A lot of people when they start making jewellery, struggle with the issue of what wire to use. I started with copper, then moved onto coloured craft wire until I decided I liked the colour of silver best of all. Since then I’ve made pieces in both sterling silver wire – round and square – …
This year’s Finish it contest has just ended. The contest is hosted by Nicole Hanna, one of my favorite wire wrapping artists and is always great fun. Nicole supplies the contenders with a list of materials and tools, as well as the first few steps to get you started on your piece. From then on …
Twisted wire is very decorative and can be used in several different ways – wrapped around a bezel, to make decorative jump rings or swirls. Here are some examples of such use: So long as you pay attention to a couple of important details, it’s very easy to twist wire and it doesn’t take any …
I’ve made a video on how to oxidize, or apply patina, to copper or silver. The chemical compound used in this video is potassium sulfide, also known as liver of sulfur. In its natural state it’s a solid, like little crumbly pebbles, that can be dissolved in hot water. It’s also sold already in liquid …
When you work with minerals you notice there’s a difference in hardness between gemstones. As a jeweller you must know which gemstones are resistance to damage, both during the creation process and afterwards, while wearing the piece. For example, while setting a topaz you can file away the ends of the claws without damaging the …
I made a video that shows how to anneal thin copper wire. The same method can be used for silver or brass and for thicker gauge wire. Thicker wire should be kept in a tight coil with the use of binding wire. I use a honeycomb soldering base and a white soldering block, but you …
I’ve recently returned to wire work. I love silversmith projects but I have to sit at my bench, with the drawer open over my legs, while I saw, file or polish. Sometimes I just want to get out of there for a bit and wire work is ideal because it doesn’t require a lot of …
When I first started making jewellery, my favorite technique was wire wrapping because it requires so few tools for such stunning results. Recently I’ve been refining my jewellery knowledge but I still love wire work so I’m now working on combining soldering with wire wrapping and weaving, to make hybrid pieces. On those quiet nights …
I had a lot of fun making my last collection of copper earrings, so I took it a step further and added brass to the mix. The ear wires are silver to avoid allergies. Aside from the different tones afforded by the various metals and patinas, I also used gemstones to add an extra splash …
One of the most common problems for crafters, especially when you work with a lot of different materials, is remembering what you have. To prevent buying doubles or forgetting to use stuff you actually like just because you forgot you had it, it’s a good idea to come up with an efficient organisation system. One …
