Category Archives: Wire Work

Necklaces, Pendants, Techniques, Wire Work

Bead Embroidery Plus

1 Comment

The plus in the title stands for leather and wire. As you can see in the photos, I’m experimenting with combinations. Initially, I constructed five wire hearts and connected them with finer gauge wire. I used seed embroidery to attach the hearts to leather backed with Lacy’s Stiff Stuff. PICT0368a

Then I sandwiched a shaped piece of metal between this top layer and a base layer of Ultrasuede before stitching on the edge to hold the pieces together. The pendant on the right is just over 2 inches in diameter with copper wire hearts. The one below is a bit smaller with brown artistic wire hearts.

PICT0371a

Creativity, Diversions, Pendants, Techniques, Wire Work

Can You Fly?

It’s not a secret. I love my Blue Heelers and although the puppies shown in the picture_DSC7409x are gone, I still enjoy walking or playing ball with the older girls each afternoon. Today I was particularly taken by Frosty’s “never give up” attitude. She’s the dog on the far left of the picture. Even as an adult dog, she still believes that she can fly. When a large bird, usually a buzzard, looms over head, Frosty chases across the ground in an effort to reach it. Today, as the bird flew completely across the yard, Frosty ran as fast as she possibly could and I had to move out of the way to keep from being run over. At the end of each of these bird runs, she leaps high in the air in a last supreme effort to grasp the bird. I keep telling her that these efforts are foolish, but she just doesn’t get it. I can easily say that my wire working is a bit like Frosty’s bird chasing. I’ve been struggling with it for months now, working flat out until my hands ache in an effort to improve. Yet, like Frosty, I never can quite catch that perfect technique. wirework2 Often, upon completion of a wirework piece, I sigh and admit that it is terrible, but like Frosty, the next time an idea arrives, I delve into it again. Shall I persevere like Frosty and keep working at this technique? The piece I did last night seems more pleasing than most have been. It does give considerable satisfaction to be moving closer to the mark, but will I ever FLY? If I keep watching my dog, rereading that children’s book, The Little Engine that Could, and continue repeating “I think I can, I think I can,” then I believe there is hope! Perhaps we can all FLY! (Thanks Frosty)

Creativity, Necklaces, Pendants, Wire Work

Oil

The sewing machine quit! I’ll admit that it has endured quit a workout making baby blankets, bibs, burp rags, etc. for Gabriel, our new grandchild. Yet, how could it fail me when I most need it? Yes, I realize that I haven’t oiled it in a year, but I needed it to work now! Of course, locating the sewing machine oil was another entire adventure in itself, but finally I secured it from the store (in the hundred years since I’ve purchased any, it now comes in a little tube rather than the trusty oil can) Following a thorough cleaning and oiling, that old girl hummed like a professional.

This episode made me wonder what “oil” a creative spirit might need. There certainly are times when I feel a bit “dried up” myself, but what makes me hum? While ideas usually abound, stress can certainly take its toil and there must be something that can be done to improve things. Occasionally, it is an hour of exploration in the magazine or book section at the local book store or library. Other times, the oil has been derived from a trip to Nordstroms to investigate color combinations in the clothing. A fabric store serves the same purpose.

What about using music? When I have pieces waiting for completion, clasps, buttons, etc. I use music by composer Pachebel and other baroque/classic composers which keep me working. It is sequential and repetitious in motif. But what about music for creativity? I’m still working on that one. I think that is less predictable than the aforementioned. At times creative oil comes from sheer silence while at other times, emotional vocals bring it. I’d be interested in knowing what works for other people.

Lastly, we deserve to be oiled from time to time! I used to and sometimes still do feel selfish to take the time to refuel. We’re all busy and since one of my ranch employees just resigned, things are unusually so here at Dreamcatcher. Yet, as I listen to Sugarland who is singing “. . . I promise I’m worth it . . . “, I realize, so am I!

The tree piece below is my symbol for oiling that creative spirit and letting it flourish and grow. tree

Metal Work, Necklaces, Pendants, Techniques, Wire Work

Woven Window

I’ve been gathering parts for the pendant shown for several weeks. After receiving a copy of Mary Hettmansperger’s Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet from my son for Christmas, I’ve wanted to try a Dreamcatcher rendition of her woven windows pin. My pendant has significantly less weaving than what she shows,  however for a first attempt, I think it’s OK. window final The darkness of the photo negates some of my “gatherings” for the weaving. The basic loom for the window is made of copper mesh from Hobby Lobby. The turquoise colored yarn was secured in an excursion to the Alpaca farm, Old Oaks Ranch, outside of Wimberley, TX. I also used some 20 gauge copper wire for threading a few black onyx beads and one Swarovski crystal. The pieces are put together with dark brown artistic wire. When I first started this piece disappointment set right in as my initial weaving was a disaster. But, banking on my creativity training, I resisted closure until things improved. As you can see from the pictures of the parts of the pendant, separately, they weren’t very impressive, but I think perseverance paid off as I kept frame and back working and hoping for the best.metal loom( I’m thinking turquoise for stringing.)

Necklaces, Pendants, Techniques, Wire Work

Problem Solved!

For a couple of months, I’ve been struggling a bit with just how best to attach a fringe of beads to a copper envelope. My first few attempts crashed. After finishing a couple of pieces, I wore them around the house, as is my custom with a new design, and realized that, although the pieces looked great, they were not easy to keep in alignment while wearing. So I went back to the drawing table. Finally, just before the holidays, PICT0293 I was able to develop a double strand as pictured on the right. The two hole rectangular beads worked great for keeping the two strands separate and allowing me to attach the bead fringe to the lower strand. I’ve made a couple of similar pieces using this technique. Yet as I remained open to other possibilities, an “aha” presented itself the other day while working with 20 gauge wire. The technique on the triangular piece holds many options for further design. Before folding this piece, I drilled holes on the fold line where I wanted the bead wire to be placed. Then, I used copper wire to go inside the fold, forming a place to attach the fringe. The wire swirls on the top of the fold provided a spot to attach the beaded necklace. PICT0311

Now I have two options for pursuing my metal pounding habit. I would like to try to minimize this design for a more feminine piece before moving on to more expensive metal.

I think it was Pasteur who indicated that chance favors the prepared mind. It seems that an “aha” that really works creeps into the mind after hours, days, weeks or even months of working to solve a problem. Thus the mind is prepared to recognize the “aha”. Perhaps prior to the struggle, the mind has not learned enough to be ready for the right idea. I must bear this in mind during the “struggling” period and not grow so impatient waiting for the “chance” to appear.

Necklaces, Pendants, Wire Work

Copper Music

Although it is well after Christmas, today I was able to give a gift (perhaps it’s Happy Valentine’s Day) to my musical friend. It was good that I had extra time since my wire work took a turn for the worst. pict0306 As you can see from the finished product, I was making a treble clef sign as a pendant for her. I know to practice first with inexpensive wire and having made one treble clef from craft wire, I thought I was ready for sterling silver. Actually, the sterling silver clef turned out even better that the craft wire until . . . the hammering. The piece seemed to require a bit of flattening and I manage to strike some strategic blows that looked quite nice. Unfortunately, I hammered the piece so well that I weakened the points where the pieces of wire crossed and the bottom of the clef sign fell completely off. Rats! So, the final pendant was made of good strong copper wire, flattened a bit, but not completed smushed. Flat is not always better!