Looping, Knotting & wire wrapping -3

Wire Wrapping

I am concluding the 3 part series with basics in wire wrapping. Wrapping Strips of wire around beads to create free form jewelry is called wire wrapping. Call it lack of of required materials or lack of patience (though it guess its mostly the lack of patience to hunt for the required materials) that I decided to stick to basics in wire wrapping. I have done the Brio, spiral wrap and beaded free form.

(Above - Free form - bead spiral)

Requirements :

- Pearls/Beads

- Wire -silver/gold/copper gauge from 18 - 22

- Nose pliers, flush cutters, mandrels

Illustration of the technique -

- Spiral Wrap

Briolette

Free Form

 

Cheers

More Paper Jewelry

Just realised that my bookshelf was getting messier by the day. Couldn't throw out the books so I have to contend with giving away some of the older magazines that were lying around to the Kabadiwallah. As I was having a last look(more of a flip through) at them, I chanced upon some bright colored sheets that were waiting to be turned into something more useful than mashed pulp. In an attempt to make jewelry out of them, I cut, stuck and rolled them out. The result is for all to see

Cheers

Of looping, knotting & wire wrapping - 2

Knotting

Knotting is a traditional technique for stringing pearls and gemstones.
Pearls are traditionally knotted because the knots
prevent the beads from rubbing against each other.
The knots also prevent loss if a strand should accidentally break.

Traditionally only Silk thread is used to knot pearls.

I don't do anything by the book, so you'll find me

using this technique with other materials also

Requirements :

- Pearls/Beads

- any cord/rope, yarns etc (preferably metallic - as it gives sheen and is also strong due to the polyester core)

- Beading tool - an Awl or a knitting needle (used to place the knot)

Illustration of the technique -

(A) With Pendants

(B) Usage of fabric tapes for beading /knotting

Cheers

Of Looping...Knotting and Wire Wrapping

The first of the three part series on three techniques I follow diligently apart from Beading......

Looping

Done with individual Beads and eye pins where in

each individual eye pin is used to hold a single bead and is looped

to form patterns. A technique that's usually used

to make drop earrings.Can also be done with Jump rings & discs.

Requirements :

- Beads

- Eye pins or pieces of 22 gauge wire (in case of wire pieces both ends have to be looped to secure the bead)

- Nose Pliers

- Flush cutters

Illustration of the technique - Pictures from my previous collections

Though the Process is a little time consuming when compared to regular beading - its worth practicing for the sheer versatility with which it lends itself to all sorts of findings that you can possibly include to make a piece - I have used old rings, discs, door chains, coin findings, MOP buttons, bugle bead tassels and lots more. You can make quite a potpourri of sorts with this technique .

If Looping with wire/ eye pins is a tad too monotonous,

there's always the good old jump ring - cut and close its done..

Something long and handy to wear with dresses.

Cheers

An experiment with Nail Enamel

The other day I was in an art store rummaging through to see if they had any new interesting beads and trinkets. As I started to get irritated at not finding anything, my eyes fell upon rows of small nail paint bottles. In a hundred hues...a million shades all at Rs.10 a bottle. I fell in love with the gaudy pinks and robust reds knowing very well that I would never(never!) sport them on my nails. Still I bought a couple (impulse buy...Sigh !!), came home, bent some thin wire into petal shapes and dipped them in the enamel....viola I made a couple of earrings and a floral Brooch

Pros : Inexpensive, Pretty, different - unique looking (looks like enamelware)

Cons: Needs a bit of patience to make, fragile and has shape and size constraints - you can make only petal shapes or triangular/conical shapes - max of 2 cm :(

Note :Have already worn them a couple of time and the best part is they don't react to sweat or even limited contact with water.

Will see if I can overcome the size/ shape constraint somehow..... suggestions as always welcome...

Cheers