Jewelry Design

Wire Designs

by Cindy on August 22, 2015

Hello!

So nice of you to visit my little corner of the world.  We’ve been off enjoying summer – travel to exotic places (pictures to come), the beach, and just soaking up my favorite season for as long as possible. I hope you’re enjoying summer too!  Before I wait another day, today I’m posting pictures of jewelry that was published in Stampington’s Jewelry Affaire.

 

Wirework necklace by Cindy Wimmer

 

This is a wirework twist of a charm-holder necklace.  I included some of my favorite stones – from smoky quartz to little brass cubes.   It was fun creating all sorts of dangles using a seed-bead embellished vintage key and a herringbone wrapped faceted bead.  I used faux leather suede to finish the necklace, complete with a wirework clasp.

 

Wirework necklace by Cindy Wimmer

 

Now how about a sweet pair of wirework hoops?  The coiled wire adds a bit of texture, framing a carved mother of pearl flower.

Wirework earrings by Cindy Wimmer

 

** I’ll be teaching how to make these earrings locally in VA at Stars Beads this Fall.  We’ll review wirework essentials such as simple loops and wrapped loops, along with coiling techniques.  I’ll also show a simple step to adding patina to brass wire.  Come join me! **

 

Wirework earrings by Cindy Wimmer

 

I had been saving this graduated strand of turquoise beads for quite some time.  I decided to make a completely handmade focal just for these special beads.  I used sheet metal to create a semi-circle, and added texture.  Coiled wire adds great dimension – here I used several gauges of sterling wire along with twisted wire, wrapped around the crescent.

 

Metal, Wire and turquoise necklace by Cindy Wimmer

 

Layers of turquoise and silver!  Just for fun, I combined necklaces from my previous blog post.  They were all created as a collection.  There’s one more necklace to this collection – will post that one soon!

 

Wire and metalwork necklaces by Cindy Wimmer

 

You can find these designs and instructions in Jewelry Affaire Spring 2015.  Thanks for stopping by!

– Cindy

Cindy Wimmer

Cindy Wimmer is a jewelry designer with a passion for combining vintage elements with modern wire design.  She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. Her best-selling jewelry design book, The Missing Link, was released in the Fall, 2013.

 

 

Adding all sorts of things – like turquoise! – to wire

by Cindy on April 2, 2015

Jewelry by Cindy Wimmer

Hello!

With the change in season, Spring issues of the latest jewelry magazines are popping up.  With all the activities in the last few months, I neglected to share pictures of my jewelry designs that were featured in the Jewelry Affaire Winter 2015 issue.  I’ve gathered up photos that I took myself before I sent my jewelry to the wonderful people of Stampington.

Wire wrapped bangle by Cindy Wimmer

Here is a bronze wire-wrapped bangle.  I wanted to showcase a simple rough-cut rutilated quartz bead.  I’m hoping to find more stones like this when I ever get to a bead show again.

Wire wrapped bangles by Cindy Wimmer

In this wire-wrapped bangle, I challenged myself to take a link from my book, The Missing Link, and turn it into a bracelet!  The entire bangle base is one length of wire, and 3 gauges of wire were used.  Shown here in sterling, brass, and a copper and sterling wire mix.

Last year, I found this amazing antique button.  It was just sitting there on a table mixed with all sorts of stuff.  The button stood out with its beautiful cut steel, brass, and mother of pearl details.  I held on to it, waiting to make something special.  For this necklace, I stitched a few favorite mother of pearl buttons on to brass stampings and used brass wire to connect the button links together.  The antique button was used as an off-center focal.

Vintage mother of pearl button necklace by Cindy Wimmer

Mother of pearl wirework necklace by Cindy Wimmer

For this next assemblage-style bracelet, I gathered up all sorts of vintage bits and baubles that I had been collecting.  I found the antique monogrammed locket at my favorite antiquing stomping grounds in PA, just like the button.  An old watch face, vintage buttons, keshi pearls, rhinestone earrings, brass stampings, silk ribbon and even an old dog tag were used to create this sentimental bracelet.

Vintage mixed media bracelet Somewhere in Time by Cindy Wimmer ~ Winter 2015 Jewelry Affaire

Vintage mixed media assemblage bracelet by Cindy Wimmer

This next necklace was designed to wear alone or with a layer of other necklaces.  I wanted to create the look of a soldered bezel by just using wire.   I cut out a small sterling disc with my disc cutter, added texture, and wrapped a turquoise bead on to the surface with wire.  As with just about all of my wirework, I used liver of sulfur to oxidize the finished piece.

Petite turquoise sterling silver necklace by Cindy Wimmer

This last necklace is my favorite style to design, and it is a time-consuming but enjoyable process.   I’ve made designs like this in the past, in my Collector’s Club style (going way back here).  I wanted to showcase a stone that I just love – turquoise – with handmade wire links and a mix of Hilltribe silver beads.  Instructions on how to make several of these links are shown in step-by-step detail in The Missing Link.  When I designed this necklace, I started with individual link units and put them together like a puzzle – looking for the right balance. The necklace plays double duty and can be worn long, or as a two-strand necklace.  Here is a before shot –

Turquoise and wire links by Cindy Wimmer

And Ta Daaaa –

Turquoise and sterling silver wire link necklace by Cindy Wimmer

Turquoise and wire link necklace by Cindy Wimmer

Double strand turquoise and wirework necklace by Cindy Wimmer

If you’d like to see these designs, as well as those made by an amazing gathering of jewelry designers, you should still be able to find a copy in the stores.  They may be replaced now by the Spring 2015 issue.  You can also purchase a copy online at the Stampington site.

Jewelry Affaire Winter 2015

 

Have a wonderful Easter week!

~ Cindy XOXO

 

Cindy Wimmer

Cindy Wimmer is a jewelry designer with a passion for combining vintage elements with modern wire design.  She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. Her best-selling jewelry design book, The Missing Link, was released in the Fall, 2013.

The Unexpected Findings Book Blog Tour stops here!

by Cindy on September 17, 2014

Welcome to Day 3 of the Unexpected Findings Book Blog Tour!

I am so excited to be celebrating the release of Michelle Mach’s brand new book,   Michelle hits it out of the jewelry design park with this jam-packed book.  She takes an in-depth look at the hardworking components that we need and use in our designs: everyday findings.  What I find so inspiring  is that together with her book contributors, Michelle puts a whole NEW twist on those findings.

Michelle grabs the reader right from the Introduction page with this question –

“Beads are the stars on the jewelry stage.  They’re the ones twirling, singing and shouting while the findings scuttle backstage, working the lights and opening and closing the red velvet curtains.  Ever wonder what would happen if their roles were reversed?”

Why yes!  We could all use a fresh outlook, a little inspiration.  As jewelry designers, we tend to keep a good stash of essential findings on hand.  I found it fascinating to turn page after page of the book and see how Michelle and her contributors used findings in all-new ways (and are there ever such beautiful designs!).    I’m thankful to Michelle for presenting this challenge to me as one of the contributors to Unexpected Findings.

Some of my favorite features you’ll find in Unexpected Findings:

  • A comprehensive description of jewelry findings  A thorough description is provided as well as lots of photos.  You’ll learn about findings you never even heard of  before.  I worked with one unfamiliar component in one of my projects – a pin converter!
  • 50+ jewelry designs Complete with full-page photos and detailed project instructions.  I like how Michelle also includes design variation suggestions and plenty of tips so that you can vary the project in countless ways.
  • Loads of resources Michelle describes the tools you’ll need, basic techniques to get started, and helpful tips learned from years of experience.  Shopping resources are provided so that you can find that special bead or buy the findings you see used in the projects.

When you visit each stop on the book blog tour, you’ll get a sneak peek of many of the projects.  I’m thrilled to finally share some of mine with you…. it sure seems like ages ago when I worked on these and mailed them in.   I have an additional project in the book that I will leave for you to see in the book. 🙂

Vintage Revival by Cindy Wimmer

 “Vintage Revival” – pin converters are used in this design both for the vintage brooch focal and for the multi-strand clasp.

Pin Converter necklace by Cindy Wimmer

In “Branching Out”, a spacer bar is used as a bail.  The beautiful focal is by Heather Powers of Humblebeads.

"Branching Out" by Cindy Wimmer

 

I sure love making wire links and chain (wink, wink).   In “Downtown Arts District”, I used wire S-clasps to create handmade chain that is befitting of one-of-a-kind beads.  Lampwork by Shirley Zhu of Shirley Glass Beads.

 

Downtown Arts District by Cindy Wimmer

 

Thank you for joining me on the  Book Blog Tour. I am so happy that Michelle Mach’s book is hitting the bookstores and is available online.  It is going to be a staple reference in many studio libraries, including my own.  To celebrate, Michelle is offering some fantastic prizes you’re going to love.  Please join in and good luck!

 

Unexpected Findings Giveaway Prizes:

 

Grand Prize: $50 Etsy Gift Card to be used at any Etsy shop where gift cards are accepted!

First Prize: Fun with Findings Kit. Everything pictured above, plus more!

Second Prize: An “Unexpected” Mystery Pack of Findings from Michelle.

The giveaway is open to all visitors .  One comment per person per blog post for a maximum of eight chances to win if you visit and comment on all eight book-related posts during the September 15-19, 2014 period.

Please help us spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Michelle will contact the winners by email this weekend (Sept. 20-21) and post the winners to her blog next week (Sept. 23). Remember to leave an email address in your comment for her to contact you, if you win.

 

Blog Tour Schedule – September 15-19, 2014

Monday, Sept. 15
Michelle Mach

Tuesday, Sept. 16

Lorelei Eurto
Erin Siegel

Wednesday, Sept. 17
Cindy Wimmer – You are here. 🙂
Erin Prais-Hintz

Thursday, Sept. 18
Andrew Thornton

Friday, Sept. 19
Denise Yezbak Moore
Molly Schaller

 

Cindy Wimmer

Cindy Wimmer is a jewelry designer with a passion for combining vintage elements with modern wire design.  She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. Her first jewelry design book, The Missing Link, was recently released last Fall.

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