Handmade Monday - core values

Well I could claim today is Monday, but in truth its Tuesday morning. That sentence just about sums up my last week, always just a little behind. 

However I have filed all outstanding paperwork, paid the two overdue bills I found amongst it, and I have made a mental note of the other financial issues that must be discussed in the household before the week is out!

Life is all about that really, its there to be enjoyed but don't forget to do the regular stuff too. 

I love bending and twisting the wire into new shapes for my wirework jewellery, but it is important not to forget the steady sellers too.

Rustic crucifix hung on cotton cord

I class my hammered crucifix as a steady seller.  Stocks were down to their minimum so I sat down this week and set about making a few for the approaching Christmas fairs.  Its not a chore, I enjoy making them, but my mind thinks that I would prefer to make something new!

To satisfy the adventurous side of my brain, I put one on a silver plated chain to see what it would look like.  It totally changes the rustic appearance of the cross but it works quite well.

Rustic crucifix hung on silver plated necklace

So I'm sure you have already done this, but if not, pop over to Wendy's place and take a look at everyone involved in this weeks Handmade Monday.

Handmade Monday no. 17

So its Handmade Monday time.  I had accepted that I needed to take a week off as I had nothing to show ...

This week I was planning to complete wirework pendants for my 2nd shelf (in the new shop that I'm always harping on about).  I have concentrated on established designs as they are quicker to make than fiddling with new designs. But I felt that you wouldn't want to see work you can see over at my Polly Polkadot shop.

... and then last night changed everything.  I got the children in bed and asleep by 7pm, we had all eaten, I had washed up and the OH had even hoovered the floor.  So there was nothing for it, but a trip to the studio at the bottom of the garden.

This the only pendant design I would class as finished from last night, the rest are 'designs in progress'!

But I had an excellent session, with lots of ideas to work on.  The following are snapshots taken this morning.

Tree

 I spent ages on the first pendant, but I just couldn't get it to lie how I wanted it, so I think that might go on the noticeboard until I come up with a new way to use it.

Chain of hearts

The second piece was a chain of hearts, I don't think I have the balance right yet, but it has potential.  In addition, I have discovered that I will be able to manage short pieces of wire for earring hearts.

The squiggle

Next I moved onto a squiggle.  I was pleased with the form of this.  I'm not confident with random design, but over all this doesn't look too symmetrical or contrived!











This pendant doesn't have enough curve to the tail, but it is a starting point.

Back again to the treble clef.  I have been intending to make a treble clef for some time, but never getting around to it. I was delighted with the result and this will definitely be in my online shop, and on the infamous second shelf!

OK, so now I must move onto the 3rd shelf, something a bit different just to hedge my bets on sales!

Toolbox Talk part 1

I'm not sure I am going to tell my blog anything in the future ... I said I would do a toolbox talk blog at the weekend, now I am concerned I will not full fill your expectations!  After all how do you make talking about pliers interesting?!!

Can you believe I still kept it?!

My interest in wirework jewellery came from spotting Linda Jones book in the local library.  I really fancied the Celtic cross brooch.  Unfortunately I had no understanding of wire, or physics of materials, or the patience to read the instructions.  Here is my first attempt, as you can imagine I stomped off and sulked.

Some time later I must have decided to give it another go, but I don't recall the length of the break.

So here is my guide to how to get it right first time (well have a better chance of getting it right).

The first and most essential piece of equipment for wireworking is pliers.  I struggled to find the right pliers and in the end bought a set of 8 pliers.  But in truth I only use 5.

The round nosed pliers are the starting point for so many pieces. Curling the wire around the pliers, get it wrong and you are making an oval shape, get it right and beautiful spiral begins to form.

The second pair of pliers is your flat nosed pliers.  These pliers can form sharp angles in your work, but they are also used to grip the wire as you curve spirals.  Unlike normal flat nosed pliers, the mouth is smooth, so that it doesn't mark the work.

The final pliers you need are wire cutters.  Ideally you need good sharp pliers, which allow you cut close to your work. 

If your interest in wirework jewellery making continues,  you will wish to add and improve on your pliers set.  Adding nylon coated pliers to avoid scratching the wire, notched round nosed pliers to mass produce jump rings, angled pliers for awkward pieces etc. etc.

Do I have all the pliers I want yet? Definately not.
Do I have favourite pliers? Definately
Do I think I could use someone elses pliers? Ooo, no, I'd feel guilty.

Pliers are all you need to start you on your journey into wirework jewellery, but below is a second toolbox talk, explaining about dowels and hammering your work.

Toolbox Talk - Part 2

can, pens,nozzle from a silicon cartridge gun.

To create some of the shapes you may wish to make, you'll need a collection of dowels.  Often ring mandrels are suggested because they offer you a variety of sizes. However so far I have not had to invest in any mandrels I simply wander around the house looking for pens, tubes, and pipes.  Felt tip pens offer a small size, marker pens another, and cans and then you probably have a full range.  My only complaint is that the pens keep wandering off my workbench, but I suspect that is me 'borrowing' them.

The final item you will need to get you started, is something to hammer on.  This was the item I found most challenging.  I discovered with my first piece that you can't hammer on wood, because it is too soft.  I hammered on tables, stones, and eventually I realised I could clamp a second hammer into a vice and hammer on that.

Obviously it didn't have sawdust on it when I used to use it!

Whatever you choose to hammer on will pattern your material, so ideally you are looking for a smooth surface - although I must admit that did discover some wonderful patterns by accident.

I do now own a tiny jewellery anvil. It only cost around £15 but it is not worth buying when you are just experimenting.  It offers me curves and angles to hammer on as well as a flat surface.  My jewellery anvil always cheers me up, because the novelty of such a silly sized tool has still not worn off!

Again you can spend plenty of time buying yourself a variety of nylon coated hammers, and patterned heads for the hammer, but in the early stages a normal domestic hammer is fine.

So that's it, that's all you need and if you are lucky all the items were lurking in your household toolbox anyway. Now go and give it ago!

WOYWW

If you viewed here last WOYWW (whats on your workbench Wednesday), you'll see a massive transformation.

I promised I would tidy my bench by this week, but I didn't expect it to be a hive of activity too.

I have rented a space in a brand new shop (more about this in later blogs no doubt).  It is due to be opening soon.  But when I glanced at an e-mail I realised it said 'opening BY June'.

PANIC STATIONS!!

  

I have rented a cabinet with 4 shelves, so at the moment I am concentrating on the top two shelves, namely wirework jewellery.  At the front is one of my entwined hammered motif necklaces, while behind is a second entwined necklace, a plain daisy chain, and a half finished necklace, awaiting a new design of motif.


The teeny tiny anvil is out, and the pliers set is on the side - the only thing in my life I am tidy about is my pliers.  They came in a set of 8, and my other half lusts after them, so if I put them away each time, I can tell if he has 'borrowed' one.

I forgot to say... the star and heart in the middle are rewards for potty training!  How they have ended up in the studio so far from the potty and the child I'm not sure!


Everything at the back of the bench is not used, especially not the badminton racket!  Lets see if it has disappeared by next week.


Take a look at the other workbenchs via WOYWW

Handmade Easter Monday

Handmade bank holiday Monday or is it bank holiday handmade Monday?

Have you taken a tour around the other participants of Handmade Monday yet?  I usually look at a few more each day through-out the week.  Loads of great products and ideas out there.

Last week on Ali's Craft Studio blog, I spotted her Art Nouveau inspired stain glass window, and it set me thinking.

Some time ago I came across Linda Jones' wirework design for Art Deco earrings.  I just HAD to make it.  That first pair are a firm favourite in my jewellery drawer, but a variation exists in my Polly Polkadot shop too.

I took Ali's window and re-designed it to work simply with wire.

I found a little quiet time to work on the individual wires.

I worked in 0.8mm silver plated wire, because it is easier to manipulate but long term I would like to try 1.2mm wire for a chunky pendant.

I hammered the silverplated wire on my tiny jewellery anvil.

And attached the wires to a header and footer bar.  As you can see, this is still a prototype, accuracy with lengths and angles is needed for a finished product.

I intended to make a pendant from it, but learning from my experiences in my first handmade Monday about pre-conceived ideas, here are a few others ways it could be used.

Homage to Rennie Machintosh - O.H. said it looked like homage to Red Nose Day!

Curve it to make a bracelet?

My favourite is to add the coloured and silver beads to make it into a bracelet, but what do you think?