Audrey Parker is the creative force behind Virago Creations. A massage therapist, Reiki healer and jewelry designer, she uses her hands to mold, twist, bend and weave her designs. A mostly self-taught jewelry designer, this former military officer and New Yorker makes her home in the North Valley area of Albuquerque, New Mexico amongst the winery vineyards and horse ranches. She's a member of Mensa and enjoys travel, museums, cooking, sunbathing on tropical beaches, winetasting, and touring historic homes.
Audrey creates art that has energy - it dances, adorns, and becomes part of the person who wears it. Knowing that art is spiritual, she focuses on exploring new techniques and discovering new mediums to visually express ideas, beliefs, and feelings.
After graduating Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Hospitality Management from the NYC Technical College in 1995, and working as the Dining Services Coordinator at the Good Housekeeping Institute, Audrey moved to hurricane prone South Florida where she lived for 10 years. She now makes her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Following five years as a professional writer, editor and managing a regional cancer research fundraising organization, Audrey sought greater freedom and began her independent career as a licensed massage therapist and jewelry artisan.
Unlike many jewelry designers today who merely assemble cast or bought components, Audrey's jewelry combines individually handcrafted items with semi precious and organic stones and cast pieces, allowing her designs to be of a uniqueness and style not found in those that are mass-produced. Stones and pearls are selected not just for their beauty and quality; the role each will play in its piece is also carefully considered. All to create a look that is stylish, artistic, and classically modern.
Her work won Third Place in the Turquoise Category of the 2004-2005 Fire Mountain Gems contest. Her pieces have also appeared on Beadstyle Magazine (www.beadstylemag.com) website as part of Forum Challenges 1 through 3.
I believe in the healing power of art in all it's forms. I use everyday objects, recycled pieces (my transformative jewels), wire, glass, beads, acrylic, metal sheets, nature, fibers and fabric to capture the energy and power and create my visions. My inspiration comes from my travels, various cultures, nature, the past and the vision of the future.
One-of-a-Kind wearable art and Stylish jewelry of organic and semiprecious gemstones combined with fiber and metals designed to nourish the soul, energize the mind and adorn the body.
Many people have asked why the name Virago...Virago is "a woman of extraordinary stature, strength and courage; a woman who has the...masculine mind of a man; a female warrior; a vixen." Chaucer described a Virago as, "serpent under femininity..." That describes me perfectly!
