Know your wires

Hi!

During my searches I found out that wire wrapping is one of the oldest techniques for making handmade jewellery and examples of using it is dated back as far as Sumerian Empire, so... thousands of years ago.

To learn techniques, first you need to know a bit about wires you can use for jewellery making.

Wires are available in a variety of materials eg. copper, brass, sterling silver, gold-filled, silver-filled.

They can have different shapes: round, half-round, square or patterned eg. twisted or flat. They come in three hardnesses, plus you need to be sure which diameter of wire you need for you project - and here you have lots to choose from.

Here link to post I found very informative: https://jewelrytutorialhq.com/all-about-jewelry-wire-which-gauge-wire-to-use-for-what/

I think I stick with copper, but I need more research, cause I'm not sure about hardness of wires available around for jewellery making, lots of wires I found on websites are marked as soft... Can I find copper in half-hard? Hmmm... Possibly yes, cause this kind of wire is good for making jump rings, ear wires, hoop earrings and other shapes. In that case I need to find seller who has half-hard copper wire in offer :)

Quest

Hi!

Yeah, time to start with my quest :)

What quest? -  you ask.

Few good years ago, I decided to make my first piece of jewellery. Since that time I made a lot, but...

All seems to be rather simple pieces...

I know most of people love silver or gold, but to be honest with you gold never was my fave, with silver.. hmmm I'm nickel allergic ( my Mum too), so have to always check before I bought components if they are nickel free, so I was playing most of time with silver plated, nickel free things to do my pieces.

I was always amazed by beautiful copper pieces I could find on Pinterest or all over the net and some time ago I decided: Time to learn how to make nice wire wrapped copper jewellery.

Fact, I made few copper pairs of earrings, some bracelets or necklaces, but simple stuff, with chains etc. nothing spectacular tho...

Had 2 pairs of them done - both sold.

My bestseller :) 5 pairs made - 4 sold so far.

One of my few chain/dangly bracelets - also sold.

Rather minimalistic necklace - went to Lithuania :)

My goal is: one day make something like this:

Found this on pinterest :) Beautiful isn't it?

So... at the front of me lots of searching for info, tutorials, books, magazines :) 

I know Pinterest and YouTube are good places for searches, but maybe you can suggest me some good book or nice tutorial for wire wrapping newbie?

I'll be writing here about what I found out, showing my tries etc.. Hope you'll be with me during this long process of learning :)