Today’s interview is with Nancy of Nancy’s Wild Wire Jewelry and I invite you to check out her wonderful hand crafted wire jewelry when you get done reading this interview!

So, how did you become an entrepreneur? What lead you to this business that you are in now 
I think I was born an entrepreneur,LOL! I have quested after a dream most of my life. You know the old saying Jill of all trades……. that’s me.

I have been a dance instructor, I made fancy hand painted candies,wood crafts,painted on anything that didn’t move. I used my sewing skills and made hand crafted soft doll beds,and carriers. I worked in advertising,and sales,a bakery,always dealing in antiques. I took my poor children around with me to craft shows, they napped under my table when they were small.

What’s your business called and what do you do with it?

I have always loved anything shiny and collected vintage and antique jewelry most of my life. Since God blessed me with artistic ability, it seemed natural I turn to design and art jewelry. My Business is Nancy’s Wild Wire Jewelry and Art Studio. I design and make wearable art jewelry, I sculpt with wire, I paint, I sew, I dabble in everything artsy.

How did you finance your business?

Since I am self employed I have a lot of freedom to experiment. It really didn’t take much, I had material from my years of collections, I used electrical wire my hubby stripped for me, I went to yard sales, I got creative. I was in a financial crunch, but I had a great desire to create. I am still creative about materials, I barter sometimes, and I sell my work now.

I love that you cobble together what you can find and turn it into something so beautiful! How many hours in a week do you work on your business?

Well like most artists I put in a lot of hours. I shoot for 4-5 dedicated hours a day, but I fit in a lot more. I consider promoting part of my business to.

Nancy's wild wire custom arrowhead

What’s your favorite to work on?

My favorite kind of jewelry to do is the unplanned piece. Like when someone hands me an object or the odd stone and asks if I can do anything with it. I love seeing their face when I use a few wraps of wire,&it comes to life. I love to do custom work or any challenging piece.

The arrow head was bought from me, I added her old trade beads ,then made bracelet & earrings to match.

Do you feel successful, and how do you define that success?

I feel very successful. I have been juried into the Illinois Museum Artists program. That is a life time honor for artists who live and continue to work in Illinois. I have recently had two of my jewelry designs published in Copper Wire Jeweler’s Magazine.

Nancy's Wild Wire Faith custom necklace

What has been your biggest challenge as an entrepreneur?

Being accepted since I am self taught, I had to gain credibility.

The Faith necklace was a surprise piece for Judy Faith, several people donated elements and asked me to make her a necklace,it was my great honor and privilege. She is facing a major crisis in her life.

How did you overcome it and gain that credibility?

I really just kept producing my art. My work is unique, it doesn’t matter what category you try to put it in, it is simply art.

What advice would you give someone taking their first step into business?

Be persistent. Never give up your dream,go after it, it will not fall in your lap, and no one else will hand it to you. Work hard,set goals,enjoy the journey.

What’s been your biggest win as a jewelry maker and business owner?

When I walked in the Artisan Center and they recognized the jewelry I was wearing. They didn’t know my name , they knew my art. Then I knew my work was distinct, and would stand on it’s own merit.

Where would you like your business and life to be in 5 years?

I would like to teach wire wrap, I have my first classes coming up in the fall in Paducah Kentucky. I would like to do more of that, and I would like to make some video lessons to sell tutorials. I like live shows too. Of course I would like to be well known in my field.

Nancy's Wild Wire Soft Rose on the Vine Briolette Earrings

You blog for your business, why?

I do blog, I think it is a great way to give a glimpse of who you are, your real life. I have a great support system! My Husband Steve is great! He is a terrific salesperson, as well as my very good friend Mary Jane Graham. When I go to a show, they usually are there to talk to people, to build me up,they really do a great job.Visit Nancy’s blog.

What is your network and support system like?

I have many great friends on Facebook, I belong to Unique Women in business, Copper Wire Jewelers, Wire Wrap Jewelry and they are all very good at inspiring me to keep going forward.

What is your best selling venue?

I think the Internet, I love social networking,it works!

It sounds like you dedicate a lot of time to your business, is it full time?

I consider it full time and I plan my time, I have a schedule. I would not be able to get anything done if I was not dedicated. I also work out and eat healthy meals, so I am in shape for all the activity in my life.

Do you have any training in jewelry making at all?

I do not have any formal training. I am basically self taught, I learn 1 step at a time. I love to try anything new. I am fearless when it comes to that aspect. I have lots of failures, many projects end up in the scrap pile,but out of all that come my successes. I often go back to my scrap pile and pull out different bits and pieces and it take on life in a totally new direction,so there are no real failures, just delays. I think art is a lifelong learning experience,I really enjoy the many opportunities that cross my path to try new skills.

How have you marketed your business so far and have you found it successfull?

I use Facebook,Twitter, I have an Etsy shop, and a blog.
I am doing Art and Wine shows. My friends promote me as well. I am currently building a brand new website called Nancy’s WildWire and Art Studio. I will be launching that very soon.

I want to thank Nancy of Nancy’s Wild Wire Jewelry for sharing her story with us, and I invite you to check out her wonderful hand crafted wire jewelry when you get done reading this interview!

Have you ever thought of the things you can turn your trash into? You can create unusual and unique art out of string, wire and all kinds of discarded items. Toys and other things can be turned into new useful items for your home or office.

• Use an old, rusted children’s wagon as the base for your new coffee table.
• Turn broken dishes into a wonderful mosaic art piece.
• Make wind chimes from assorted tableware. We’ve used mismatched forks, spoons, and knives. But, you could go bigger and use serving spoons, spatulas and metal measuring cups.
• You can even use old toys and other items to create an unusual sculpture. Some school children have created grand sculptures that are displayed in their own communities.

If you run into a wall when trying to think of things to use or what to do with discards, ask your children, nieces and nephews, or your neighbor’s kids. They always seem eager to share their child-like nature with whoever seeks such enlightenment.

Whether you choose to recycle for fun, play, art or environmental preservation, there is plenty to be done with the rising piles of garbage our society throws out every single day.

Just do a little research and digging, and let your inner child out to play. You might be very surprised at the real value in some of the items you run across. And, you might be fortunate enough to fashion some clever new household item or decoration out of yesterday’s trash.

Use your imagination – that’s your only limitation. Can you develop the mind of a child?

Newspapers:You can do a lot with old newspapers. You could use parts of it as wrapping paper. My gramma used to wrap our gifts with the Sunday funnies because she thought it was funny. You could keep certain sales flyers to wrap gifts too. Perhaps using irony to wrap a gift with a flyer featuring the same type of item that you are gifting? See if the receiver gets the message.

However, this particular use from from old newspapers caught my eye. Daily News Hot Mat. It looks to me like they fold flat or iron out strips of paper, then coil them up and join them together somehow to create a mat of sorts. This looks like it could be really great as a laptop mat.

Junk Mail: Who woulda thought all that junk mail, the sales envelopes, the letters asking you to renew your magazine subscription, would be used for something fun and creative? You can make picture art out of that junk. Turn it into something you can sell, or into a great gift for the special people in your life. I’m thinking Teacher Gifts! Here is a tutorial

What could you make out of newspaper and junk mail?

Today’s post about trash crafting and recycling items into art takes a look at using metal cans.

Old pop and beer cans are turned into funny, useful, ingenious items.

Soda can camera

Check out the pop can turned Camera.

Pull tab jewelry

How about this set of jewelry made from the pull tabs on pop cans? How much fun is that?

And what do you think of these beer cans turned into air planes? There is some great creativity being displayed here!

beer can airplane

Beer can airplane

Check out the fabulous ships, tractors, race cars, helicopters and planes this guy makes! And so much more too! Watch him make a plane while he’s talking to the camera.

Trash art. Recycling. Upcycling. Reinventing.

It’s all the same thing, mostly.Finding new and inventive ways for reusing or repurposing  those things you normally throw away.

Trash? Art? Something useful still? Art is absolutely in the eye of the beholder, but reusing things can at least be fun to do, and sometimes quite fun to use or look at and enjoy.

Trash art comes and goes, but it’s been around for many years. It seems like the more eccentric artists are viewed as “real” when working with trash. Why can’t the average person be considered an artist when they turn trash to treasure? I think this is changing slowly, but it’s also hard to distinguish between what’s crafty and what is considered art.

Maybe it’s because we all have our own idea of what art is.

What’s your idea of art? Is repurposing something Art? I’d love to see your thoughts, leave me a comment.

This post is part of series designed to make you think on crafts – recycling and finding new uses for old items.