ANGEL WING Tutorial

"ANGEL WING"  TUTORIAL

I'm like a broken record! Every year I seem to
say the same thing: "I can't believe it's December
already!".

If you're like me, Christmas stuff (apart from projects 
and teaching) gets left until the very last week... 
Luckily, I do have lots of lovely females in my family, 
so I'm always making jewellery and decorative gifts,
which means you can customise each and every piece
to suit the recipient.

This is one of my favourites this year:
ANGEL WING design, which can be incorporated
into many things!

Decorate a candle with glitter paints (this one was done
by my 10 year old niece, Anni). Create the 'wings' and
push into each side of the candle! You can also bead it 
and turn it into a beautiful jewellery statement!

SO ... here goes with STEP 1:

Working from a spool of wire, create a circular link and
curl the wire around to form an open spiral.

STEP 2:

Decide on the length of the piece, and bend the wire back
towards the spiral, creating a curved tip at the end.

STEP 3:

Use your fingers or pen (bail making pliers will also do) to form
a loop in the wire and double it back down.

STEP 4:

Create a second loop in the wire, this one can be slightly larger
than the first.

STEP 5:

Bring the wire around to meet the base of the spiral and cut
from the spool, leaving just enough to form a link.

STEP 6:

Spend a little time adjusting the shape and once you're satisfied,
Whammer the outer ends with your steel and texturing head on
a steel block.

STEP 7

Using 0.4mm wire, secure and attach beads into the
framework in any fashion you desire! (Just go with the
flow ...!).

STEP 8:

And ... I think I will stop here!
Cut off any wire ends and neaten and then decide whether it's
going to be a tree decoration, a pendant, key-ring (or handbag charm)...
Decisions! Decisions!

I've chosen to make this into a scarf pendant ... it would make
a great Christmas gift for one of my sister's-in-law!

Suspended from a Kumihimo braid as a necklace, would also
set it off nicely!

Try creating them with a variety of bead colours!

Or, as candle decorations (as shown at the top of the page).
However, if you prefer earrings, just turn the posts into links
and suspend form ear wires!

That's probably enough inspiration, to get you running to your spool
of wire (1mm and 1.25mm are great for the frames and 0.4mm for
the wrapping).

If you want more Christmas inspiration, I will be on
CREATE and CRAFT TV 
this Friday (4th December) at 2pm
(Sky 674/ Freeview 36/ Virgin 748/ Freesat 813 in the U.K.)

Sending wire filled hugs and Christmas wishes 
to all creative wire artists everywhere! xxxxxx