'ROSETTE' TUTORIAL

* R O S E T T E *
   TUTORIAL
       by Linda Jones

I began making these wire stacking rosettes last
year and have found them to be a very popular
design ... not only that, they are easy to make
for beginners and intermediate makers alike!

The design began for a magazine project for 
"Make Jewellery", using the 2012 fashionable 
'Tangerine Tango' colours, which I managed to
source from London Jewellery Supplies with
their semi-precious oval carnelian beads ...

      

 


















The Rosette is a perfect accessory to be wired on to
a necklace, brooch back, hair grip/or band, ring,
earring post ... need I go on?  I'll leave your imagination
to work for itself!

Follow the steps below to learn how I create the frames.
Use a combination of different sized cylindrical mandrels
to make the stacking circles.

1.  Begin by wrapping 0.8mm (or, 1mm for a large frame) 
around a circular, cylindrical mandrel, until the wire just 
crosses over by approx. 1cm on each side and cut from the spool.

2.  Using the tips of your round nosed pliers, create a
small link at the end of one of the wires.

3.  Using your flat or chain nosed pliers, bend this
link 90 degrees in towards the centre of the circle
and thread the cut end through the link.

4.  Using the tips of your round nosed pliers, secure
the cut end AROUND the link to close the circle and
form a completed round wire frame.

5.  Place the circular frame on your bead mat (or any
flat surface) and with the tips of your round nosed pliers
twist and tweak areas of the frame to create a
ragged edge.  (If the frame becomes very distorted,
use your fingers to rearrange it, so that it looks vaguely
circular in shape!).

6.  Now comes the fun bit!  Place the wire frame on a
steel block and whilst thinking of something, or someone
that makes you angry, use your Whammer or wire
thumping hammer, to flatten and spread alternate areas
of the frame!

7.  Cut a long, manageable length of 0.4mm wire (approx.
12" - 31cm) and secure the centre of this wire to one area
of the frame.  Wrap the wire across and within the space
of the frame, weaving and securing it at the opposite edge, 
as you go...

Depending on the size of the unit, you might require another
2 or 3 lengths of 0.4mm wire to fill in any large gaps or spaces.
Equally, you could thread some small beads onto the woven
wire, especially around the edges of the frame ...

8.  For a large unit, you might need 3 ascending sized 'rosette'
frames, all to be stacked together and held by the focal bead
(or selection of beads) at the centre of the frame.  
Whereas a small rosette will just needs one central bead!

9.  Secure all the frames together by threading the central bead onto
0.4mm wire and pushing the stem through the centre of all the 
rosettes.  Bind the wire back around to secure.  If the unit feels
loose, cut some more wire and weave between the frames to hold
everything in place.

Also, encircling the focal bead with a Gizmo coil or small
seed beads can give it a finishing touch!

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Below are some of my experimental designs to provide you 
with some more inspiration and I hope you also have fun
experimenting with this idea! 

I created this rosette decoration to put in a pot plant!

 




















Above and below, are a couple of Rosette Brooches 
incorporating coloured wires.

You can even weave and thread beads into the frame ...

... or around the frame!

Here is a choker style necklace with hammered ribbon
wire and woven pearls.

Remaining on a pearly-girly theme, this gold and silver
wire rosette connects at the front from each side of the
ivory coloured pearl strand necklace.

... and here's my finale!  Using amethyst chips and silver beads, 
plus a mixture of woven copper and silver wires.

HAPPY WIRE "ROSETTE" MAKING!!

*P.S.  If you don't like the raggedy edge,
just keep your frames round ... with no hammering
required!