Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
August 25, 2011

Question:

I am an artisan and would like to make economical wire earrings. What type of wire do you recommend? Sterling silver is a bit too expensive for some of my customers. I have seen craft wire spools, but do not know if they tarnish or change color quickly. Can you help me?

-Lillian in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Answer:

Hello Lillian, because you didn’t mention what your price point is, your question is a bit tricky. All kinds of jewelry wire are suitable for making earrings. Be sure to check out all of the cool earring designs on our Free Patterns page! Many of these designs can be made using the wide variety of colored craft wires available today, and several of them can be made into matching pendants. Yes, eventually some of the color may come off some of the wire, but that depends on the brand you purchase and where and how your customers wear and care for their jewelry. (Example: salt water beaches, chlorine pools, hot tubs, and saunas are not good for any jewelry!)

For the actual wires that go through a person’s ears, I would never recommend using a plated craft wire or any base metal other than stainless steel or niobium, because we have no idea what a customer may be allergic to. There are many places where you can order affordable stainless steel ear wires in bulk (that are hypoallergenic), or you can purchase sterling silver wire and make your own simple ear wires. In my opinion, if you make inexpensive products using low cost supplies, you have to remember that the customer gets what they pay for! I wish you all the best with filling your need.

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
May 24, 2011

Question:

I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I don’t know what headpins are, and I don’t know what they are used for. I guess it went completely over my head! Please elaborate on this subject?

-Ruth in Morristown, Arizona

Answer:

No need to be embarrassed Ruth, you can ask me anything that is related to wire jewelry creation and design. If I don’t know the answer, I will certainly find it! A headpin is a metal component that resembles the straight pin you would use in sewing, or a nail in carpentry. It can be made of about any metal from 14kt solid gold to stainless steel, and headpins are available in many sizes and gauges.

A simple headpin

Jewelry artists most often thread beads on headpins, and then incorporate the beaded headpin (or “headpin charm”) into a design. For example, by connecting the headpin charm to an ear wire, you can create a simple earring. You can also attach headpin charms to chain or a necklace or bracelet to create a lovely design.

To add a beaded headpin charm to a design, simply attach the headpin with a wrapped loop: Use round nose pliers to make a loop at the top of the headpin, just after the last bead. Insert the top of the headpin in a chain link, ear wire, or another existing loop. Then, wrap the headpin’s loop closed: wrap the tail of the loop around and down the stem of the headpin.

Here’s an easy earring idea: slip a couple large beads on a headpin, then start your wrapped loop, slide on an ear wire, and wrap the loop closed!

For step-by-step photographs of making a wrapped loop, check out Charley Key’s Functional Zipper Pull. You can also watch Sherrie Lingerfelt making wrapped loops in the free video Creating a Rosary Link.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
February 7, 2011

Question:

I am just getting started and would like to make some earrings (I have plenty of wire). How do I finish off the ends, so you can insert the wire into the ear lobe? Do I file the ends? Thanks!

-Barbara in Richmond, Virginia

Answer:

Hi Barbara, congratulations on your new venture! Ear wires can be rounded by using a file, an emery board, or a cup burr. We have a helpful video tutorial here on the blog, where WS Faculty member Sonja Kiser demonstrates How to Remove Wire Burrs.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
January 16, 2011

Question:

I have purchased your Beginner Series and am having a great time with the projects. My question is this: In your videos your twisted wire looks perfect from end to end. In other words, it’s not twisted more on the ends than it is in the middle. I use a drill and hold my wire with my pliers just as you show, but the wire twists much more on each end than in the middle. So by the time I get my wire the way I want it in the middle, it is way too tight on both ends. The orbit earrings using a 14" piece of wire is a good example of this. How do I get my wire to look as even as yours?

-Rebecca in Ft. Myers, Florida

Answer:

Oh yes Rebecca, twisting wire. It really is as easy as it looks, but due to the "nature of the beast"; my wire does not always twist consistently either! If you can, twist some wire veerry slooowly and watch it. You will see that the wire twists at both ends, each toward the center, meeting in the middle. This means that the middle does not twist as tightly as each end.

The only way to twist consistently is to plan for about 1/4-inch on each end to twist more tightly and then cut the ends off. For example, with the Orbit Earrings, cut your wire 15-1/4 inches long, and then cut in half. This will give you two 7-5/8 inch pieces. Your pliers and drill will each hold 1/8-inch, leaving the additional 1/4-inch on each end that can be cut off.

For lots more information about twisting wire, please see my article: Getting Twisted, and congratulations on your success, Rebecca!

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
December 1, 2010

Question:

Where can I find the open circle beads used in the "15 Minute Earrings" jewelry idea?

-Sheila in Swoyersville, Pennsyvania

Answer:

Hi Sheila, with the new categories on the main website, you can shop for Beads by metal, price, gemstone or shape! To find the beads you are looking for, look under Shape, then Donut. Thanks for asking!

Folks, if you’re wondering which jewelry idea Sheila’s referring to, you can find free patterns and jewelry ideas on our Free Wire Patterns and Ideas page, which is next to “Resource Center” in the blue bar at the top of every page. The
15 Minute Earrings jewelry idea is at the bottom of that page.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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