Simply Shiny Life

A Wire Wrapped Jewelry Primer
Part One: History

As wire wrapped jewelry composes such a big part of my work, I thought adding a bit of background and commentary about this particular jewelry niche might be helpful. I’ll split the dialogue over several posts for your reading pleasure.

Today’s post will focus a bit on the history of wire wrapping, and I’ll add later posts about tools, terms and resources. I’ll also try to include lots of links to online sources for your perusal if you would like additional information.

Let’s start with the definition of Wire Wrapped Jewelry. According to Wikipedia,  wire wrapped “jewelry is made using jewelry wire and findings similar to wire (like head-pins) to make components. Wire components are then connected to one another using mechanical techniques with no soldering or heating of the wire. Frequently, in this approach, a wire is bent into a loop or other decorative shape and then the wire is wrapped around itself to finish the wire component making that loop or decorative shape permanent.”  Wire wrapped jewelry is differentiated from other types of jewelry making in that it is almost exclusively created by hand. Coiling, wrapping, bending, weaving and twisting wire, making loops and joining components is, by its nature, nearly impossible to automate. Although soldering is incorporated into some design aspects of wire wrapped pieces, typically components are joined via a ‘cold joining’ process, meaning wire to wire versus any soldering techniques.

Wire wrapped jewelry has been around for thousands of years. Again, according to Wikipedia, “the British Museum has samples of jewelry from the Sumerian Dynasty, dated at approximately 2000 BC.” I’ve noticed that, while this particular jewelry making technique has been around for eons, it has experienced a revival of late within the artisan jewelry making revival itself. I discovered jewelry making and then wire wrapping about a year ago. After much practice, I’ve determined that the coiling aspect of wire wrapping is a nearly meditative act for me. Additionally, envisioning a practical joining solution to a contemplated design, sort of like solving a structural problem, is quite enjoyable too.

You can find additional wire wrapped jewelry resources at Wikipedia and This History of Wire Wrapping by Mark Case

Next segment: Tools

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Etsy Artist Profile: MonkeyBuns http://monkeybuns.etsy.com

I’ve met many very very talented artists on etsy in the teams that I belong. I’ll be highlighting them in the coming weeks every Thursday on my blog. My inaugural profile belongs to Krystal Backer the artist behind the MonkeyBuns Etsy shop. She creates gorgeous jewelry from delica and other beads. Her bracelets are really fabulous…and I speak from experience as I own two. Also, for those of you wondering, Krystal admits that she is asked why she named her shop Monkeybuns a lot. Krystal says “Monkeybuns is my son’s nickname and he’s my biggest inspiration.”

Enjoy!

Etsy Artist Shop: Monkeybuns.etsy.com
Etsy Artist Name: Krystal
Location: Mason City Iowa
Where else can we find you and your work?: MacNider Museum in Mason City Iowa
Blog: http://krystalbacker.blogspot.com/

What are your jewelry beginnings? I started stringing jewelry for my mom when I was 10. Last week while going through my grandma’s jewelry I found some of my first pieces. They made me laugh but you always have to start somewhere.

Where did you start and how did you progress to work you are creating today? I started when I was 10 doing stringing, when I was a teen to my about 20 I did hemp jewelry. I’m a self taught bead weaver now and will soon start to do glass fusing and lampwork beads which I’m very excited about.

What are your favorite materials?
I love Delica beads but what really excites me is recycling beads from other items.

What inspires you?
My biggest inspiration is my son. To watch him learn new things each day really makes me want to stretch my talents.

How do you describe your design style?
I have been described as modern earth. I love earth colors with a splash of wow.

 What artists have influenced you, and how?
I really admire Sandfibers. I strive to be as good as her one day. I also look to my fellow JET Team member, CombustionGlassWords, when it comes to lampwork and fusing.

What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?
Honestly I’d say be realistic. You will have to put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears to achieve your goals. You will get out of Etsy what you put into Etsy.

How do you spend time when you are NOT creating?
I spend time with my husband and our son. I also love to be around my friends and family.

Where have you been published or profiled?
I was featured on Fire Mountain Gems, I’ve been on Etsy’s front page two times, I’ve been in a couple of blogs. I appreciate every time I’m featured!

You can view more of Krystal’s work in the MonkeyBuns etsy shop as well as her Flickr site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/monkeybuns/

Stay tuned in upcoming weeks for more talented etsy artist profiles from my JET and ABS team members.

I guess the title says it all. I had a dangle earring making fiesta at my house this weekend. Although typically, I’m a hoop kinda gal, the occasional beady dangly earring appeals to me too. Actually, as I look back, I think dangly earrings were the ONLY kind I wore during my jewelry formative years in the ’80s.  I’m glad they never really went out of style.

These new dangle earrings are composed of handmade sterling silver ear wires, sterling silver components and gemstones.

New earrings can be found for sale at ShinyAdornments on Etsy

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The black iridescent peacock pearls in this pendant were originally slated for a bracelet.  I had wrapped about a hundred of them with sterling silver balled headpins and they were rolling around on a plate and kept falling off. So, clever me DOH! put about half on a piece of beading wire to ‘hold’ them while I figured out what sort of design I was going to use on the bracelet. While looking at all those wrapped peacock pearls jumbled together it occured to me that they would make a really fab pendant. So, there you go. Origins of my latest pearl cluster pendant.

To purchase, visit my Artisan beaded and wire wrapped jewelry Artfire Shop

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I couldn’t be more happy about how our bathroom remodels have turned out.  We went from 1950s unappealing to up to date clean lines and,  dare I say, stylish.  New tile, new paint, new cabinets, new trim, new fixtures, new lighting, ahhhhhhhh.

The contractors we just FAB and did a super job. They arrived on time, did what they said they would do, cleaned up their mess and even added a couple things that I forgot (oops!) to mention in the original contract.  The cabinets over the toilet are still on order, but we expect them to arrive in the next week or so.

Here are some before and after pictures.

In addition to some wickedly awesome jewelry creations as well as a great sense of humor, Brandi of Caties Blue is also uber creative when it comes to designing packaging for her works of art.

Check out the link below to read her description of wrapping the perfect box. B..you are too clever for your own good.

http://brandi-girl.blogspot.com/2008/07/tip-share-packaging-wraps.html

Ever look at your jewelry box and wonder what you were thinking when you purchased this or that item? I was cleaning out my GINORMOUS stash of old jewelry and ran across an amethyst nugget necklace I’d purchased a few years ago. It weighed a TON so I had rarely worn it. But, I thought, the stones would look pretty fab in a bracelet.

I’d also purchased some really pretty lampwork beads from Deronda’s Designs on etsy that coordinated nicely. The result is the bracelet pictured below. Amethyst nuggets, floral lampwork beads and sterling silver, accented by purple lepidolite beads.

This chunky bracelet best fits a wrist of 6 1/2 to 7 inches (16.5 to 17.8 cm) and is listed at my etsy shopping site.

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artisan handmade amethyst nugget sterling silver wire wrapped bracelet

With fuel prices higher than ever, what could be easier than forgoing your trip to the mall and shopping from home?

The Artisan Beaders Street Team (http://artisanbeaders.blogspot.com/ ) is holding a “No Fuel Required Sale”. Members of the team will be offering discounts and/or free shipping from Sunday, July 13th through Saturday, July 19th.

All items in my etsy shop http://shinyadornments.etsy.com will be 10% off AND will ship for free if purchased during my sale. Simply check out as usual and choose OTHER as payment type. I’ll send you a revised invoice. Don’t forget to add NO FUEL to the notes to seller to obtain the special sale pricing.

You can find ALL of the ABS Team items by searching tags on etsy using ABSTEAM.

Happy Shopping!

I’ve finally reached the 500 heart mark on etsy.com.

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The Artisan Beaders Street Team on etsy is official effective today. We’ve got our own teams page on etsy.com here.  Woo hoo!

 About ABSTeam

The Artisan Beaders Street Team is a collection of artisan bead and jewelry designers. Our focus is on quality handmade pieces of wearable art, and each member works hard to create high quality pieces.

We are a juried Street Team with shops on Etsy that have come together for the purpose of promoting each other, the team, and handmade products. Applicants are reviewed once a quarter by all current members.

To find out more about us, please browse through our blog.

Founding members of ABSTeam include: