Comments on: Help – How to Make Wire Jewelry with One Hand?

By: Lyone

Lyone — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 13:16:43 +0000

Dear Sue,
I empathize with your situation. There can be so much frustration and disappointment when dealing with a sudden physical change like this. It can take a lot of time and experimentation to figure out how to do things a-new; and meanwhile it is easy to feel like you are forgetting all of your wonderful creative visions.
So, the first thing I would like to mention is keeping a sketch journal. I don’t know if this is something you did prior to your stroke on a regular basis. But I think that it might be especially important now, since it might be a while before you might be able to actually execute some of your ideas, and in general it will be taking you a bit longer to get from start to finish now.
The next thing I wanted to mention/ask about is the notion of training yourself to incorporate your left hand and arm in a different way into your crafting. Perhaps there are ways that you can learn to use your left hand as a vise and a weight to help hold and anchor wire ends, tools, parts of pieces that you are working on (while wearing a protective leather glove maybe) ? It is just an idea. Just a way to say that : even though you can’t use your left hand in the way that you are accustomed to using it, it doesn’t mean that it is totally useless. Nor are you.
It is really important to keep reminding yourself that you have not changed as a person on an essential level. Your body is going through some changes. And you will be using your creativity to figure out how to adjust to those changes in various areas of life.
Have patience with yourself and with life.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 17:11:03 +0000

I would seek the advice of a professional occupational therapist.

By: Blanche Nonken

Blanche Nonken — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 03:20:32 +0000

Dear Sue,

Many cities in the US (and the rest of the world) have groups and communities of “Makers” – men, women, boys and girls who gather, sometimes in a rented space, to solve problems and build things, sometimes for the sheer joy of “Making” – inventing and creating.

If there is such a group in your area, contacting the coordinator or facilitator with your challenge might yield results for a way you can continue your creating. Also any rock&gem shows might have local jewelry-making groups attending where someone with a similar challenge has found a solution that would work for you too.

Good luck, and don’t quit!

By: Barbara Smith

Barbara Smith — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 21:17:57 +0000

I am so glad that you want to continue to pursue your passion. I imagine you had some physical and occupational therapy after your stroke. Can you talk to your doctor about this and ask for a prescription for further therapy? I believe they could be very helpful. I had some hand surgery and am now facing carpal tunnel surgery on both hands. They have promised to help me to get back in action with my beaded jewelry.

By: Joybelle

Joybelle — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 21:08:44 +0000

Hello Sue, I agree a vise would be the way to go, however, I believe if it had a foot pedal that would operate the opening and closing process should make it more functional. I applaud you for staying the course. Definitely, please keep us posted Sue, we are routing for you.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 02:46:31 +0000

Hi Sue, my first thought for you is that you could use a wire jig. Clamp one end of your wire to the jig, and use your right hand to wrap the rest of your wire around the pegs on the jig to create your wire design.

And if you can attach the jig to your worktable (like with a vise), and clamp one wire end to the jig, you may be able to make things like wire-wrapped loops around one of the pegs. After doing things like this, you might discover all sorts of other ways to use the jig for wire tasks that you used to do with different methods.

Also, I just wanted to add that I’m so glad you’re continuing with your jewelry making, Sue! Please keep us posted on your progress! 🙂