All Wired Up Jewelry is a distinctive line of handmade jewelry, created by husband and wife design team Mark and Karen Tuttle, who are based in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Mark and Karen have been crafting each piece of wearable art jewelry by hand since 2001, incorporating Swarovski crystals and 14-karat gold-filled and sterling silver wire into their work. They take care to use wire made from recycled materials, and their jewelry is also free of chemicals and adhesives often found in many other wired jewelry brands.

Tell us a little about yourself and your work. All Wired Up Jewelry designs custom made, one of a kind, "wearable art" jewelry. Our personal goal is to create jewelry that's guaranteed to be noticed and admired by all. Some of our inspirations are derived from things encountered on our journeys, only then to be incorporated with our own artistic concepts. Other works were created using many of the traditional concepts used in sculptured jewelry. We make every effort to create designs that can be worn more than one way, thus giving our jewelry a versatility not seen anywhere else.

How did you get started as a designer? In 2001, my wife Karen and I were both retired and living in southern Illinois. We were looking for a creative past time that was entirely different from things we had done and that we could enjoy together. We encountered sculptured jewelry and found it fascinating. Thanks to numerous formal training classes in a lapidary school, we acquired the fundamentals from some of the best teachers and authors of sculptured jewelry. Through support and encouragement from many of our early customers, we decided that we could create a little happiness for others, along with leaving a bit of a legacy for our grandchildren.

What inspires your work? We always think "outside the box" when creating our designs. Unusual stone or crystal shapes have dictated the majority of our designs. Our sculptured necklaces and pendants are designed to capture the imagination. Recently, Karen was inspired by a new Swarovski crystal color that matched a broach from her mother. Rarely wearing pins, she decided to design a necklace using the matching beads, allowing her to wear the pin as a pendant. Since necessity is the mother of invention, we created a multi-functional necklace designed to be worn three different ways. Occasionally, we will see a jewelry concept then put our own original spin on it. Antique jewelry and designs incorporated into our art become new again. Sometimes, just discovering new and interesting gems inspires us to enhance the beauty for which the gems command.

Who are your favorite designers? The "Lunch at the Ritz" jewelry was a favorite of ours for many years before we started designing. They gave us the courage to be creative and different.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? Karen has become a huge fan of Bare Essentials Mineral makeup, and will never leave home without it. Her favorite fashion designer is a local native of Tarpon Springs, Joey's Tropical Attitudes and Sole. Of course, she can't pass a Chico's store without stopping in.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers? Listen to your customers' advice. They can give you valuable insight that you may overlook. Be aware of the fashion world around you, learn from it, but most importantly, make it your own.

Where can people find your work? Our jewelry can be purchased online at www.allwiredupjewelry.com. Our web site will also highlight our upcoming Fine Art Show venues, where you can meet us and see all of our latest creations.

Anything else? Working as a couple, we provide the unique opportunity for our customers to experience two different styles of jewelry art. What appeals to one person may not to another, but with us, you definitely have a choice of two designers under one brand.


We love all of the amazing independent designers out there and we wanted to find out more about what makes these creative types tick. If you do too, check out more of our Indie Designer Interviews.