Nope. Not jewelry.
I woke up about 3:30 this morning and these popped into my head...One step at a time. So much for sleep.
Here in the first photo, I have everything that you need to make fire dogs. No, not the spotted fire truck passengers. The kind that hold logs in the fireplace.
The first one was a breeze. The second one to match was not.
I took three pieces of square, 18 gage, antique bronze wire, five inches long.
This was my first try, so I had to have a bit extra to figure out what I was going to do.
On one of the pieces, I marked the center inch. I grasped the first mark with my needle nosed pliers and the other mark with my round nosed pliers and twisted the wire. That formed the center rope between the two wraps.
I then put a piece of painter's tape on either end to hold the square wires square, next to each other. No slipping with this method. I pulled one end of the center wire out 1" further than the two edge wires.
Then I wrapped either end with #20 half round antique bronze, four times. Each time I turned the wire, I squeezed it with the needle nosed pliers to tighten the wrap.
Then I pulled out the side wires in a bow.
Next I unwrapped the bottom end, the one with the longer center wire, and bent the two side wires to the side and down. The center wire was bent at a right angle to the back. Then bent the same length as the two front wires. I put a curl in each of the three wires at the end.
For the top, I trimmed the side pieces to 3/4" and curled each side outward and down.
Then, grasping the wrapped area with my needle nosed pliers, I twisted the top center wire for about a half inch.
I trimmed that one to 1" and coiled it. I did these wires so that the center wires were coiled towards each other on the pieces.
The hard part was getting them to match...The coils had to be fussed with a lot. They are pretty close now.
If you are interested in trying this technique, there are a lot of instructions under Wire wrapped Jewelry on UTube. I liked the ones from Beadaholic. The instructors know exactly what they are doing and do it well.
Zar approves, so I can't complain. Now all I need is logs and matches....No. Wait. I think that some brick or tile and a surround for the fireplace might be a good idea before we go striking matches....
See you tomorrow.
8 comments:
These are beautiful Casey! Love the finish and the design! Nice work.
Hi Casey, I am following your progress for some time now. It's looking good so far! Your are such an experienced miniaturist, using all kinds of techniques and materials. Thank you for sharing and posting. Hugs, Liduina
Casey it looks so cool and you do such good instructions.. BTW love the beading on the tools
Wow, the andirons look great! I will have to keep my eye out for some of that "square" wire!
Troy, I got it at a jewelry/bead store here in town. It is labeled "Artistic". I would imagine that you could get it on line. It comes in different sizes and colors. If you are going to try it, do get the half round wire for wrapping. It is flat on one side and so much easier to use than plain old round.
Hi Casey! Your andirons look wonderful and you have done a great job getting them to match. I can appreciate this difficulty when you are doing something freehand like this but you have succeeded. Your jewelry making has certainly stood you in good stead, Well done!
elizabeth
Oh I love these. I think a similar thing could be done with one of these to hold a brush and shovel for by the fire. I just might have to have a play. That will have to be another "to do" in the queue after weaving!
1-2, that was what I was going to do next. Just didn't get around to it yet. Maybe later today.
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