0

Birds In Flight

by Joan Williams.
(Springfield, Missouri USA)

I created this bracelet mostly as practice for making wrapped loops – I’m ashamed to say that although I’ve been making jewelry for some time, until recently I always avoided making them.

I just used some bits of chain, some tiny brass bird charms, filigree hearts and some czech glass beads for dangles.

As far as the wrapped loops go I can’t say practice makes perfect yet but it’s getting easier!

Joan Williams
Lilruby – jewelry design and more at Etsy

Comments:

Love the antiquey colors
by: Rena

This bracelet is such a nice combination of elements, shapes and colors.

As for the wrapped loops – they look fine from what I can see in the photo! I also put off learning how to do wrapped loops for a long time. But once I got started with them I found that it’s one of those things that the more of them you make, the faster and neater they get.

Soon you’ll wake up in the morning and discover you made several of them in your sleep! :o)

Thank you for sharing this lovely bracelet.

Loops
by: Rita Juhlin

You should have seen my first loops, lol.

One thing that helped me was holding the O in a flat nose pliers tightly and using a needle nose to wrap around the stem wire. The needle nose allowed me to get closer at the last loop. The hard for me is clipping the wrap wire and crimping it down evenly. If I wrap too many loops I end up over the bead which makes it really difficult to clip and tuck.

Your loops aren’t that bad, we are always our own worst critic!

Love the bracelet
by: Katie

My loops were anything but perfect! Practice does make it easier and better.

Your bracelet is fantastic — great combination of elements.

Reply to comments
by: Joan

Thanks to all of you for your comments – and yes, the wrapped loops are getting easier!

Taking Wing!
by: Linda Landig

I love the colors and textures here! I made charm bracelets, too, when I was first learning to make wrapped loops. Look closely at some jewelry making books and you’ll be shocked at how messy their wrapped loops sometimes are. That always surprises me!

What helped me a lot was using thin enough wire. It needs to be thicker if it gets lots of wear and tear, but for earrings and charms you can often use a thinner guage of wire and its much easier to wrap neatly! Try pressing the cut end of the wire in the round part of your crimping tool. That helps the wire end lay flat against the wrap.

reply to Linda’s comments
by: Joan

Thanks, Linda – I’m going to try your tip about using the crimping pliers!