already! but maybe, those of you who have
entertained your "darling" children all
holiday, are quite looking forward to the
school routine once again and a little more
'ME' time for your jewellery making ...
So, here's a new project to get your
fingers working: introducing (drum roll, please) ...
B E A D P O DR I N G S
Read on, if you want to know how I created them ...
MATERIALS: 0.8mm & 0.4mm silver wire, 2 x 10mm pearl
beads, 2 x earwires.
TOOLS: Round, flat and chain nosed pliers, 12mm cylindrical
mandrel.
1. Begin by cutting 2 x 6" (15cms) lengths of 0.8mm wire.
Place your round nosed pliers at the centre of each length
and fold in half. Straighten the wires out, so that they run
parallel.
2. Keeping the end of the doubled wire
within your round nosed pliers, pinch
them together around the circular
shaft of the pliers and straighten the
ends, so that they continue to run parallel.
3. Cut a short length (say 3" /7.5cms) of 0.4mm wire and
use this to wrap around the 'pinched' spot to create a
top loop.
4. Separate the projecting wires.
5. Place your cylindrical mandrel by the open wires, pushing
it right up to the top loop (and wire binding) and push and
mold them around the outer edge of the mandrel until they
cross over on the other side.
6. Continue holding the wires firmly around the
cylindrical mandrel and pinch them where they cross over
with the tips of your chain-nosed pliers. Straighten
the extending wires out below.
7. Thread your chosen bead onto the fine binding wire
and position it at the centre of the frame. Secure the beads
within the frames, by wrapping the binding wire at the
base of the beads. Cut off any excess and neaten the ends.
8. Create spirals on the ends of each projecting
wire, curling them in opposite directions.
(*Don't spiral right up to the bead - leave a
small gap to enable you to fold them over the
top surface of each bead*).
9. Press the spirals over each side of the bead.
One on the front and one over the back. Now,
using your fingers (and finger nails!) spend a little
time adjusting the spirals and flattening them
over the surface.
10. Connect onto ear wires and they are ready
for wearing!
Here are a couple more variations on this theme
to get your creative wire-juices flowing:
(Above) Here are the Beadpodrings created as in the
project, but using coloured binding wire to match the
beads. Why not create something a little more funky
with bright coloured beads and clashing wire colours?
... or try making
a matching PENDANT
for your earrings.
This is done by flattening
only one of the spirals
over the surface of the
bead. The other is kept
extended, so that a
pendant drop bead can
be attached.
... and here's another PENDANT design, created
just like the ear-pod project, but using a larger bead
and frame, suspended from one of my spiral bails.
(Below) If you wish to make a bracelet or necklace, you can
flatten one spiral over the bead and extend the other
to create a bead link ...
... and here's the BRACELET that I made with my
half-pod beads ...
... and finally, for all you wire purists ... using the same
wire method and madness ... here's a simple chain link
system - very 'Celtic' in it's curly-wurlyness ...
(Above) Celtic Spiral Bracelet
I DO HOPE THAT'S GIVEN SOME OF YOU
RENEWED WIREY INSPIRATION!
**********************************************************
***ANNOUNCEMENT***
I've recently had a member enquire about:
WUBBERS - BAIL MAKER (Pliers)
Has anyone ever purchased them? and are they
worth adding to your tool collection?
Comments gratefully received at the end of the blog
or direct to me at: linda.jones@wirejewellery.co.uk
