Zoe Frater is joining us here at The Bead Shop as a Guest tutor. Zoe will be teaching a Beginners Wire Weaving Workshop workshop in June. So we thought you’d also like to Meet the artist – Zoe Frater. Zoe’s wire work is stunning, we have a collection of her pieces on display. As well as available for sale in our window display at the moment. We’ve all been struggling to decide which is our favourite as they all have such wonderful details.
I always find different people’s journey to doing what they love fascinating. So I always like to ask our tutors a few questions to get to know their working practice a little better;
When did you get into jewellery making/wire work?
“I started getting into wire work during the first lockdown around April 2020. Mainly as an extra arm to my Photorealist Portrait painting business. I’d stumbled across some steampunk style wire wrapped pieces of jewellery online and looked into it further. This led me to YouTube videos. I started with very simple pieces and it took a few attempts to make anything that looked half decent. But enjoyed the process so it quickly went from there. I further researched using different materials, techniques and how to make some of my pieces look antique using liver of sulphur to oxidize them.”
What do you love about working with wire?
“I love being able to turn a simple piece of wire into something beautiful and wearable. I enjoy working with all different semi-precious stones and beautiful crystals. Being able to wrap them in wire with multiple designs and techniques creating unique one off pieces of artwork that can be worn. I love how some of the techniques I’ve learned can create such fantastical pieces”
If you want to learn wire weaving with Zoe you can join her Our Wire Weaving workshop on Saturday 3rd June 2023. You can find more details about the workshop and book via the link here;
For anyone who’s unable to attend the workshop what advice do you have for anyone wanting to get into wirework and wire weaving.
“Start with watching YouTube videos on wire weaves and practice simple weave techniques. You’ll build you confidence then try following a video tutorial to make a complete piece. I would start with 0.8mm and 0.4mm copper wire and a few basic jewellery making tools. Wire cutters, chain nose pliers and flat nose nylon jaw pliers – these are essential for straightening wire and pushing weaving tight together)”
You can find more examples of Zoe’s work and information about her business (STUDIO ELEVEN) on Facebook
I hope you’ve enjoyed our blog post – Meet the artist – Zoe Frater. Zoe will has recently taken part in an event hosted by Away with the Fairies at Edwinstow, of which she’ll be partaking again in December.
If you’re local to us in Nottingham do make sure you pop by the shop and take a look at Zoe’s wirework on display. Maybe even treat yourself to a wearable piece of art.