About The Artist
My name is Michaela Smith. I am a full-time artist living in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains where I spend my days making wire wrapped jewelry.
I have collected crystals my whole life. My family is full of rock hounders & collectors of crystals & shiny things, so I never knew another way of being. I was lucky to have been raised by strong women, artists & entrepreneurs who fostered my creativity from a young age. I was always supported & encouraged in whatever new way I wanted to express myself, which would turn out to be very important. At about age 18, I began experimenting with making my crystals into wearable works of art. At that point, I was strictly making wire wrapped pendants as gifts for my friends. Eventually, I became infatuated with this art form and devoted more and more of my time to it. I see myself improve with each new piece, and my love for wire wrapping grows each day.
I first began selling my art to make some extra money while in college, and was pleasantly surprised at how well-received it was online! After graduating from Lander University, I decided against seeking a job with my degree to focus on my mental and physical health. I was experiencing extreme burnout & was at a low point, so I decided to do the brave thing & dive head-first into wire wrapping as a full-time job. This route has allowed me to listen to my body & to rest when necessary. As someone with fibromyalgia and chronic migraine, it is such a blessing to be able to make my own hours and spend my days working in the comfort of my home. I’m currently the happiest & healthiest version of myself!
When I’m not wire wrapping, I like to create art in other mediums such as painting, crochet, and macrame. I also love hiking, kayaking, camping, and hanging out with my dogs, Mowgli & Mavis.
