Making Wire Sculpted Jewelry

I fell in love with wire wrapping with my very first project. I immediately bought Mark Lareau's All Wired Up and it quickly became my "bible." Mark's teaching style is relaxed and humorous as well as clear and easy to understand. He teaches all of the basic skills, from making wrapped loops to earwires. He includes a lesson on wrapping cabochons as well. This was the only part of the book that didn't work for me because I prefer to use natural stones because they choose their own design.

I found The Basics Of Bead Stringing - A Complete Illustrated Approach For Beginner And Advanced Designers" by Debbie Kanan. I had actually bought the book to improve my stringing technique and was pleased to find a chapter on wire wrapping and sculpting. In my opinion, it is the best technique out there for wrapping natural stones and sculpting beautiful designs. The instructions are clear and easy to understand, but I don't recommend using a razor blade to separate the wire! I can usually use my fingers or one of my clay tools.

Preston Reuther, the "Master Wire Sculptor" has a heart-touching story about how he got started in the wire jewelry business. His website, Wire-Sculpture.com, offers a complete catalog of supplies, a free e-mail course and free projects. I've ordered from him and was satisfied with both the products and service. Preston offers several packages to help others get started in the jewelry making business. They are quite expensive but might be a good investment if you are serious about building a business. My only concern is that it is very easy to identify artists who have studied with Preston. His technique is absolutely beautiful, but all of the pieces are very similar. I recommend learning one or two other techniques so that you can give your work your own unique style.

Wire wrapping is not one of the easier techniques in jewelry making but it becomes second nature when you have developed a good technique. Ladies might want to keep their fingernails shorter or risk broken nails on a regular basis.

Cabochons can be found on most jewelry supply websites and in local bead shops, craft and hobby stores. My favorite source for naturally shaped, polished stones is our local museum! They have a bin in their gift shop where you can fill a small bag with loose stones. I have found several very unusual stones there and the price is right. Their stock mainly consists of amethyst, agate, rose quartz, tiger eye and howlite. It helps if you know what you are looking for. You can find these bins in local stores that sell souvenirs and gifts. I have even seen them in fishing tackle stores! Many of the larger jewelry suppliers online also offer loose stones and you'll likely find them in your local bead shop as well.

There are many ways to highlight and showcase your creations. I've used beautifully decorated small wooden or ceramic boxes that I've either created myself or found at dollar stores, organza bags, handmade drawstring bags, wedding favors, Christmas ornaments....the possibilities are endless.

For that truly special gift, why not showcase your exquisitely handcrafted piece in a high quality jewelry box? JewelryBoxes.com has a selection of over 500 unique men's, women's and children's jewelry, trinket and music boxes as well as watch accessories and jewelry armoires. Materials include wood, leather, fabric, glass, jade and bone. There's even a selection of crytal-embellished jewelry boxes! Features include mirrors, music and locks and some models can be mounted on the wall.

There's something for every style and budget with fast, low-cost shipping. The company stands behind every product they sell and customer service and satisfaction is a top priority.

Your gift will make a lifelong impression, and you can encourage the receiver to fill their box with more jewelry created by you!

JewelryBoxes.com - Use promotional code AH-9749 for Special Savings!

First, taking quality photos of your work is essential for successful online auctions and selling. You'll find some great tips, including instructions on how to build your own light box, in this lens:

Lights, Cameras, Auctions! Photographing Jewelry And Art For Online Auctions

Second, here are some exciting new developments in online selling for the self-representing artist:

FuzzB, originally Blue Fuzzy Slippers, began in response to what fairy and fantasy artists on The Fairy Society Business and Social Networking site and entrepreneurs at Divapreneur wanted in an auction site. At the time, eBay was again steeped in controversy about hiking fees and other policies detrimental to the earnings of its angry and frustrated members.

I've been out of pocket and offline for a few months and just getting back into resuming my online activity. Although I joined the site back in May 2008, I haven't been back to take a look until this afternoon. I am blown away by what I saw! The admin, Sherri Forrester Baldy and the FuzzB team have truly outdone themselves.

In additiion to its original purpose of being an auction and shopping venue for buyers and sellers, the site has evolved into a social networking site with all of the usual perks and complete with magazine publications from The Fairy Society and Divapreneur.

Members get their own profile and store and are allowed to earn even more money by sell advertising space and placing Google ads on their profiles. Revenue sharing through the social networking piece is also a goal. It is my understanding that members will also be able to earn from referrals in the near future. If you make and sell - or love to shop for and collect - one of a kind, handmade quality items, FuzzB is the perfect venue with benefits that you won't find on other auction sites! Get on this one early so that you can keep up with all of the exciting developments!

Another brand new site has also sprouted from the artisans at The Fairy Society. Fairy and fantasy sculptress Kendra Marie Gilbert has recently launched FaeBae.com The site offers free customizable stores, affiliate pages and more:

FaeBae Features

FaeBae is currently looking to add items to its wide variety of merchandise categories, especially jewelry and bath and body products. Get on over there and earn your wings!

I ran across SmartFlix.com How-To DVDs while searching for some do it yourself instructions on repairing my clothes dryer. Just for the thrill of it, I entered "wire jewelry making" into the site search. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I found that they not only carry basic tutorials but that they also have DVD's from some of the most famous and admired artists in the medium.

Preston J. Reuther, Sharilyn Miller and White Gothic Studios are just a few among the artists and experts in the category.

These DVD's can be expensive to purchase. I know that it would take me quite a while to be able to buy all of the ones on my wish list. With SmartFlix, you can have an entire library at your fingertips! You can study up on personal finance and real estate as well as train your dog or learn to fly a plane!

The site also runs holiday specials. For Father's Day, they offered 10% off rentals. Join today and open up a whole new world!

I've always wanted to own an art supply store and now I do! thanks to MisterArt.com Discount Arts and Crafts Supplies! I've hand-picked a selection of essential polymer clay supplies, sculpting and wire jewelry making tools. Save up to 75% off and save gas, too!

Parthena's Big Little Art Supply Store

You might also want to check out my Freebies page for fun and useful business resources:

Freebies

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