Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
January 10, 2011

Question:

On the cover of your book Wirework, you use a beautiful stone that you list as eudialyte. I have not been able to locate it anywhere. Can you tell me the source?

-Carol in Lake Kiowa, Texas

Answer:

Carol, Eudialyte comes from only a few sources; the cabs I use are from the Kola Peninsula in Russia. Although I did pick up a few additional cabochons on my recent visit to Russia, the best way to find and purchase them is either at a gem show or by doing an Internet search using the phrase, "Russian Eudialyte cabochon loose". Be warned, Eudialyte is rather rare, as its prices will reflect.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
October 29, 2010

Question:

Dale, will you be making an instructional DVD to go with your book, Wirework?

-Sarah in Fort Gratiot, Michigan

Answer:

Actually, I have already made a companion DVD for the second edition of my book, Wirework, which will be available in November 2010. This companion DVD is not a complete collection of full lessons for each project in my book, but rather a technique DVD, meant to assist folks with some of the more difficult processes included in the design directions.

As a technique instructor, for full lessons in the techniques used (on different projects) I recommend either the Intermediate Series or the Advanced DVD Series that I have done with Wire-Sculpture. Thanks for asking!

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
September 18, 2010

Question:

I have just completed the cab bracelet like the one on the cover of Dale’s book with a turquoise cabochon. This cab had a girdle on it. Now I’m trying to make another, and the cab I had picked out does not have a girdle. How on earth do you put a nice band around it so it can be used properly?

-Merry in Smithers, B.C., Canada

Answer:

Oh yes, the edgeless cabochon.

The only way I conquer this challenge is to make sure I have two wires in the middle of the frame, as well as one for the front and one for the back. When forming the frame to the stone, it will be two wires above – that’s cool. You could even plan it that way and instead of making just one pull with the top wire, make that first pull a bit deeper and then pull the second wire, a bit more shallow than the first. And I’ll bet you’ll be a bit more specific when shopping for cabs now too – believe me when I say that we all learned in this way.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
September 17, 2010

Question:

I finally had the chance to buy your Wirework book, and Dale, let me tell you, it is wonderful. I was looking through it last evening, and there I saw some round nose pliers that had what were called scores, do you sell them on Wire Sculpture.com? And also, the 6 step flat nose pliers.

-Rose in Riverview, Florida

Answer:

Thanks Rose! I always enjoy hearing that my book is helping folks create traditional wire jewelry designs.

To answer your question about the scores, first I marked my round nose pliers in the places I most often used them, with a marker, and then I used a diamond file to score the marks permanently in place. Doing this makes life so much easier when making the same sized loops in certain techniques that I repeat over and over again.

As for the stepped flat nose pliers – we are working on a new supplier, and will hopefully carry them soon.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
August 31, 2010

Question:

I recently bought the book Wirework. I was very pleased when I saw the beautiful jewelry that was pictured in the book. I am attempting to make the Ornate Cabochon Bracelet. I was confused when I read over the instructions; they didn’t seem to make sense, but I told myself, “one step at a time.”

Well, I’m on step 13, and the mystery is finally becoming clear: “You actually are making two pieces of jewelry and combining them to make one bracelet”! Why doesn’t the book say so? Anyway, this page is very misleading; I feel you should highlight the fact that the Chevron is merely a frame!

-Ruth in Wickenburg, Arizona

Answer:

Yes, the Chevron Bracelet Base (p. 45) is just as it is named, a “base,” to which any number of items can be incorporated. As I say in the book, the bracelet has an opening on which to attach a variety of “toppings.” The next project, the Ornate Cabochon Bracelet Topping, is an example of what can fit in the Base, which is why it is directly after the Base in Wirework.

Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping

As a progressive instructor, I wrote my book in the same manner that I teach classes and instruct on DVDs. I plan each series and class with each project building on prior projects and concepts. Each project is explained in full detail, and each section of the book has an introductory section. To be able to understand the directions, one should read through both the “Intro” section and then the design directions before setting out to make a project.

With any project, I suggest you work through the written pattern first, and then experiment and have fun making all sorts of designer bracelets!

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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