HAPPY XMAS!

WHY I LOVE WORKING WITH WIRE

I've always been a creative soul and fiddled with many crafts 

over the years, but wire work has definitely been the one that 

has sustained my interest and constantly fuelled my creativity!

Perhaps it's because it provides me with instant gratification,

with jewellery pieces being made in minutes instead of hours!

And in the tempo of the era that we live in, I believe it's a 

wonderful form of non-objective self-expression.

What is Wire Jewellery? Well, it's essentially what it says

'on the tin'. Jewellery made out of wire with beads and

gemstones, however the singular difference between this 

and the craft of traditional jewellery making, is that it's all 

'cold connection'. This means that no soldering, or heat is used!

This makes it such an affordable hobby to embark on, as 

your tool outlay is minimal, plus you can work at a kitchen 

table, or on a lap tray, without having to have a designated

workshop space.

It's a craft open to anybody at any age ... so long as they can

hold a pair of pliers and have good enough eyesight, with or

without glasses! I run workshop sessions for all ages from

10 to 100 years and my criteria to begin is: "can you tie your

own shoelaces?". If so, you'll most probably have the dexterity

to give it a go!

The beauty of wire as a material is its versatility. My analogy is, 

if you can doodle a line on a piece of paper, you can doodle the

same shape with wire. But don't feel you have to be a good

draughts person, because you can find shapes and outlines to

trace and they're all downloadable on the internet! 

With wire, you can create 3 dimensional structures, shapes and 

motifs, you can create letters, words and numbers. You can plait 

it, coil it, twist it, weave with it, knit it, crochet with it, wrap with it, 

hammer it ... ! You name it! Wire is your proverbial oyster!

Wire can be purchased in all types of metals such as aluminium,

copper, brass, plated in silver and gold and every rainbow colour,

as well as precious gold and sterling silver. 

The appeal of learning the craft, is that once you have a few simple

techniques under your belt, you can let your imagination flow to

create endless variations using different gauges and colours, 

incorporating a variety of beads, gemstones, shells, sea-glass and

any found object that appeals to the maker!

 

So with all that in your tool belt, I have created and will continue to

create, a series of tutorials for my YouTube Channel which will 

hopefully inspire anyone starting out, as well as sparking new inspiration

and creativity in existing makers. It's my way of sharing my ideas and

my knowledge. 

Wire has given me my self-expression and I've come to realise it's 

also my inner therapy. The way that I can escape from the hum drum 

and difficult obstacles that come along with life!

In the moment that I'm designing, picking beads, curling shapes

and creating pieces, I am completely absorbed! And in this fast pace,

media-negative world that we currently inhabit, a little escape is

a healthy counterbalance and should be considered as important

as medicine for your mental health and overall wellbeing!

So do hop over to my Channel: Linda Jones Wire Jewellery 

for some wire therapy and spread the love of wire to as many 

people as you can! 

EXPRESS YOURSELF THROUGH WIRE ART!

All the jewellery images shown here are FREE tutorials on

my YouTube Channel, plus ... many more! So please do

SUBSCRIBE and that way you'll always get the latest

update, plus:  

If you have any requests for techniques or projects, 

please message me, as I will endeavour to create tutorials 

for you.

HAPPY CREATIVE WIRE WORKING!

WIRE CUFF BANGLE

Here's a lovely summer project for you to try and

hopefully, this tutorial, will inspire you to create 

your own variation!

If you already have my 'Hammered Wire Jewellery'

book, you'll find a similar design in there (page 126)

created in coloured wires!

To follow my video tutorial, just click on the link below,

and if you SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube Channel,

you'll find plenty more creative wire work inspiration!

The variations on this bangle framework are endless and

I have picked a selection of designs that I have created

in the past just to whet your appetite! 

Enjoy my gallery of images ...

Have fun creating your own Cuff Bangle and please do

share your makes on my FACEBOOK page, as I would

love to see your own versions!

If there are any particular wirework techniques or projects

that you would like me to demonstrate via my video

channel, please feel free to ask!

HAPPY WIRE WORKING!

EASTER EGG TOPPERS

It's approaching Easter and the schools are breaking up

for their holidays, so I wanted to create a tutorial that the 

whole family could get involved in. Hence my Egg Toppers! 

These are just like head dresses for your painted eggs which 

you can personalise for your family members and friends!

My family has a tradition of painting hard boiled

eggs on Good Friday to display decoratively

on the Easter Sunday table and when the family

comes over for lunch, we have an egg bashing

competition! This stems from my Mother's Greek

childhood connections.

I believe there are lots of different egg traditions

around the world! In Scotland, I hear it's egg rolling,

Germany, it's an egg dance, in Sweden, they like

to roll their eggs on roof tiles ... and of course there's

egg decorating and egg hunts, not to mention

chocolate egg buying and consumption!!

Please do SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube Channel for my latest

tutorials and there you'll also find my Egg Toppers, Part 1.

And Egg Toppers, Part 2

To get you started, there are Glasses, Rabbit Ears, 

a Tiara, and a Crown ... and with this inspiration, 

I'm sure that you will be able to have fun coming 

up with your own variations, customising them

for each family member, as well as your friends!

Plus, if you wish to create your own wire egg cups that have

their own natural wobble ... here's some extra inspiration:

MOTHER'S GIFT IDEAS

I know that Mother's Day is celebrated on different 

days around the world and most commonly in the 

months of March and May. 

Here in the UK, it's just around the corner on 

Sunday 27th March!  Therefore, I wanted to share 

with you, a few ideas and projects that could make 

lovely handmade gifts. 

I have been adding video tutorials to my YouTube

Channel: Linda Jones Wire Jewellery

Therefore, please do hop on over and subscribe! 

That way you'll be notified as soon as they're published.

Also, you're most welcome to personally request any 

new design tutorials. If it's in my scope of skills and

techniques, I will always give it a try!

Apart from fresh flowers, or maybe an afternoon tea

or lunch, here's my first suggestion for a Mother's Day

gift:

'MUM' NECKLACE

This tutorial came about by personal request and it's also

a good one to follow if you want to have a go at Wire Writing which is fun to do

with other words and names!

My second suggestion is my

BEADED HEART PENDANT 

This pretty little pendant can be re-sized and created

much larger as a wall art too, as shown below.

 

However, this tutorial is also useful for a loved one,

especially on special occasions such as Valentine's Day!

My final and third suggestion is my popular 

FLOWER

I have many variations of wire flower projects

and this is just one of them.

.

Below is another version of wire flower jewellery

using a different technique. This one is more three

dimensional and organic in style.

Below is the tutorial from my YouTube Channel:

I do hope that these tutorials will provide you with plenty 

of creative inspiration for a special Mother's Day gift and

please do SUBSCRIBE to my Channel and share your

comments, questions, queries and requests!

Sending much love and laughter to you all! 

GETTING BACK TO BASICS

Wether you're just starting out on jewellery making

as a new hobby, or you need a little refreshing ...

the foundational basic techniques are the most

important skills to build on. As such, I have put

together some videos on my YouTube Channel:

Linda Jones Wire Jewellery, covering making 

your own findings, such as clasps, headpins, 

eye pins, jump rings, bead links, etc... as well as

some design tutorials.

Making your own findings not only saves you

money, but also means you can customise your

pieces and create more original designs that

blend with your style.

We're also approaching St Valentine's Day on the 14th

of this month, which is always a time for a crafter to

get busy! But did you know the real story around the

legend of this now, very commercial day?

Well, it turns out that it originated in Roman times, 

when the Roman Emperor Claudius II needed more

soldiers. He suspected that 'marriage' softened men 

and made them want to stay home with their wives

instead of fighting wars. So he outlawed marriage!

However, a kind hearted young priest named 

Valentine, felt sorry for all the couples who wanted

to marry but who couldn't. So he secretly married

as many couples as he could, until the Emperor found

out and condemned him to death. 

Whilst he was in prison awaiting execution, 

Valentine showed love and compassion to everyone 

around him, including his jailer. The jailer had a 

young daughter who was blind, but through Valentine's 

prayers, she became healed! 

Just before his execution and death in Rome

on 14th February, Valentine wrote her a farewell

message signed, "From your Valentine". So, the

very first Valentine card was not between lovers, 

but between a priest about to die and a little girl,

healed through his prayers! 

Here's a Valentine Heart Earring Tutorial

that you might enjoy making. Just click on this link:

Valentine Heart Tutorial

Although this tutorial is for earrings,

it's also perfect for the front of a

card, or for a pendant on a chain...

Alternatively, you can link them 

together to form a Chain of Hearts!

Sending much LOVE to you all!

Happy New Year Crafting!

Welcome to the New Year! With new hope and positivity!

With Covid still taking centre stage, having raged 

around the world, plus the knowledge that it will remain

with us (albeit in a milder form) for years to come,

provides us with a clear understanding that we all

must take more responsibility for our own health and

wellbeing. Don't just wait to get sick ... prevent yourself

from getting run down and prone to disease and infection.

The beginning of the year is the best time to make that

personal resolution!

Self care includes good nutrition and a balanced diet, gentle

exercise, good sleep, fresh air, improving your environment as 

well as having a sense of purpose and within that list, I would

also add: CREATIVITY!

Medical studies have actually shown that creativity can reduce

anxiety, depression and stress and in the climate of fear that

has surrounded us all over the last couple of years, I personally

feel that it's such an important tool to help you manage negative

emotions in a productive way.  The process of making and

designing can help one mentally escape. Plus, help to express

feelings that could be too difficult to put into words.

When you're consumed and absorbed in something, that state 

is often described as being in the 'flow'. You lose all sense of

time, which helps with the decrease of anxiety and your mood

can really be boosted. Even your physical heart rate slows

down!

It doesn't just have to be jewellery making or wire working,

but ALL creative motions like knitting, drawing, colouring in,

dancing, singing, writing, playing an instrument ... can all

help activate a state of flow. And all are tasks that create a

result. And when you succeed at creating a result, your brain

gets flooded with dopamine, or a hit of happiness!

Not only is creative crafting a wonderful way to boost your

wellbeing, but it's also highly beneficial for brain stimulation.

Keeping the old grey cells charged and wired! Mental creative 

engagement is often used to reduce depression and isolation, 

helping people to tap back into their personalities and sharpen 

their senses.

Did you know that the average person has about 60,000

thoughts a day? And a creative act such as crafting, can

help focus the mind away from a negative cycle of thoughts.

It has been compared to having the same power as 

meditation, due to its calming effects on the brain and

body.  And it's not just crafting, because other activities

such as gardening, cooking or sewing also help release

dopamine, which is known to be a natural antidepressant.

So, on that very positive note, remember to add CREATIVITY

to your list of positive New Year resolutions for 2022!

It's a natural, non-medicinal way to stimulate your inner

happiness!

With Best Wishes for a better year with lots 

and lots of happy crafting days ahead!

HOLLY LEAF NAPKIN RING tutorial

As this very strange and difficult year comes to a 

close and Christmas festivities go into as much

swing as they're safely allowed to ... I thought

I would share this Holly Leaf tutorial with you!

I have always loved creating wire and beaded

tree decorations and this year, I had a quite a few

commissions for festive napkin rings!

If you're interested in creating your own

handcrafted napkin rings for your table

this year, I have made a tutorial using beautiful

gemstone beads from CHALMERS GEMS 

which you'll find on a link down below and on 

my YouTube Channel.

Not only will you learn how to create the holly

leaves, but also my version of Mistletoe! And you

can always use the same technique to create these 

as tree decorations.

Here's a link to my Xmas Pin Board on 

PINTEREST! 

Whatever your choice of colours, you will find

faceted crystals, glass beads, as well as beautiful

gemstones to add colour and style to your pieces!

Sending much love and good wishes to all 

for healthy and safe Christmas! XXX

Here's a link to the tutorial created with 

Prehnite and Moonstone gem beads, 

available from:

CHALMERS GEMS

Holly Napkin Ring Tutorial 

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