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This week we are featuring NM Works of Cheyenne, by artist Nancy McCalla

nancy@nmworks-cheyenne.com     nmworks-cheyenne.com     307-637-5404

Nancy McCalla is a Wyoming native, raised on a farm along the Platte River between Glenrock and Casper. Growing up, she was an avid “rock hound,” always carting around a box of rocks. She found meaning, companionship and solace in the stones.  In 1976 Nancy moved to Cheyenne and began a 35 year career working for the Wyoming State Government.  In 2004, she attended a metal working class at Laramie County Community College. It was a revelation! Metal met stone and she discovered an entirely new and exciting world.

In 2010 Nancy retired from state government and started her jewelry/art design business. During the 35 years she worked for the state, Nancy spent a lot of time listening to people say to her, “Oh you work for the state, why don’t you get a real job?” So her new enterprise became NM Works – sort of her way of declaring that she now has a “real” job! Nancy feels very lucky to have had a rewarding long term career that ultimately helped her discover her passion to create and to be able to pursue it, and she hope others are as fortunate.

Nancy wants her work to directly reflect Wyoming’s western heritage and our state’s natural beauty. Each piece starts with a concept or insight that she wants to share with others. Sometimes the concept is inspired by the materials she uses – stones, metal, leather, gourds.  Nancy always wants her pieces to allow others to see the materials used in a new and different way.

Nancy likes to combine wearable art, with non-wearable art. A small gourd bowl serves as a decorative storage/display piece for the pendant and earrings from the “Hoop Dancer” series.  She enjoys combining natural materials such as gourds, shells, feathers, etc., with metal and finished and/or rough stones.

Nancy works with brass, copper, sterling silver and 14/20 karat gold filled metals.   She uses both precious and semi-precious stones and cabochons in her pieces. Some of the precious stones used include faceted black diamonds and blue diamonds; un-faceted or raw cognac and grey diamonds, and sapphires. Some of the semi-precious stones used include: garnet, turquoise, jasper, agate, jade and  amber. She also uses: gourds, leather, shells, feathers, elk ivory.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do Nancy create custom pieces?
Nancy finds it exciting to work with her customers to design and create a piece that is unique and one of a kind.  Depending on what the order is and the materials used, prices could vary from $25.00 to $500.00 on a custom order. She has made rings, earrings and pendants for customers.

Where can people look at or purchase products? Are they located in any stores in our area? Would Nancy like them to be?
If you’d like to purchase any of Nancy’s beautiful and unique pieces go to  nmworks-cheyenne.com.  She can always be reached by phone (307-637-5404) or email (nanmccalla@gmail.com) as well.  She would be thrilled to have some of her products featured at Wyoming Home here in Cheyenne and in Thoenig’s Fine Jewelry in Jackson.  Nancy would also be happy and honored to see her products featured in other communities as well.

Keep up with Nancy and NM Works on her Facebook page.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE & READ THE CURRENT ISSUE:  http://www.wyolifestyle.com/OUR SISTER PUBLICATIONS:  Wyoming Weddings http://www.wyoweddings.com/  Wyovore http://www.wyovore.com/  WYO XY  http://www.wyolifestyle.com/WYOXY/index.html The Wyoming Woman http://www.thewyomingwoman.com/