Lee Dobbins
Making jewelry is a fun hobby and for some can become a full
time business. At the very least, you will be able to make
gorgeous and unique jewelry to wear and give as gifts. As with
any hobby, you need to start with the basics and using memory
wire to make jewelry is a method that requires a bit less skill
than some of the others. Memory wire jewelry does not need a
clasp or fancy crimping and one size fits all.
Memory wire is flexible wire that springs back to it's original
form when not stretched - kind of like a slinky. It comes in
necklace, bracelet and ring sizes. You simply cut off a section
to the size you want and string on beads!
Of course, the first step (and the most fun) is to decide on
the beads! Some people are inspired by artisan made lampwork
beads, others by gemstones beads and still others by the vast
array of crystal beads. Some like to use all of the above in
their beaded jewelry designs! You are only limited by your own
imagination and there is no "wrong" combination of beads so
choose the beads that "speak" to you and incorporate them into
your design.
To make beaded jewelry using memory wire, you will need:
1. A tool that cuts the memory wire (can be found in any bead
supply store - don't use regular wire cutters as you will soon
ruin them!) 2. The memory wire (sold in packages where you can
get 2 or 3 pieces of jewelry out of each package) 3. Needle nose
pliers 4. The beads!
Step 1 - Cut the memory wire to size. For a bracelet or ring,
decide how many times you want it to wrap around your wrist or
finger - wrap the wire right around your own wrist and cut to
size. A necklace can only go around your neck once (well, you
could probably make it to wrap around a couple times but I think
it would be hard to get on and off). You want to size it so that
the ends overlap a bit.
Step 2 - Now you need to close up one end so that the beads
don't slide off. Take the tip of your needle nose pliers and
place them right at the very end of the wire. Now take the wire
in your other hand and bend it around the pliers. The wire is
pretty hard, so this might be difficult and yoy may have a hard
time with this at first. Try practicing on some smaller pieces
first until you can make a perfect little loop. Make sure the
loop is closed off so no beads can escape. Don't worry - if you
screw up you can just cut off the end and try again! You want
the loop to be as small as possible so it doesn't detract from
our design
Some people also glue on little silver end cap beads. While this
looks a bit better, you run the risk of the glue not holding and
all your beads sliding off. This happened to me once and is why
I use the loop method. To make the loops look a bit snazzier, I
just dangle a bead from them!
Step 3 - String the beads! If you are making a necklace that has
a certain design or focal piece in the middle, you will have to
be careful to space the beads exactly so that they are
symmetrical and the focal piece is in the exact middle.
Step 4 - Close the other end. Using the method in step 2, close
up the other end and you are done!
About the author:
Lee Dobbins is a jewelry designer and owner of Artisan Jewelry
Online where you can read more about jewelry
">www.artisan-jewelry-online.com/making-jewelry.html">jewelry
making.
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