WireWorkers Guild: TWEET (little bird brooch) Tutorial

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It's time to get rewired for 2017!
New hopes? New Aspirations?
New wire! New beads! New inspiration!

I am looking forward to new ventures this year!
As well as running my usual jewellery making
workshops from my studio in Kent, I will also
be collaborating with a beautician friend, to run
'STRESS BUSTER' experiences! This involves
a getaway day of creating a wire and bead
home decor piece, having an Indian Head and
Balinese Massage, together with a nutritious
homemade lunch!

I would book it, so I'm hoping it will take off,
as we all need to pamper ourselves from time
to time ...

'TWEET' LITTLE BIRDY BROOCH TUTORIAL

If you're feeling a bit rusty with the pliers, due
to the seasonal holiday, I've rustled up this easy
little make. I've decided that 2017 is the year for
quirky homemade brooches! They are going to have
come-back in my studio! However, you can always attach
the bird motif from a chain as a necklace, make 2 for
earrings or put it on a greetings card ... I will leave that
bit up to you!

STEP 1

To make a bird (that is about 2" long and 1" wide), cut 8"
of 0.8mm wire. Approximately 5" along the length, fold
it in two and use your flat nose pliers to pinch the wires
together.

STEP 2

Hold the wire where it has been pinched in your pliers and
bend the extending wires out at right angles on each side.

STEP 3

Place a round mandrel (such as a pencil) next to the pinched
wire (beak) and form the head curve and then create a longer
curve for the base of the frame.

STEP 4

Once you have shaped the outline of the frame, bring the
ends together, using the longest wire to wrap and secure
for the tail.

STEP 5

To form the tail 'feathers', create spirals with the projecting wire ends.

STEP 6

Position the spirals together at the tip of the frame. And if you are
like me, you might wish to work-harden your frame by giving it tap
with the Whammer on a steel block, avoiding the wrapped area.

STEP 7

To create the 'eye'. Cut approximately 3" of 0.8mm wire.
Thread a small bead into the centre and loop the wire tightly
around the bead.

STEP 8

Continue spiraling the wire around the bead, until it is completely
framed and each end is pointing in opposite directions.

STEP 9

Place the 'eye' unit near the head of the frame and wrap the ends
around the outer frame to secure on each side. Cut off any
excess wire and neaten.

STEP 10

Now, it's time for 'colouring in' with beads. You can choose
any colour scheme and thread these on with 0.4mm wire
connecting the wire to the top and base of the frame as you weave.

STEP 11

Keep the projecting binding wire, by the tail end, to create
a small decorative spiral, that can sit over the wrapped wires
underneath.

STEP 12

To make the 'legs': cut approximately 4" of 0.8mm wire and
form a curve at the centre (with a pencil). Bring the wires
down on each side of the curve, as shown above.

STEP 13

Cut a short length (about 3") of 0.4mm wire and use this to
securely bind the curved part of the legs, to the back of the curved
base of the frame. Cut off any excess wire and neaten the ends.

STEP 14

Using your pliers, create spirals at the ends of the leg wires, making
them any length you wish.

STEP 15

If, like me, you're making it into a brooch: secure 0.4mm
wire onto your brooch back FIRST, leaving 2 extending lengths
to secure onto the beaded bird unit.

STEP 16