Tuesday Tangle: Pink, Brass and Coiling

I've been away working working working! My creative life has been on hold while I earn some summer money. However, I managed to squeeze out some time to post today. I went out to the studio and played around with the torch a couple of weeks ago. I made these lovely soft pink drops that I used in today's Tangle.

I used a coiling technique with 24 gauge Vintaj colored wire. The lovely brown color of the Vintaj brass complements the soft translucent blush pink glass.  So, I'm calling this "First Blush."

A basic technique like coiling adds to the texture and interest of the piece. You don't have to always make complicated wire stitches to create an interesting design in your work.

Have you created interesting pieces in wire using basic techniques?

Tuesday Tangle: Wire Technique

G'morning, Readers!  This week's Tuesday Tangle finds me working on basic wire weaving technique. If you're not already an accomplished wire weaver and want to join me, click on over to "Basic Weaving Techniques" on jewelrylessons.com and don't forget to download "Basic Weaving Techniques 2, Adding New Wire" The tutorials are by Donna Spadafore of Gailavera Jewelry. 

Photo Courtesy of Gailavera on jewelrylessons.com

Get out your practice wire and share with me what you're working on in wire this week!

Tuesday Tangle: Digital Art Project

In last week's Tangle I shared my "DO" for the week. I was working on learning a new skill - creating digital art using the book Digital Expressions.

The book uses Photoshop Elements but will work if you have Photoshop (which is what I have). The concepts are the same but the menus are different in many places, so it takes some searching to figure out exactly which command will fit for the desired effect.

I worked through the first three projects in the book. Below is the third project called "Designing with Type." I can create a unique banner using the techniques for this project.

I took two images and overlayed them. I picked two that were on my computer. I wanted to have two very different images so I chose the flowers and a fuzzy image of myself.

I've had a phrase in my head that I've been working on incorporating into jewelry, "what matters most." I typed it out in different fonts and placed it willy nilly across the image.  I added a few more effects and this is what I got:

Next up will be bead images for a new banner and custom shipping/wrapping materials.

What did you "DO"  this week?

The Wednesday Wire Becomes the Tuesday Tangle....

Wednesdays are overbooked lately. I can't resist Heather's new Bead Table Wednesday so where is that leaving my weekly Wire Jewelry post, the Wednesday Wire? It's such a catchy name, how can I give it up? Well, I'm not, it's going to become the Tuesday Tangle.

Get it?  As in tangled wire?

I've even made a little logo for it so you can remember to come back on Tuesdays.

So, for this week's Tuesday Tangle, I'm showing off some retro style wire earrings.

These are made with homemade fused transparent glass nuggets and non-tarnish silver wire. I wrapped the wire around the groove I made in them and then twisted the wire at the top. I love this silver wire, it has the look and feel of sterling.  The earrings have a nice swing to them, very groovy, baby.

Wednesday Wire: Wire Wrapped Earrings

I've done the wire wrapping this week folks. In the mood for some Lynne Merchant style wire wrapping, I used round and barrel black onynx beads from Auntie's Beads to whip up these earrings.(*)

I learned that my favorite stepped pliers don't make nice wrapped loops like my regular round nose pliers do.

Why, you ask?

The stepped pliers have one round and one flat side. I need to grasp the wire with two round sides to make a nice wrapped loop.

Do you have a wire tip to share with me today?

Wednesday Wire....it's cold outside, an oldie but a goodie

Brrrr! I know it's cold outside but when I woke up this morning, it was cold inside! I went to check the temperature and my thermostat batteries were dead. Luckily I had new batteries and put them in. That's when the thermostat died. Sooooo, I've got no heat in the house this morning. I'm waiting until 8 am so I can call the repairman.

In the meantime, I recommending an oldie but a goodie: Making Wire Jewelry by Helen Clegg and Mary Larom.

(You can't really click on the picture to see what's inside, you'll have to go to Amazon to see it.)

I love this book for the variety of projects and techniques it has for the beginner. It's a bit dated and sparsely illustrated yet the illustrations it does have are very helpful. The Egyptian Coil bracelet/necklace is worth the price of a used book, which by the way, you can pick up for a song!

That leads me to the obvious segue of another oldie but goodie that I'm singing as I wait for the heating to be fixed.

Wednesday Wire: The Closet Project and Free Project at Art Bead Scene

Monday I showed the in-progress closet make-over that TBC had dragged me into. Once the foundation was up, we tested how we wanted the shelving arranged....

...once it was decided, we were ready to put all our things back into the closet.

Whew so now that project is done and here's another project I completed...

...a free Bead Bravely Ornament project over at Art Bead Scene! Check it out!

Wednesday Wire....Wickwire Jewelery Tutorials

Researching today's post, I found Wickwire Jewelry Tutorials on Etsy. I fell in love with the Victorian Key (shown below) when I saw it in a show and tell on Eni Oken's site. If you're drooling over it too, hop on over to her Etsy shop and buy the tutorial!

Wednesday Wire: Pounding Metal

I know you've probably all seen Lisa Niven Kelly's book, Stamped Metal Jewelry but I always like to wait until after the flood on initial reviews before I review a book. I like to try out the techniques and let the information roll around in my head for awhile wondering if I can say something different than what's already been said. If I think I have something to add to the conversation, then I review the book.

I like this book ALOT!

Ok, so that's not original but it's worth saying even if all the other reviewers have said it. It tells you, the prospective buyer that the majority of people really love the book. Then it's worth picking up and it is.

The book opens with a list of the tools necessary.  Even though I have a workbench full of tools, I find there's always a key tool I don't seem to have.  Cutting and Sawing comes next and is packed with indispensible information on saw blade sizes and how to saw.

I skimmed the sections on hole punching (I love the Euro Power Punch, nice clean holes) and dapping because I do both tasks regularly. Someone unfamilar with either will find easy to understand, comprehensive directions. I skipped the next few pages on riveting (I have Susan Lenart Kazmer's/Interweave's DVD on riveting), Oxidizing,  Annealing and went straight to "Start Stamping" on pages 36 and 37.

Who can blame me for skipping forward to the stamping section? Afterall I bought a book entitled Stamped Metal Jewelry, so obviously I wanted to pound metal!

Pages 36 -37 are chock full of the information and tips you need to personalize your jewelry with stamping. There are tips throughout the book along with idea starters like the list of words on page 42. My favorite projects are the Stamped and Stacked Ring on page 68, The Crown Jewel on page 92 and the Bold Stamped & Riveted Beads on page 102.

Time to get back to my pounding...here's a little glimpse at what I'm working on. You'll see more of it in the couple of weeks.

In the meantime, if you don't already have Lisa's book, put it on your Holiday gift list!

(Thank you to Interweave for the use of the photo.)

Wednesday Wire: Gray Sky

Using the surprise beads I got from Elaine Ray, I've made another wire wrap ring to today's Wednesday Wire. I've used a blue gray glass ring finding for wire wrapping that I've developed and paired it with her washer beads

Likey?

Wednesday Wire: A Poll

The past couple of weeks, I've been showing off rings. I created a new ring finding that I used in the ring above. I've proposed Ringalicious as a class for Beadfest Philadelphia next August. If it doesn't get accepted there, I'll create a downloadable tutorial for my readers and newsletter subscribers.

This leads to the poll I've put up, what would you pay for a Ringalicious kit including the tutorial?

Wednesday Wire: Sewing with Wire

Wire is versatile and an artist can adapt numerous techniques depending on the gauge of wire she uses. I grew up sewing my own clothes and creating with fabric and thread so it's a logical extension of that to sew with wire. Mary Hettmansperger's book, Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet and Susan Lenart Kazmer's Making Connections have chapters devoted to stitching in metal and are worth the read if you're interested like I was in sewing.

Over the past couple of years, I've created sewn pieces combining sentimental "found objects" first and then my own flamework glass. My very first piece was a pottery shard I found while digging in the garden at my parents' farm.

Then, it was on to using one of my glass links with a 10 loop brass ring finding from Ornamentea.

Most recently, I created the sewn ring from scratch using a beach pebble from Lake Huron, brass wire and a brass disk.

Are you exploring a fiber technique in your jewelry designs?

Wednesday Wire: Ringalicious!

Ringalicious! Yup, I've got another glass and metal ring to show off today. I've combined vintage brass with the dapped copper disk and flamework glass.

Do you like the mix of brass and copper?

Wednesday Wire: Ring Mania

Rings, rings, rings!

Don't ask me why but my creative muse has been gifting me with rings designs.  It feels as though I'm bringing together a few different ideas I've been playing with for a few years. You can see it all in this ring design:

Wirework.

Lampwork.

Metalwork.

It feels like I've been rehearsing a singing voice and it's starting to come through loud and clear.

What about you, what is your creative muse gifting you with?

Wednesday Wire: Breaking My Rule for a Friend

A co-worker wanted to give her partner a special gift and was on the internet at work looking for someone somewhere who could duplicate the bracelet her partner had given to her a few years ago. After searching for the artist, she was telling a group of us how she was frustrated in her search. I asked to see her bracelet. It was a heavy gauge entwined heart bracelet made of sterling silver. I told her I thought I could do it.

Usually, I won't deliberately try to copy someone else's design. But I decided to do it this once for a couple of reasons.

My friend had searched long and hard for the original artist to no avail. She was determined to have it copied so she could give a matching bracelet to her partner.

This would be a special order, one time only and I would not add it to the collection of wire jewelry I sold. As if I had made it for myself, one time personal use.

I would only earn back my costs (as it turned out, I lost money on it by quoting a price under what it actually cost me to make it). I made a prototype out of copper wire:

She presented it to her partner for Valentine's Day and she was thrilled. I'm glad I made it for them because it was so special. So to the artist who created it, thank you for designing a bracelet that meant so much my friend and her partner. I adore your design, but I won't be copying it again. Sometimes you break your rules for a friend.

Wednesday Wire: Wire Projects for HalloweenMas!

Here's a peek at another wire project I'm working on for the HalloweenMas newsletters coming up. I'll be sending out 8 newsletters chock full of free projects and ideas for Halloween and Christmas beginning in mid-September. If you haven't signed up for my newsletter, click on the link to the right.

If you have any problems, please feel free to email me. I can easily add you to the newsletter list.

HalloweenMas is coming!

Wednesday Wire: Happy HalloweenMas!

Ok Gang, last week I showed you one of my Skully Bowz beads and asked you what you think I'd make. Those who guessed a ring were right!

I'm in the middle of creating free projects for my fall newsletters - HalloweenMas! If you sign up for the Newsletter, you'll receive weekly free projects that combine Halloween, Day of the Dead and Christmas themes so you can make your gifts in advance and have a truly Handmade Holiday!

The sign up is along the right side of the blog. Happy HalloweenMas!

Wednesday Wire - Guess!

Okey dokey, Wireheads - I've got some fine gauge wire on the way from Parawire.  I'm going to use it with my Skully Bowz.

I'm not ready to unveil it. But try to guess what I might make? Ring? Necklace? Bracelet?

Wednesday Wire: Get out there and make some rings!

I'm on a ring kick so I spent a few hours over the weekend watching YouTube wire wrapping ring videos. This one from Auntie's Beads is about 2-3 years old but it's the best of the bunch. Get out your craft wire and make some rings!

Wednesday Wire: In the mood...

...to make a bit of jewelry for yourself? When I feel like that, I check out one of my favorite wire tutorial designers, KS Jewellery Designs.

Jewelled Flowers in 4 Variations (Photo courtesy of KS Jewellry Designs.) is available for a very reasonable $5.00 and you probably have all the wire you need in your stash!

Are you in the mood?