The Fashionably Wired® Story
Hi! My name is Donna Fitzgerald. I am the artist and owner of Fashionably Wired, home of the most original, handcrafted colorful coiled copper wire jewelry.
Fashionably Wired® is my very own unique concept and craft business. Though I began making and selling beaded jewelry in 1998, I adopted the name "Fashionably Wired" in 2001 when I discovered my unique style of coiled wire jewelry. I sell my jewelry at craft shows throughout the southeastern U.S. and through this website.
I started my jewelry business 12 years ago when my new-born daughter, Tabitha, began experiencing health complications. She was 2 weeks old at the time. These complications quickly snowballed into my worse nightmare — the doctors said my child was dying of a rare disease called Neimann-Pick Type C.
Since I had to focus on Tabby's health (and also on raising her brother, Christopher, who is only 15 months older than she is!), I was unable return to my normal day job as expected. In fact, the day I was scheduled to return (3 months after her birth), we were in the hospital trying to keep her from starving to death. At 3 months old, she was only 4-1/2 pounds. That was 2 pounds less than her birth weight.
I called my employer and said I needed more time off. They said I'd had enough time off, and terminated me on the spot.
While Tabby and Christopher were my main focus, I knew I needed to do something to get at least a little money coming in to pay bills. I also knew I needed to DO something to keep myself from going crazy with worry.
Starting a craft business was a no-brainer for me. I have always enjoyed making things, always made my own gifts for people, even my own clothes. I chose jewelry as my business craft because for years I had bought all of my jewelry at craft shows. It was a natural progression...
... Except that I had never made jewelry before.
I started off stringing pretty glass beads and semi-precious stones on to beader's thread in pretty patterns. They looked nice and I sold them, but they didn't quite feel like Me.
So I bought more beads, in different colors and sizes and shapes. I bought lampworked pendants and handcrafted metal beads. And strung them on thread in pretty patterns. The heavy beads sawed through the thread, and the necklaces kept breaking.
It was frustrating.
I knew I could do it, but had not found MY style yet.
Fortunately, my daughter survived her rocky infancy and I was eventually able to return to work full-time. I postponed crafting temporarily while I reestablished my presence in the IT industry. I focused on creating a new life for my children, Christopher and Tabby, and myself.
Then, on February 14th, 2001, I had a dream about Wire. I have no idea why I was dreaming about wire, but perhaps it was just my subconscious answering the question of "what should I try next?"
I quickly gathered up the kids and off we went to Michael's Arts and Crafts store. I searched for wire, and whaddya know? They had lots of it, many pretty colors on little tiny spools.
I bought a spool in every color and gauge they had. I bought all the tools I thought I would need, including the patented Coiling Gizmo (which I still have!) and an inexpensive wire jig, and even found a small book on coiling wire into jewelry.
At home, I quickly mastered the coiling technique and had gone through every inch of wire I had purchased. I WAS HOOKED! I knew I needed a wholesale source for my wire, and fast. I searched the Internet, found a supplier with great service and colors, and ...
The rest is history.
I have now been coiling beautiful artistic copper wire (the only kind I use) into jewelry for 10 years. I coil other things on (and with) the wire, and I coil multiple coils in different colors together. Every year, I dream up something new to do with the wire.
Or, sometimes I just dream up a new color combination.
Whatever, I still love coiling wire for jewelry and accessories and have not exhausted my supply of new ideas. Two years ago, I began crocheting the crystals and fancy themed beads onto the wire to make unusual bracelets. Last year, I expanded that design to include necklaces, also crocheted. For this year, 2010, I am adding crocheted crystal earrings and pendants. These come in so many different colors that I have barely touched the surface of the possibilities!
After 12 years in the business, I have finally found my stride. I participate as a vendor in some wonderful shows, namely the Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair (July) and Christmas Made in the South (Concord, Augusta, Jacksonville, and Charleston). I greatly enjoy the company of other remarkable craftsmen and the challenge of creating new designs and custom pieces.
Donna, Christopher, and Tabby