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Welcome to my world of beads and wire jewelry!
My name is Corrine Gurry, and this is part of my story.
When I was in my 30s, I decided to learn how to work with silver, so I
took a beginner's course at Gem Mine University in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Making jewelry for myself, my friends, and my family was very
satisfying. Co-workers began buying my jewelry and ordering custom-made
pieces. Once I understood that I could actually make a profit and,
therefore, the jewelry I made for myself would essentially be free -
well, that was a concept I could get behind!
Taking more classes at Luther College, NJ, and the University of
Hawaii, I learned a great deal about silver jewelry design and
production. Then, just before I moved from Hawaii to Washington State,
I was introduced to beads. I was fascinated by them, I started to
acquire more and more of them, and soon I was mixing them with my
silver work until there were more beads than silver. By the time I
finished my silver-smithing classes at Bellevue Community College in
Washington, I was heavily into the beads and much less into the silver.
While working full-time as a department manager for a very large
company, I spent my weekends teaching basic wirework and bead
stringing, and selling beads at a Seattle bead store all the time
acquiring beads, beads, and more beads! It got to the point where I had
African traders pulling into my driveway and unloading their wares so I
could make my selections. I became addicted to collecting beads!
After many stressful years, the corporate world and I parted ways for
the last time. By that point, I was a fairly successful jewelry
designer, and I figured I could make enough to survive doing the juried
craft shows and working with the boutiques that were selling my things.
In addition, I had several patrons for whom I was designing and
creating custom pieces in silver and beads, and I was working freelance
with a company that supplied several chain stores with natural stone
jewelry.
I was also teaching people how to make their own jigs with nails and
wood, and I was frustrated by how long it took to make just one jig.
Since I'd had an idea for the jigs in my mind for many years, I started
down the rocky road of invention. Researching, finding manufacturers,
determining the materials, and so forth took some time, but the result
is the very best wire-working jigs on the market today Jigs.
It has been a decade since I invented and patented the original
moveable-peg jewelry jigs. I have put together a well-received video
class on wire-working, with an emphasis on the Jigs, which has enhanced the sales of my jigs.
For many years I demonstrated my tools and my work in person all over
the country and overseas, at Bead Expo, Puget Sound Bead Fest, Bead
Renaissance, gem shows, and many other venues. Now I stick closer to
home and sell my Wire Wizard jigs, and beads through my websites,
design and create jewelry, work on new craft tool inventions, and enjoy
showing others how to exercise their own creative spirits.
Helping others to see how they can release their creativity is a very
enjoyable part of my life. You are invited to take some of my classes
and share the great feeling of creating beautiful jewelry and
ornamental things with your own hands. Here are some of the things
covered in my classes:
- How to handle the tools
- Tips that make crafting with wire less frustrating and more satisfying
- Where to get tools, materials, beads, books, and videos
- Ideas on marketing your jewelry and crafts
- How to cure creativity constipation
click image to enlarge
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To the left is a photo of me demonstrating jewelry making with wire and tools to a customer at an event.
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Please contact me if you have any questions email me at
beadlady @ thewirewizard.com. I answer what I can, and when necessary I refer inquiries to others who are more knowledgeable on the subject at hand.
Visit my web site regularly for updates, new patterns, features about
bead and jewelry artists, new poetry, and articles of interest. Surf
the site and check out the links page Links as well - it leads to many marvelous places!
Enjoy!
Corrine
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