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.
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.
I have the wire and the sea glass. Can’t wait to try this. BTW, I’m a visual learner. Great video!! Thanks
So clear and simple. Many thanks.
Good idea! Thanks!
Thank you so much far sharing, you made it look so easy, it takes away the fear of messing it up!
Never fear! :)
Thank you SO much!
the best part ??? no talking !! love your tutorial :) thank you .
best one i have seen.
thanks for a great tutorial :o)
Thanks a bunch!
looks realy cool! thanks!
No sound was actually a plus :) Thank you for the vid.
this is the only tutorial I’ve found to properly wrap oddly shaped undrilled stones and now I can wear my nugget of turquoise :) thank you so much.
Great tutorial. I found the background noise distracting. :(
Hi I really loved this tutorial. Can’t wait to try it. Fab fab I did some thing similar a while back using a shell. Thanks for the extra inspiration.I am an aspiring jewelry designer / maker / hobbyist etc and have made my first video a month ago; I would really appreciate your feedback on it if you don’t mind. Thank you and best regards :)
Did not like the air back ground noise. Better if you played some music or spoke. thanks
Thank you! I’ve referred back to this several times! Please keep posting your great tutorials!
Great video , going to try this with all the beach pebbles I keep collecting . Thanks for making this !
this is one of the very best tutorials i’ve seen. thanks!
Such an easy tutorial to follow, one of the best available… With much gratitude!
Perfect!
Fantastic tutorial! I love that you showed how to wrap something without a hole, and you were very clear about everything. And the spirals and S curves are a nice touch!
Great tutorial. Thank you. Your work is impressive. Are you using 20 gauge wire?
20 or 22ga as mentioned in the description, either works!
Awesome! Your techniques are simplified and required no audio…..priceless. I am a visual learner and you made it easy to follow. Thank you
like this techniques thanks so much for making it easy, keep creating thanks so much again
Very nice ,Thenk you .
Lovely!
fantástico trabajo, soy una gran aficionada a buscar vidrios de mar por la playa. Muchas gracias!
Thank you for a wonderful tutorial! Clear, concise and easy to follow! I appreciate videos that are visual without all the useless commentaries. Terrific technique!
Very simple, easy to watch video. Thank you for this tutorial, it’s brilliant. Contrary to what a few comments said about the background noise, I actually found it quite soothing and liked the crackle of the movement of the wire (but that’s just me!). Very helpful, thank you so much.
Words can help too
it would have been nice to hear you talk also to say how long the wires should be
You must have the annotations turned off! The text shows that it’s about 10″ for each length of wire. Try turning on annotations and watching again!
Impressive!
Thank you so much for posting this!!!!!! Your technique was so simple but still pretty. I saw another video that was so much more complex but you made wrapping so simplistic. I look forward to your next video.
Muito bom, valeu!
Talk???
That’s going to come loose. The kinks are no good.
Great tutorial ! I live along the Atlantic coast and in the 45 years I’ve lived here I never heard of Sea Glass until a few days ago. I’m going out looking for Sea Glass tomorrow. Thanks to your wonderful tutorial i’m going to try my hand at making Sea Glass jewelry. Wish me luck!
Superrrrrrrrr felicidades espero más tecnicas gracias por compartir saludos desde la bella Ciudad de México
Great video – you make it seem so easy. Thanks!
great video u help me with my problem … thank you for sharing this
Gayle you are my teacher! I love all that you do. Would you give me your expert opinion on what is the best glue to adhere to gem on glass or shell? I tried wrapping a long piece of sea glass and for the life of me I can’t do it. What is your advise on how to do this? Thank you, Shari
Well, I don’t normally glue things but I’m pretty sure E6000 will glue anything to anything!
Gale I thank you for your expert information concerning glue. I ordered it! How can I send you photos, and if I can, please give me your honest critique. Thank you also for your amazing Tutorials! I am a beginner with a art major. Who knows, but you. Shari
Woww…your hands are amazing!
I was wondering this too Gayle, if you don’t mind me asking…or if any of your subscribers might have tried this out. A lot of glues have a water content that rusts the wire. I usually wire-wrap & don’t have to worry about using glue but now & then I’ll want to secure a bead or charm to the stone that’s been wire-wrapped. Any glues that don’t rust wire??
I’ve tried very few glues, but this to that dot com is a good glue advice website!
This is great and man You’re so fast with Your hands! I like the tool You use, the bent looking pliers, do You know what they’re called, they look like a really useful tool. :D