Friday, April 19, 2013

Tips & Tricks Of The Week! With Jamie Estelle (Wire Wrapping)

 
Every week Jamie Estelle Jewelry receives jewelry questions. We decided it would be fun to answer some of your questions here every week on our blog.  Along with a tip or two!
 
Our first question of the week is!
 
Megan from CA. wants to know, " How do I wire wrap?" 
 
Thanks for the question Megan!  There are many different methods of wire wrapping.  Eye pins, free form, wrapping pendants, earrings, bracelets, etc.   I will show you a basic wire wrapping technique   that you can use on a lot of your projects.
 
 
Basic Wire Wrapping.  
 
What you need:
  • 20g or 22g wire
  • round nose pliers
  • flat nose pliers
  • wire cutters


 


1. Straighten the piece of wire more or less using your hands. Grip the wire 2/3rd of the length with your round nose pliers.

grip wire with round nose pliers


 

2. Bend the tip of the wire 90 degrees by moving your pliers away from you.



bend wire 90 deg


 

3. Using your free hand,  bend the tip of the wire clockwise around the nose of the pliers to form a loop.



bend wrie to form a loop


 

4. Grip the loop with your flat nose pliers as in the graphic.



holding eye pin with chain nose pliers


 

5. Now you can start wrapping the wire. Starting close to the loop, start wrapping your wire. Try to avoid leaving spaces while wrapping the wire. Wrap the wire 2 or 3 times.



first wrap in making a wrapped loop


 
wrapped eye pin


 

6. Using your wire cutters, cut off the extra wire.



cutting wrapped loop end


 
 7. Tuck in the wire and make sure your loop has kept its shape.


press down end of wrapped loop

That's it!
 
You can put a bead on your wire and repeat these steps. Keep practicing and you will get the hang of it!
 
 
 
I hope I helped with your question Megan. Thanks for writing us.  If you have anymore questions please feel free to ask. Make sure to come back every week as Jamie Estelle Jewelry answers new Jewelry questions.
 
 
Jamie's Tip Of The Week!
 
 
TIP: While working with wire, wear tape or Band-Aids on your fingers, to prevent cuts on your fingers from the wire.  As this sometimes will happen from pulling the wire to hard.
 
Tune in every week for new questions and Jamie's tip of the week.  If you have any questions about jewelry please email me at www.Jamie@JamieEstelle.com  in subject put jewelry question. We will be sure to answer your questions right here every week on Jamie Estelle Jewelry Blog. 
 
Thank you! 
 
 
 

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Tips & Tricks Of The Week! With Jamie Estelle

 
 
Every week Jamie Estelle Jewelry receives jewelry questions. We decided it would be fun to answer some of your questions here every week on our blog.  Along with a tip or two!
 
Our first question of the week is!
 
Lisa from VA. Wants to know, " I am new to making jewelry and I think I'm opening and closing jump rings wrong. Is there a right way to do this?"
 
Thanks for your question Lisa! Yes, there is a right way to open and close a jump ring. You should always open your jump ring left to right, (never pull it apart)  as you will loose the shape of the jump ring and weaken the bottom of your jump ring.
 
How To Open And Close A Jump Ring
 
1. Grasp the jump ring from the side with a flat - nose pliers.
 
2. Using another pair of pliers, push one side of the jump ring away from you and the other side of the jump ring towards you. Like in the picture above.
 
 
3. Your jump ring should look like this.
 
4. Slip on the end of your bracelet or finding.  Take your two sets of pliers and bring both ends of the jump rings together. Wiggle them back and forth a little to close up any gaps, you should hear a tiny click to reassure you that the jump ring is now close tight and correctly.
 
Closed Jump Ring
That's It!  I hope I helped with your question Lisa. Thanks for writing us.  If you have anymore questions please feel free to ask. Make sure to come back every week as Jamie Estelle Jewelry answers new Jewelry questions.
 
 
Jamie Estelle Jewelry's Tip of the week!
 
 
TIP:  Threading a needle can be tedious an outright annoying task, but with this fun fast tip you will be threading your needle in no time! Before you thread your needle take a little glue,  and put it on the tip of the thread.  Smear it in and let it dry. (It should dry fast) The tip will not only hold the fly away threads together,  but will make the thread stiff at the tip.  It will making it easier to thread through the needle.
 
 
Tune in every week for new questions and Jamie's tip of the week.  If you have any questions about jewelry please email me at www.Jamie@JamieEstelle.com  in subject put jewelry question. We will be sure to answer your questions right here every week on Jamie Estelle Jewelry Blog. 
 
Thank you!