Creative Thankfulness (3)

Club Creative Studio’s Handmade wire art necklace.

Yesterday’s post from Club Creative Studio shared a few challenges of the latest wire worked project.  Any single day can be filled with obstacles if you are trying a creative project for a first time or have been away from a technique for any duration of time.  Today’s Feature Friday post will share a few successes from the challenges of working with wire in a new way.

Wire art from Club Creative Studio.

Basicly, when I sat to create these necklaces, I wanted to have the feeling and look of the technique of chain maille but, not all of the complicated segments. That look combines individual loops in a maze-like pattern repeated over and over that link together.  This did the trick for me because for one, I did not get a headache or confused too often and for the second reason, I was able to duplicate the method using a variation of technique.

Colored wire art from Club Creative Studio.

Today, I am thankful for variety at the design table, especially the variety of wire.

Wire lends itself to change.  Wire has different levels of strength and durability, it has a range in gauge (thickness), presents itself in suitable qualities, and it  is offered in a variety of colors as well. It is a wonderful to experiment with. When I wrap in wire, it also looks wonderful to mix silver, gold or copper wires together. I love working with wire. Does it show?

Handmade art from http;//www.clubcreativestudio.com

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Creative Thankfulness (2)

Today, I am also thankful for obstacles. They allow me to grow and learn about myself. They also teach me that I can jump pretty high and often, making those many leaps and bounds with success. It is great to step back and appreciate the challenges that I encounter in the studio while creating handmade jewelry art.

Maybe it is a little frustrating sometimes but, the best finished items sometimes stem from taking the long road to completion.  Today’s TNT (This-N-That) blog post from Club Creative Studio post salutes every creative soul that learns from the obstacles placed in their path.

Grow creatively from the obstacles you face.

When I first started out with the idea to twist wire in a certain way for this project, I wanted to make segments and attach them together. I wanted each step to be easy enough that I would want to duplicate it again and again and not be bored.

Wire art from Club Creative Studio.

The results are pretty cool.   What do you think? The obstacle I faced in the beginning was how I might do this the best way to create a project from many separate parts.  I think I will certainly make more twisted wire items and see how I can use the same technique while I vary the designs.

The Feature Friday post will share a few more original art samples I created with twisted wire.

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H is for How to Make a Hook

Club Creative Studio blog has a focus on creativity and as a blog challenge participant with the A to Z blog challenge, I also have a focus on a letter. Today’s letter focus is H. The letter H stands for How.  I would like to share HOW I make a Hook.

Are you inspired to create a hook and loop with wire?

To Begin: These are the tools that are needed to create a hand-made wire hook and loop set.

As in the above photo, I suggest that you gather your tools first.  Have on hand silver wire, non-tarnish wire or craft wire.  I used 18-gauge wire in this sample. Also, the hand-held tools are named from top to bottom, chain-nose pliers, flush cutters,stepped forming pliers, round-nose pliers, and not pictured but you will need a ruler, and marker or pen.

Step One:

Cut five inches of wire and flush cut each end.  I measured from one end, one and one half inches and created a shape like a hairpin.  To make that shape I used the round-nose pliers.

Pinched hairpin shape.

Step Two:

As you hold the “U” shape to the bottom, place the short wire to the left and the longer wire to the right. This photo was taken as I twisted so it is seen in reverse. Make a 90 degree bend opposite the short wire. I used the chain-nose pliers for this move. Switch to the round nose pliers to begin your wrapping around for a snug loop and wrap. Trim all excess wires once the shape is formed.

Forming the shape with a pen.

 Step Four:

Holding the wire against a pen or marker, bend from where the wrap starts, bending over the pen to make the hook shape.  At the tip, I used the chain-nose pliers to form a small bend at the tip at about a forty-five degree angle.

Club Creative Studio hand-made wire hook.

The hook is now finished!

Check back on this blog to learn how to make the loop of this HOOK and LOOP lesson. It will be presented on April 12, 2012.