Twisting The Night Away

I found that I love making twisted wire jewelry. It's easy to do and the outcome always ends up fabulous and interesting. This post is going to be more of a. "look what I made," instead of a tutorial. Hope you enjoy.

By using just a few beads and wire, you can make a gorgeous pair of earrings.

Materials Used 
6 brown beads
18 gauge copper wire
To complete earrings
2 jump rings
2 ear wires

Easy Peasy! Any hole drilled beads will do. Wire? I use anywhere from 18 - 24 gauge. Anything larger is to hard to twist. Anything smaller and the shape won't lay right. 

This beauty ended up becoming a brooch. I had some burgundy pearls and pink glass beads left over after making a knotted necklace.

I didn't have enough left over beads for a full bracelet so decided to wire twist.

Love the results and it looks so nice when worn with the necklace.

The lesson here is, never throw out those left over beads. You never know what project will call for only a few beads. This brooch only uses 15 beads.

Then there are always those special occasions. I needed a quick pair of earrings for a New Year's eve party. 

I twisted up these earrings, along with a right angle weave necklace and a right angle weave bracelet.

The entire project took just over half an hour. I received many compliments and will definitely be making these again. This is an example of twisting with 24 gauge copper wire instead of 18 gauge copper wire.

I always use copper wire. It's actually my favorite wire color along with rose gold. But, use your favorite wire color. Silver, gold and gunmetal all make wonderful wire twists color choices.

What about this little pitiful thing? It was my first attempt at wire wrapping many years ago. Since it's my first, I just can't seem to get rid of it.

I actually have a drawer full of my first time attempts and mistakes. They bring back memories and remind me of what not to do.

It still looks like a little man. Maybe I'll wire wrap in some tiny beads for eyes. What do you think? I can't hurt. Anything would be an improvement.

Basic Instructions If wondering (no photos)

- cut off about a foot of copper wire
- slide a bead onto the wire
- twist wire until the twist is 0.5 inch to 1.0 inch in length 
- add another bead and twist again making another branch

Your only real decision is whether you want all your beads to have the same twist length. You can see from my photo's that some of my wire twists have an equal length while others do not.

Play around with your design. There really are no rules. Just twist the night away.

If you'd like to see other jewelry designs or the festive right angle weave necklace and bracelet I designed for New Year, visit my portfolio page found here, Teach Me Clay Portfolio.   

Look at the time. Gotta go. Coffee Break over.

Dee