Monday, December 31, 2012

Using MS Word for blogging was stupid...

It may be a while more for part 2 of my Cinderella Pumpkin Carriage tutorial. I found out I can't just cut and paste from a word doc. to blogger. Dumb me. I'm exceedingly frustrated, and I really wanted to have a simple way to do it. I ended up having to download the word doc to google drive and then cut and pasted, and yet it still didn't transfer the way I wanted it to.

I'll have to go back to creating in blogger. Back to the drawing board.

zsmom

Cinderella’s Pumpkin Carriage Tutorial part 1

Cinderella’s Pumpkin Carriage Tutorial

So, I was doodling and came up with a pretty wire design for a cuff bracelet using round wire. As I began to form the frame using dead soft 14 gauge round copper wire, my daughter, Sarah, says, “Hey, that looks like Cinderella’s carriage as it turns from a pumpkin to the carriage!” Thus the name of my piece was born, but in the end it also caused a quandary.
First –a rough draft—it came about because I wanted a very fluid piece. I made the small components first, and taped the longer wire together to allow me to bend them at the same time. I used a mandrel for the beginning curve. Then used a larger mandrel for the big curve. Then back to the smaller curve.

While the wires are still taped together, I turned the little loop with round nose pliers.

So far this is what it looks like.

So using my pattern, I checked the curves—uh oh—a problem.

My little loop doesn’t line up.

I readjusted the curves and continued following the pattern.

Continuing the pattern.

Little more to go.

a bit more at the end.

I had to cut the extra wire length. (on my notes I subtracted the extra I cut off to update my measurements in my notebook.

sorry for the blurriness. I forgot to file the cut ends to smooth them until now.
My next one I make will be filed before I begin bending it.

I had to use my palm to bend the last part of the pattern—a small loop.

then pressed the last way with my index finger.

Now all the components are made. I lined them up. Looking good!

I used a fisherman’s fly vice to hold my frame. Thanks Dad for the suggestion to use it.

closer view—time to wire-wrap the connectors.

I used ½

round 21

gauge copper.
Now the other side.

Now it’s all together.

…What to do now? See part 2.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Look! New designs using floral glass blobs.

So, I've been creating stuff, but I haven't been taking pictures. Please, tell me what you think. Good or bad. I've got more to come. See you in a few
zsmom.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

1st try at a Celtic knot. It's part of a set for my friend.

Here's a close up of the details. I should have used better plyers, and a larger gauge of wire for the base.

Coming up, making my own chains and necklaces.

See you there.

Zsmom

Have you ever heard of the saying, "Don't put all your eggs in 1 basket"?

This is my creation. I probably won't make another without more skills and perhaps a change in the weave. It took me hours to make this.

The rim of the basket is about 1 inch in diameter (maybe a little bit more)

It has 12 white cat's eye beads wired inside it.

Enjoy

Zsmom

I have been trying to make a really pretty Chinese knot.

Here are the early attempts.

It didn't attach well.

Second try. At least the wires didn't flop.

Here's my latest trial. It's silver covered copper over a clear crystal. They're going to be earrings when I finish them.

Better, huh?

Zsmom

Ok, so I finally took pictures of my wire jewelry.

I'm so glad I waited until now. Some of my earlier pieces that I thought were pretty decent, under the unforgiving camera lens showed many errors I didn't see with my naked eye. I think if I had taken the pictures back when I completed them, I would have gotten discouraged and perhaps stopped trying. Now I can see growth in my abilities. So here are a few early copper wire wrapped stone pendants.