Home Jewelry Bangles Artwear Venues Artist Links
       
 

 

Photo taken at Burning Man '15, my fifth time.
Thank you for visiting my website, if you've come to this page, you may be curious about how my work came about. I studied 'Textile Techniques in Metal' with Arline Fisch at San Diego State in 1985, while finishing my MFA in Costume Design, (I mastered dyes & fabric modification, too toxic.)

In 1977 I received a BA in Art:Metals, so this marriage of textiles & colored metal captured my imagination and I became 'hooked' into making my living crocheting wire, which suited my independant, self-employed nature.

Many people are now working textile techniques in metal, and I'm always fascinated with the variety of creativity coming from each individual. This medium allows for unlimited direction and I hope my work will inspire others, I'm willing to talk to anyone about design& technical questions.

When metal is woven, it becomes flexible (the weave is what moves), but retains a formative quality that will alter the shape and dimension of a piece. Each metal and gauge has unique tensile properties that will affect design. I worked with gold-fill, sterling and fine silver, copper, brass, steel, niobium and a huge array of color-coated copper. There are now more craft wires being produced in vibrant colors, but most of my coated copper came from the electronics industry (magnet wire) and is now hard to find. I amassed a wide range of colors in various gauges that were blended/worked together to produce new colors. The use of beads was an important design element, adding color, texture and light.

My designs ranged from simple to wildly dramatic, from period styles such as Victorian, Renaissance and Gothic, to organic floral forms, to high-tech sleek tubular items. Though sales directed my work, newer experimental pieces were often produced, inspired by my artistic & costuming background and years of experience with the medium. Customers also provided great ideas!

Since 1988 I sold my work at juried art shows in the western states, based in NM and for awhile in OR, enabling me to work directly with customers and travel to beautiful places. The jewelry category of shows is highly competitive, the uniqueness of my work got me into some of the best. The portable nature of this craft allows for proliferation and I was seen crocheting in some unlikely places. Crochet/knitters know the addictive, meditative introspection inherent to hand work, it centered me through lifes' changes, while providing a living.

After 30+ years of art shows, I'm mostly retired (thus the past tense). My show RV is now used for camping, I'm still an avid skiier, and my gardens bring me joy. I think I mastered this craft and have moved on to other creative mediums. I am keeping this website alive as an online portfolio for other wire weavers and the orders that are still welcome. 

 
       
 
 



Kae Willow Milane | 505.988.5777
135 Fiesta St. Santa Fe, NM 87501
wireweaver@gmail.com

home | jewelry | bangles | artwear | venues| artist | order