Open Spirals are Cool!... And Easy!!!

While browsing through Youtube I have stumbled upon this useful little video. It is very useful for making lovely identical spirals for earring, pendants, etc. While the technique itself is easy, it definitely saves you some time and effort! :) Check it out and see what you think...

Attempting Wire..

So I thought it's time I posted some of my first attempts of wire jewellery. On my trip to the Arts & Crafts store I decided to invest into a book by Sharilyn Miller on beginners wire work which has really helped out to get started so here are some pics.

Favorite piece so far (possibly a key ring or pendant?)... What do you guys recon?
I have used 1.2mm and 0.8mm wire to wrap plus heart shaped bead. The end result is pretty straightforward  to make however it looks great. It just needs some finishing touches and voila!

I have also stocked up on some home made jump rings which weren't that hard to make with a little help of using the screw driver. I've used the handle of the screw driver with 1.2mm wire and wrapped it around it. Then used the cutters to cut them into identical jump rings. Quick and effective! :)

Back to Basics

As much as I would love to dive into some amazing and beautiful designs, it's probably best to try out some easy basic designs at first and master the techniques. On the way home from my first trip to the Arts & Crafts shop I was already imagining the amazing work I will do.

Well let me tell you.. Wire jewellery is not easy! I have previously done bracelets wih tiny little beads but to me it was nowhere near as complicated as working with wire.

I quickly come across an issue which I am yet to research. Jewellery wire is very delicate and needs great care. The tools being metal tend to damage the enamel on the wire. I have a couple of ideas how to avoid this which I will try out later on this evening.

Perhaps you have any tips for this yourself?

First Trip to the Shop

The best advice that was given to me before my trip to the shops was "Get good/high quality tools". So I know that a start up cost of any hobby is pretty high however you can buy certain tools that are more important than the others. make sure you do some research online and make a list of the things you need to get before going to an Arts & Crafts store.

First and most important tools in my opinion are the wire cutters. It's best off the buy 2 pairs of cutters. Smaller pair for delicate thin wire and a bigger pair for cutting thicker wire.

Another very essential tool is round-nose pliers. These come in various sizes and thickness. I have currently got just one pair for making smaller loops and using it to grab loops in order to bend the wire, etc. As I have quickly found out, make sure the handles are very comfortable as you will be using these often and need to ensure they are soft enough not to hurt your hands.

Next important tool is bail-forming pliers. As a beginner I wasn't aware whether these are really important or not. After trying out some basic techniques it became apparent that these are a good investment so I have ordered a pair with 6 different sizes from small 2mm to bigger 9mm loops. However you can always use general things that are found at home. (I found that using the long part of the screw driver works well for making spiral loops.)

Flat nose pliers - are great for holding onto the little pieces and to start off with I got one pair. Make sure that the inside of the pliers does not have any ridges as these will damage the wire very easily. The pliers can be found in most tool shops or arts and craft stores. (I found that pliers from tool shops have more comfortable handles but also come in mini size for comfort so check out your local B&Q or Walmart.

When you start making twists and loops you will need to get some jewellery files to remove any visible sharp corners. I have ordered mine from Ebay and they come in a set of about 5 or different shape and size like round or flat file. 

Next, Storage! With all the tools and other small bits you will definitely need a bigger box to store bigger parts as well as a small box with compartments to store all the beads. I have bought a variety of beads to start off with and will use different techniques in order to establish which beads work best. It's best to get a variety of colours however if you don't fancy buying too many beads you can always take apart old inexpensive jewellery that you no longer wear.

Finally, and probably most importantly.... WIRE! These come in various sizes and gauges so to start off with I have bought 1.2mm and 0.8mm wire to play around and learn some basic techniques. After playing around with it for a couple of days I have ordered more wire in 0.6mm and 1mm for more intricate work. Use this table from http://www.wirejewellery.co.uk as a guideline to different sizes as it appears different companies and sites use either mm or gauge to identify wire sizes.

0.4mm	28-gauge	Binding, knitting, crocheting and weaving
0.6mm	24-gauge	Threading small delicate beads (i.e. semi-precious chips), binding and twisting
0.8mm	20-gauge	General-purpose jewellery work
1.2mm	18-gauge	Chunky pieces and ring shanks
1.5mm	16-gauge	Bold, chunky jewellery, bangle and tiara frames
2.0mm	14-gauge	Very chunky jewellery and accessories

Now that you have first essential bits just have a good play around with the different tools, beads and wires making loops and twists, etc. :)

The Beginning

As my first ever post on this blog I would like to give a little bit of background as to what I have previously done and reason for my interest in wire jewellery.

I have always had an interest in making things with my own hands. Originally as a kid I have started off by making cards, cross stitch, knitting, sewing, etc. As I have grown up in Latvia we were taught a lot of things at school which is where my interest began. I have used different materials and got the feel for different types of arts & crafts.

In the last couple of years I have stopped making as many things due to lack of free time but still had a great interest in all things handmade so I have been a fan of Etsy and Pinterest for a while. More recently I have noticed a type of jewellery making which was unusual and intricate- "Wire Jewellery". The detail as well as craftsmanship really grabbed my attention and sparked my interest in this art. I thought I'd give it a try myself and see where it takes me. So here I am...

While the websites for beginners are really good and have some individual pieces of information that are valuable I could not find a site which gives enough information for a brand new starter of this craft. Forums tend to be really good for any advice however I am still to find a forum that has more information on Wire Jewellery as opposed to other types of Handmade Jewellery. So from now I will post information on any obstacles I have come across or any important facts/observations that would be useful to a newbie like me.

Watch this space! :)