FEATHER or SCORPION?

My feet have hardly touched the ground this last month!
What with bouts of teaching, plus preparation for my
South East Open Studios exhibition! There has never been
a dull moment!

I am now approaching the last few days of my exhibition
and if you are passing or live near to Sundridge in Kent,
(U.K.!) please don't hesitate to drop in!

Whilst at the Open Studios, I daydreamed this design of a
necklace, inspired by a Peacock Feather.  However, now that
I have made it, it looks more like a scorpion-like bug!  (Still
work in progress ... me thinks!).  But being the busy bee that
I am, I shall share the tutorial with you and would love to see
how you interpret and adapt it ...

STEP 1
Begin by cutting approximately 2 metres of 0.8mm wire.
Fold the length in half and begin creating a spiral with
the doubled wire.

STEP 2
Place the tip of your chain nose pliers, by the spiral and
bend back around to form a point.

STEP 3
Bring the doubled wire to the centre base of the spiral
and curl around the tips of your round nosed pliers to
form a complete circular link.

STEP 4
Wrap each of the wires around the base of this link and
separate them out in opposite directions.

STEP 5
Curve each of the wires up on either side of the central unit
and double them back towards each other to form a central
stem.

STEP 6
Twist the wires where they meet at the central stem and
then create two further,  shorter, doubled bands of wire,
protruding out on either side.

STEP 7
Repeat and continue .... with the rest of the wire ... for as long
as you wish the 'feather' unit to be ...

STEP 8
Use a ring mandrel or cylindrical item to form shaped curves in the
projecting doubled wires.

STEP 9
Cut an arm's length of 0.4mm wire and use this to weave in and
out and around the central spiral.

STEP 10
Once you've finished weaving, cut a length of 0.8mm wire and
create a link at one end to secure onto the tip of the woven spiral.

STEP 11
Thread this projecting wire with your chosen beads. Add beads
to the opposite side of the 'feather' to counterbalance your necklace
design and using your round nosed pliers, create links at each end.

STEP 12
Attach chain to complete the back of the necklace, or create a
handmade chain with 0.8mm 'S' links and add a final clasp.
Glue a bead to the centre of the woven spiral for extra decoration
(I used a small flat glass mosaic piece).

*Optional: you can use 0.4mm wire to secure some more beads
along the central spine of the 'feather' to hide the central twists.

Being as busy as I am, that's all I currently have had time to do!
I hope the necklace inspires you in some way or another!!

HAPPY WIREWORKING!