A chronicle of the meanderings, false starts (which in retrospect, while sort of embarrassing turned out to be highly instructive), epiphanies, selective apathy (still evolving), wild mood swings, opinions (subject to frequent change), and life lessons of an inveterate dabbler (and her latest dabblings).

Thursday, February 11, 2010

All the Charm of Barbed Wire, But Without the Pointy Parts



I saw a nifty pendant somewhere (can't remember who did it, or I'd give her credit) where the artist had made some simple ring-shaped connectors out of wire. Looked sort of messy, like a bird's nest with an unfortunate big hole in the middle. I wanted to do earrings with them, so yesterday on my lunch hour I set about figuring it out. I couldn't get that same messy look, although I was able to make a ring shape. So to bump up the messy factor (judging by my house and my car and my hair you'd think I'd be really good at messy wire work) I sort of wrapped the end of the wire around in an irregular fashion. Well I'll be darned if that doesn't look like barbed wire, I said. Hmm, not quite the nature-inspired look I was thinking of. More a self-mutilation-inspired look. But people are into that, right?

I had been wanting to combine some vivid teal green/blue colors with the steel, so this is my first pair. Going to do it again with fuschia, and white and amber, and green, and...

13 comments:

  1. LOVE your wire wrapping. But then, I'm pretty sure I have told you that before.

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  2. I think you have a winner here...make them in all colors :)

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  3. I am such a fan of your work! The earrings are wonderful!

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  4. you did a great job! i love that wrapped style... i use a knitting needle to wrap around - because i use stuff from my house...really wondeful! and i love how oxidizing comes out in that type of wrapping...

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  5. can't wait to do this in silver, copper and brass! my plan is "do it to death." and it will be such a joy to polish i'm sure. (where does steel wool GO, anyway?) glad you like it!

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  6. Barbed wire without the pointy part wasn't my first thought when i saw your beauties ! But, rather to a new original and elegant creation.

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  7. Your post title totally cracked me up! Thanks for the laugh!

    I *think* I saw this technique in either "Easy Wire Jewelry" or "Step By Step Wire Jewelry" - I can't remember which one. Also, in that article, the rings were then hammered to flatten them out, but I love your version - especially with the oxidized wire!

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  8. i did hammer them just a little, but i didn't want to whale on them b/c i was afraid the wire would break where it crossed. might have to try pounding on one and see what happens.

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  9. yes cindy, i just ordered a whole mess of fuschia swaros from artbeads yesterday. and i have pearls in fruit punch and raspberry. bwahahahaah!

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  10. These are magnificent!
    Barbed wire can have a certain beauty, but these far precede barbed wire!

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  11. I'm the person who first did these wire-wrapped rings months ago as bezels for polymer clay and posted my experiments with them on my Flickr site. I didn't think of the wraps as "messy" but organic, since most of my polymer clay has that feeling. You can see more of them in finished pieces in an article coming up in Belle Armoire Jewelry--Summer 2010. I have made them with steel, copper and bronze wire and also mixed together. I like your take on hanging the crystals on the ring. I usually wrap the shiny bits directly on with the wrapping wire.

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  12. Thanks for enlightening me, Christine! Bezels is a great idea! Have to check out your Flickr page. I don't remember seeing them used as bezels, but as simple ring connectors. Was that you too? Love Belle Armoire, have to be sure and get that issue! Thanks for visiting!

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