Wire Works Custom Jewelry has added a new product line to our extensive selection of personalized jewelry.  We hope you will find them as exciting and affordable as we do.

We will be adding new styles throughout the Christmas Season so check back often to see the new selections.

All rings are available in sizes 4 to 15 including half sizes.  The price – $30.00 – includes and name or phrase you might want – up to 18 characters.

Any Name or Phrase you Want!

Last fall Wire Works Custom Jewelry was contacted by Vicki Rossi, Jockey Mike Smiths assistant, and commissioned to do a special design Mane Name Necklace in honor of Zenyatta.  At the time, Master Wire Artist, Jim Thompson didn’t know Zenyatta from any other horse.  But after a bit of research, discovered that she is quite a horse – of course!  According to many racing enthusiast, she may very well be the greatest filly in horse racing history.  With much input and coordination with Vicki, Wire Works came up with a design that depicted this beautiful animal.

Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Shirreffs, Zenyatta won 19 out of 20 career races and has been named the 2010 Eclipse Award ‘Horse of the Year’.  She was taller than most of her opponents at 17.2  hands or 5′ 7″ tall – and carried 1,200 pounds on her frame while racing. According to a 201060 Minutes report, Zenyatta was purchased as a yearling at the low price of $60,000 because she suffered from a form of ringworm.   During her career she won purses totaling over $7 million making her the all-time North American female money-earner. Featured in W Magazine and the New York Times in 2010, she has been called “hard to beat, and harder to ignore”.   At this time The great Zenyatta has retired in lap of luxury and has a serious ‘beau’.

Zenyatta’s team seems to be having as much if not more fun now with the 2010 Horse of the Year as when she was racing.  About 15 days ago, Zenyatta was temed up in the breeding shed with the top freshman sire in the states, Bernardini, who won 6 of his 8 starts and is a son of A.P. Indy.

Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs, wife of Zenyatta’s former trainer, John, is tracking Zenyatta’s progress in getting pregnant and composing the blog as if theZenyatta were penning it herself.

This post was on the website Thursday:

“I AM IN FOAL!”

“This is my 15-day scan! From what I am told, everything looks fabulous and solid. The embryo looks to be a good size. So, at this time, everything is WONDERFUL!”

“I will be rescanned at about 28 days and if that is all A-OK, my next scan will be at the 40-42 day time period from the date I was bred. As Dottie explained to you earlier, the latter scan is really very important. If all is perfect at that time, then I am pretty well on my way in my pregnancy. This is all so exciting and so new to me! I JUST LOVE IT!”

“Hmmm! I just had a thought! Lately, I have been craving BANANAS. It seems like that is all I’ve been thinking about for the last few days! I guess this could explain why. Dottie tells me craving some type of food is very normal for humans while pregnant. Maybe it is for horses like me too.”

“HOOVES CROSSED for the news on my next scan to be just as POSITIVE!

“With Love,”

“HUGS and Big Kisses to All,”

“Z” …

As you can imagine the entire crew at Wire Works Custom Jewelry was honored to have been chosen to design this beautiful necklace in Sterling Silver for Zenyatta.    Who knows, maybe a special design for Mom and Foal would be in order!

Wire Works Custom Jewelry will be one of the featured vendors for the second year and will be displaying and making a new selection of Equestrian, Western, and Ranch Brand Jewelry. They will be showing items designed for all Horse & Mule Lovers as well as items for the Barrel Racers, 4H and FFA Enthusiast and Rodeo Fans.  There are even name necklaces, rings, belly charms, and anklet bracelets designed for the non-horse person that might be accompanying family or friends to the show.

One of the interesting things about attending this type of horse show is the opportunity to design new jewelry for people who either attend or are showing their own product lines.  One such opportunity happened in about 1998 when Craig Kime, featured wire artist for Wire Works,  was a neighbor to fellow show vendor Dale Myler.  Dale is a brother to Bob Myler who is one of the clinicians at this years Horse Fest.  Back in the day, the Myler brothers were promoting their now popular Myler Bit by setting up booths at several of the major horse events across the USA.  Well, as things go, Dale asked if  Wire Works Custom Jewelry could create an item of jewelry from the design of the then new Myler Bit.  The bit was brought to the jewelry and a new design was born and continues to be one of the very popular items that is displayed and sold in the Wire Works booth.  Be sure and drop by to see the Myler Bits as well as snaffle bit and D bits designed by wire artist Jim Thompson.

If you are not familiar with the Myler Bit be sure and drop by their booth or visit their web site: Myler Bits USA

Bob Myler of Myler Bits will be giving demonstrations in the East Hall.  On Friday, a powerpoint presentation will be given on: Bits – Why I Believe They Can Either Hinder of Enhance A Training Program.  Round pen demonstrations will be given on Saturday & Sunday.  The topics discussed: Bitting & Horsemanship, Working Together, Leadership, Preparing Horse for Bit, & Introducing Bit & Adjustments.

2011 Horsefest Events & Clinician Lineup:

Ken McNabb & Family, Bob Myler, Saddle Fitting With Jacki Thomas, Barrel Racing Clinic – Dawn Dawson, Performance Horse Judging Clinic, Southwest Missouri Hunter Jumper Association (SMHJA) Riding & Jumping Demo, Packing Your Horse For The Trail: Virgil Bruner, Most Everything You Would Ever Want To Know About A Mule: Ben Tennison, Miss Rodeo Missouri Pageant.

Other activities of interest include:

Ultimate Horsemen’s Challenge, Horsefest Shoot-Out, NBHA Barrel Racing Showdown and Cowboy Church

Saddle Up for Horse Fest

The Tulsa March Mania has a long history with Make-A-Wish, having raised an astounding $50,000 in 2009 during the Extreme Halter/Western Pleasure Challenge, that was organized by 2008-2009 AjPHA president Banks Ready and show manager Karen Kennedy.

This year, Claire Binkowski who owns up and coming APHA Stallion, Never Compromise, hopes to hold another successful Make-A-Wish charity event, while at the same time highlighting the importance of giving back to the equine industry.  In addition to sponsoring an Italian dinner for the exhibitor’s party, Never Compromise has donated all of the raffle prizes for the event, and has agreed to match ticket sales dollar for dollar.

Come join us at Tulsa Expo Square and help make this a record breaking event for the kids of the Make a Wish Foundation!

For additional Information visit: Tulsa March Mania

Part 1

Last night we had a few friends over for dinner of homemade New Mexico Enchiladas.  After dinner we retired to the front porch to enjoy the incredible sunset and each other’s company. While enjoying beautiful Grand Lake, the stories began to flow.  Soon we were “cuttin’ up jackpots” which is simply the telling or retelling of stories about our journeys and the mishaps we have experienced as we travel across the country.

Many of the travels taken by Jim and me over the years consist of pulling our trailers full of wire jewelry displays across country.  These travels were always centered on our adventures of hauling a trailer behind our Greyhound Bus Motor Home Conversion.  During the early days of our business we couldn’t afford trailers.  Our Ford Van was loaded with the wire jewelry tools, the displays and all our worldly possessions. Of course, the most important of these goods were the gold and silver wire we use in our beautiful jewelry which you can see in our Online Store .  We headed across country to various locations just for the opportunity to display and sell our custom wire designs to folks attending these various events.  Our greatest hope was to pay for our expenses and make a little extra cash.  Sometimes we hit the road without having a solid commitment for space. Should someone not show up or cancel, we were in!

During the summer of 1983, we took off  from Wichita, Kansas to work the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, Missouri.  Crossing a bridge that arched over a railroad track, we entered Augusta, Kansas.  Jim, who has little tolerance of bad drivers, looked up and asked, “Who is this screwball trying to pass me?”  I strained to see what was going on and shouted, “Jim, it’s our van”…THE van that held all our worldly goods inside.  It had broken loose from the bus hitch and was in the other lane passing OUR BUS.  Jim kicked into his John Wayne mode and sped up to get in front of the van in the hope of using his brakes to slow it down.  Any minute I expected to hear the crunch that would put our lives on hold.   However, the van continued to run into the back of the bus as Jim continued to apply the brakes of the bus.  Eventually, we were able to stop our runaway van before our “runaway” did further damage.  As for the bus, well, let’s just say it looked like it had enjoyed a night on the town.  After a lot of nervous laughter and a few heart pounding minutes, we hooked the van back onto the bus and continued our trip to Sedalia.  As we setup our wire jewelry displays we continued to laugh at our latest road escapade.  Despite this adventure, we were able to enjoy a wonderful show designing the many unique and affordable wire jewelry items for the Fair goers of Missouri.  As I recall, this was a record year for us in making brand jewelry for the farmers and ranchers in Missouri.

What a TRIP!

Family Trees - Wall Plaque

How To Design Your Custom Family Tree

Wire Writing by Jim Thompson

Each family tree that we build is designed  – JUST FOR YOUR FAMILY – they are never exactly alike.  They are all as unique as your family.

The circles that contain the names will be different sizes due to the different length of the names.  We wire write the name first then build the wire jewelry circle to fit the name.  The FREE birthstone crystal is added last.

Now it’s DECISION TIME

Step 1: Who is this tree for?  You, Parents, Grandparents or Friend

When we build your Family Tree it is recommended that you start with who it is for.  Who’s home will it be displayed in.  If it is for grandmother – start with her and granddad, they will go on the top and their branch will be hand twisted.  Remember:  This Personalized Family Tree can be added to or changed as the years go by.

Step 2: Do you want a bloodline tree or full extended family?  You can do Mom, Dad and the kids – leave the spouses off – your choice.

Step 3: Do want a formal presentation or a “just for the family” style.  If formal is you preference supply us the the proper names and extensions such as:

William instead of Will or Bill or if you have a James Jr. instead of using Jim

If you like the informal – this is for family look.  Just use the common names that you call one another.  You can even odd old “Rover” if he is a loved and cherished part of the family.

The key to this is – what would the person you are preparing this family heirloom for prefer.

Step 4: Color for the mat.  I will try to get as close as possible to the color you need.  Sometime a fabric swatch is helpful or maybe just a clip our of a magazine the shows what you want.  We carr the basics in our jewelry workshop all the time – Green, Blue, Mauve, White, and Beige.

Step 5: Send us a list of the the spellings and color mat you want.  Start with who the tree is for: Mom & Dad.

Next list the oldest child, spouse,  children and grandchildren in order of birth – include the birth month with each one.

Proceed to the next oldest child, spouse and children and grandchildren – just keep going until you have them all.

Now all you have to do is relax and give us the time to design your ‘one of a kind’ custom Family Tree from Wire Works Custom Jewelry.

Thanks for all the kudos Elizabeth and we really appreciate your business.

I wish I should include all of the animations she added – it was really clever.  However I am not that talented with creating blogs YET!!  Janyce

Hello Jim Janyce Craig and Kelly

I just got the mail a few minutes ago and received the little ring you made for me.  I haven’t even made my morning coffee yet, but instead got on my laptop straight away to thank you.  It is gorgeous!

I absolutely love it!!

I don’t usually get this excited so early, but it is truly a beautiful piece of jewelry.  It fits perfectly and it’s so delicate and intricate.

Thankx heaps!

I’ll do my feedback later today, but couldn’t wait to tell whoever made it How much I appreciate their craftsman/woman/ship.

Heartfelt gratitude.  Blessings* on Wire Works

Elizabeth Rowe x

GRADUATION AND END OF SCHOOL  SALE

MAY 13^TH, 2010 – JUNE 15^TH, 2010

ALL NECKLACES WILL BE ON SALE FOR

20% OFF THE REGULAR PRICE

We just finished working the Oklahoma FFA Convention in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  What a wonderful group of young people to work with.  If you have never experienced a gathering of several hundred or maybe even thousands of youth in one area for a weekend, you may not relate to this.  But it can be a harrowing experience.   However, when you are dealing with the youth of the Future Farmers of America it is a totally different environment.  These young people are truly a delight – patient, polite, inquisitive and very sharp.  Over the years I have been truly amazed as I have watched them come to the stock shows with their animals and dreams and sometimes leave with high honors and awards – sometimes to go home and try, try again.  I have watched them grow up and marry and then come back with their kids to the same show.  The kids show their animals and learn the same tough life experiences that their parents learned.   Over the years, one thing has remained constant, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE A DELIGHT TO WORK WITH AND FOR!!  I wouldn’t trade the experience for any other I have had over the years.

Craig Kime is actually the Wire Artist that ran the show in Oklahoma City, as he runs most of our trade shows these days.  It is our practice, since I write the blogs and report on the show, that he and I talk frequently about the experiences from day to day.  One of the things that we discussed this time was how many of the items in our show cases were created by the FFA students.

Jim was the first of us to work the stock show and rodeo market back in 1969.  He had a small location at the Houston Livestock Show and at that time the FFA kids were actually housed on the show grounds.  The blue coats were all over the place from daylight (time to tend the animals) to dark.   He remember a million questions and a million ideas from these kids.  The conversations would usually start out with” Hey Mister, could you make ‘this’ for me, or I would really like to put my name on my hat, can you do that?”  “How ’bout in a rope?”  Well, as any of you that know Jim know, his reply was always, “I don’t know but I ‘ll sure try!”  As a result our product line has grown from one humble style of pin (which we still sell) to the massive display you see today at the shows we attend.  We now have name pins, hat pins, rings, bracelets, pendants, brand jewelry along with several gemstone items.  And that is not a complete list.   There is no way I can count all of the items that the youth have designed over the 45 years plus that we have been working with this group, but it is a lot!!!

I have said all of that to say this,

WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE ALL THE FFA KIDS OUT THERE – YOUNG AND OLD – WE KNOW WHAT YOU STAND FOR AND IT SHOWS IN THE WAY YOU PRESENT YOURSELVES.  KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND KEEP THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE VALUES OF FFA!

Jim & Janyce Thompson

Craig & Kelly Kime

Afton Oklahoma Officers