Tutorials

I periodically create wire-wrap tutorials for youtube.com. I have a full-length video class called Organic Wire-Wrapped Pendants at Bluprint. You can purchase downloadable tutorials at Etsy or Bluprint. In 2014, the video below prompted the craft publisher Interweave to reach out to me, and I later published a book called Freeform Wire Art Jewelry. Interweave has since been acquired by Penguin Random House.

Organic Wire-Wrapped Pendants Class
How to Wire-Wrap Beach Glass the Easy Way – Free eBook
Freeform Wire Art Jewelry – the Book
Visit My Youtube Channel for more

My Experience

Without a doubt, writing how-to tutorials is what I’m best at. When I was ten, I wrote out the instructions to create a cat sculpture using a cardboard tube and pipe cleaners!
Since then, I’ve gotten some slightly more impressive credentials :)

  • I’m a self-taught wire artist, since 1998, so I know what it’s like to struggle with a new technique or to work without special tools, and you’ll find workarounds in my tutorials.
  • Since nobody was teaching when I was learning, I had to invent something new every time I was solving a problem – so you’ll find many of my techniques are different from the usual!
  • I have a BA in English from CBU, so (hopefully) there aren’t any typos or grammatical errors that will confuse your learning. I’m also trained in educational pedagogy.
  • I was an instructor for an online private career college in Canada, writing course curriculum and providing tutorial assistance for online, adult learners since 1999, so I know where you might get lost – and how to avoid it!
  • You’ll find my tutorials have clear, concise, accurate instructions with photos for every step – even partial steps. I know how to teach you no matter how you learn best!
  • I make jewellery to sell – and I sell a lot of it – so many of my techniques are designed to efficiently put into production, leading to tutorial stages which you can easily follow.
  • That instructing I do? It’s for web and graphic design, so you’ll find a consistent, readable layout on every page, photos that draw your focus to the relevant step, and constant clues to keep your place – even if you forget to staple your printout and the whole thing falls apart!
  • In 2014, I was approached by f+w / Interweave to write a jewelry how-to book, based on my existing online offerings. After publishing in 2015, it has sold over 15,000 copies so far. In 2015, I published an online video class with Craftsy.com.

All of this is to reassure you that you can feel safe with me. I take your jewellery education seriously, and it is important to me that you can become comfortable with wire, clay, design, and – possibly the biggest thing – beauty in imperfection.

193 Comments

  1. Pingback: Speaking of Tutorials… at Gayle Bird Designs

  2. Pingback: How to Wire-Wrap Beach Glass the Easy Way at Gayle Bird Designs

  16. sandra johnson

    Wow! You made this look so simple and quick. I have wasted so much wire trying to learn how to wrap. I love the beach glass. Thanks for the tutorial!

  19. Judith Farhat

    Just came across your wonderful video, Gayle. Finally, a method that doesn’t intimidate me to try a simple wire wrap. You’ve made it so straightforward and easy. Thank you for sharing this! ;-)

  23. Michelle Weir

    Oh my gosh!!! This was so helpful :D Someone just yesterday asked me to wirewrap something and I said I’d have to find a good video for it, and what’s the first one I look at? The good one! Thank you a million for having this so clear and easy!!!

  27. sunraywhale

    Thanks for the easy to follow video – given me inspiration on how to attach a heart shaped pendant with no hole onto a necklace. Thanks for sharing!

  35. giddalti

    Wow! That is beautiful and easy — making it twice as nice. When you created the “S” designs that tightened the fitting, I thought that was really a nice look. I thought that was going to be the front of the jewelry … just something to think about for future designs. Thank you so much for sharing your skill and talent with the world!

  42. giddalti

    I haven’t started making jewelry yet, but I’ve noticed that every designer has his or her own style — their trademark touches. I’m waiting for my stones to arrive. I can’t wait to start creating. I have ideas (from watching youtube videos) regarding what I’m going to do with the wire and stones. Yet, until I get my fingers on the materials, I can only imagine where my designs may go. Thank you for sharing!

  50. Shawn Jenkins

    We’ve all heard “There’s nothing new under the Sun!” & here you are with something new, easy & helps us visual learning and not having to be subjected to some horrible Techno or pablum Soft Rock music! Thanks bunch girl! :) If your little bird wants to sing more tutorials we’re here to listen!

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