If you’re signed up for our Free Wire Jewelry Patterns, you may be seeing a pattern from Brenda Sigafoos soon!

Artistic by nature, Brenda Sigafoos has been involved in about every aspect of arts and crafts since she was a child. Life has not been easy for Brenda, however through her love of art she has been able to find her own peace. She also works with women’s crisis groups, sharing ways to rebuild personal esteem through art. Inspired by her love of nature, Brenda began creating jewelry by coming up with her own beaded designs; but when she began working with wire, she discovered her favorite medium. Totally dedicated to her children, Brenda shares her talents and knowledge with them at every opportunity, in her lovely new home in Minnesota.

Those of you who are signed up to receive Free Wire Jewelry Patterns may be seeing some patterns from Tracey McKenzie soon…

Born in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England, Tracey has also lived in New Zealand and currently resides in Australia. A lover of animals and birds, when I asked Tracey about her creative side she replied, “I have always been artistic and basically grew up with a pencil in my mouth. I would draw, and draw and draw! When I was about 14, I started to make basic jewellery pieces, using beads and elastic. This only lasted a few years.

I got back into drawing first, and started to do portraits of people and pets, on a commission basis. If I wasn’t drawing, or painting I would find myself getting frustrated, as I knew I wanted to make, paint or do something, I just didn’t know what. I realized that I needed to do something that was quick and that had almost instant gratification, as portraits take many, MANY hours to do.

So one day I bought some more beads and then I bought some wire and began playing around with jewellery making. This time I was hooked! I would source the Internet, and magazines on “how to.” Once I got the basics I just wanted to know more. This was about 5 years ago now, and I haven’t looked back.

I love working with wire, and with colour. So now if I’m not drawing or painting, there is no chance of the artistic, internal frustration I previously experienced as I just pick up some wire, grab some beads, and let the creations flow!”

Tracey McKenzie has made Brisbane, Queensland, Australia her home where she, her supportive husband, and their two children enjoy their many family pets, both feathered and furry.

Click here to see other Contributing Guest Artists and Wire Faculty Members.

Several years ago, Karen’s family hosted a foreign exchange student from Italy who showed her how to turn a shoebox into a bead loom and then how to use it to make bracelets. Karen was then 18, and ever since she’s been hooked on beading and wirework. A voracious reader, she learned every technique she could through books and online research, and worked to improve every aspect of her techniques, supplies, design, and presentation ability.

Karen now shares her knowledge and skills by teaching bead and wirework classes in her home state of Texas, where she is constantly amazed with the new ideas beginning students are able to come up with. “That’s what makes everyone’s work different,” she says, “everyone approaches a craft with ‘different eyes.”

Striving to remain inspired, Karen tries to keep a ‘different eye’ by exploring all types of color and media. She especially enjoys working with wire, freshwater pearls, gemstones and Swarovski crystal. In 2009, Karen won the Fire Mountain Gems beading contest, Bronze Medal for her stunning earring design.

Ever a crafter, Donna has always had her hands into something creative, especially crochet, baking and cooking. Originally from Pennsylvania, Donna and her husband’s employment transferred them to Tennessee where she met Dale ‘Cougar’ Armstrong and was introduced to the fine art of wire jewelry creation.

Since learning wire jewelry techniques, Donna has become a mixed-media jewelry maker; experimenting with PMC, silver smithing and lapidary work. She teaches at local bead shops, has been published in Step-by-Step Wire magazine and participates in many craft shows.

Donna and her husband reside in south-central Tennessee with their Sheltie, Ellie-Mae.