If you would like to learn a bit more about the specifics of my work, please choose a topic from the list below (or click on the “How to” link in the menu to your left). Notably, to be able to read more than just the introduction of these articles, you must be registered and logged in.

• how to make spirals
• make "neat" loops and spirals
• wrap loops
• join SoftFlex to wire
• hammer wire
• measure and cut wire
• make pendants

Spirals. I (very much) like spirals.

I use these turned pieces of metal in most of my jewellery. Somewhere. I use them as links for chains or partial chains. I use them as charms or dangles. I suppose I do this for their aesthetic, for their strength, for the pleasure of their making. And, I make them in silver and copper and in gauges of wire that run from 22 to 16.

If you are interested in learning how I make these, please read on :o)

“Neatness” is definitely subjective and a question of aesthetics. And although there is indeed a question of “technique”, I continue to claim that consistency is likely the biggest factor as to whether something is felt as being “neat” or not. By this I mean that if you continue to do what you do the same way “always”, even if it really isn’t “neat”, it will “feel neat” :o)

Beyond consistency, I do have some comments and “techniques” that let my work be consistent with my own sense of aesthetics. Please read on for some of these.

Wrapped loops, although relatively easy in theory, can be a little tricky to have look as nice as we would like. Here’s how I approach the doing of mine.

Every so often there is a piece of jewellery that wants to be really soft and dangly but that also still wants to be a sterling silver “piece”. I use SoftFlex® wire for the dangly part (can’t beat its strength and non-stretchiness) and join this to the sterling silver part in a way that allows the structure of the SoftFlex to be felt but not seen.

Details of how I do this follow.

Although silver wire “work hardens” as you bend it, sometimes it is not yet hard “enough” to keep its shape. One option is to tumble your work harder in a rotary or vibratory tumbler but another is to harden it through hammering.

And, although pliers are great for bending wire, they are not wonderful for its flattening. This too is where hammers comes in.

So… please read on for some comments on hammering wire in order to harden it or to change its shape.