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!