Making Wire Jewelry....My A.R.T. online workshop

“Experimenting with heavier wire”
Lesson 2

The Lapel Pin

As I started my second lesson today, I found that my planned design just wasn’t feasible, the wire just wouldn’t cooperate. The heavier gauge wire had a mind of its own. All wire has a natural curve, and experimentation taught me to take advantage of this curve. I also came to the realization that I would never be able to duplicate this design form. I really wanted to flatten the wire on my lapel pin, but decided that I would leave it for another time.

What a surprise when I re-read our instructions and found that I needed to make to pins.

The first Lapel Pin is constructed of 14 gauge Copper wire, this is the design that we were to complete, minus the dangle. For the second Lapel Pin I used 14 gauge Gold Parawire, letting the wire free-form into the design shape, again adding a dangle. Not fond of Lapel Pins, the 14 gauge wire is hard to work, and I feel the pin would damage most fabrics.

A Simple Chain Bracelet

Simple concept, not so simple to construct.
Lot’s of filing, lot’s of burrs…
File, file, file …and file more burrs. Time to consider buying a selection of burr cups.
This simple bracelet is constructed from 16 gauge copper wire, and has a 14 gauge copper clasp.

I did enjoy making this design!

My First Wire Wrap Jewelry Charm Swap - WWJ

This is a collection of all the charms that were submitted by the talented jewelry artist that participated in my first charm swap. Karon Adams made this lovely window heart display showing the beauty of all the charms.

The theme for my first charm swap was Valentines Day/Saint Patrick’s Day. Each participant could choice either theme or both, using there creativity to create 6 charms, or more if they so choose. I wanted to make a charm for each participant, but found that I didn’t have enough supplies on hand, so I only submitted my six charms. The charms that I received are pictured in the photo on the right.

Today I’m waiting for the charms to arrive from my second charm swap…they should be here any day!

Photography…...it’s driving me crazy…

I even own a light cube!
I am so photo challenged, and more I try, the more confused I seem to get. I’m currently trying to improve my jewelry photos, with not much success. Much of the information that I have gleaned has come from my jewelry related online groups, where they suggest a solid background in the black, grey, white scale, not using props. I did get some decent photos with a white background, but they just seem to be missing something, not really to my liking. So today I decided it was time for me to try using a black background, and found that I liked them much better than the white background. I fiddled with natural lighting, and artificial lighting. The natural lighting was more successful, but even though it’s a cloudy day, the sun moving in and out of the clouds, proved to present problems.

It has been recommended by other artisans not to use props, but out can the props away, why not try to take a chance and see if I could take a photo that I actually liked. Much easier to photography earrings if your using props, and yes, I liked the photos using the props.

Now I need to decide to watermark the photos or not to watermark the photos. In some ways a watermarked photo looks more professional, but the question is, does the watermark distract the viewers eye, as they view the jewelry.

I did come to a conclusion; I personally think my photos listed in my Etsy Store look better when I’ve used props. Yes, I like the black background, and props. Still need a lot of practice, as practice makes perfect. Now if I could make a decision on watermarks. Check by my blog or Etsy Store, and see how my photography improves…

My First Swap Partner….

Just wanted to share my experience in my very first "Beadingaholics" swap, and a friendship that grew from participating.

The swap was earrings, theme was “Sunrise”, the rules were simple, I signed up to participate, our swap partners were chosen by the hostess, we contacted each other, and mailed off our creations by the due date. I received beautiful earrings from my first swap partner, Diane Battaglia.

Diane lives in Florida, and I live in Georgia, we have become fast friends. I feel like I have known her all my life, yet we have never meet face to face, nor talked on the telephone. We are about the same age, and have so much in common. She has been there for me during very difficult times, when I needed to have someone to talk to, as I have been there for her during her difficult times. Whoever thought a swap would be responsible for the two of us becoming friends.

If you ever have an opportunity to participate in a swap, why not give it a try, maybe you too will meet a new friend, and develop a long lasting friendship.

Diane’s "Frosty Morning" Earrings Design features a netted cabishon on a bone button base, gold delicas, and 15/0 clear seed beads. A single earring can also be used as a focal pendent.

My “Sunrise” Earring design features Wire wrapping, Lampwork beads, Swarvoski crystals, gold filled and sterling silver Mobius Balls and findings.

My Wire Thing-ie....

A useful tip...

A great little tool that I keep my purse and you can make it yourself. It’s with me when I go to the bead store and with me when I go to the hardware store.

Now when I visit my local bead store, shopping for beads for a design, there is no longer any guessing about what wire gauge will fit into a bead hole. When I go to the hardware store, it’s easy to check wire gauges, and makes my shopping much easier, saving me a lot of time. Better yet, I can get into my bead stash and check the size of the bead holes, knowing the beads will fit the wire gauge I’ve planned on using in my design.

All you need is a simple key ring, wire, tags, and some scotch tape to make this useful tool. Using different gauges of wire, make eye pins, and label each of them with the proper wire gauge. I used scotch tape on the front and the back of the tags for stability. Quick, easy and useful…

Try it, you might like it, and find it useful….

The Adventure Begins...

This is the beginning of my first week of my online workshop, Making Wire Jewelry, aka: MWJ…

I hope you enjoy this journey with me…

My first lesson begins…"An Ancient Design"

“Over four thousand years ago an Egyptian goldsmith produced a lovely and unusual necklace made entirely of wire. As far as we know, he was the first designer to use the coil principle and the first to fit coiled links together in this ingenious fashion.”

In this first lesson I had the choice of a bracelet, necklace or earrings or all three. As I tend to procrastinate, I finally decided that I would make the bracelet, with my wire choice being 20 gauge copper wire. I love copper wire! Love the look, love the feel, love the color.

Photography, My Dilemma...

The photo tells they story, and my dilemma how to improve my photography…

You might say I’m photography challenged. I really have a hard time taking good photos, but this last week I decided that now was the time to try and improve my photographs skills. I have taken photos outside, I really like the natural light, but this hasn’t been the solution. Weather, the time of the day, the right props, and bugs. Yes, BUGS! The lighting might not be right when I have the time to take photos, the weather may not be cooperating, and sometimes I get a great photo, and guess what, a tiny bug is in the photo.

So my next option was moving my photography setup to an empty bedroom. Quite, and I can leave my photo cube up and always have it available when I want to take my photographs. Now I have to practice, practice and improve my skills. The photos are getting better, things are getting easier to do. Oh, did I tell you about the feathers? Yes, feathers! My beloved pet Orange Winged Amazon, Rico, I’m using her room for my photography studio. New problem, but I’ll deal with the feathers.

Rico is a wild caught Orange Winged Amazon, that I rescued 22 years ago.