Tales From the Road – Wire Works Custom Jewelry

Tales From the Road

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!

Designing Your Custom Wire Jewelry Family Tree

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.

Delighted Customer

This note came from one of our eBay customers.  She purchased our lariat ring and we shipped it to Australia.

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

Lifetime Association with the Young People of FFA

Oklahoma State FFA Convention

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

Testimonials from Horsefest Customer

Testimonials From Our Customers

Over the last 40 plus yeas we have made many special items for our customers.  They are usually very  happy with the item they receive or of course we would remake and redesign until they are VERY HAPPY!  That does sometimes happen and when it does we strive to achieve what the customer is expecting and will use and enjoy.

Sometimes, a customer is so pleased with the item they receive that we get a very special note from them expressing their gratitude and appreciation of the art that has be designed for them.  This blog section is dedicated to those customers and the praise they have for our wire artists.

I will be adding new items as they come to me.  Thank you for taking the time to read some of what has been said about Wire Works Custom Jewelry.

From the Horsefest in Springfield, MO 2010

During the show one of the other vendors brought Jim a very beautiful carving of a horse head done on Mother of Pearl.  It belonged to a friend of hers and she was looking for someone to design a special “bale” for this unique drop.  Jim felt he could make a wonderful bale without damaging this one of a kind item.  The next day he went to work.  After finishing the bale and finding out that it was for a horse the lady had lost, he decided not to charge for the work he had done.

After returning from our next show, Equine Affaire, I received the following email.

Do you remember making a custom made bail for Hope Gerdes at HorseFest in Springfield, Missouri this year?  It was put onto a piece of mother of pearl with an illustration of my mare (PC’s) head on it.  This note is being sent to you from a VERY GRATEFUL friend.

I’ve purchased several pieces of wire art from you folks through the years.  Purchasing a new cross hat pin whenever I see you at a show.  I’ve given those as gifts to my friends through the years, you all do such beautiful work.  Anyway, when Hope, www.highhopesdesigns.com, told me that you were the good people who she took my precious piece to – to have the bail made.  I was thrilled!!!!!!!!  The finished piece is just gorgeous!  I wear it all of the time!  I would love to send you something for doing that for me, and at the very least send you a photo of the finished piece on me (my husband likes it so much that he wanted to take a photo to show the guys he works with.  By the way he NEVER does that!!!!!).  My name is Chris Kaegi-Stephens, and I’m the Regional Director for the Kansas Horse Council.  I send out over 400 emails to people in the region of Kansas that covers the 13 counties surrounding (and including) Wichita.  I’ve added your web address to the list of recommended web addresses for the horse friends who receive my periodic KHC eNews emails.  I hope that will please you, and that you get several responses and purchases from listing it.  I love you guys so much for creating this beautiful bail completing this gorgeous piece of jewelry for me.  You all are just the best.  God’s testimony of love certainly lives through you and your family!

From a grateful customer and friend, God’s blessing to you all!

Chris : )

I am waiting on the picture and will add it to the post when it arrives.

2010 Show Schedule

Show Schedule for Wire Works Custom Jewelry

Show	City	Booth Location	Dates	Read More
National Western Stock Show & Rodeo	Denver, CO	Coliseum Booth 57 & 58	Jan 9th – 24th	Our Show Blog
San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo	San Antonio, TX	Booth LCT 01	Feb 3rd – 20th	Our Show Blog
Horsefest	Springfield, MO	West Wing Pavilion	Mar 12th – 14th
Equine Affaire	Columbus, OH	Bricker Building Booth #313	Apr 8th – 11th
Greeley Stampede	Greeley, CO	Grandstand Booth #E37 & 38	June 25th – July 4th
Rooftop Rodeo	Estes Park, CO	You can’t miss us!	July 7th – 12th
Cheyenne Frontier Days	Cheyenne, WY	Exhibit Hall Booth # 37 & 38	July 24th – Aug 1st
Missouri State Fair	Sedalia, MO	Commercial Building Booth 45 & 46	Aug 12th – 22nd
Tulsa State Fair	Tulsa, OK	Quick Trip Building Lower North Ramp Booth # 23	Oct 1st – 11th
All American Quarter Horse Congress	Columbus, OH	Bricker Building Booth # 143	Oct 1st – 24th
National FFA Convention	Indianapolis,  IN	Indiana Convention Center - To Be Announced	Oct 20th – 23rd
National Finals Rodeo	Las Vegas, NV	Convention Center – Cowboy Christmas – Booths # 339 & 1725	Dec 2nd – 11th

If you can’t locate our booth please don’t hesitate to call 918 786-3996 for directions – that number reaches us anywhere!

As the year progresses we will be adding new venues so be sure and check back often to see if we will be coming to a location near you.  There is no way that I can have everything that we have in our shop on the web site.  Many of the items we design are one of a kind and very unique to custom wire jewelry.

I sincerely hope you will find the time in  your busy schedule to attend one of the Trade Shows where we exhibit our personalized jewelry.

If you have loose gemstones you would like to have mounted be sure and bring them by so we can give you and estimate on you custom designed gemstone pendant or ring.

San Antonio Livestock Stock Show & Rodeo

Wire Works Custom Jewelry was once again in attendance at the 2010 San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo – 43 years as a major commercial vendor at one of the worlds largest Rodeos and Livestock Shows.  As always providing fine custom designed wire jewelry, personalized jewelry and wire wrapping to all those who attend.

Jim Thompson started his career as a “Wire Bender” in 1963 at the New York Worlds Fair.  That humble beginning continued at the 1967 Hemisphere in San Antonio, Texas where he worked as a “barker” for the Gay Ninety Saloon.  Jim felt that the Stock Show & Rodeo might provide the customer base he was missing, a niche market that could be developed.  After 40 plus years of working in this market place he has developed a following that is unique in the trade show business.

The concept of allowing your customers and their desires to drive the direction of your business (Mass Customization) was not recognized until  the late ’80′s; however Mr. Thompson’s  unique attitude of “I don’t know if I can , but I’ll sure try” has built  a product line of Custom Wire Jewelry that has grown for one item (our scroll pin) to 100′s of individual and unique items, which include, Hat Pins, Lariat Necklaces,Bull Rider Rope Necklaces and Pins and the very Popular Lariat Cross Necklace as well as the “Mane Name Necklace”.  There are many, many more items and most have been suggested or designed by our wonderful customers.

This year the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo was no exception.  The only difference is that Wire Artist Craig Kime is doing most of the work since Jim is finally finding time to work on the old cars that he loves.  Craig is following in the footprints left by Jim “The Wire Bender” and providing customers with the same personal service that has been the trademark of Wire Works Custom Jewelry and Gold Wire Jewelry since the early ’60′s.  Customers still ask, ” Can you do this? and the reply is always “I don’t know but I will sure give it a try!”

The items you see in our store and at our web site represent only a few of the unique quality items that can be designed “Just For You”.

Don’t hesitate to ask, “Can you do this?”  You just might be amazed at what we can create!

Wire Works Custom Jewelry Receives Blue Ribbon Award

Many of the shows we attend present various awards to the vendors for specific achievements. Prestigious awards such as best display, best utilization of space or best customer service are coveted by those who are receiptants.  This year at the NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW AND RODEO, Wire Artist Craig Kime, manager of our wire jewelry booth was given a new award.  I’ll let Craig tell the ‘Rest of the Story’.

“Let me tell you a short story about my last show, the NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW AND RODEO, in Denver Colorado.

Saturday January 23rd, around four p.m. was one of our busiest times of the day.  The rodeo had just started and Kelly, Donna and myself were swamped with customers.  I looked up in time to see Angie Que, the commercial exhibits manager, and her assistant in front of our booth.  This is not always a good sign!  My first thought was, ‘Oh my gosh, now what have I done’.  They patiently waited until I finished with the customers. When I finally got a break I greeted them and asked ‘What can I do for you ladies today’.  Much to my surprise they proceeded to present me with the BLUE RIBBON for Mr. Congeniality!!!  Later in my conversation with Angie and her assistant I asked, ‘How I was chosen for this prestigious and surprising award’? Their reply was, ‘ We selected you because you have the biggest line of Bull Shit in the whole show!’.

I am quite honored by the award and will do my best to keep the Bull Shit going day by day.”  While I would like to say this would take some effort on my part, it doesn’t.  It’s just one of those natural abilities!”

Just to add a note to this story, I have to say that I have know Craig for a very long time and other than my husband, Jim Thompson, I have never known anyone that could spin a yarn quite like Craig Kime.  It amazes me that either one of them can carry these story’s (based in fact) out  while they design the wire  jewelry items they are well known for.

I personally want to thank the Denver Stock Show Commercial Exhibits manager and her staff for recognizing Craigs unique and well defined talent for stretching a story.

Janyce

How To Maintain Your Sterling Silver Wire Jewelry

Cleaning and caring for sterling silver wire jewelry is simple to do if you follow a few basic steps.  With a little care and maintenance, your silver jewelry should always shine. *

When you purchase silver jewelry, the first thing to remember is that silver is a soft metal.  Even a heavy silver ring will bend if enough force is added to it–which means, you should take off your ring before lifting anything heavy. *

Another thing to bear in mind is how you store your wire jewelry when it is not being worn.  Silver should never be stored with other metals or loose in a jewelry box.  You should keep your silver in a small zippered plastic bag by itself.  Not only will this keep other jewelry from rubbing the silver (possibly causing scratches), it will protect it from the air, which causes quick tarnishing. *

Tarnishing is caused by oxidization and moisture in the air.  It first appears as a golden hue on the silver, but quickly turns black.  *

Never leave silver jewelry lying against bare wood.  Wood, especially oak, contains an acid that will mar the surface of the silver.  Paper and cardboard, since they are wood pulp products, will have the same effect, so avoid storing silver in envelopes or small cardboard boxes also. *

All jewelry and specifically you custom sterling silver wire jewelry should always be cleaned with a soft cotton or flannel cloth.  Synthetic materials can cause scratching.  You can also purchase a silver cleaning cloth, which has anti-tarnish ingredients, and keep it inside your jewelry box for quick cleaning.  You can also use a child’s toothbrush to get into intricate scrollwork or patterns. *

For quick cleaning of silver, such as removing makeup or light dirt, use a small amount of liquid detergent or soap to about a half cup of warm water.  Using your cloth, wipe the solution the jewelry, rinse under clean warm water and dry thoroughly.  If using the toothbrush, scrub gently with the solution and rinse. *

To remove tarnish or heavier dirt buildup, you will need to use special silver cleaner.  Silver cleaners come in both a paste and a liquid form.  Liquids are also known as silver dips. *

To use a paste, the best method is to scoop a small amount on your cloth or brush and gently work it in to the crevices of the scrollwork or pattern.  Work in a straight line motion, as all cleansers include some form of abrasive and a circular motion may cause severe scratching.  Allow the paste to dry then use another clean cloth to wipe the excess away.  You can also rinse the piece under warm water and dry thoroughly. *

A liquid, or silver dip, works by dipping the jewelry into the solution, rinsing and wiping the piece dry.  The easiest way to use a dip is to pour a small amount into a coffee cup or shot glass and dip your silver into the liquid.  The results are almost instantaneous.  This is the best method for cleaning the intricate details in most of custom designed wire jewelry. *

If your piece includes gemstones of any kind, cleaning requires much more care.  Both forms of cleansers can dull the polished finish off the gemstone.  Silver dips are almost out of the question for a piece that includes stones that are porous in nature, such as Lapis or Turquoise, as the stones will break down from the absorption of the chemicals. *

The best solution is a paste, using caution not to touch the stones.  Work in small areas until the piece is tarnish free.  Rinse with warm water and dry immediately. *

As you clean your silver jewelry, remember that small amounts of tarnish will give the piece an antique look.  The more you wear your jewelry, the less you will have to clean it.  With proper care and storage, your silver jewelry will bring you many years of wear and enjoyment. *

If you purchased your jewelry from Wire Works Custom Jewelry, we will clean and check you gemstone mounting once a year Free of charge.  Just mail your item back to us and we will return it within 2 weeks. *

2009 FFA Convention

The Tulsa State Fair is over and now it’s off to Indianapolis, IN for the National FFA Convention. An awesome convergence of 50,000 to 70,000 young people from all over the United States will meet to share, learn, grow and check out the wonderful options available for their futures.

Lead Out Loud. It’s more than a theme for these young people. It’s a statement of who they are and what they do. Members served out loud as they engaged in the National Days of Service, group activities and showed their passion as they took part in interactive workshops, thrilling competitions and an action-packed career show. The streets were flooded with blue jackets as students spread excitement for the energetic sessions, and dynamic performances. They spent what spare time they had in the shopping mall looking for the perfect gift to take home to friends and loved ones. Many stopped by our booth and selected unique items and custom made designs from our wire artist. I feel we satisfied the needs for Christmas gifts as well as special tokens of appreciation to those who helped then along the way.

I feel as though these young people and many like them who are now grown and raising their own families are the main reason our business has grown over the years. When we first started working the rodeo and livestock shows it was always the kids in the “Blue Coats” that asked, “Can you make it like this, or would it be possible to add my brand to this style of wire jewelry.” As usual, Jim would always say, “I don’t know but I’ll try.” Their imaginative requests have lead to many of the jewelry designs that are main stays in our booth today.

We sent special thanks and heartfelt hope for the futures of these special young people as they journey to the years ahead.