Dale “Cougar” Armstrong
A die-hard rockhound, lapidary, and wire jewelry designer, instructor and author, Dale credits her mom for spurring the main interest that led to Dale’s chosen career. Her mother was an avid rockhound and many, weekend family adventures involved traipsing through the White Mountains of New Hampshire in search of abandoned pegmatite mines. This is where Dale’s fascination with, and education of rocks and minerals began, some 40 years ago.
Dale/Cougar, has a diverse art background, training in two-dimensional art with Carl Haskins of Vermont, and William Keyworth of New Hampshire. She also spent several years receiving personalized instruction with Karl Drerupe, renowned cloisonné and repossé artist. Dale attended the University of South Florida where she studied fine arts and geology. She worked as a technical, advertising artist for several years, ‘before the age of computers’.
Under her studio name of Cougar’s Creations, Dale displays her works at juried art shows, where she has taken many awards. As a featured artist, Dale has been interviewed on live television and has works for sale in museums and galleries. Dale “Cougar” Armstrong is a regular contributor to Step-by-Step Wire Jewelry magazine and has been published in The Wire Artist Jeweler, Bead Unique and Art Jewelry magazines. She is a frequent instructor at Lapidary Journals’ BeadFest events, and has made a series of instructional DVDs, produced by Jewelry Television. As an instructor, she conducts workshops in her personal studio and by request, travels to teach classes at beadshops and other events nationwide. She has recently been one of many wire jewelry experts showcased by Wire-Sculpture.com through their tips, articles and other wire jewelry publications.
Dale’s newest success is her recently published book entitled: Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping.
Tagged with: cougar • dale armstrong • dale cougar armstrong • wire artist • wire jewelry • wire jewelry book • wire jewelry instructions • wire sculpture • wire wrapping • wirework
Filed under: Wire Artist Faculty
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
As I am new to this site, I am sooo glad to see Dale Cougar involved. I haven’t seen her for over a year and am so looking forward to seeing her the end of June. Thanks for asking the best to answer questions.I look forward to more of this site and information to share.
I have seen one of her CDs. Easy to follow. Glad to see you have her book as well. I will get be getting it.
Hurray!! She is great and I have read some of her articles in jewelry magazines. I am a beginner so this is very good news.
Can not wait to read and read and mark my favorite pages in your book. Thank You for answering my question.
I was so excited when I saw her new book was coming out in June! Especially that it has projects for the intermediate and advanced wire worker. I can’t wait to see her instructions on how to attach gemstones.
I\’ve been interested in wire bending for severals years now.. The only kind of wire I bend is into a tree.. Each tree usually has about 400 to 800 feet of wire.. They stand about 8 to 10 inches tall. I just purchased your book from wire sculpture.. All I can say is amazing… Just wonderfully amazing… It\’s hard to believe anyone posesses a talent as great as this.. Be proud and God bless you…
I am excited about getting her book.
I am so in love with your work and inspired by your success. I have been looking for these so called magazines for wire sculpturers\’ and like have no way of getting my hands on them. I\’ts like a big secret can you send me some direction please I would love to get your cd and book. I am a beginner and I have been just going off of wire sculpture and everyone loves my work, I already can do the most intermediate work with instruction with ease and I am starving for more!!!!!If you or your assistant would take the time to get me some info I would be forever greatfull!!!You are an inspiration at the very least so much more I cant put it into words. I would love to get into a class a real one or boot camp of some sorts and just be a sponge for knowledge. My stuff is selling very well but I only have few designs. I know your busy and its a long shot but hope to hear from someone soon!!!!If not Adieu!!!!Amy 503 990 0477 / 971 239 4540
I am at awe just looking at the beginning of some your finished work, Cougar. It is so so beautiful I just could not believe my eyes. As long as I have been doing wires culpting I have made a few finished products that I thought were outstanding, but that’s just what I think of them. I have gone into a phase of burn-out for the last year, but then I have had a down turn in my health which includes recent carpal tunnel surgery.
However, just looking at what you are doing has gotten me back over that hurdle to continue. I am not of a young age and coupled it with fibromyalgia, I have been a bit slow but plan to pick up again and maybe even sell. I notice you sell at very low prices. Is this just for us and those who come to this website or this is the actual price you charge? I would not be able to make a living out of mine with low prices like yours; however, even I want to purchase some along with your book to see if I can come up to par with yours. Not that I need to make a living, oops: I receive enough to live off, but a little extra would not hurt. I think that just to see what impact I would make with customers who look at my products versus yours.
I could go on for hours, have; I just love your pieces and want to apply some of the beauty to mine.
Thank You,
Janie
Dale,
I absolutely love your book and hope one day to have the expertise you have with wire. I missed getting to attend your class in Oklahoma, we ended up not making the trip there. Maybe one day you’ll come to Florida or I’ll come to see you! Hoping your day “sparkles” as much as mine is sparkling today!
Sally
Dale, I am a great fan of your work. I wish I could take a course from you face to face in person. I live in San Francisco bay area. May be some day if you come to this area… It was nice to know about you and your art. Thanks for this post.
I went on wire-sculpture.com and saw a short video of you. I have always been excited about learning how to make jewelry of all kinds. I started out with beads. Now I am excited to make wire and beaded jewelry. You’ve inspired me to really use my imagination. Thank you very much. I hope to hear from you. And thank you again for being so encouraging!
Michelle Block
Thanks so much Michelle! Years ago, I decided that if I was going to teach, part of my personal responsiblity was to encourage folks to experiement, play and find their own style. There are days, when jewelry community politics get to me or my schedule is too insane to even eat, that I wonder why I do what I do, and you have just confirmed that reason. Thanks! All my best with your creative endeavors ~ Dale/Cougar
I have been following your dvds from JTV and your work in the wire magazines. I am glad that you are involved in this website. Also, I will be glad to obtain the opportunity learn from you personally in your wire wrap class at ‘Beadfest’. Also, I want know if you intend to make anymore dvds because I have found your training dvds to be very helpful with the wire wrap techniques that I am learning.
I started out with beads and I enjoy beading, but I want to take this jewelry art to the next level. I am currently learning your techniques from your dvds and it is challenging, but I enjoy the challenge because I know that with time something beautiful will come out of my effort and use of imagination.
Hi, I really enjoy my book. The problem I have is that I can’t get on to the videos! My son and I go through the pages of my book and get a lot of ideas. He is real good at it and I am tailing behind. Thanks for all the help. Thelma
Hi, I just had to let you know and everyone else that your book is the greatest book ever. I have been looking for a book on wireworking. I have taken one 2 hour class on wireworking a bracelet. I fell in love but could not find any books that explained how to make anything. They just show enough to make you want to do it but not how. I needed instructions and when I saw your book I almost cried in the store, my daughter thought I was nuts, but it was the answer to my questions and it even shows step by step pictures. I just love your book WIREWORK, please keep more books coming. I know there are probably hundreds of other people like myself, waiting and hoping for more of your books. I take medicine for my back and I can’t drive anymore so taking classes is out for now, but with books like yours I feel like I am in a class room right in my own home. Thank you! (Just remember when writing a book don’t take it for granted that we know what you mean , a lot of people are like me and they need it explained/spelled out for us. You know what I mean.)
I just want to THANK YOU again and please keep the books coming
Joyce
im only 11 and i am doing this stuff
I am so pleased that you are giving jewelry making a place in your busy world. Congrats!
Dale/Cougar
hi ms armstrong
i wish to have niceand happy new year and merry christmas.i praying for you have very well business.mjr