I have been making ornaments for my Etsy shop as long as I have had it open (2011) and a little before. I had my work in a consignment shop where I thought about the up coming holiday and what I could do to not only to sell something for the holiday but help decorate the shop for Christmas. Then I thought up my first two ornaments the snowflake and the ball ornament.
Then each year I expanded my designs and how I was going to make them. Even incorporating more than wire in the pieces. Like these two pictures below and to the right, the ball ornament with shapes or words added or crystals added to the snowflakes. These ball ornaments went a step further by opening them on the front side.I designed pieces that also were for Autism awareness that I collaborated with another Etsy artist Heidi Rowe Clous and here is her shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/SoKavadesigns . With us both having autistic children and wanting to help raise funds for local and national charities for the cause we created a handful of ornaments over the years. I included suction cups for these to be used as sun catchers as well.
The steps for the creations:
The sketch: Each ornament goes through a sketch phase , basically a line drawing about actual size unless its a huge item like my tree hanging or the star tree topper. These sketches are pictured to the left, just a few from the past few years I have piled up in my studio. Most of my early shapes were free form designs with out outline designs but I am learning to work with various wire gauges and types or wire like copper coated and aluminum.
Prototypes that didn't hold up or have not made it into production are these two pieces pictured below. The left bottom piece being made of what is a very thin gauged wire causing the ball ornament to be way too flexible and causing it to be flattened very easily. To the right is a pointsetta flower, a fairly large one too. I was hoping to make these as tree toppers or just ornaments that rest on the top branches. It did not receive a huge positive response so it has been put on the back burner for the future.
Although I do have more free form shapes like my snowflakes who have gone through changes over the years. For example my red birds have grown as well. Turning into basic to 3D this year!
Star toppers have changed over the years and I hope to be working on a new topper for next year as well.
Over the years I have had some favorites of mine and here they are.
Here are a few of this years designs and as you can see a few have pushed me into other wire wrapping techniques besides my knitted style.
I try to challenge myself to try something new each year and build on what I have already tried in the past. I enjoy the challenge and love making them from scratch.There are no patterns to these and I have been asked many times over the years for this. I consider these my little art pieces. Besides, I have no idea how to write a pattern nor do I want to, Sorry.
Another style of ornament I make every year is my scrap wire ornament. No two are alike and I use remnants from other ornaments or star toppers to create these ball shaped ornament. This way no wire is wasted and something beautiful is still made from even the scraps!
I do take suggestions every year and if you follow my facebook page you can always add your suggestions there or even on this blog post. I want to make items you will love for years to come. I hope to continue to create for you and your home and love being a part of a holiday that brings about family gatherings, peace, love and happiness. Now onto watching the Hallmark Christmas movies!
