are beautiful in color and the design is elegant. I just want to stop and look at those beautiful earrings all day, but I was drawn further in to view more of the shop because there are so many wonderful pieces. And there are stories behind every piece which describe the metals and stones used and the inspiration for the pieces. 

 

White Diamond Engagement Ring

Red Ruby Necklace and Earrings

Platinum Grey Freshwater Pearls

A husband and wife team, Margaret Pierson and her husband work from their home studio. The team at MaggieMays are not only fine craftsmen, but Margaret also writes two fascinating blogs Maggie Mays Artfire Blog and MaggieMays Blogger with discussions of gemstones and techniques as well as fun videos and features which include those of other artists and the crafts they pursue. 

MaggieMay's is a strong and positive supporter of handmade and those who create and also very knowledgeable about the craft and materials in which she loves to work. I particularly enjoyed the Artfire Shop blog post entitled Russian Chrome Diopside - What Is It? Where Does It Come From? In this article, I learned much about Diopside, a rare green gemstone (that I had never heard of before I read this article), but which rivals the emerald for beauty and  which is found only in Siberia and mined only during the summer months since the extreme temperatures in Siberia create such difficult mining conditions.  

MaggieMays can also be found on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/MaggieMays.Fine.Jewelry

You won't regret taking the time to stop by MaggieMays Fine Jewelry. 

https://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/MaggieMays

http://maggiemaysfinejewelry.blogspot.com/ 

A Virtual Arts and Crafts Fair

One of the fascinating joys of visiting a summer fair or arts and crafts show is having the opportunity to see some amazing art crafted by some wonderfully talented people. A bonus is to have the opportunity to talk with some of the artists face-to-face and learn a little about the techniques and practice required to create their objects.

Recently, in a virtual way, online, I have been visiting some shops and making the acquaintance of some very talented artists from the Artfire Marketplace Guild - It's Better Handmade.

This week, I would like to feature one of these artists and describe a little about her craft.

Grecian Goddess Cameo 

Elizabeth Devigili has a shop called Liz's Designer Jewelry - Jewelry in Harmony. In browsing the fair, this shop immediately draws you in for a closer look.

Bloodstone Gemstone Bangle

Amethyst Earrings

Elizabeth creates jewelry using gemstones, cameos, and precious metal wire (silver and gold). She sets stones and cameos in her jewelry using the technique called "wire wrapping".

Wire wrapping is one of the most ancient of techniques used to make beautiful ornaments. The technique involves using metal wire (about the thickness of headed pins) to create objects of beauty. The wire is bent and molded by mechanical means (such as pliers, padded mallets, or jigs) without heat or soldering and wrapped around itself (probable source of the name wire wrapping) to finish a piece sometimes creating a holder for a setting of a gemstone or cameo.

To get a feel for just how difficult this technique is, here is a brief You-Tube video (from an artist other than Elizabeth.) So, one can imagine how skilled one must be to work with fragile stones or cameos and manage to shape delicate wire curves and scrolls without damaging the materials.


Elizabeth Divigili is an absolute master at this technique. Gold, silver, fine quality cameos and gemstones, are fashioned by her hands and become rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets, or brooches.

For 10 years, Elizabeth has been working from her studio in Las Vegas, creating one of a kind items to sell in her shop or as custom designs for clients. Elizabeth is a woman of few spoken words. In fact, about all she says  is "I'm the quiet type", but her art speaks for her and the words you see are "fine design", "artistry", "unique", and "quality technique".

Here are some views of her one-of-a-kind pieces.

Butterfly Cameo Necklace

Butterfly Cameo Earrings

Liz specialises in cameos like these butterfly beauties from her Artfire shop http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/Jewelry_in_Harmony They are sold separately but would make a beautiful necklace and earring set. 

This unusual piece is one of a pair of Aquamarine Seahorse Earrings

Aquamarine Gemstone Earrings

This earring is crafted from Aquamarine Gemstones and 14K white gold wire.

You can see more of her pieces in her Artfire shop at http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/bio/Jewelry_in_Harmony or on her website at http://www.vendio.com/stores/lizsjewelry/ 

So, browse the fair and stop by Elizabeth's shop to see more of her designs.