Wonderful, Wearable Wire is a fun and easy way for beginning wire workers to make jewelry. With over 30 pages of tips and hints, this book provides detailed instructions and guidance for working with wire. The book is also a great way for intermediate wire workers to improve their skills using the WigJig Olympus transparent jig. The book includes a wide variety of designs, ranging from simple to complex, and from tiny (under 1") to large (over 4"). It includes graphics as well as step-by-step instructions the demonstrate how each wire design is made on the WigJig Olympus. The jig provides the wire worker with the capability to make wire shapes in a consistent, repeatable and professional manner.
Even advanced wire workers and designers are using Wonderful, Wearable Wire for ideas to incorporate into commercial jewelry pieces. The variety of ideas in the book, coupled with the utility of the WigJig Olympus tool allow beginning, intermediate and experienced wire workers to produce professional wire designs quickly, easily, and consistently.
About the Author
Karen Ray rekindled her interest in jewelry-making several years ago, and began specializing in a wide variety of wire working designs, ranging from miniature links and earrings to oversized Christmas ornaments and suncatchers. In addition to showing and selling her jewelry in Northern Virginia, Karen has written a booklet on wire link and clasp designs, and has had her wire and bead jewelry featured in Jewelry Craft magazine. Gary Helwig is the publisher of "Wonderful, Wearable Wire," and the inventor of the WigJig Olympus transparent jig (patent pending). He began his wire working career by designing a wide variety of earrings, which resulted in the publication of a successful booklet showcasing his earring designs. In addition to teaching and demonstrating wire working throughout the country, he is currently expanding his creativity into a new line of wire and bead earring designs, focusing on thinner wire gauges.
Betty Bacon's wire working designs have been featured in "How to Make Your Own Great Earrings" by Jane La Ferla. Through her company, "Treasured Designs," she has shown and sold her jewelry nationwide, and has taught a wide variety of wire working classes.
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How to Pick the Right Wire. When choosing wire, five key factors should be considered: size, gauge, type of metal, malleability, shape, and color . . . 18 gauge . . . can be used for the majority of designs in this book and works for both large, chunkier designs as well as smaller, more delicate designs. It provides a great look in nearly all types of pieces, ranging form earrings to pendants, yokes, and chains . . . Copper is a great wire to use for practicing your wire working skills. It is inexpensive, yet has a "feel" and bendability comparable to most sterling silver and gold-filled wires . . . wire hardness is an extremely important factor to consider when purchasing wire. If you choose the wrong hardness, then your wire may be too difficult to bend or too soft to holds its shape . . .Wire comes in a variety of cross-section shapes: round, square, half-round, rectangular shank, and bevel . . . A great colored wire that we highly recommend is "Artistic Wire," consisting of a copper inner core covered by an enamel coating. . It comes in a variety of matte and metallic colors . . . the versatility of this wire can be seen in the jewelry pieces photographed in this book.
