HOMETOWN: Chicago, IL

IN THE BEGINNING: I have been an avid beader and crafter my whole life. After college I worked at a bead store and stumbled across wire; who knew it would become my full – time pursuit and passion.

INSPIRATION: The wire itself. I also find other artists inspiring, particularly people like myself who aren’t trained metalsmiths; they come up with creative solutions.

KNOWN FOR: An easy smile.

LARK TITLE: Elegant Wire Jewelry

MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.kathyfrey.com and join the mailing list to receive periodic newsletters.

FAVORITE CREATION: I’m really partial to a large anemone-type brooch I made for a runway show. There are flaws with the construction, but it’s the artistic design direction I want to go in.

I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT MY: Ergonomic Swanstrom pliers. They are the best!

CRITICS ARE LIKE: My innermost fears realized. On the inside I am still my harshest critic.

STUDIO SOUNDTRACK: Silence. There’s a lot of racket in my head. New designs usually come to me while I’m actively working, so I don’t want too many distractions. If I’m really in production mode and need to tune out, I love a fluffy movie or an audio book.

PROUDEST MOMENT: The first show where I won an award. It was a total surprise. I hugged the judges and went a little crazy.