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Post by liveoak on Aug 9, 2022 11:04:26 GMT -5
Just finished up a couple of wraps.
One being a moss agate cab I made a while back, and the second is a mystery - some kind of agate I guess, maybe someone knows.
Constructive feedback always welcome--- I'm trying to learn here.
Patty.... seeing all the mistakes in the close up photos now  |
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Post by MsAli on Aug 9, 2022 14:29:00 GMT -5
Very nice wraps
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rockbrain
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Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,172
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Post by rockbrain on Aug 9, 2022 14:37:31 GMT -5
Those are some nice looking wraps. I've always really liked green moss agate. I think it started from a tumbled piece I had when I was in the 1st or 2nd grade. I just wrapped a green moss one this weekend.
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Post by rockjunquie on Aug 9, 2022 14:47:26 GMT -5
Very nice! I like that they are so tight. The bails look pretty good, too. Great job! The moss is my favorite. 
In most cases you should try to turn your lock wires or cage wires in from right next to your bindings. It helps lock down your bindings. Which you have mostly done with these.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Aug 9, 2022 15:36:57 GMT -5
Nice job, Patty liveoak! My favorite's the moss, too.  |
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Post by liveoak on Aug 9, 2022 15:52:50 GMT -5
Too funny on the moss agate- love it - I'm imagining a little kid with a rock in his pocket - sweet.
Funny thing is that I finished the Moss agate one last week & was so convinced it was too tall of a bail. So when I finished the mystery one last night I re-looked at it & I guess it grew on me.
I liked the twisted square wire look on that one .
And yes Tela, rockjunquie , thank you also- I see what you mean, especially on the moss agate. Thanks for the tip.
Thank you Robin , hummingbirdstones, I'm still a little hesitant to show my wraps, as I'm so new at this. So thanks for the encouragement.
Patty
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Post by jasoninsd on Aug 9, 2022 17:35:45 GMT -5
Patty, I totally understand the hesitancy in showing your work...but you really shouldn't feel that way!  I really like these. I have a tendency to do a weaved bail on nearly all of my wraps. I should do more "rabbit ears". Two things I'm noticing - and again...not nitpicking...but you asked: On the piece on the left...where you bent the cradle wires below the binding wires, there's a "gap" under the binding wires, but there's not on the top. I would either center those binding wires between the two bends, or I'd bend the wires right next to the binding wires, or I'd have additional binding wires to fill that gap. On the piece on the right...Tela pounded the "rule of odds" into my head. You have two "strands" of binding wire on the side. Go for three or five. The other thing I see about those two bindings is they appear to be "uneven" from horizontal. The top two are even with each other. Again...I'm not picking on your wraps. I think you're doing a fantastic job. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Aug 9, 2022 21:32:57 GMT -5
About bail size... I used to do much larger bails because people were wearing wire wrapped pendants with beads. The fashion has changed and so did I, but on larger pieces, I still make a larger bail. People aren't going to wear a big pendant with a dainty chain. I also work with the scale of the piece. I just finished a pendant with a really small stone- so the bail is small. As for the height of the bail, again, I think it's about the whole piece and the scale. I also don't like to make a simple round bail. I opt for one more elongated. (taller) It all depends. No right or wrongs- just what the artist wants.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Aug 10, 2022 4:31:55 GMT -5
Wow, what a fine start. You're a natural Patty. Liking the sweet green algae in the spring water.
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Post by liveoak on Aug 10, 2022 6:22:28 GMT -5
Agreed --- the moss agate one is large, and you're right the bindings should be too. And if the placement isn't asymmetrical for a design then you're right again, they should at least look like they are in the same place.
Obviously all around I need to pay more attention to the binding wires.
They have a lot more of a purpose than just holding the group of wires together  Thanks for the help.
I like a simple look without any curly cues, but I want it to be strong, but not oversized.
I need to keep at it so I can feel more comfortable & develop more of my own style.
Thank you Jim, jamesp , not sure I'm a natural - but I'm having fun (mostly) seeing if I can add wirework to my repertoire. Very different then working in sheet metal.
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Aug 10, 2022 7:17:04 GMT -5
Agreed --- the moss agate one is large, and you're right the bindings should be too. And if the placement isn't asymmetrical for a design then you're right again, they should at least look like they are in the same place.
Obviously all around I need to pay more attention to the binding wires.
They have a lot more of a purpose than just holding the group of wires together Thanks for the help.
I like a simple look without any curly cues, but I want it to be strong, but not oversized.
I need to keep at it so I can feel more comfortable & develop more of my own style.
Thank you Jim, jamesp , not sure I'm a natural - but I'm having fun (mostly) seeing if I can add wirework to my repertoire. Very different then working in sheet metal.
Patty
If it makes you feel any better - I have never met a wire wrapper who didn't struggle with bails, including my self.
One thing I do if I am using soft wire is to harden it with a hammer (or leather mallet) before I make the bail. That really helps.
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Post by liveoak on Aug 10, 2022 7:29:45 GMT -5
Ya know I think I read that somewhere, about hardening the bail wire Guess I should try that out.
Thanks for the tip.
Patty
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Aug 10, 2022 8:29:05 GMT -5
"Very different then working in sheet metal." If one can manipulate sheet metal they can manipulate any metal form.
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Post by liveoak on Aug 10, 2022 9:44:09 GMT -5
True jamesp, just a learning curve of what works well in each medium. Patty |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Aug 10, 2022 10:49:16 GMT -5
True jamesp, just a learning curve of what works well in each medium. Patty If you say so. Sheet metal can defy anyone's learning curve. |
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Post by liveoak on Aug 10, 2022 11:03:20 GMT -5
Well when you put it that way, jamesp , ANY metal can defy anyone's learning curve. Skill takes time to develop. YMMV 
Patty
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Aug 10, 2022 11:18:01 GMT -5
Well when you put it that way, jamesp , ANY metal can defy anyone's learning curve. Skill takes time to develop. YMMV Patty
When it comes to sheet metal the hammers seem to progress in size until complete failure occurs lol.  |
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Post by miket on Aug 10, 2022 11:26:26 GMT -5
Patty, I think they look great!
For me, the bail is the absolute hardest part of wrapping.
Of course, there's also the lock wires, coming up with a design that works, figuring out how to hide the bail wire ends... 😁
Anyway, you're doing just fine- I like these!
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Post by liveoak on Aug 10, 2022 12:55:58 GMT -5
Thanks miket. Practice, practice, practice - I'll get there, learning something from each one. Thanks for the encouragement. Patty |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Aug 10, 2022 21:19:12 GMT -5
Thanks miket . Practice, practice, practice - I'll get there, learning something from each one. Thanks for the encouragement. Patty And that's really all there is to it, Patty. The more you do, the more comfortable you get with the wire -- how it works, what you can and can't do with it and the most important thing IMO: muscle memory. |
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