UPDATED March 28, 2019

Join me for a live online class, and build your skills with these fabulous projects:

April 18, 2019 / 9 pm ET

Oddly shaped stones can make beautiful pieces of jewelry. 

Are you a beachcomer who picks up interesting looking rocks or beach glass? Do you love the look of raw gems and crystals? 

By the end of this class, you’ll have learned how to:

• Construct a secure and durable prong setting that will hold and showcase your stones in a minimalist setting for a pendant or brooch
• Plan and design a prong setting that considers changes in stone’s thickness and roundness. 
• Evaluate the suitability and orientation of the stone for the setting 
• Estimate the amount of wire you’ll need based on the size of your stone

Click here to find out more & to register!

Registration Opens Soon for:

May 2019:
Dragonfly Pin/Pendant

June 2019:
Horatii Earrings

July 2019:
Captive Inverted Round Chain

Beginning September 19/19:

 

Wireworking Classics Series: Bangle
November 29, 2018 – 9 p.m. ET

Join me on November 29, 2018 for a live, interactive online class, and make this sleek and sophisticated six strand bangle! This easy to make classic bangle works for day and evening wear, and looks great stacked in multiples. Find out more about the Wireworking Classics Series: Bangle Live Class here.

 

Coming in December!

Wireworking Classics Series: Standard Form Ring (aka Pharaoh Ring)
December 27, 2018 – 9 p.m. ET

By special request! Join me on December 27, 2018 at 9 pm ET as we make the classic Standard Form Ring! Created originally by Thomas Phelan, this timeless ring has become a well known and well loved unisex design. Register for the class here or join my newsletter to get notified about other live classes coming soon!

 

When you join the Members Studio community, you will have a guaranteed seat at all TToW live classes, workshops and events! Until December 31, 2018, you can join the Members Studio at the special Founders Rate of $29/month or $199/year. Or visit the Members Studio for 45 Days with a Try for 45 Trial Membership. The special Founders Rate is locked in and will NEVER increase as long as you maintain your membership! Membership prices are going up substantially on Jan. 1, 2019.

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

[embedyt]https://youtu.be/eoGInTdPrIg[/embedyt]

Many wire artists work without a torch, using only cold-joining techniques to make jewelry. But a growing number are starting to incorporate elements and frames that are soldered.

Soldered metal gets oxidized, and turns black. So to clean metal that has been soldered, and bring it back to it’s original colour, a jeweller will use an acid solution called “pickle”.

In this week’s 1 Min/1 Tip video I talk about the various options for pickle, including some eco-friendly ones.

Please remember that all acids need to be handled with care, so if you use any of the options mentioned in the video, be sure to add acid to water, not water to acid (to prevent splashing), and wear protective clothing and gloves. Safety first, always!

 

WHERE ARE YOU ON YOUR CREATIVE JOURNEY?

Do you want to develop technical skills to build better quality jewelry? Do you want to create original designs? Do you want to sell your jewelry and build a business?

Do you want to find out?

Take the “Which Path of Tao? Quiz” to find out where the next step on your creative journey might be, and which lessons from the TToW Library could help you achieve your goals.

[embedyt]https://youtu.be/IkhTKBV6Iwk[/embedyt]

 

If you’ve got old wire kicking around, then you’ve probably noticed that it doesn’t bend as well as it used to, or it tends to break easily. It’s very likely age hardened! In the video, I explain what age hardening is, and how it can affect your work.

 

Try out the Members Studio for 45 Days! Catch fire with excitement about making wire jewelry!

Last week I hosted an exclusive mini-workshop with my fellow travellers in the Members Studio on how to put together a show application that gets noticed. I was working on my own application for an upcoming studio tour, and shared tips and behind the scenes insights on what you need to pay attention to and what juries look for. (UPDATE: I got accepted 😀)

If you want to be part of an interactive community, where you can learn at your own pace or join in a live class, where you can focus on projects to teach you technical skills, learn tricks that professionals use to grow their business, build your confidence with constructive feedback sessions and community exclusive challenges that help nurture your creative spirit, then join the TToW Members Studio today!

 

.

[embedyt]https://youtu.be/XQp22kqnq8I[/embedyt]

 

The last thing you think when you’re travelling is cleaning your jewelry. But the truth is that the combination of humidity, body chemistry and skin products can make your jewelry look grungy and ugly. So, here’s a quick tip for cleaning your jewelry with something you already have in your suitcase.

 

Watch the full cleaning demo here:

 

[embedyt]https://youtu.be/TLxJ259FHLE[/embedyt]

 

Have you ever tried this tip with your jewelry? Let me know in the comments section!

[embedyt]https://youtu.be/q7v_6E_MYdo[/embedyt]

When you’re working long hours on your projects, your hands can get very tired and sore. Here are some exercises I use to help my hands stay loose and limber!

 

[interact id=”5b299bdb58011500142c5379″ type=”poll”]

 

 

.

[embedyt]https://youtu.be/SgQ2Ntfzclw[/embedyt]

 

Permanent Fine Tip Markers are part of the “Essential 8” tools for making wire jewelry. They are useful because they make marks that don’t easily wear off. Sometimes though, they do their job TOO well, so in this week’s 1 Min/1 Tip video, I share a secret for getting stubborn marks off your wire.

 

[interact id=”5b299bdb58011500142c5379″ type=”poll”]

 

 

.

[embedyt]https://youtu.be/8V9Keu0Z6kY[/embedyt]

A few months ago I did a private jewelry photography class which featured jewelry pieces shot on various backgrounds. Today’s 1 Min/1 Tip shares one of the tricks I use for creating a really dramatic photo using hairspray!

[embedyt]https://youtu.be/MbGVcUfJMh0[/embedyt]

A few months ago, after I posted the video on using quilter’s tape as a substitute for 1/4″ masking tape, Kimberley Newman commented that another alternative would be to use automotive pin striping tape. So, I spend a couple of weeks testing it, and here are my results!

I’m always keeping my eye open for interesting tips, so if you have one to share, post it in the comments or send me an email!

(Thanks Kimberley for your suggestion!)

 

.

[embedyt]https://youtu.be/yrmPQml6FPQ[/embedyt]

 

In the last video I shared a DIY starter tool for making roundmaille chains. It works really well – except if you’re making a chain with very small jump rings! For that you’ll need another tool – and that’s the focus of this video! I would consider micro chain maille to be anything made with jump rings smaller than 3 mm I.D.  Making chains with such small rings requires patience, dedication and a good optivisor!!!

If you’re feeling adventurous, give it a try – and use this tool to get you started!

.

.

.