Feb '09 - learning from Dianne Karg Baron

In the previous post I explained that my first inspiration to try wire wrapping came from a trip to the NS Gem & Mineral show in Parrsboro. Those first pieces were very basic.

After some hunting on the internet I found Dianne Karg Baron's site, Wrapture Wire Jewellery, and her work was so beautiful, it inspired me to try slightly more complex pieces. Naturally I check back to her blog from time to time, and in mid February of 2009 she posted a piece called "Double Sided Citrine Pendant". Again, I just had to try the technique.

The copper pendant seen here is the result of my efforts.




I used 19ga stainless wire for the base, and 24ga copper craft wire for the wrapping. The nextimage shows how the two pieces of steel are woven together to make the frame. The weave creates a shallow channel which holds the edge of the stone.
(In this case, the stone is one of Dad's creations.)



I wasn't sure that the frame was quite snug enough to truly hold the stone, so I added the extra wraps all the way around just as a precaution. Not perfect, but as a first attempt I was happy with it.

Ms. Baron's site is at www.wrapturewirejewellery.on.ca

I later found pieces in a similar, but more chaotically sculptural style at www.metalworkers.org.

My own further experiments included this finger ring (19th Mar 09), and beaded marble pendant (18th March 09):