Perfectly Twisted Handmade Wire Wrapped Beaded and Gemstone Jewelry

New! Jewelry Tutorial, The Marvelous Marquise, Wire Wrapped Earring Pattern

Another little something I put together to challenge your wire desires :))

I’ve designed this pattern so that you can make both earrings AND a wonderful matching pendant from it. They are perfectly symmetrical so that you can simply go through the tutorial, step by step once, twice or three times, to make the earrings and/or the pendant! Additional instruction is included for the handmade ear wires and pendant bale.

There are 20 pages packed full of detailed instruction and over 130 close up images in 41 Steps. Estimated project time = 3 hours (earrings) an additional hour for a matching pendant.

A wonderful and challenging project for any level of wire artist.
Click the images to enlarge and get a closer look.
You can purchase this wonderful project at my Etsy store... click here to go there!

Supplies:
22 gauge, round wires (frame wires)
28 gauge, round wire (weaving wire)
Two, Marquise beads, 20mm long, 8 mm wide, side drilled
Six, 4mm, silver beads
Two, machine made earring hooks (optional)
20 gauge, round wires (handmade earring hooks and pendant bail, optional)

Tools:
Round nose pliers
Flat nose pliers
Wire cutters
Ruler
Grid paper (optional)

New Jewelry Tutorial! Heart of Diamonds, Advanced Wire Wrapped Earrings Project

Heart of Diamonds, what a deal! ;)

I designed this earring project in such a way that you can also use the same steps to make a matching pendant! This advanced wire tutorial contains over 120 clear, up close images and 22 pages of detailed instruction, in 41 Steps. A second digital file is included free, describing how to create your own earring hooks and necklace clasp. It also contains the pendant information including design variations.

This is a wonderful and challenging project for any level of wire artist. Learn the basics of wire weaving as well as a gorgeous symmetrical design.

Click each of these images to enlarge for a better view.
Click here to visit my Etsy store and the tutorial listing

Estimated Project Time:2 - 3 hours

Supplies
Two, 10mm Briolette beads, side drilled
Four, 4mm Round silver beads
Two, standard earring hooks

Frame WiresSix, 22 gauge, round wire, cut 1 foot each
Weaving WiresTwo, 28 gauge, round wire, cut 4 feet each
Utility WiresFour, 28 gauge, round wire, cut 6 inches each

Tools:Wire cutters
Flat nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Ruler
Dowel (or a pen to bend earring hooks on)

Assumed Skills:Coiling
Using jewelry tools (pliers, cutters, etc)
Long wire management

New Jewelry Tutorial! The Galaxy Ring! DIY Wire Weaved Jewelry Project

Are you spiraling? This is the newest addition to my wire wrapped jewelry tutorials and can be found in my Etsy store ... Click here to shop for it.

I've designed this ring to be clean on the inside, so it's 'scratch free' when wearing. It makes for a wonderful and challenging project as well as a gorgeous gift for yourself or a special someone. You will learn the basics of wire weaving a professional ring shank as well as this attractive wire sculpting design. There are 36 detailed steps with over 100 large, clear images on each page, walking you through every twist and turn. Have fun with this design and add it to your awesome list of wire jewelry skills!

Estimated Project Time: 2 - 3 hours Supplies: Three, 7 inch, 20 gauge wires (Frame wires) One, 5 feet, 26 gauge wire (Weaving wire) One, 8mm round bead. Tools: Wire cutters Round nose pliers Flat nose pliers Jewelry hammer Ruler Ring Mandrel

Managing Shipping Madness - For my beloved Etsy shop owner friends

It's hard work being an artist AND keeping a shop up. I work all day, everyday on this little adventure of mine and have been very fortunate to have made some wonderful friends who've not only kept my spirits up, but have also been there with wonderful advice. THANK YOU for that and I hope to share some of what I've learned here, to help other 'new' shop owners as well as spreading helpful information.

Managing shipping madness....

I sell handmade, wire wrap jewelry and in the beginning, it was mind boggling to tackle the issue of 'shipping' my precious items to their eagerly awaiting owners. Here's what I find works best.

I use the United States Post Office, Priority Mail and here's why...

1. They supply the shipping materials FREE. There is a 'small' priority, flat rate box that you can pick up at any local post office (take a FEW home with you, they don't mind).
2. It costs $5.80 to any US destination, up to 1 pound of weight.
3. Tracking comes with that flat rate.
4. They deliver in TWO business days... and they've never failed me yet.

So when I make a sale...

1. I print the order form from the Etsy 'sold items' interface.
2. I hand write the destination address onto the small flat rate box.
3. I package my item(s) (in an attractive way) and include my business card and printed order form, for the customer.
4. I go to the post office and purchase the $5.80 stamp, which comes with a tracking number.
5. I return home and send the customer a shipping confirmation from the Etsy interface and include the tracking number for my customer.

For international sales, it works pretty much the same way, except the rate is certainly higher.

In my Etsy listings, I have only a quote for US destinations on shipping, however, I do make a note in each listing that the customer can contact me if they are located outside of the US. If a potential customer expresses interest in an item and requests a shipping quote, it's easy enough to handle.

1. Ask them for their shipping address.
2. Go to USPS.com, use their Postage Price Calculator .. here's the link http://postcalc.usps.com/
3. Select the Destination country.
4. Scroll the 'sizes' until you see the 'box' or packaging you intend to ship with (I normally use their International Priority Mail packaging supplies)
5. Once you click the packaging, it will tell you how much the cost of that shipping will be, along with how many days it will take before delivery.
6. Convey this information to your customer and if they agree to the shipping, simply edit your item listing to 'ADD' their country as a shipping destination and include the shipping cost.

When you go to the post office, simply find that packaging material, fill out the shipping address and destination address, then fill out a 'customs' form. It's a simple, small form and can be found near the shipping boxes. Purchase your stamp and then go home happy :))

If in doubt, ASK the postal worker how to ship your package out of country, I find they are very helpful.

Certainly there are other ways to ship, printing your stamps from your printer, etc... and those work too, but for now, I'm 'old school' and directly hands on with each item any of my customers purchase. I think 'simple' is the best way to do good business.

I hope this helps you tame the shipping madness! Please feel free to comment or contact me with anything you'd like to share. :))

Happy SALES!

My Wire Jewelry Youtube Video

Yes, I broke down and decided to create a video to display some of my items! You can find any of these listed at my Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PerfectlyTwisted Click there and go shopping! :))
Thanks for watching.

The music is David Garrett, Rock Symphonies

Using a Butane Micro Torch to Create Copper Wire Headpins for Handmade Jewelry Part 2

As promised, here are a few picture examples of this process and how the wire should be positioned against the flame...

Please read Part 1 for 'the trick' and for safety considerations.

I've seen this process done with the flame pointed in the vertical position, upright and the wire held over the flame. I don't care for it as I've had that copper ball 'fall off' of the wire on a few occasions.. the concern obviously being that the molten copper will fall into the tip of your torch. So I do this sideways, requiring that I turn the headpin once it melts, but I find it a much safer way, if you're new to melting wire. Have fun! Be safe!

Click each image to enlarge.

How to Create Balls on Copper Wire Ends Using a Butane Micro Torch aka How to Make Copper Headpins Part 1

I love the look of balled ends on wire and I've seen it in many places along the web, in silver wire. I work mostly in copper, which is a harder metal, but I wanted to create this same effect... so a couple of weeks ago, I went to the local craft store and purchased a butane micro torch. Copper melts at 1981 degree Fahrenheit, so if you're going to give this a try, make sure the torch you purchase will reach or exceed this temperature.

The exact torch I have can be purchased at Michael's for about $40 ... if you already have this one, it will work for sure.

http://www.michaels.com/Butane-Torch/bd1328,default,pd.html

You can purchase lighter butane almost anywhere... I get mine at the Walgreens. You can also find it at Home Depot hardware stores.

My first try was a total misery and I wasn't able to get any gauge wire to ball up... including even a 20 gauge wire. After some time and reading, I finally figured out the 'trick' to getting those lovely balls... and I've managed to ball up wire as thick as 12 gauge using this butane micro torch.

Here's how...

Before you begin

1. Make sure you are working in a well ventilated area.

2. Use either a fire stone and/or a pan of water and work on a surface area that is not flammable.

3. Use pliers that are safe to handle and long enough to keep your fingers away from the flame.

4. Make sure your clothing and hair are pulled back and secure.

5. Make sure your butane micro torch is completely full for best results.

6. Use safety glasses if possible.

Grasp your wire length with the pliers, either in the center of the wire, or at the end opposite the one you intend to set the flame on.

The TRICK to this, is to get the tip of the wire and the tip of the flame, pointed head on, at each other. If the flame and the wire are perpendicular when you start, the wire will get red hot, but the end will never melt and ball up.

You will see the tip of the wire go red hot and the tip of the flame will become green... this is when the wire will begin to melt. There may be small sparks at this point, so don't be alarmed and don't put your face too close to the heat.

Once the wire end becomes molten, start to rotate the wire so that the balled end is pointed 'down', while you continue to hold the flame sideways and on the balled end. At this point, the balled end and the flame ARE perpendicular. This will create a nice rounded look to the molten ball.

Remove the flame from the wire while it's red hot and dip the whole wire, not just the end, into the pan of water to cool it down.

Keep in mind that your plier heads will be super hot also... so cool them down in the water too!

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Part 2, Pictures! on how to do this...
http://perfectlytwistedjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/04/using-butane-micro-torch-to-create.html

oSo! New, the latest in my etsy store, Perfectly Twisted Jewelry

The link to the store is here.... please go and shop your hearts out! ;)

The How To... A Picture Tutorial on Wire Weaved Jewelry... Create a Wire Wrapped Pendant ...Part 2

This finished pendant can be purchased in my etsy store...
Click here to go there! I hope you've enjoyed the picture tutorial, I know. there are no words ;) x

The How To... A Picture Tutorial on Wire Weaved Jewelry... Create a Wire Wrapped Pendant ...Part 1

I've had several emails asking 'how' do I create some of these pendants... so I thought I'd share these images with you and give you a peak into the studio. I hope you enjoy the 'picture tutorial' and find inspiration for your wire craft! Click each image to enlarge and get a closer look at the wire.

1 inch by 1 inch glass focal bead
Five, 20 gauge, bare copper wires, approximately 1 foot each
Lots of 28 gauge, bare copper weaving wire ;)
Patience... and good lighting.
CoolTools Patina Gel

1.