Vid #128: “String together beads and you get jewelry. Fashion the same beads with unique handmade wire and you have a work of art!” ~Polyanya
By walking around the bead aisles of your local craft store, you will most likely see many jewelry findings available for purchase. You may also notice that they are often expensive and unoriginal.
When you have gone to all the work of making fabulous polymer clay beads, why choose run of the mill findings or overpriced ones? Especially when you can easily make many of them yourself!
I will be adding another easy to do wire work video to the Polymer Clay Library called the Chandelier Wire Work Technique, that I think you’re going to enjoy. Not only can you use these looped links in the way that I show you in the video, but you can also incorporate them into necklaces and bracelet designs as well. I’ll show you those in a future post.
The full version of the Vid-017-4 tutorial will be posted in the Polymer Clay Members Library on Friday October 23rd, 2009. But if you would like to see a sneak peak intro clip right now, scroll down the page a bit to the video player below.
Here’s That “Link Below” Referred To at End of the Video
>> Polymer Clay Tutorials <<
The full version of the “Chandelier Wirework” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Bead Making Videos Library in the Vol-017 Back Issue Package.
Customer Feedback About Membership Value:
I go back and look over the past videos for ideas, it’s like going to the supermarket and going up and down looking and thinking “now what do I want to make… OH! this looks interesting”. Can’t wait for this,** my payment will be coming out soon, so I’ll be good till January. ~Ken-H
** Reference to the Seasonal Christmas Cane videos coming up in Vol-018 (Nov 2009 release dates).
The following topics are included in this “Chandelier Wirework” video tutorial:
- See examples of both earrings and pendants using this unique wire working technique.
- Discussion of the best gauges of wire to use for the different purposes.
- Combining different colored metals for an interesting look.
- Learn how to create the looped chandelier findings using simple hand tools.
- Demonstration on how to create strength in the wire by work hardening with a hammer.
- How to readjust the wire loops back into shape, after the hammering process.
- Discussion on how to assemble the links and add polymer clay bead charms to your chandelier earrings or pendants.
The full version of the “Chandelier Wirework” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Bead Making Videos Library in the Vol-017 Back Issue Package.
WOOOOHOOOO!
YIIIIPPPPEEEEEEEE!!!!
YAHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
[Sorry… couldn’t help myself LOL]
Isn’t it fun to see how adding exclamation marks to the end of a series of letters that don’t even spell a real word… can express so much excitement!? I love it!!!
Hopefully all of the foreign language and international visitors who use translation tools to view this page, don’t get confused ;-).
Hmmm… I wonder if other cultures do this same sort of thing with their letters and how that would look in Russian… or Mandarin… French, Italian, Spanish… Danish, Swedish, Norwegian? Oh and Israel too!!!!
Hi Cindy
In danish we would say: JUBIIII!!
FABBBBULOUSSSSS!!!!
YAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wanted to get in on the fun! :P
Ken Hamilton
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,USA
I haven’t seen the full video yet and I’ve already got an Idea on how to use this technique differently that what will be shown.
Cindy, I think I’ve had one of your SHAZAM! moments. (sorry couldn’t help myself)
I am so into wire-work now that i have found a supply of wire, i have a hot seat i just cant wait for this video ( can we have it on Thursday) lol sorry Cindy i am so exited. i am trying to cram everything in before i go away on Monday. I hope to be able to get on the Internet in Chicago so i don’t miss anything but i am not sure yet keep your fingers crossed for me.
Wow, Wow, Wow!!! is all I can say Cindy
just seen the Chandeleir Video and cant wait to do some.
just loved it.
Have plenty of wire and beads and now I know what I am going to do with them.
Guess I’ll never go to bed round here.
love
ElizabethK.
Cindy:
Besides claying, wire working is my other passion. I am glad you are sharing some of the wealth of experience you have in this area also. It is always fun to get inspired to go beyond your comfort zone and try new things. These are WAY COOL!!!! I love copper but I bet these are stunning in silver. I am going to do them this weekend in silver. :)
Laurel
AWESOME!!!!
Love the wire work. Haven’t done much wire work so this has really helped guide me in a new direction that still allows me to keep working with polymer. Cindy I don’t think I would ever be disappointed in anything you would chose to share with us.
Thanks again Cindy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cindy – do you make your own jump rings? Are they hammered as well?
thanks
Deb
I loooooved this vid Cindy! I am going to make some pretty stuff with this technique…now I just have to make some beads that suit/fit this style. *lol*
Can’t wait for the next wire working vid..!!! :)
~Lisa
Thanks SO MUCH everyone!
@Deb: I do make my own jump rings. I’ll show you how sometime. I don’t usually hammer them unless it’s part of the look I want.
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
(didn’t want to miss out on the fun either)
Dear Cindy and All,
I don’t know if this is of any help to anyone, but after my first attempt at Cindy’s chandelier wire work I was very happy until I noticed all the marks on the wire caused by my pliers, so I put my husband to work and he has covered the tips with the covering of (you guessed) brass wire from electric cable I don’t know if it will last long if not it will keep him busy, lol, Ritzs.
You have got a clever husband Ritzs! I have put masking tape on my tools before to prevent nicks in my wire, but hadn’t thought of using the wire coating like that! Thanks for passing along that tip!
Nice to see you started making the chandelier pendant so quickly like that!
I see you didn’t hammer the loops. Is there a reason for that? The hammering will flatten the loops out nicely and give them much more strength. It will also disguise any nicks you may have gotten in your wire from your tools.
I read about using a rawhide mallet to work harden and not to get the flattening and dents in the metal, does this truly work and does it work on all the metals?
I didn’t hammer them as this was just a try to see if i could do it, and also my wire supply came from an Alternator rewiring firm and is insulated not plastic coated but i was eager to start the chandelier, the wire comes in the most amazing colors i don’t no if you were able to see a close up,the rewiring firm said i can have all the offcuts as long as i make his wife a necklace how lucky am i, however i am going to hammer a piece today and see how it looks. Ken i have never heard of a rawhide hammer it sounds interesting. Now i have to go and do my packing for my journey tomorrow see you all when i get back in three weeks,unless i can get Internet access by for now Ritz’s Wales u k
@Ken: Yes a rawhide, plastic or rubber mallet will work harden the wire without denting or flattening it too much. It’s something about the vibration when you hit the metal that causes the particles to line up and compact, which makes the metal harder to bend. When metal is warmed with a torch, those particles get all ‘jumbled up’ and the metal gets soft again. It would be cool to learn more about the Science of how that works, wouldn’t it?
@Ritzs: I am sorry, I couldn’t tell from the photo that the wire was coated. You are right about not hammering the coated metals with a regular hammer. The coating will just chip off. A rawhide or rubber mallet would be the way to straighten and harden the wire. I am so excited for you getting to come across the pond to America! Have a great trip!
It sure would, IF it could be explained in english and not in the language of science, It was never my strong suit in school.
I love this chandelier wire work… I cannot put my tools down :) Thanks Cindy!
New to your membership today. Would love to see a list (printable) of supplies needed to do each project. Thanks
@Brenda – You’re welcome.
@Edie – Welcome to the Library Edie. It is great to have as part of the community. One of the reasons why I don’t have printable supply lists for the weekly tutorials is because most of these videos are focused on teaching you specific techniques as opposed to projects. That being said, my plan is to also film some project oriented videos, in the form of mini courses. And having a supplies list for them does make a lot of sense. Thanks for the suggestion.