ANGELS

ANGELS are not just for Christmas!
So once you've experimented with this project, you can make them
all the year round ... as pendants, earrings, lucky charms and key rings
and of course, scaled up as Christmas decorations...

As my Mum has been very ill and whilst writing this, is still
in hospital, recovering from 2 hip operations, a broken hand and
a very weak heart ... I dedicate this Angel Tutorial to her, with the
hope that it will pull her through to coming home for Christmas!

For this project, you will need your usual pliers kit, some 0.4mm
and some 0.8mm wire, plus a selection of beads.

STEP 1

Working from the end of a spool of silver plated 0.8mm (20-gauge)
wire, create a tight spiral of approx. 1.5cm. The size of the spiral is
your choice and the width will determine the widest (base) part of the
angel.

Cut from the spool leaving a tail of about 7cm.

STEP 2

Create an open swirl spiral at the opposite end, curling it in the
same direction as the first ...

STEP 3

Bring the open spiral in towards the first tight spiral, until it sits
on top of it. The tight and open spiral should be the same diameter and
the central holes of each, should be aligned.

STEP 4

Lift the open spiral up (like a lid) ...

STEP 5

... and push out the wires to separate the coils of the tight spiral
to form a cone shape.

STEP 6

Once you have your wire 'cornetto', cut another length of 0.8mm
wire that is twice as long as your cone.

STEP 7

Place the straight wire through the narrow end of the cone and
thread with beads, right up to the level of the open spiral.

STEP 8

Push the open spiral lid down and push the end of the beaded wire
through the top central hole. Create a head pin (or small folded spiral)
to plug the base of the cone.

STEP 9

To create the WINGS: Wrap some 0.4mm wire around a ruler,
or piece of card, at least 8 to 10 times.

STEP 10

Gently slide the wrapped wires off the ruler, leaving a tail of
approximately 6cm .

STEP 11

Grip all the wires together at the centre and using the long tail
end, bind them tightly around the middle to secure. You should
now have the 2 ends pulled out, as shown above.

STEP 12

Use the ends of the wire, to secure onto the projecting beaded
wire going through the cone. Once secure, cut off any excess
and neaten the ends.

STEP 13

Thread a 'head' bead on top of the wings.
To create a HALO: use your round nosed pliers, or bail maker pliers
to create a wrapped loop above the top of the head bead, securing it
in place.

STEP 14

Once the wrapped loop Halo is created, cut off any excess wire and
if desired, Whammer the round end of the 'halo' to flatten and
work harden.

STEP 15

Gently use your fingers and pliers, to separate the long looped wires
of the wings, fanning them out on each side.

Now, all that's left to do is to suspend it from a jump ring for a
necklace!

These little Angel Charms also make lovely little Xmas
decorations!

SENDING FESTIVE WISHES AND 
ANGEL BLESSINGS TO ALL THE 
WIRE WORK CREATIVES OUT THERE!

"LEAF" SCARF PENDANT

Before I go headfirst into my
'Leaf' Scarf Pendant Tutorial
I wanted to let you know that I have a new

OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE!

I will be sharing techniques, ideas and all
things wire related and YOU are all most
definitely welcome to upload your wirework
images too, to share and inspire each other!
Let me know what you would like to learn
and any questions and queries you have on
your jewellery making journeys and I will
do my best to help and inspire ...

So PLEASE take a look, plus 'like' and share
with anyone who loves working with wire ...

https://www.facebook.com/lindajoneswirejewellery/

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Here in the U.K., we're moving into cooler, wintry
weather and I find myself wearing more scarves,
which I enjoy accessorising with my signature scarf pendants!

I have designed a new hanging bail, which is
different from my original coiled tube hanger (see below).

 

My latest scarf bail is more delicate and lacy in style:

This style of accessory is perfect for jazzing up your outfits!
It also makes the great gift for a scarf wearer.

So, if you're sitting comfortably, I will begin ...

SCARF PENDANT BAIL
STEP 1

Cut approximately 9"-10" of 0.8mm wire and fold in half.
(Use more wire if you want a bigger bail).

STEP 2

Create a long narrow 'leaf' shape and secure one end around the
other, leaving a projecting tail at the very end.

STEP 3

Cut an arm's length of 0.4mm wire and bind this in a random
way, securing it on each side of the frame, to fill the space
within.

STEP 4

Use up all the wire and secure at the edge of the frame (and if
you run out of wire, you can always add more ...).

STEP 5

Use the tips of your chain nosed pliers to twist and
tweak the wires within the frame. This will tighten the
binding wires and add more design interest to the piece.

STEP 6

GENTLY 'stroke' hammer the wires within the frame to
burnish and work harden. (*Be careful not to bash too hard,
as you will weaken and possibly break them!)

STEP 7

Once the leaf frame is slightly tempered and toughened, wrap it
around a cylindrical mandrel, to shape into a circle.

STEP 8

Thread the projecting end through the opposite side of the frame
to create a loop and join as one.

STEP 9

Using your round nosed pliers, create a wrapped link or loop
with the projecting wire at the very end.
(*Optional: Using your fingers, carefully SQUASH the circular
bail down a little, to create more of an oval shape.)


LEAF PENDANT
STEP 10

To create the leaf pendant, begin in the same way as Step 1
and Step 2 of the bail, leaving a little more wire to secure around
the top, so that you can create a spiral detail at the top of the
pendant.

STEP 11

Place the leaf frame on your steel block and hammer the outer
edge to work harden.

STEP 12

Cut an arm's length of 0.4mm wire and create curly-wurly shapes,
attaching it around each side of the frame to fill the space within.

STEP 13

Fill the entire frame with your scribbles of flowing wire.
Make sure to neaten all your ends.

STEP 14

For a centrepiece, you can cut a length of 0.8mm wire (a little
longer than your leaf) and attach some semi-precious chip
beads with 0.4mm wire along it.
(*Alternatively, you can just thread the wire with your chosen 
beads ...)

STEP 15

Place the beaded wire onto the centre of your frame and secure
at the tip of the leaf frame.

STEP 16

Repeat, to secure the beaded wire at the opposite (top) end of
the leaf. Cut off any excess and neaten the end.

STEP 17

Now the leaf pendant is ready to attach and suspend from your
looped bail!

To use: Thread the end of a long scarf through the gap in the bail,
pulling it to the middle of your scarf. Place the scarf with the
hanging leaf at the centre of your neck and bring the 2 ends around
each side of your neck (from back to front), so that they hang on
either side of the pendant.

Above are some of my experiments with different wires and beads!

And if you would prefer a different pendant, you can always suspend
any shape or style that you wish to blend with your scarf collection!

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and I would love to see your
own versions, so please do share on my new Facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/lindajoneswirejewellery/

HAPPY WIREWORKING!

DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

The shops are filing up with Halloween costumes, 

food, decorations and anything related to a 

'trick or treat' party! Here's my little offering of
a CRESCENT MOON tutorial that could be made 

as a decoration (if scaled up), a pendant necklace, 

a pair of 'Dark Side of the Moon' earrings, a
bookmark charm, etc ... 

... just have a play with your wire!

STEP 1
I have used 1mm soft black iron wire for my frame
and 0.5mm black enamelled wire for the inner freestyle
filigree decoration.  However, use whatever you have
to hand!

Depending on the size of the half moon, wrap your 1mm wire
around a circular mandrel to shape.

STEP 2

Place the tip of your chain nosed pliers, about half way on the
circle and bend the wire back (to create a point).

STEP 3

Place a smaller circular mandrel next to the point and bend that
you have just created, and shape the wire around to form a
crescent.


STEP 4

Trim the top end wires to be roughly the same length and this
is what the frame should look like.  If you would prefer to create
a BANANA pendant ... here's your chance! Get your yellow beads
ready ... !!

STEP 5

Using your round nosed pliers, create circles at the very ends and
continue to spiral the wires so that they meet at the top point of
the crescent frame.

STEP 6

Cut a short length of 0.4mm or 0.5mm wire and bind the ends together
just under the spirals. Cut off any excess and neaten the ends.

STEP 7

Place your crescent frame on a steel block and hammer the outer
edge (omitting the binding wire area) to temper and work harden
the frame.

STEP 8

Cut a long length of fine wire (such as 0.4mm or 5mm gauge) and
double it. Secure the centre of the doubled wire to one area of your
frame.

STEP 9

Here's where the free-styling begins ... Keeping the doubled wires
closely together and as one, wrap a curl, a swirl, or wherever your
fingers make you do (!) and secure on each side as you fill the
central space of the frame.

STEP 10

Once you've filled up the frame with your swirly loops, you can
cut the ends of the wires down, ready to create one or two small
spirals, which you can flatten on your piece as extra decoration.

STEP 11

Using the nylon head of your Whammer, tap down any raised
wires and areas on your piece (on either side).

STEP 12

Finally you can choose to suspend a bead, or charm from the lower
top spiral and a connect a jump ring on the top one, so that it can be
suspended from a cord, ribbon or chain.

A spider charm, or skull charm ... would be very appropriate
for a Halloween theme!

This design works well in silver and gold plated wires too, for pendant
and earring sets ALL the year round and to the moon and back!