Thursday 31 March 2011

The WireWorkers Guild

The
*WIRE ARTISTS*

G A L L E R Y
_______________

Everyone who enjoys creating wire art
can see just how unique and inspiring
it is to show and share your designs
with others.

Here is a collection of images, contributed
by some of the Guild members, demonstrating
the talent and skill around - showing
stunning pieces that they have designed
and created!

You can also look forward to more profile
artist features coming up soon and
anyone who wishes to become a future
featured artist, please don't hesitate to contact
me and I will definitely consider you ...

So, sit back and ENJOY!

(The list of designs have been placed in alphabetical order
of artist's name).

ALI 'Beadgirl' BICKELL























ANNALIESE


















DEBBIE POYNTER






















EMMA VIDLER

















GILLY SANDFORD-BATES






















KELLEY POUNDS
















KIMMY SAYERS

















KRISTIN SMITH






















LINDA DOUBEK

















LYNDA GOODSON

















LYNNE CYRILLO

















MASTURA MUSTAFA























SALLY PITMAN

















SAMANTHA TAYLOR












SUSIE HARRIS



















SUE MASON-BURNS























TRACY SMITH





















WENDY McCLEAN


















Be very proud of your talent and don't give up
developing and evolving with the craft ...
see your jewellery making design skills as a
form of self-expression in small scale
sculpture, or body adornment!


... take out the pliers and start fiddling with those wires! ...

Sunday 20 March 2011

The WireWorkers Guild

!! DON'T FORGET !!

If you want to be part of the WWGuild GALLERY
Remember to send in a JPEG image of a piece you've
made
BEFORE the end of March!



***********************************************


















I've been rushed off my feet this week and wasn't sure
if I would have time to provide you with a project ...
working for BEAD TV (you'll see me demonstrating lots
of new earring projects and techniques from my book!),
I've also been writing the text for another new book on
'Weddings' (more will be revealed on this later on in the year),
not to mention working on some exciting new designs
for MAKE JEWELLERY Magazine ...
Never a dull moment! However, here's a quick little
bangle to make with any beads you've got lying around ...

So if you're sitting comfortably, read on and find
out how to create your own:
ROAMING WIRE
b a n g l e t t e























1. Cut approximately 25" of -0.8mm silver
wire. Place your round nosed pliers at the
centre of the length and create a loop.























2. Place your round nosed pliers on each side of the
loop you've just made and create 2 more loops on
either side.























3. Cut a second length of wire of approximately
12" long and create a link at the end which can be
connected to the central link of your doubled
wire.























4. Thread a bead of your choice onto the central wire
and bring one of the doubled wires around the side
of the bead (to frame the perimeter) and wrap it just
underneath the bead.























5. Repeat with the other projecting wire, wrapping this
around the opposite side of the bead to frame it and
secure it on the central wire.























6. Thread a second bead onto the central wire
and once again, wrap one of the projecting wires
around the perimeter ...























7. Repeat, as before, wrapping the second wire
on the other side of the bead.







8. You've got it!
Just keep threading
beads onto your
central wire and
wrap the side
wires around
the perimeter of
each bead, thereby
framing them and
securing each one
in place ...









9. When you
have a created
a beaded length
of about 7" (this
is for a standard
bangle length),
secure the ends
of the wire
at the base of
the last bead.

Cut off any
excess and
neaten the
ends.









10. Before creating
my clasp, Ive added
just one more bead
and then doubled
the wire back
onto itself.

The doubled end
should be at
least 1.5" in length.














11. Wrap the
end of the doubled
wire around the
stem and if you
have any left-over
wire, just keep
wrapping it around
the top of the last
bead.














12. Place
your round
nosed pliers
about a third
way up on the
doubled wire end
and form a hook.
Create a little 'lip'
at the tip of the
hook, to complete
your clasp.




























13. Find a cylindrical object (something smaller in
diameter than the final bangle diameter) and wrap
the beaded unit around to shape and form it into a
circular bangle frame - ready to wear!


Once it's shaped, adjust the clasp so that it sits
neatly together.

***********************************

HAVE FUN EXPERIMENTING WITH
THIS DESIGN USING DIFFERENT
COLOURED BEADS AND WIRE!

Saturday 12 March 2011

The WireWorkers Guild








LOOP
- DE -
LOOP










Here's a design challenge ...

*Come up with a wire shape.
*Check this shape can be linked from both ends.
*Duplicate the shape ...
*Connect the units together to form a unique chain.
*Attach a clasp at the ends - et voila! - you've just
created an original linking system.

That's how this LOOP de LOOP design was born.
It began its embryotic life as a chain unit and
developed into being used in Earring designs,
necklaces, bracelets, etc...

To make this simple Loop de Loop pendant, you will need:
1mm (14-gauge) silver-plated wire (or 0.8mm if preferred),
some beads, ribbon (chain or cord), 5mm silver bead,
round, flat and chain nosed pliers, wire cutters,
cylindrical mandrel, hammer and steel stake.























1. Depending how large you wish to create the unit,
wrap some 1mm wire around a cylindrical mandrel
to create an even coil.






















2. Snip the coil into pieces with your wire cutters. Each
piece should have one full circle at the centre with an
overrun on each side.























3. Using your round nosed pliers, curl links at each cut end.






















4. Using your fingers, gently pull the circles apart
on each side, leaving an oval of wire at the centre.























5. This is optional, but it does help to make
your unit much firmer and more functional:
Place it on a steel block and hammer the outer
edges of the unit (do not hammer any crossed
over wires as you will weaken them!).





















6. Using your flat nosed pliers, twist the top loops 90 degrees
to the rest of the unit.























7. Thread 3 beads (about 6mm diameter) with different
lengths of wire (short, medium and long stems) and
create headpins at one end and links at the other.























8. Connect the beaded stems onto a jump ring
and suspend from the centre of your wire unit.























9. For the top of the unit, you will need to
create a large jump ring and get a 5mm
silver bead (or, colour bead of your choice)
ready for threading ...























10. Thread one end of the large jump ring through
one of the top links of the unit - then thread your
silver bead onto the jump ring - and continue threading
the rest of the jump ring through the second
top link of the unit. Close the jump ring.








Your unit is now
ready to be
suspended on a
ribbon, cord or
chain.










However, if you wish to add a little more colour:
Cut a small length of 0.4mm (28-gauge) wire
and bind a bead within the centre of the unit.
(see: below)






















Once you practice creating the unit, you will find
it can be utilised in so many designs. Below are
some ... to fuel your creativity.























Here's a bracelet I designed with the original unit to create
a simple, but effective linking system.







Here
you can see
how to duplicate
the unit for a
stunning beaded
bracelet.




































and make some matching earrings!
























Above, is a pendant design, using 2 of the units
wired together at the centre with beads.


**************************************************
I HOPE THIS INSPIRES YOU
TO CREATE YOUR OWN WIRE
SHAPES - THAT CAN BE
MULTI-FUNCTIONAL AND
UTILISED IN A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT DESIGNS!
**********************************
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

At the end of March I will publish
a GALLERY of Guild Members work
so that you can share and inspire each
other! All you have to do is send
1-2 JPEG images of a piece of work
by email (to:
linda.jones@wirejewellery.co.uk).
You can choose to send a project that
you've attempted from the blog, an old
or recent piece ... ANYTHING that you're
proud of! The only criteria is that you
MUST be a Guild Member,
sent in not later than 29th March and the
piece must contain some wire art!

What are you waiting for ... have a GO!


Tuesday 1 March 2011

The WireWorkers Guild














*D E S I G N E R*
C H A L L E N G E


Thank you to everyone who has taken part
in the first WWGuild challenge for 2011!
The entries are beautiful, diverse and extremely
original! You ALL need to pat yourselves on the
back - it's just wonderful to see all this budding
talent and I'm so pleased to able to showcase your
work to hopefully inspire others to pick up their
pliers ... ready for another Challenge later on in
the year!

The pieces are published in alphabetical order of the
designer's first name - this is not a competition,
just a personal mission to create a piece with a theme.

So, sit back and enjoy the talent
and individual creativeness of all
those who took part ...


ALISON BICKELL























ALISON BICKELL
Ali is a past Featured Artist - you may remember
seeing her talent and very original jewellery
on 6th February blog.
Her entry for the Challenge is predominantly created out
of 0.9mm green coloured wire with 3 fabric flowers and a
sprinkling of budding beads ...

ANNALIESE




















ANNALIESE
This pod of Spring is Annaliese's first ever attempt at
a wire weave pendant. She has used copper wire to
frame a gorgeous Chinese green jade coin bead.
You can find more information on Annaliese's work
at: http://www.jewellerybyannaliese.co.uk/

DEBBIE POYNTER























DEBBIE POYNTER
A beautiful asymetric necklace design
packed with references to Spring, in its
colour and use use of shapes and findings.


















Above, is a closer look at Debbie's work and you can see
more, by linking onto:
http://www.greenshoot.blogspot.com

EMMA VIDLER


















EMMA VIDLER
Emma's gorgeous bracelet began as a necklace design but
turned into a sumptuous charm bracelet when she realised
she needed more beads. She's used a combination of
Springtime colours to match her favourite Spring flowers, there
are also little silver melon beads next to the 'flower' beads
to add the essence of budding leaves.





(Right)

Those little silver
buds are more
obvious in this
second image
that she sent me.














JUNE CHARTERS


















JUNE 'CHARTERS'
June has introduced a warmth of colour with her very
unique bangle and ring design. Her inspiration is derived
from tulips and hyacinth flowers breaking through the
early frosts. The bracelet and ring were created from
Polymer Clay and are in one piece, embellished and wire-
wrapped with coloured wire and bud-like faceted beads.
June says, she finally added some ribbon, for a touch of
softness and variety of texture.

You can see more of June's work at"
http://www.charterscharm.blogspot.com

LINDA DOUBEK


















LINDA DOUBEK
All the way from Southern California, Linda has submitted
this elegant pendant design - an Obsidian wrapped in
silver wire. When she told me it was the first time she
had ever attempted a wire wrap like this, I was amazed!
Keep up the wonderful work, Linda!

LYNDA GOODSON


















LYNDA GOODSON
This dramatically stunning Necklace and Earring set was
accidentally created by coiling a piece of wire and before
Lynda knew it, she found she had formed a double 'S'
shaped coil ... and the rest is history! Considering this
was her first wirework creation ever ... we're incredibly
impressed!

SALLY PITMAN























SALLY PITMAN
Sally (aka: Sky Pixie) has submitted a visually
stunning necklace which was inspired by a Weeping
Crab Apple Tree that she planted a couple of year's
ago in her garden, in memory of her little Jack Russell
dog, Britt, who had passed away. She says the tree is
in bud now and when it flowers it has lovely dusky
pink blossom which she has portrayed in the pearlised
beads with copper wire for the twisting branches.





Sally says it really
does bring back
memories of her
perky little dog,
Britt, who could
sometimes be
quite 'crabby'
hence the choice
of Crab Apple
Tree!




























Here's a great close up of the stunning twist and linking
system that Sally has used.
To see more of her work, go to:
http://www.skypixie.co.uk/

SUSAN AVERY


















SUSAN AVERY
This very original brooch design has such a Japanese
flavour. Susan says that her inspiration was the blossom
on the trees. She has used 0.4mm green enamelled wire
with white seed beads - which she recycled from a necklace
purchased at a Boot Fair last year! It's a wonderful example
of creating something beautiful, for next to nothing!

SUSIE HARRIS

















SUSIE HARRIS
Here's another example of a stunning brooch (this time,
a Shawl Pin), which is full of symbolism and creativity.
Susie has entitled her piece: CORNUCOPIA OF SPRING.
She was inspired by memories of violets hidden in the Spring
hedgerows and liked the idea of a 'Horn of Plenty' filled with
sweet smelling violets as a promise of the seasons to come ...




















Susie says, the Amethyst stone chips represent the 'flowers'
(amethyst being the gemstone for Spring), whilst the green
garnets symbolise 'leaves', which are hiding the flowers below
them. The 3 wire heart shaped 'leaves' amongst the amethyst
'flowers' are representative of the wild violet's leaf shape.

TONYA GREEN




















TONYA GREEN
Tonya who has recently discovered wirework has given
us complete originality in creating a card, with the theme.
This would bring a beaming smile to anyone receiving it!

WENDY McLEAN
















WENDY McLEAN
Wendy who will be a future Featured Artist (so look out
for more of her stunning coiled wire art! coming up ...)
couldn't choose which of her 3 pieces to enter ... so, submitted
all three with each containing the essence of SPRING in the
coiled wirework.
The wonderful silver-plate coil bracelet (above) has got
a very unique focal feature twist clasp, unique to Wendy.



















This stunning pendant and earrings set designed by
Wendy, is created with coloured enamel wires and
freshwater pearls.























More superbly artistic coiling by Wendy, in this
freshwater pearl set pendant and earrings.

Take a look at Wendy's website on:
http://www.designbywendy.co.uk
__________________________________________

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR SHARING
YOUR
STUNNING CREATIONS WITH
THE REST OF
THE GUILD MEMBERS!