Wire Cornettos

Hip hip hooray! It's a Bank Holiday in the U.K.!
It's hot! It's scortcho!
So, what comes to mind ... ice cream ... cornets!
(In my best Italian soprano singing voice, to the tune of
"O sole mio",  I will try and sing:
"juss wun cornetto, geevit tu me!"

WIRE CORNETTO TUTORIAL

This quick wire make, is a good beginner's project. All you need
is one feature bead, some 0.8mm (20-gauge) wire and your usual
range of pliers, plus a hammer and steel block.

So without any more ado, let's get started!

STEP: UNO

Cut 2 x 10"-12" (30cm approx.) lengths of 0.8mm wire.
Place each length on your steel block and hammer with
your Whammer, randomly along the lengths.
However, DO NOT HAMMER about 1" (2.5cm) of each
of the ends of each length.

STEP: DUE

Place one of the un-hammered ends in the tips of your
round nosed pliers, and begin wrapping the flattened wire
around one of the tapered steel cones of the tool.

STEP: TRES

Continue wrapping all the wire around the steel cone, up and
down the shaft, until you have used it up. Remove the wire unit from
the tool and push the projecting end into a gap within the cone,
so that there are no spiky ends visible. Repeat steps 'uno-to-tres'
to create another similar wire cornetto!

STEP: QUATTRO

Thread one of your wire cornetto's onto the end of a spool of
0.8mm wire, followed by your chosen feature bead and then,
your second wire cornetto. Ensure that the widest part of
your cornetto unit is facing the central bead.

STEP: CINQUE

Using your your round nosed pliers, create a double loop at the
very ends of each of the cornetto units. Now, you are ready to
connect it to a chain, cord, ribbon or, as I have done (above),
some thicker gauge wire, to create a choker style necklace.

Here are a few other samples of jewellery using this technique:

It's a great way of making a simple bead necklace to match any
outfit. Just attach to a ready made chain on each side and you are
ready to go!

IF ... you happen to own a CONETASTIC tool, you can wrap around
that, to create much larger cornettos!

I use the same method for creating matching earrings too!

BUONA GIORNATA! (which I think means: 'have a nice day'
in Italian!). And if you are looking for more similar wireworking
inspiration ... you will find plenty in my book:

CREATING HAMMERED WIRE JEWELLERY!

Whammer Beat

WHAMMER THERAPY

Do you need an antidote to the Olympic TV coverage ... ?
Or, are the kids driving you around the bend ... ?
Perhaps a diversion from life's aches and pains ... ?
Or just maybe, you fancy a summer jewellery project to fill
up a couple of spare hours?

Well, here's a tutorial that is inspired by the beat
of Africa. A design that can be interpreted in
many ways, just by adding more swirls or dangling
'feathers', or your own unique palette of colourful beads!

STEP 1

Using 1.25mm wire, create 3 units as shown above. I used
5" (12.5cm) for the top hanger, approximately 3" (7.5cm)
for the middle unit and around 6" (15cm) for the base curve.

STEP 2

For best results, use the steel end of your Whammer hammer
to spread, flatten and work harden only the outer edges of the
spirals as well as the central base of the larger, curved unit.

STEP 3

Cut two short lengths (about 2"-5cm) of 0.6mm wire and
bind these tightly around the un-hammered areas on each
side of the larger, curved unit.

STEP 4

Using approximately 2 x 3" (7.5cm) lengths of 0.4mm wire,
secure the small curved unit to each side of the spirals of the
larger one.  (*Optional: create a tiny spirals with any projecting
wire and flatten over the wrapped wire underneath).

STEP 5

Connect the top 'hanger' unit to each side of the larger, curved
unit with jump rings.

STEP 6

Use a plier punch, or drill, to create 3 holes in the centre base of
the larger curved unit, where it was hammered (in step 2).
Once drilled, hammer the area flat again.

STEP 7

Cut 3 x 1" (2.5cm) lengths of 1.25mm wire and hammer the ends
out to spread and flatten. Turn each unit around 90 degrees and repeat
on the opposite ends. (This 2-way flattened wire feather,  provides
extra dazzle and flash of metal, when in movement.)


STEP 8

Now it's very much up to you how you wish to make it
your own! Just let your imaginations flow ...

I have threaded some small seed beads onto 0.6mm wire
and linked them into the drill holes of the larger base curve to
suspend my 3 hammered feathers. I have also chosen to attach a
couple more beads onto the pendant shape using 0.4mm wire.

STEP 9

And now, all it needs is a chain, a cord, or thread some small
seed beads onto nylon filament for a beaded finish!

Below are some playful variations of more
"Whammer Beat Jewellery"
to trigger your creative juices ... !

HAPPY WHAMMERING!