Wire Wrapping Practice

It's surprisingly difficult to take a successful 'Ear Selfie'.

I have a large supply of the 22 gauge copper wire used as the base of many designs. It was coated scrap wire I received free, and just have to strip. I then only have to purchase the 28 gauge wire used for the actual wire wrapping/weaving. I've been practicing wire wrapping techniques by using this inexpensive copper wire rather than the more expensive silver. Once I'm happy with a style and technique I will do a "good" rendition in the silver.

Try, Try, and Try Again

I spent much of the day playing with copper wire. I started off using a tutorial and attempting a design that required a lot of hammering. The results were ---

--- lets just say "less than optimal"! Tricky little thing. It has extra, separate pieces that have to be wired in. I see now that attempting a symmetrical design while learning wire work is not such a great idea!

When I was finished I couldn't help laughing. This looks so much like those funny Pinterest posts were the novice creates a disasterous project that looks very little like the example and then exclaims, "Nailed it!".

After finally completing the hammered medallion I decided that I don't really care for that technique and will avoid it for awhile at least. I won't say "never again", but I think a lesson or at least more wire working experience should come first.

So after dinner I moved on to wire weaving and though this piece still uses three separate base wires it all fits together a little easier.

That still doesn't mean it was EASY. Nope, I found this one difficult too. Again with the symmetry problem.

I thought it wasn't too terribly bad until I took the picture. Why is it that the camera is always so eager to point out the flaws? Looking at these photos I realize that when I transitioned from single wire wrapping to wrapping 2 wires I made the same wrapping mistake EVERY time! Sheesh! Well at least I was consistent.

I'm not giving up!           Yet.

Another First

With the heat wave we are having it was nice to get out of the overly hot house and sit in an air-conditioned bead/jewelry shop to take a wire wrapping class.

With the supervision and assistance of Svetlana Ivleva, the instructor at "Sparkling Ideas" in the Chilliwack Mall, it was not hard to create an earring that I am pleased with.

Earring, singular, because of time constraints, but, with my asymmetrical hair cut, I only wear ONE 'statement' earring anyway. On the other side, where my hair is much longer, I just wear a tiny silver ball stud.

Looking at the enlarged pictures, and remembering my numerous errors, I know that there is lots of room for improvement!

But that's okay, because I'm happy with this beginner project, and practicing will be FUN!

ANOTHER Hobby?!

More hobbies (yes plural) are not something I need right now, but I'm about to start TWO more!

I've been searching for earrings of a very particular size and shape lately and haven't been able to find them in stores so I decided to learn to make them. I went into Sparkling Ideas, a local bead store, to sign up for an evening of instruction in wire wrapping. That class is in two weeks. While there I saw this beautiful polymer clay rose. Turns out there is a class for THAT too.