Earth, Wind and Wire
- Share:
What I blew my paycheck on this week.
by Jennifer Johnson
Aug 21, 2008
In 2004, with encouragement from a family friend, Mandi Wickline decided to take her passion for jewelry design to the next level — selling her work in stores.
“Starting my own business (Earth, Wind and Wire) was one of the most empowering things I’ve done,” Wickline explains. “You get to see people really enjoy what you make.”
Inspired by nature, color, and texture, Wickline centers on Asian and African jewelry, emphasizing, “Simplicity is key in my work. Women are beautiful creatures, and if they feel a little more beautiful every time they put on a piece of my jewelry, more power to them!”
For her earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, the Pacific Lutheran University graduate creates designs from attractive centerpieces or complementary beads. Primarily using copper core, 22 gauge German jewelry wire and hypo-allergenic, nickel-free ear wires, Wickline creates jewelry for every day, weddings or to go with specific outfits.
Years of studying psychology and drama along with her intuitive and sensitive nature allow Wickline to divine an individual’s energy and essence and translate it to a design. She’s confident that if she designs a piece for someone, the recipient will like it. She also has a love of wood, bone, horn, shells, and seeds as well as semiprecious stones and Swarovski crystals. You can almost hear the giggle in her voice when she says, “I’m a sucker for cloisonné, coral, and cinnabar. And daisy spacers. They make everything look more professional, I think, so I’ve used about 42,000 in the last four years. And the color green.”
Coolest material she’s ever used in her self-described classy, fun, punk, and sophisticated designs?
“Leather, lava, and Guatemalan copper,” she says.
Wickline gathers her beads from The Bead Factory, Michael’s, Artco, Gig Harbor Beads, and Lacey’s Shipwreck Beads as well as wonderful stuff from her travels in California and Colorado and around Washington.
Locally, Earth, Wind and Wire has participated in Proctor Arts Festival, Art on the Ave, and the Fox Island Fair as well as selling at shows Wickline is in or benefits she’s put on.
“I love donating percentages of my sales to organizations, and I especially love donating jewelry to auctions. Last year I got to share a booth in the Scottish Highland Games in Enumclaw. I incorporate a lot of Celtic and goddess imagery into my work — perfect for that event, and it was a blast,” Wickline beams. “I really want to be a part of RAGS next year.”
Earth, Wind and Wire designs are available for viewing and purchase at Marlene’s Market in Tacoma and Federal Way, the Conservatory at Wright Park, and at Tacoma’s Two Vaults Gallery. In addition, Wickline has a portfolio of her work from the last four years that can be viewed by contacting her at itsamandi@gmail. com.
[Two Vaults Gallery, 602 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6233]
[Marlene’s Market, 2565 S. Gateway Center Place, Federal Way, 253.839.0933; Marlene’s Market, 2951 S. 38th St., Tacoma, 253.472.4080]
