VINTAGE VALENTINE

A HEARTY 'HELLO' to anyone
who wants some inspiration for
a Valentine project for next month ...
on February 14th!

I notice that all the beading magazines
are focusing on heart-shaped designs -
as is traditional of course! And with
the current trend of 'vintage' (nostalgia)
and 'steampunk' styles, I've designed
a VINTAGE VALENTINENecklace as my next tutorial.

So, if you're sitting comfortably... ? here's
how it goes:
























1. Cut approximately 7" (17.5cm) of 0.8mm (20-gauge)
black wire ... although, if you want it larger cut more
and thicker or of a different colour, use a different gauge and
type of wire ... (simples!)

Place your round nosed pliers at the centre of the length
and cross the wires around the shaft to create a central
loop, straightening out the wires into a 'V' shape on either side.
























2. Find a cylindrical mandrel of about 1/2" (1.5cm) diameter
and use this to curl the projecting ends of wire around, towards
each other, forming the top of the heart shape.
(*Optional: you can hammer the outer frame on steel bench
block to work harden.)






















3. Now cut another length of wire - approximately 5"
(12.5cm) and placing the tips of your round nosed pliers
at the centre of this length, bend it in half, straightening
out the projecting ends.



















4. Use your round nosed pliers to create circular loops
curling in towards each other on either side.






















5. Hold the circular loops firmly in your flat nosed pliers and
continue curling the wire around to form a small heart shaped
frame (as shown above). *Optional: you can hammer the
wire frame on steel bench block to work harden.
























6. Using the tips of your round nosed pliers, curl the ends
of the larger heart frame into small links and connect the
top part of the small heart into these, suspending it within
the frame.
























7. Cut a long length, say 10"-12" (25.5c-31cm) of 28-gauge
(0.4mm) black wire and use it to bind the two frames
together, threading it with small red seed beads as you go ...
























8. It is completely up to you how many beads you wish
to attach, or how much binding you want to do and if
you run out of wire, just secure the end to the frame
(cutting off any excess and neaten the end) and attach
another length, continuing the binding and beading
exactly where you left off.























9. Once you've finished weaving beads to the interior frame,
you can use the tip of your chain nosed pliers to tweak and
neaten all the wires so that you're satisfied with the overall
look.
























10. All that's left for you to do now, is to suspend it
from some 'gunmetal' coloured chain and if desired,
attach a bead from the tip of the heart.





















You could also suspend a bead from the centre of
the frame? The variations are endless! Just have a play!
























Here's ("one I made earlier"!) a classic version in black. Which
incidentally, looks great against a red top!

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I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON MORE 'HEART'
THEMED DESIGNS SOON ...

H A P P Y W I R E W O R K I N G

... keep the passion of wire-art burning!