Challenge cuff completed, although future design alterations are in the works

I finally finished my cuff for this wondeful challenge! In the future, I would use heavier wire for the frame, but it is wearable as is. After shaping the focal piece to curve to my wrist instead of lying flat, the bracelet fit much better. I am still toying with the idea of adding a few more "tendrilly" elements, but I am leaving it as is for now.

Shaping the challenge cuff

Okay, figured out how to hold the focal piece in the cuff, now I just need to shape it to fit a wrist!. I put it on my own wrist, then shaped it around the edges of my wrist. Ooops! The focal is too flat! So, I have to take it out, reheat it to make it soft and shape it again. Luckily copper wire is soft so I can remove the focal easily, then relplace it just as easily. I ended up shaping the focal on a small juice glass before placing it back into the cuff.

Framing up a cuff

Okay, diagram and focal in hand, I began to frame up the cuff for my challenge today.

 The cuff was inspired by Alexander Damian, who used carnelian and copper, a favorite combination of mine. My friend April has been having fun with shrink plastic, bringing back my love for it, so I decided to do one of my miniature colored pencil paintings on shrink plastic as the focal for my cuff design.

Dawn and Penny, who originally started this challenge, have long since finished their cuffs, with me lagging far behind due to the lack of supplies to finish my original design. Time to play catch up!

I wanted the cuff to center around the autumn themed focal painting and appear "tendrilly," so I hammered (for strength) 16g copper wire after forming it around  the top and bottom of the focal. Then I wrapped 20g copper around it loosely to resemble tendrils.

Now the hard part was to figure out how to hold the focal in the cuff! Next post!

Cuff Challenge -- a whole new idea -- Alexander and April inspired

I ran out of the wire needed to finish my original cuff design, and had really wanted to do something in copper and carnelian to start with, so began the planning of a new cuff design.

I have gotten back into my miniature colored pencil paintings on shrink plastic again, so I have been tearing boxes apart at our new house trying to find the box with the computer discs full of my photos.

I wanted something with warm fall colors in it, and sadly, had lost most of those photos with a computer meltdown a few years back, but I did finally find a suitable photograph. I won a few awards with this photo a few years back, but it has been out of mind since.

So, I did a small painting, baked it to shrink it, then baked it again to soften the edges, intensify the colors and seal the back, plus add shine.

Then I sketched out the bracelet design. I wanted it to incorporate the focal, plus be "tendrilly."

This is the design I came up with, and the focal piece.

It's done day or should I say week three or four

Added some sterling silver beads, more wire, crystal pale pink heart, silver heart, that I banged out of 20 gauge wire.  Pulling, twisting to get into shape.   Big challenge, huge challenge, loads of mistakes but here it is.  I am going to call it My Friendship Bracelet;  why, because this bracelet has played a very large part in finding and enjoy a kindred sole.

Play time!

Since I am a beginner at bracelets and cuffs, after all, I decided to make a simple braided cuff. I used 9 wires in groups of 3. The biggest challenge on this was getting it started. The next one I make like this, I will do in all one color. I think that will make it a little easier to manage. Another challenge was keeping the wires "nested"... in other words, no gaps between the wires in each group of three. It took very controlled bending and equally controlled holding of the wires right near the bending point to get even, undulating curves. This wasn't as easy as I thought going into it. It would have been better to do it first with only three wires to get a feel for making the shape even and the bends precise. Then, I'd have done one with 6 wires, all the same color, and then on from there. I didn't have a plan for how to finish the ends. So, I have solicited advice from JL before I try my next one. I will be making more of these, that's for sure. The bracelet looks really nice on me, and with more practice....

Alexander inspired cuff finished, and nothing like its inspiration!

Well, continuing the story of this cuff. I made the frame so wide that I had to add a lot to fill it with some substance. I laced the looped parts together with the orange rondels, wiring them in one by one. I ran a wire through them as well, for extra stability. Then I looped the green rondels on. The center strip still wasn't wide enough, so I decided to narrow the frame at the middle, a solution that looks great and gives me the option to ad even more to the center strip later if I like. This was a difficult project for me. But I learned so much...Thanks for visiting!-Dawn Blair

The cinched cuff that Penny inspired me to make is finished! YAY!

Well, this turned out to be a gem of an idea, and didn't take too terribly long to make. Despite the fact that my measurements (or lack thereof) were not concise and the middle was bulky, the bracelet turned out pretty good. I like it well enough that I'll be making earrings to match and will add it to my wardrobe! To add the cluster of beads, I twisted 24 gauge wires onto the stray coiled pieces left over from binding the cuff in the middle. Then I added beads and tightened them down by simply coiling the end up to the bead, It only took ten or twelve beads, I'd say.

Then, I stretched out the two coils and wrapped each on around under the beads to tighten up the whole cluster and just tucked the two loose ends back into the bead cluster. And, voila!

Thanks for the inspiration, Penny!

Cheers! -Dawn Blair

day 3

I have sent the cuff with the pinched to centre to watch over my junk pot and have resurrected my first attempt.  I promise I will not switch back ( unless some unforeseen damage should occur to this cuff) Oh! like a house falling on it.  I have used 14 gauge copper hammer the front. I had to get rid of the heart shaped closure because the cuff was huge for my wrist.  The little thing that is there now is so badley mangled I don't know what I will do right now, hopefully something will come.  The side has been filled in with 26 gauge silver (not real, it came from a craft store)  hammered and made into swirls , little silver balls and very small clear Swar. Crystal.  In these pics they  have just been set in the frame in rough. I will put them in with copper wire tomorrow night
Penny

Hammered bronze and sterling cuff -- day 1 -- Dawn E. Bryant

Okay, after being sidetracked by sick kids, sick hubby, sewer backups in the basement and the death of a good friend, I am finally getting started on my own cuff for this challenge. Since I love all things two-toned (gold and silver) I decided to go with bronze (for affordability) and sterling. I have formed the cuff frame and hammered it for texture. I have also made interior components out of hammered bronze, although there will be a few changes to those components. The frame and components will be held together with sterling fine gauge wire. The biggest decision for me will be whether or not to add beads. For now, no. So, off t take kids to swimming lessons, work on a beaded cabochon project and do some more work on this cuff. No rest for the weary, LOL.

Dawn E. Bryant

Inspired by Penny's cuff shape...

After looking at Penny's cuff shape, I decided I wanted to try a cuff that was cinched in the middle. I think the shape has a multitude of possibilities. I wanted to do all copper, like Penny's, but I couldn't find my coil of 16 gauge. So I went with brown. After working on all that weaving on the bright colored cuff, I decided to just do a simple loose wrap around one wire this time. The wire was extra stiff, so I felt like it would still be a good support. Unfortunately, I didn't do very well getting the sides to be the same length. And then I got carried away winding wire around the middle, creating unnecessary bulk. But I've decided to go ahead with it, since this is a learning opportunity. I decided since the colors are sort of tree-like, I would shape each side like a leaf. For some reason, I found shaping this into a fitted cuff more difficult than the first one. I'm not sure why. It could be because the diagonal lines were fooling my eye...

1 day later and this is what I have

I used 14 gauge wire and 26 gauge for the wrap,  I still don't like the uneveness of the frame.  But you will have to hang in there with me and see what happens on day 3 of the cuff
Penny

Making progress...

So, as I said before, I did the weaving on the frame too tight, so I can't lace anything into it. My first idea for the "filler" in this bracelet was to coil wire adding a bead every inch or so, and then shape it into a free form design.

Well, after spending two hours on it, I realized that the 20 gauge wire I was using, even with a layer of 26 gauge wire coiled on it, was just going to be too flimsy. I would have to lasso it on, compromising my vision of not covering any of the weaving. So, I pitched that idea.
Then yesterday, while I was at work I came up with an idea that, while quite labor intensive, is hopefully going to be the solution to the problem. Yes, it worked! If I lace all these loops together I will have something stiff enough that I can just attach it on either end. Adding the crystal helped stiffen the strip and also set the loops so they couldn't be stretched out of shape. Good thinkin'! Yay! Another problem solved. The loops arent quite all exactly the same size or perfectly spaced, but I have a feeling this will work anyway.

Yippee! I intend to attach this loop to the plain end of the frame, and attach the two loose ends into the big fushia spirals somehow. Full speed ahead! Cheers!  -Dawn Blair

4 attempts at the cuff

1. 

Here are my frames. The last one is the one I am going to use.

1. First upper left, I  made it out of 14 gauge copper , formed it  and then whacked it with the hammer. 

2.  Upper right is a better shot BUT what I am really trying to show you is  how wonky it is;  this now resides in the junk heap or some other day , some other challenge
.
3. Tools, nylon pliers, 14 gauge copper could not tell you if it is soft , hard ....all I know is it is round, cutters and a ring mandrel to shape the hole.

4.  Lower left corner Artistic chocloate brown wire 18 gauge a picture of the internet ( don't remember where) but not my design. But had it have worked it would have been incredible and the inside would have been done similar to the cuff in our challenge.  yeah you guessed it..now resides in the J_nk He_p.

5.  Lower right, yes sad to say Yes this is the one I have picked. I have an idea if it works be prepared to be amazed, if it doesn't , then its the junk heap for this one too.

6.  I sure hope my friends have patients, this could take awhile........

Penny

....and we're off!

It all starts with the supplies!

I am making many modifications to Alexander's bracelet, while keeping with the same basic idea. I have chosen to work with lots of bright colors, and a thicker gauge of wire for my frame. I think the thicker wire will prove easier, because it is stiffer and will be less likely to bend out of shape. The contrasting wires I'll use to do the woven frame will allow me to see my work better. I have decided to do several different weaves on the frame with several different colors. I also deviated from Alexander's vision by rounding the ends of the cuff. With the base wire being so thick, getting a nice square corner was near impossible, since I had already completed the weaving before shaping.
Shaping was a challenge because I don't have a bracelet mandrel to work with. So, I did the best I could using my arm. One thing I realized after I completed the frame, was that I failed to leave enough space between the two wires to be able to "sew" in the meandering design that is supposed to fill in that frame.

I am not willing to cover the woven frame with more wire. That would make the design look untidy. So, until I come up with a bright idea to fit within my own design requirements..... Let's see what the other girls have done! -Dawn Blair

Introductions

                                           Detail of Samba
Hi! I'm Dawn Blair, of Dawn Blair Jewelry. I am a self taught jewelry designer, but enjoy friendships and creative encouragement with my friends on Jewelry Lessons. I am only one of several designers that will be contributing to this blog. We are are designers from beginner to advanced, sharing our thoughts, questions, designs, and processes with each other, and anyone who happens to stop by. Enjoy! -Dawn Blair

Hi. My name is Dawn E. Bryant. I am an artisan jeweler/artist/photographer who lives in the beautiful Sandhills of Nebraska. My studio, Dawn E. Bryant Originals, is housed in a remodeled Burlington Northern caboose, BN12329, located at the junction of Highways 2 and 83 in north central Nebraska. I work in sterling and fine silver, copper, stone, glass, wire and beading. My jewelry design is earthy and rustic, focusing on leaves, vines and flowers, as well as naturally occuring "landscape" stones and sometimes, my own artistic mini paintings. I am self-taught, both as an artist/photographer and as a jewelry designer. My jewelry design has been learned through reading books and through the lessons available on http://www.jewelrylessons.com/, where I am also a teacher, posting my own tutorials written for that site. Join me, along with my friends, as we encourage each other, challenge each other and learn from each other. :)  -Dawn Bryant

                                                        Dragonfly- by Penny
Hello, my name is Penny Mills I am the last member of this trio and the least experienced.  So you probably will want to take advice and helpful hints from the other two.  I will be the expert on what not to do. I live in the country just outside of St. Marys (population 7,000), Ontario, Canada. Boy!! Is it hot here, really hot!

The reason for the three of us getting together is very simple one. We love to make jewelry. I had never made a cuff, didn’t have a clue how to. I noticed Dawn Blair had said she never had made one either. Then, Dawn Bryant said she would like in on this too.  So the Great Cuff Challenge was born. This design, by Alexander Damian, is our inspiration piece. He graciously gave us permission to publish this photo, and has urged us on in this challenge!

 

You can take a tutorial and have two people work on it separately, and I can almost guarantee you will end up with two completely different looking items.  You will be able to draw some comparisons, but there will definitely be a difference in technique and style. Your own personal touch will be there, even if it is your first piece. 

As I mentioned above, I am the newbie here and am so much learning from my blog friends and others.  One of the biggest highlights of my new found love of wire wrapping is the people I have met. It would take too long to mention everyone that has inspired and encouraged me along the way. It is truly amazing.  Speaking of amazing, I met and spent the better part of an afternoon chatting with Helen Goga, editor and publisher of The Wire Artist.  I met Helen, Becky and Alan, and what a wonderful group of people with a bottomless pit of information. I bought a nice selection of tutorial and plan (as I progress) to try them all! This was an afternoon I will never forget. You know when you meet someone and something just goes “click”, well that happen to me with Helen.  I have made a friend and (one that may get sick to death of my questions) but none the less a friend.  I once thought of myself as a very introverted person, this new hobby of mine has sure changed that.

Okay girls!  1 2 3 GO! Let’s make some cuffs!!

Last one done buys dinner..??

-Penny