Wire wrapping expert sparkles at AKS Gem Show in Grapevine

In the 1980s, longtime nurse Naomi Janette Fron went to a jewelry show.

A hobbyist, she already knew basics such as polishing rocks and simple jewelry making.

But when the self-described rock hound attended a class on wire wrapping, she discovered a joy that she had never felt before.

She asked the teacher to give her additional lessons on the art of wire wrapping.

Wire-wrapped jewelry is a method of crafting jewelry by hand, usually with wire and a few simple hand tools and involves wrapping, weaving and twisting wires together to create wearable jewelry.

She quit her nursing job and began making a living making jewelery, which is marketed under NJBF Creation, NJBF Jewelry Creations and NJBF Creations Jewelry.

“I had a gift and I really enjoyed it,” said Fron, who recently moved from Keller to far north Fort Worth.

She has never regretted her decision.

“Earning a living as a jewelry artist for the last 31 years has been a blessing in that I have been able to pursue my passion and meet many fine artists, craftsmen and customers and earn a living,” the 70-year-old jewelry maker said.

Fron’s lastest exhibit was at the Grapevine Convention Center Aug. 5-7 for the the AKS Gem Show.

Bill Clift, with his wife Kay, hosts nationwide shows. The owners of AKS Gem Shows, based in Louisiana, have been promoting gem, jewelry and bead shows for more than 35 years.

“Our shows are wholesale shows that are open to the public, featuring fine jewelry, fashion jewelry, beads, beading supplies, buttons, findings, gold, silver, charms, designer cabochons, gemstones, pearls, and more,” Bill Clift said. “We do four shows at the Grapevine Convention Center every year.”

Fron not only attended the show, she taught classes in beading and wire wrapping.

The jewelry made her recall how she learned how to cut and polish gemstones in the 1980s.

“I wanted to learn how to make jewelry to show them off,” Fron said. “I decided on wire jewelry because any size or shape stone can be utilized.”

She remembered how she got the wire wrapping bug when she met a woman at a gem show in Cherokee, North Carolina, who agreed to teach her.

“I spent two weekends with her learning the basics,” Fron said. “I practiced until I felt my jewelry was good enough to sell and I began my business in 1985 in Tennessee. This began a great journey, and 31 years of traveling and meeting many wonderful people.”

Fron said her goal has always been to design a piece of jewelry that showcases the natural beauty of the stones.

“Every piece that I design is one of a kind,” she said. “I can take four to eight strips of 14 karat gold-filled or sterling silver wire and a gemstone and fashion them into an elegant piece of jewelry such as a pendant or ring, using my hands and a few small hand tools.

Over the years Fron has designed and sold thousands of pieces and donated some for worthy causes.

“I even designed a stunning pink cubic zirconia pendant for Mary Kay Ash before she passed away,” Fron said.

Accompanying her on her journey is her husband of nearly seven years, Bob. Fron was widowed in 2005 and in 2009 she was reunited with her high school sweetheart from Ranger High School via Classmates.com.

She moved to Keller from Sevierville, Tenn., and they married in December 2009.

“I am a native Texan but have been away for over 40 years, but it is good to be back home,” Fron said.

In February, they moved to Fort Worth — only 12 miles from where they lived in Keller.

“I am embarking on a new adventure of teaching what I have learned over the years,” Fron said.

She teaches basic beading and basic wire wrapping at Hobby Lobby in North Richland Hills and at the AKS Gem show four times a year.

“I enjoy sharing my knowledge and love for designing jewelry with others,” Fron said.

Since moving to Texas, she has participated in several high school craft shows including the Keller Indianette Christmas Craft Show; Southlake Carroll PTO Craft Fair; and Boswell High School, Timeberlake High School and Central High School fairs.

In 2014, she entered the Keller’s Got Talent Show and received the honorable mention ribbon. In 2015, she entered again and won first place in the jewelry division.

Fron is a member of the Grapevine Art Project and participates in the city’s annual Main Street Days and GrapeFest as well as several other shows that GAP puts on each year.

This story was originally published August 9, 2016 at 10:24 AM with the headline "Wire wrapping expert sparkles at AKS Gem Show in Grapevine."