Wired Chinese Knot (Pipa Knot)

The following experimental pieces of wire wrap works are my latest experiment. This is called Wired Chinese Knot (Pipa Knot) by its creator (in wired form), Corra. I must say it is not as easy as it seems but when I finally got it, after two tries (got it wrong the first two times), it is not that difficult either. In the process, I think I found another way to wrap the wire but with a slightly different way (the first two wrong pieces), more difficult way :). First try was not very successful. Actually I did it wrong but this wrong is quite beautiful. It is a bit different from the wired Chinese Knot. This was done with the "Bonzai wire" as the wire is quite soft. Second try with 22g stainless steel wire. Did it wrong again similar to the first one. This time as I was using stainless steel wire, which is stiffer, the wrapping is not that smooth. Finally, third try with copper wire - 20g, I finally got it right. Two in one some more! :D "Kiasu" some more, I managed to make "four in one". Yipee! Back to Corra, I got to know her online recently. She is one of the few wire wrap jewelers in Malaysia that I know of so far. So now, I have 4 wire wrap jeweler friends from the whole of Malaysia........duh! So many ya? As I mentioned just now, she introduced me to this Wired Chinese Knot. Well, I must say I was attracted to this knot the first time I saw it. If you are also smitten by this weave and are wire wrap addicted like me, Corra has a tutorial for this weave available at her etsy shop as well as her blog - de Cor's Handmades. This sounds like advertising ya but no....it's more like sharing a newfound wire wrap technique with you fellow wire addicts......:D I know people like us always looking for new designs or trying to come up with new designs or wire wrap pieces. So, this is something different and very interesting.

Spoons, Forks, Rocks and Wire

Combine all four and what will you get? Some very interesting stuff I must say. I stumbled upon Dr. Gus's (he is only 19!) site and I was mesmerized with all the stuff he makes especially the spoon and fork collection. Check them out at Doctor Gus and I am sure you would be inspired too. I am looking at spoons and forks differently now. Soon our house will be running out of them.....hahaha...Opp! we will have to eat with our fingers.....

Hubby's Wire Creations

Most of the time I only show wire wrap pieces done by myself in my entries. How selfish! Sell Fish? Anyway, in this entry, I am going to show some of the wire wrapping works done by none other than.....hubby! Most of the time I am engrossed in my own wire jewelry world that I forgot hubby does some remarkable wire wrapping pieces as well - although a bit different from my interest but never the less skill is required. He has been doing this many many years before we even got married and that is long before I discover wire jewelry. Pictures here are some of the spreaders he made for himself. They are for one of his hobbies - fishing. Most of them are made of 16g or bigger "hard" stainless steel wire. When I say "hard" it is really hard. I have tried bending smaller wire but gave up halfway as they are just to hard on my hand. If I managed one, there will be no strength left for the second one. On the other hand, he finds it hard to bend or work with the finer and softer stainless steel wire that I work with. His excuse - his hands are too big for the tools/pliers that I use. Maybe yes, maybe no.....LOL.

Iza Malczyk - Jeweler

It is not important if you do not know how to pronounce her name as when you see her work of art, you will say WOW! She made very intricate and awesome wire wrap jewelry pieces. Wish I have just a bit of her talent. Wouldn't you? Here is her site - izamalczyk.com Wonder if she has attended any wire jewelry class or she self learned.

Malaysia Craft Promotion....last

This will be the last part on the Malaysia Craft Promotion held at the Kuching Waterfront last weekend. This stall was set up by Lini Idris of LiniCollection and Paul CCK. Lini has vast collection of brooches, pendants, choker, necklace and earrings, gold and silver plated produced both using modern and traditional designs. As such, their collections are traditional in design but modern in look. Besides costume jewelry, Lini also has a wide collection of decorative items, art and crafts including corporate gifts, gifts boxes, candle holders, coaster, etc. One of the highlight of their promotion include on the spot modification of the pieces you purchase. I purchased a bunga raya brooch but requested Paul to modify it to a pendant. He did it on the spot in less than half an hour. Here are pictures taken at their stall and Paul at busy at work.

Lini's Collection

Paul waiting for the solder to heat up

Removing the pin and solder on the jump ring to form the loop

Still at it

Almost done

Wire Embroidery

Read an interview with Melanie Schow today and I must admit this is the first time I heard or read the term Wire Embroidery. Maybe I have came across it somewhere before but it didn't have that impact until I saw Melanie's works as shown here. (Pst! I hope she does not mind me showing some of her works here). Visiting her website, Solamente, I was so captivated by her wire work and wire wrapped pieces. They are just awesome. I think I am getting hook into something new here. I hope she doesn't mind me posting some of her works here. Just want to show how beautiful and intricate her pretties are and how I wish I can attend one of her classes or make pieces as pretty as these.

Jewelry Tutorials, Tips and Instructions Sites

This post is updated from time to time to include recent discoveries and links.

Many of the sites/links don't work anymore therefore I strikethrough them.

Last updated: 21 August 2020

With more and more people going into jewelry making (either as a hobby or business), it is getting to the point that there is far more out there than you could ever hope to read and learn on a regular basis. When I first started with this hobby, there are many sites that I visited to learn the basics about wire wrapping. Some of these sites provide free tutorials while others provide both free and paid tutorials. I look for the free one most of the time, therefore the listed sites mostly provide free tutorials and instructions. To help you filter that info glut down to a more manageable level, here is my list of the most practical websites and blogs for wire jewelry tutorials, tips and instructions. Hope this will get you started with this very addictive hobby.

Free Tutorial Websites / Blogs:

• Wigjig University – This is a very good site for beginners. The site shows you free instructions, techniques and jewelry making projects. It seems the site has changed its address and most of the free instructions are not available anymore. The new web address is - https://www.wigjig.com/ if you would like to check it out. 
• Remy – Another talented jewelry designer who also offer free and paid tutorial on wire wrapping techniques.
• Connie Fox – Connie is also a very talented wire worker and instructor. She gives free instructions especially for beginners at her site. Her pieces will give you lots of ideas as well.
  
• Beadaroo – Another good site for beginners.
• Many Roads – This site shows how to wrap a simple pendant.
• http://members.optusnet.com.au/felicityrodda/thelaide/cabachon3.html – A simple border wrap pendant.
• My4jewels – I like this ring tutorial as it is very easy to understand.
• http://jewelrymaking.about.com/od/beginnerscorner/Beginners_Corner.htm – this site has lots of information on wire jewelry as well as free projects.
• Turtlebay jewelry – Made my caged spiral based on this tutorial.
• Beadstudio – this is where I learn my tree of life.
• Ravenrings.com – Learn to make clasp here.
• Rockhounds.com – instruction on wrapping a faceted pendant that does away with claws.
• Bellaonline – She has a list of interesting wire jewelry tutorials and instructions as well as links.
• MyBeads – I love this site. Easy to follow instructions.
• Robyn – She has links to various resources on jewelry as well as wire wrapping instructions and tutorials.
• Allinfoabout – Great site with tones of useful links on jewelry making.
• Frogsongstudio - Coin Ring Tutorial
• WiredupBeads (WUB)-  Great for beginners
• Nancy Wickman - Woven Wire Bangle 3, Woven Wire Bangle 2, Wire Woven Earrings
• Szarka/Magpie Gemstones - Long list of free jewelry making tutorials available online. 
• Flight Fancy - Wire Wrap Woven Pendant. There are two parts to this tutorial. Just scroll down to the next/previous post.
• Marie Cristine Jewelry - Egyptian Coil Tutorial
• Wonder mind - Ear Cuff Tutorial
• Beadinggem (Pearl) - Lots of free jewelry making tips and tutorial
• Michael David Sturlin - In the Loop - Step-by-step instructions for making a crocheted chain
• Julia Petit - Chain Bracelet decorated with Crochet Work and Lines
• Art Bead Scene Blog - Garden Gate Clasp
• StudioDax - Several tutorials here
• Tela Formosa Designs - Woven Bail 

Journals & Magazines, Forums:

• Lapidary Journal – They have large database on step by step instructions. Check this one out as well - http://www.lapidaryjournal.com/stepbystep/dec04.cfm
• Creative Wire Jewelry Forum – Registration needed to join this forums of helpful members of all level.
• About.com forum – another forum that covers wire jewelry.
• Bead&Button Magazine – You need to register as member to gain access to free tutorials here.
• BeadStyle Magazine – free instruction on making the loops.
• Beadshop.com – free instructions on various jewelry projects.
• Art Jewelry Magazine and forum - another site with lots of free projects. Registration is required.
  
• Some of the wire jewelry/jewelry forum I am familiar with was mentioned here.
• Jewelry Artist Magazine - Long list of Step-by Step Jewelry Making Tutorials.

Metal Works/ Metalsmithing

• Dr. Karen Meador/Magpie Gemstones - Copper Etching
• Linda Woods - Etching Copper or Brass
• Virginia Vivier - Design Transfer for Acid Etched Brass, Copper and Silver Jewelry
• Virginia Vivier - Acid Etching Brass, Copper and Silver Jewelry, Part 2: Hand Drawing Designs on Brass and Copper for Acid Etching and Part 3: Ferric Chloride Acid Bath
• Virginia Vivier - DIY Acid Etching on Metal for Jewelry Making - Part 4: Etching on Silver Using Ferric Nitrate
• Stephanie Lee - Etching Tutorial
• Art Jewelry Magazine - Video tutorials on Metalsmithing
• Spinning Ring - a great tutorial by Kat Brandon featured in workingSilver.com. Check out their archive too.

Video clips:

• Nicole and Kathleen Wright – Video clips showing introduction to Wire Wrap Jewelry.

There you go, that should keep you busy for a while.
If you have or know of other sites/blogs with similar contents, please feel free to leave a comment or provide the links.

"Accidental" Wire Jewelry Artist

Introducing Rachel Schoen, my niece in-law, the Accidental Wire Jewelry Artist! In case, just in case you wonder about her looks, she is half Chinese and half German. This beautiful 10 yrs old is from Calgary, Canada. She is on holiday here in Kuching with her parents. They have been busy traveling here and there (in between their Kuching stay, they have traveled to Sabah, Singapore and Bali) and shall be spending the last two weeks here in Kuching before heading home next week. Look at how busy and hardworking she is with all the wire, tools and beads. She is my “first student” **smile**. She is a very fast learner I must say. I started by teaching her how to bend a simple “p” loop and she perfected it after several tries only. Bending the loop at 90° so that it will hold the beads in place, she has no problem forming the wire wrap loop. A bit loose on the wrapping but still they are unique and beautiful on their own ways. Now that she has learned how to use the tools to wrap and twist the wire, her father is quite worried about his tools at home. I would say, he should be more worried about his $$, as she will need them to buy new and more suitable tools, wire and beads. After that, there is no stopping……its addictive. Here are some pictures of Rachel's first works. All of them are earrings and she named her first pair the "Accidental Earring". That is why I call her the "Accidental Wire Jewelry Artist". Looks like she has been bitten by the wire jewelry bug from Borneo.

Friends from Jewelry Forum

This is a very good month. First there are the beads from Calgary. The excitement was not over yet when I received yet another parcel from US. This time it is from a friend I got to know in one of the jewelry forum I joined. Thank you Christa-Maria! Christa's daughter ~ Natalie Hahn ~ is a glass artist and she makes beautiful dichroic nuggets, stained glass and fused glass. Oh! the candle holders are very nice and unique. And these are what Christa sent me. I made a number of friends from these forums and they are all very nice people, willing to share their knowledge and giving constructive comments and advice. If you love wire jewelry, beading or jewelry in general and would like to learn or improve yourself, or just want to make friends, these groups are great. There are lots of resources, tutorials, etc. available if you are a member. Here are links to the groups that i joined. Joining is free. Enjoy them. Wire_Wrap_Jewelry - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wire_Wrap_Jewelry/ WWJGallery - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WWJGallery/ Theunique_wireartists - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theunique_wireartists/ UniqueWireArtists - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UniqueWireArtists/ Beadingholics - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Beadingaholics/ Beadingholics Gallery - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BeadingaholicsGallery/ ArtJewelry Magazine Forum - http://www.artjewelrymag.com/art/community/forum/ Creative Wire Jewelry Forum - http://forums.delphiforums.com/wirejewelry

Introduction

This blog is created to share my interest in wire jewelry with the web communities from all over the world. I first got interested in this hobby few years back but only started experimenting and making my own wire jewelry early this year. In this blog i will share with you some of the pieces that i have made.