|
|
Post by creativeminded on Jun 2, 2004 10:46:24 GMT -5
Some of these stones I tumbled and some I bought. Bloodstone  Mixed, some Sweetwater that I tumbled, one Hematite, one Malachite, and one I don't know what it is (the red one), that I bought.  Tami |
|
|
|
Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 2, 2004 11:40:50 GMT -5
Very Very pretty. You must a lot of patience and a very steady hand. I can get these great visions in my head of what I want something to look like but usually manage to screw it up before it's finished. Good Job.  cookie |
|
|
|
Post by rockyraccoon on Jun 2, 2004 13:22:14 GMT -5
tami those look great!
kim
|
|
|
|
Post by sandsman1 on Jun 2, 2004 19:01:17 GMT -5
tami those are all great looking but i gotta say that blood stone is very cool and the malachite stone is electric looking great job ---seeya---john
|
|
thewiz
has rocks in the head
"What good is money if you don't spend it"
Member since January 2004
Posts: 735
|
Post by thewiz on Jun 2, 2004 19:43:13 GMT -5
WOW i wish the set of steps i finished today look that good
|
|
donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
|
Post by donwrob on Jun 2, 2004 21:02:07 GMT -5
Great wraps Tami.....beautiful work again! Super! cheers, Don
|
|
RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
|
Post by RiverOtter on Jun 2, 2004 21:05:23 GMT -5
Those are gorgeous Tami. I really like the style of the one in the top pic, top row, middle. I just hope my wire wrapping comes out half as good as yours!
Otter
|
|
|
|
Post by creativeminded on Jun 3, 2004 10:32:37 GMT -5
When it come to the wrapping yes I do have alot of patience. When I start I just decide how many wires I am going to use and then I let the stone determine how I am going to wrap it. I am now a little more frugal with the wire I use because I am using Sterling Silver and Gold Fill wire and the 22 gauge wire for those are alot more expensive, than the wire I have used in the past.
As I have said in the past about the wrapping you can't force it you have to flow it.
Thanks for the compliaments.
Tami
|
|
thewiz
has rocks in the head
"What good is money if you don't spend it"
Member since January 2004
Posts: 735
|
Post by thewiz on Jun 3, 2004 22:53:32 GMT -5
Tami what type of wire is it "soft /hard/half hard"
|
|
|
|
Post by creativeminded on Jun 4, 2004 11:01:53 GMT -5
I am using soft, I have tried half hard and I had problems with it not flowing the way I needed it too. I also have used brass and silver coated copper wire for some of my first wrappings.
Tami
|
|
RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
|
Post by RiverOtter on Jun 7, 2004 23:32:29 GMT -5
Hey Tami, hope you don't mind if I pick your brain a bit. I would like to try wire wrapping but had some questions about the wire. I understand from reading that 22 gauge soft is a good starter wire for beginners. But when I went to the craft store today, all I could find was 24 gauge and up. Is that going to be too flimsy? Do you think it will hold up ok? Alot of the patterns I have seen and want to try use 14-20 gauge mainly. Have you ever used some that large? Everything I have read says you should have this type of equipment or this, other than the specialty pliers, is there any other pieces of equipment that you have found to be an absolute necessity to have on hand? Any other advice or tidbits of info would be most welcome!
Thanks!!
Otter
|
|
|
|
Post by creativeminded on Jun 8, 2004 10:58:36 GMT -5
Well I guess I need to either pay for my website I have or find another one, I see that one of my pictures is no longer showing up. Anyway, Riverotter I have used 20 gauge wire on some of my pieces, and only one that that the 20 really looks good on are the larger stones, stone wire size ratio. 22 gauge is hard to find, I get most of my 22 gauge on the internet. I would suggest going to www.parawire.com, they are inexpensive because their wire is copper coated with a color. Now if you want to get sterling silver or gold fill I have found the cheapest place is www.jewelrysupply.com. As for the equipment here is a picture of the tools that I use  . The pink handled one I got at Wal-Mart you can also find them at most hobby stores. The yellow handled ones my dad got me in a set called columbian. When you do get your tools, make sure your needle nose pliers don't have teeth, and get spring loaded pliers, it makes it easier to work with, and your hands don't get so tired. The only problem I have had with the yellow set is they had metal tabs instead of a spring to help open them and as I used the pliers the metal tabs work hardened and most of them have broke off. If you have any more questions just let me know. Tami |
|
|
|
Post by krazydiamond on Jun 8, 2004 18:58:31 GMT -5
extremely nice work! do you use any glue at all or is the stone all held in place by the wire? i guess i'm a "buckle and suspenders" type of gal and discreetly dab a bit of glue here and there where it won't be noticed but adds a bit of .....structural stability?
i've found wire bending takes a considerable amount of practice to get right and i haven't graduated yet to the higher end wires.....
Ver cool stuff!
KD
|
|
llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
|
Post by llanago on Jun 8, 2004 19:24:04 GMT -5
Once again, Ms. Creative, you have done a beautiful job.
I really like the top left one and the malachite one is really nice. Heck, they are all REALLY nice!
You should sell a boatload of those at flea markets and/or arts and crafts shows!
|
|
|
|
Post by creativeminded on Jun 8, 2004 21:49:13 GMT -5
Thanks you all.
No I don't use any glue in my wrappings unless I glue a rinestone to a swirl. That is part of the reason why there are several twists in the wires around the stone, that not only adds nice addition but it also tightens the wire around the stone.
I will adventually be selling them at my SCA events and adventually on e-bay, but I am going to be giving my family and friends an opportunity to buy them first.
Tami
|
|
RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
|
Post by RiverOtter on Jun 9, 2004 0:28:41 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Tami. I have a set of pliers that came with a kit of faceted stones I bought awhile back. I hadn't looked at them very closely until just now when I read your post. They are all spring loaded. I went ahead and bought the 24 gauge wire since I couldn't find the 22. Figured it would be easy to work with while I'm learning the techniques. I'll let you know if I have anymore questions. Thanks again!  Otter |
|
|
|
Post by creativeminded on Jun 9, 2004 10:27:44 GMT -5
If you look at the round red stone I wrapped that is made out of 24 gauge soft gold fill wire. The other wire is 22 gauge soft gold fill, or sterling silver.
Tami
|
|
aquababie19
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since June 2004
Posts: 97
|
Post by aquababie19 on Jun 11, 2004 10:26:52 GMT -5
those are beautiful. i make jewerly and my goal is to use my tumbled stones in my jewerly.
|
|
|
|
Post by creativeminded on Jun 11, 2004 11:39:42 GMT -5
Thanks, I love working with the stones I have tumbled, some of the rocks I have bought I picked specifically with the intention of wrapping them. I am looking at getting some more bloodstone, that has turned out very nice, and it wraps well too.
Tami
|
|
