Looking for wire jewelry ideas and inspiration? My last project as Step by Step Wire Featured Designer 2014 can be found in the Oct./Nov. issue. I’m sharing a project with coiled wire – a technique I’m drawn to time and time again. To create this project, I drew inspiration from the Majorette link that is featured in my wire book, The Missing Link. I changed the ends of the link, added two types of metal, and added a coiled strand of wire.
Here you can see I took a prototype and made variations. For one, I carefully shaped the wires into a bangle bracelet. It’s a good idea to tumble this one to help work-harden and reinforce the curved shape.
For the tutorial, I show you how to create a one-of-a-kind wire bail. I pulled out a special, Hilltribe silver flower pendant that I’ve held on to for years. It was time to show it off on its own special bail. This project is versatile – you can mix the wire or not. Add chain or add leather. In this project, I used micro-fiber instead of leather cording. Hope you have fun with this one and add your own personal twist!
Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little corner of web.
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.
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:
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” – pin converters are used in this design both for the vintage brooch focal and for the multi-strand clasp.
In “Branching Out”, a spacer bar is used as a bail. The beautiful focal is by Heather Powers of Humblebeads.
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.
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!
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.
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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