Exploring Wire Wrapping- Online
Live Online Workshop with Michele Stoffan
Don’t give in to January’s gloom. Zoom in to Exploring Wire Wrapping with Flux Metal Arts.
Before class you will have free access to 2 informative online videos: "Which Wire When" and "Tools & Tips for Wire Wrappers" that will help you get ready to create with wire.
During this series of six 2-hour sessions you will build your wire wrapping skills starting with Quick and Easy Rings and progressing to make earrings, bracelets, and a wire wrapped setting for a gemstone cabochon.
Dates & Times: Tuesdays & Thursday mornings January 12, 14, 19, 21, 25, 27 from 10:00 – 12:00 p.m. EST
Materials: Your $45 class kit includes materials for each project, each packet labelled by session containing all the gauges and shapes of copper wire and accent beads needed to complete each class project and a cleaning cloth. It will also include several feet of silver filled wire for you to create one piece of your choice after you have completed the practice pieces in this class.
Required Tools: Chain nose, flat nose and round nose pliers, flush cutters (see Tools & Tips video for more information), a ruler, sharpie marker, painters’ tape, a string at least 12” long or a flexible measuring tape, emery board.
Not required, but "Nice to Have" Tools: 6-step bail making pliers, flat jaw nylon pliers, pin vise, bench block, chasing or raw hide hammer, ring mandrel, bracelet mandrel, wearable optical magnification like an Optivisor.
- Prerequisites: This class is great for absolute beginners and beyond (ages 18 & up).
- Technology: Pre class demo videos will be accessible via a private link provided after registration. Class will be held live via Zoom during the scheduled sessions. Internet access with a device like a tablet, or computer will be needed with the Zoom app installed. Most cell phone screens are too small for students to see what's going on during class.
- After the Class: Students will receive a doc via email with noted resource links. A link to all recorded Zoom meetings will be available to students for two months after the last day of class.
Class Fee: $240 Materials Fee: $45 payable at registration, out of area students please contact us for help sourcing materials or shipping details.
*virtual instructor Michele Stoffan
Class registration will close on January 9 to allow time for material kits to be picked up at the studio. No refunds will be issued after kits have been picked up, or shipped as requested. Please note our *online class* registration policy for this workshop. Registration & Refund Policies
Questions? Give us a call at the studio (440) 205-1770.
**Images for this workshop are provided by the instructor, and represent the techniques taught. Student results may vary depending on student skill level, and design ideas employed by the student.
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Tuesday, January 12: Session 1 "Quick and Easy Rings"- We will create 2 different quick and easy rings. Rosy wire rings will introduce you to shaping wire around a mandrel (I’ll show you how to use a household object if you don’t have a ring mandrel), and how to secure the wire ends for a smooth finish. Nested bead rings feature a gemstone bead. Bonus ring – time permitting – Adjustable Egyptian coil ring.
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Thursday, January 14: Session 2 "Ear Wires and Head Pins"- A great way to use those left-over beads or accents and great for gift giving. We will learn to make head pin dangles and French ear wires to display your beautiful dangles. Once you learn how easy and cost effective it is to make your own ear wires, you will never have to buy pre-made ear wires again. Bail making pliers will be very handy to have but I will also show you how to use a sharpie to help shape your ear wires. (See Tools & Tips for more info)
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Tuesday, January 19: Session 3 "Links & Loops"- This is our last session using only round wire. We will learn to form 3 styles of hooks and 2 types of loops. One of the hook and loop sets we will be using in our next session to finish our bangle bracelets. The other 2 types are great for use with chains for pendants or bracelets.
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Thursday, January 21: Session 4 "5-Strand Bangle Bracelet"- This session we begin using two new wire shapes, square and half round. (See Which Wire When for more information). We will learn to create a bundle of square wire, bind them together with half round wire and shape the bundle to form a bracelet using mandrel or found objects. We’ll use one of the hooks we learned to make in Links and Loops to finish the bracelet.
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Tuesday, January 26: Session 5 "Gemstone Bubble Bracelet"- These elegant little bracelets are great for gift giving (bridesmaids, flower girls ??) In this session we will build on the skills we learned in making our bangle bracelet. This bracelet requires shaping the wire to create a frame for our focal bead as well as the bundle binding techniques and hook and link we used before.
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Thursday, January 28: Session 6 "Basic Cabochon Wrap"- Now we’re ready to create a setting for a gemstone or fossil cabochon. We will be using a calibrated (regularly shaped) cabochon, but this technique is adaptable to irregularly shaped focal stones as well. We will create a wire bundle as we did for our bracelets, then learn how to use part of the bundle wires to hold the stone in place and to create a bail for the chain or cord.
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