Anyone into beading or wire jewelry?

Anyone into beading or wire jewelry? (Full Version)

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ModeratorOne -> Anyone into beading or wire jewelry? (10/26/2004 1:21:59 AM)
So I picked up a new hobby. Every year around the holidays the neurotic crafty me comes out to play as I pick up something fun and new to play with and make some small gifts and decorations with. The bug usually starts around the summer and by December I am rushing to finish. This year I decided to play with wire sculpting and gemstones, and somehow beading got lumped in there. I started a bit late though and this stuff is WAAAAAY harder than I expected. What I wanted to learn to make initially was one of those wired gemstone trees. I couldnt find instructions but figured I would get some books on working with wire and eventually I could figure it out. While experimenting, I learned that I am having a lot of fun making wire jewelry, sometimes with beadings and polished stones, but I need some help with a few things. Some of these projects are really complex and its difficult to figure out what the proper technique is when its never been shown to you. So far I have made a wired necklace in a pettern I made up myself since I had a bit of difficulty with the pattern I was attempting and this looked pretty cool. I also made a couple of wire wrapped pendants and a gemstone in a cage pendant. I made 2 bracelets but one was too small to fit on a hand and the other too big. I am also having a tough time keeping the wire from bending all the time and losing the shape I give it. The only thing I have perfected at this point is swirls and jump rings lol. I also made a chainmail pattern copper bracelet. I would love to chat with anyone who is into wire sculpting, who wouldnt mind answering some questions, or just talking about wires, beads and stones or other crafts. Please send me a message, would love to learn more. ModOne

proudsub -> RE: Anyone into beading or wire jewelry? (10/26/2004 8:09:35 AM)
My daughter used to make clay beads and string them. She called her business "killer beads". It was a lot of fun but she didn't make any money at it for all the hours she put in. Now it's just a hobby. She likes to make clay figures too.

theroebabe -> RE: Anyone into beading or wire jewelry? (10/26/2004 8:13:41 AM)
found this in the forums not sure if it would be any help: http://www.collarme.com/forum/Beaded_collars%2Fchokers/m_27159/tm.htm

perverseangelic -> RE: Anyone into beading or wire jewelry? (10/26/2004 8:36:43 AM)
Me, me, me! Though I mostly stick to beaded jewelry as I haven't had the time to make myself a wire jig yet. Silly and juvenile as it sounds, livejournal communities are -great- for getting information about stuff like this. I've been learning various beading strategies through friends at craftgrrl

Brindle -> RE: Anyone into beading or wire jewelry? (10/26/2004 6:21:59 PM)
Yup - ben making my own stuff on an off for yrs - but the mail thingy ain't working for me somehow - I'm not gonna get on that often but am happy to try an help :) What wire are you using? Steel, copper, silver, etc. - each have their own strengths and problems....my best advice is to get some small clamps and some good quality pliers in a range of "noses" (or shaped ends) as you will no doubt discover that your fingers are to few and not flexible enough! lol Also investigate plastic coated wire in various thicknesses and teh use of crimps to keep beads in place. you can also make quite simple wooden blocks or gadgets to turn and shape wire.

velvetvixen -> RE: Anyone into beading or wire jewelry? (10/27/2004 2:35:59 PM)
I am totally into beaded jewelry, I sell it on consignment at a semi-local shop that only carries handmad beaded jewelry on consignment. I only make bracelets because I am too into instant gratification, although if I had the attention span I would love to do the amulet bags. I would like to try lampworking but I see myself burning me or the house down. The hobby is addictive and can get expensive, but it seems that everything in life that is fun is expensive. Much fun with your new hobby.

perverseangelic -> RE: Anyone into beading or wire jewelry? (10/27/2004 3:47:01 PM)
god I'd love to try lampworking. I'm invovled in a medieval group with a character that could wear lampwork beads, but they're far too expensive to buy. Well, the stuff for lampworking is too, but still... someday, someday!

Brindle -> RE: Anyone into beading or wire jewelry? (10/27/2004 4:29:02 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: perverseangelic god I'd love to try lampworking. I'm invovled in a medieval group with a character that could wear lampwork beads, but they're far too expensive to buy. Well, the stuff for lampworking is too, but still... someday, someday! But surely BASIc (as in very) lampwork can be done with glass rods and a bunsen burner? Then you can incorporate seperate beads, acrylic, metal...etc? That can't be that expensive?

perverseangelic -> RE: Anyone into beading or wire jewelry? (10/29/2004 11:22:33 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Brindle But surely BASIc (as in very) lampwork can be done with glass rods and a bunsen burner? Then you can incorporate seperate beads, acrylic, metal...etc? That can't be that expensive? honestly, I don't know. This isn't something I've done a huge deal of research into as I don't want to add -another- hobby to my list. For a bunson burner doesn't one need an source of gas? Too, I would imagine that glass rods aren't entirely cheap, especially with shipping. Mostly, though, I have a list of hobbies to learn. Lampwork is on there, but it's after inkleweaving, naalbindg, basic ferrier work, and more complex corsetry design. Well, and graduation University. Still, I'd love more info if you have any to share, just to store away for future reference.

sub4hire -> RE: Anyone into beading or wire jewelry? (10/29/2004 12:19:08 PM)
Ok, I have to ask. What is lampworking? It sounds as if it is those 180 degree glass rods we used to have to make in chemistry. Relatively easy enough to do. Yet as Perverse says, where exactly do you find a cheap bunsen burner and a supply of I assume natural gas to fuel it? Are you also putting glass beads on the glass and somehow bendiing the glass around the bead? If so, is this not messing up the bead or is it a more dense glass? I guess I should just do a search on lampworking but it appears you all know what it is already.

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