Meet Diana Hecht

DIANA HECHT did not have a clue as to her artistic ability. “I never even thought about creating jewelry. I dabbled as a young mother with tole painting and knitting. My world changed when I moved to St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1990. I found I had a lot of time on my hands. I was asked if I would like to learn to do some beading for a shop that was due to open that fall. I jumped at the chance."

Diana didn't realize her natural ability with wire until 1997 when she started playing around with bits of tumbled glass and wire. She started creating pendants and earrings and to her surprise people were buying them. "I found I loved the feel of wire and purchased a couple of videos and some books. From there I blossomed, discovering a natural ability which has steadily grown from 'playing around' to becoming serious with my work."

Diana creates pendants using dichroic glass, gemstones, minerals, fossils, pottery, pearls and shells. She mainly uses 14kt gold fill and sterling silver, utilizing various sizes of square wire in creating her jewelry. "I usually use soft wire which allows the wire to flow around the stone I am working with. I create the back support and bail with half-hard. I did try 18kt gold and found that many people did not want to pay the price. I decided to stick with gold fill and sterling silver.

Her special tool is her fingers. "Those fingers handle pliers, jewelry tools and sculpt wire," states Diana. "I once purchased a jig and found I use the plastic rings to mold wire - the wire on the face of the stone, glass, or pearl. At this time, I haven't a clue as how to solder however some time I may expand into that area. As far as improving my work, I am always a work in progress. I now have a kiln with which I am going to expand into Precious Metal Clay.  A year or so ago I started creating crochet ropes of pearls, glass seed beads and stones.  Using the smallest crochet hook available I am able to create necklaces of different diameters.  I believe that if I ever thought I couldn't improve, it would be time to take a good look at myself in the mirror and go back to school."

Diana moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina in August, 2001. After living eleven years on an island, she says she was ready to return to the States. She had visited Asheville a few years before and loved the area, deciding this part of the country was just to her liking.

Diana Hecht is proudly represented by WICKWIRE fine art/folk art in Hendersonville, North Carolina.