AW in Toronto

"Even Better than I expected" 

JI in GA

It arrived today and it is gorgeous.  Thank you!

Anon in MD

"wowie! That was fast! I expected the pearls to take a while! Yippee... I was just thinking how nice it would be to have them for Pesach, and now I will!  The pearls look terrific." 

The real person behind Phony-Art
By Dave Gordon

Her sculptures might be "phony," but her talent and creativity are genuine.

Rachel Swirsky, the brain behind Phony-Art, knows first hand that the secret to her successful sculpture sales was born in one of those "eureka!" moments. She's discovered that a business idea can be right in front of you all along.

Four years ago, at home one day bored and nursing a cold, she began fiddling with some phone wire that a technician had left at her house, and after a while, ended up with a little handmade sculpture.   It was a Victorian woman complete with parasol and a large hat stylish for the time. It had big puffy sleeves and a long skirt with a bustle.  "Looking back now, it is still one of my favourites," says the 26-year old Torontonian.

That item sat on her shelf for six months unnoticed, until a guest asked about the piece. Upon learning that Swirsky created it, the guest was eager to get a copy of her own. Swirsky obliged, and to her surprise, received payment in return.  Through word of mouth, more sculptures have been sold and her wiry designs have gained much popularity, especially among the 20s to yuppie crowd.

Phony-Art can be woven into just about anything: people, animals, cars, flowers, and baskets. The uses are limitless, too: gifts, centerpieces, desk art, wall art, bookends, personalized china-cabinet bricabrac, a unique wedding cake topper or as paperweights.

"My big sellers are hands that can be used for ring holders by a sink, and business card or memo holders. I can work off of almost anything I can get a good picture of," says Swirsky, who adds she will be an exhibitor at a vendor's show at Shomrei Shabbos synagogue in Toronto on December 11, showcasing a new line of products called "All Wrapped Up."

These new items are not made from phone wire, but from jewelry and/or beading wire. Products include necklaces, earrings and bracelets, among others. Most are in 14-16 carat gold plate or sterling plate, though some of the finer gauge wires are just tinted copper or tin, since she says that "gold and silver are too easy to break."  Most of the beads are Swarovsky crystal. 

The average Phony-Art piece takes about a half-a-day to create and prices start at around $60. Swirsky admits that sometimes demand is difficult to keep up with, but the best part is working from home at her leisure.