Linda Chandler - Getting Started Making Wire Jewelry and More

Linda Chandler and
Christine Ritchey First I thank Linda Chandler, for being so darn creative at coming up with so many original designs at a moments notice. Also, thank you for your great process photoseven though you did melt your camera! I am so fortunate to work with a lady who is so tremendously talented. Neither Getting Started Making Wire Jewelry nor Woven Wire Jewelry would exist without Linda, and that would be a darn shame. Thanks to everyone at Interweave Press for doing such a great job on this book: Betsy Armstrong for encouragement, solace, humor, and friendship; Judith Durant for her amazing editing skills and hysterically funny comments; Christine Townsend for being my sounding board and friend-in-need, and to Phoenix for making her happy; Paulette Livers for her incredible talent in book layout and making us look so pretty. Also, to Rebecca Campbell for wading bravely into a work-in-progress. These books are truly a team effort.

I thank all you wonderful readers of Woven Wire Jewelry, our first book, for the e-mails, letters, and positive feedback. I feel I have made some true friends and have enjoyed our conversations. You are the reason these books are such a labor of love and why Linda and I keep writing them. Last, but always first in my heart, I thank Lloyd Ritchey, my wonderful husband who is always there for me. I am so lucky to have a husband who is tremendously talented at writing and photography, which always reflects in my work for the better. Your patience, talent, supportand lately, cookinghave kept me sane, productive, and well fed.

You are an amazing man and I am blessed to have you as my husband. I love you. Christine Ritchey There are so many people to thank for their help with Getting Started Making Wire Jewelry. The one person I must not forget to thank, as she was probably my most important mentor, is my high school art teacher, Ms. Sara Jinks. Some thirty-plus years ago she made me feel worthwhile by telling me I was a genius. I think about her often, especially when people praise my work and talent.

She was the one person in my young, impressionable years who gave me encouragement. Thanks to my dedicated partner, Christine Ritchey, who works magic with words and translates my work into wonderful and understandable directions for readers to follow. Christine also takes care of the business side of creating our books and works endless hours at times, for which I am eternally grateful. Thanks, too, to Christines husband, Lloyd Ritchey, who has been the voice of reason and Christines motivator. I thank my husband, Bud Chandler, who lovingly supports me in my jewelry adventures and is still making my tools, fixing ones that break, and taking care of my very spoiled bird, Bailey. I owe thanks to my son, Travis Chandler, who built my computer and keeps it up to date with the latest technology, and to my grandson, Ryan Workman, the apple of my eye.

Ryan assists me constantly with my computer through his immense knowledge of computer language and software. Many thanks to my mother, Corean Higdon, who keeps me fed and takes wonderful care of our home so that I can devote more time to creating jewelry and developing books. Im grateful for my students and close friends who inspire me with their insight and creativity. And, finally and especially, thanks to my wonderful daughter, Shane Rene Workman, who guides me in my work by giving me thumbs up or thumbs downmy best friend who is always here when I need her for advice, moral support, and her beautiful handsand just doing whatever needs to be done. Linda Chandler

As a hobby, jewelry making is very relaxing (most of the time!), and its a wonderful outlet for creativity. Being able to say, I made it myself! is a great feeling.

Making jewelry is a lot of fun. With the right materials and tools, you can whip up a pair of earrings for a fancy occasion or a pretty bracelet for someone special. Making jewelry is really handy when you forget a birthday or other significant occasion! Jewelry making can be very empowering. Perhaps youve seen a piece of jewelry and admired it, but theres something about it that you didnt like. By making the piece yourself, you can have exactly what you want. Color, bead/stone, and size can be changed to fit your wishes.

One of the most rewarding things about making jewelry is giving it to others. Theres a huge amount of satisfaction in seeing someone wearing jewelry you have made, looking great, and loving it. The sight will make you smile every time. Making jewelry can also supplement your income. There are crafts shows, galleries, shops, boutiques, and, of course, the wonderful world of the Internetall are possible markets for your jewelry. Dont be surprised when friends and relatives offer to pay you to make something for them to wear or give away.

It happens all the time! Have fun with this book. Dont be hard on yourself if you dont make something perfectly the first time. Or even the fifth time! Everything worth learning takes practice. If you have a bunch of 5 millimeter beads lying around, and the project calls for 7 millimeter beads, dont hesitate to adjust the project to use whats on hand. The techniques and projects presented here are guidelines. Want to use a different bead than what we used? Want to use half-hard wire instead of dead soft (see Materials and Tools on for an explanation of these terms)? Go ahead! Use what youve got and get what you want.

Let your imagination be your guide. Play and have fun!

To make jewelry, youve got to have stuff to make jewelry with, so go get some stuff! The first stop will probably be your local bead shop. Walk around the whole place and scope things out. Besides beads of every color, shape, and size, many well-stocked bead shops also carry tools, wire, and jewelry findings. Hobby stores can be very exciting. Obviously, youll head straight for the jewelry-making section for wire, beads, and findings, but dont stop there.

Allow yourself enough time to leisurely stroll through every aisle. There can be lots of surprises. The drapery section may sell beads strung to use as tiebacks. The sewing section may have chain and interesting buttons. The bridal section has pearls and other beads. Look for steel stem wire in the artificial flower section.

Those are just a few of the many things you may find in hobby stores. Keep looking around with a creative eye and mind. Your local Goodwill store or thrift shop can be a treasure trove of buttons and beads, not to mention jewelry, both whole and broken. Check the dresses for fancy beadwork and buttons. Unless you happen upon a real find, such as a Chanel gown that is just your size, dont be afraid to take the beads and buttons off dresses and incorporate them into your jewelry. Look around your own home and, if youre lucky enough to have one to visit, your grandmothers attic.

Is there a chain you never wear that could be used to make a pair of chandelier earrings, or an ugly necklace from a distant relative that might be made into four or five pairs of awesome earrings or a couple of bracelets? Do you have a favorite stone that youd like to use as the focal point in a bracelet or necklace? Finally, see the Resources section at the end of the book for suppliers of jewelry findings and other supplies and for websites of interest to the jewelry maker. To the jewelry maker, everythingwhether found indoors or outdoorsis a potential gem!