Since my second book came out (Wiresmithing - The New Look of Wire Art) I constantly get questions from people asking me why they should explore Wiresmithing. So I thought that it would be a good idea to give some reasons wy wiresmithing is such a Big Idea.

1.Wiresmithing gives you the opportunity to create designs that have a more contemporary look and feel. Wirewrap designs are unique and elegant, however, they lack the look that a majority of art jewelry buyers want.

2. It's easier. I teach classes around the country in both wire wrapping and wiresmithing. Many of those who have taken my wirewrapping classes have taken my wiresmithing classes. When the class is over they are amazed at how easy it was to make a wiresmithed piece.

3. You can use stones that have odd shapes. With wirewrapping the shape of the stone has a lot to do with the final look of the piece. At times you may have looked at caboshons to use in your work and found that there just wasn't any way to wrap that particular stone. With wiresmithing you aren't limited by the shape of the cab. Virtually any shape of stone can be used, this gives you the opportunity to come up with designs that are truely unique.

4. Wiresmithing puts you on the cutting edge of jewelry design. Think about this - You participate in an art show and find that there are two other wire artists that are showing their work along with you. What is going to help you sell more, designs that are similar to the other two artists or something that collectors haven't seen before? Adding wiresmithed pieces to your current line will help you stand out from all of the other jewelry artists at any show. 

5. You're a pioneer! Wiresmithing is a technique that very few artists are doing at the moment. By becoming a wiresmith artist you have the opportunity to pave the way! My wiresmithing book only shows the basics to wiresmithing. i did this because I wanted to give you (the artist) room to explore everything that can be done with this new technique. Take my word for it, there is a lot of room to explore.

These are only a few reasons why you should explore wiresmithing. I could spend the next several hours pointing out the benefits of this wonderful new technique. If you already haven't done so, visit our wiresmithing gallery at http://www.wiresmithing.com. You can also purchase a copy of Wiresmithing - The New Look of Wire Art.

Here's a helpful hint - If you visit http://www.macjewels.com/tutorials.html you can purchase Wiresmithing - The New Look of Wire Art for 25% off the cover price...That's a pretty awesome deal!

I would love to hear what you think...Why not take a minute and post your thoughts below.

'til next time,

Jim McIntosh
Mackintosh Jewelry Studio
http://www.macjewels.com
http://www.wiresmithing.com
email: jim.mcintosh@macjewels.com

 

   

 

 

This week I wanted to pass along a tip that I came across.

While teaching a wiresmith class in Jackson Michigan, one of my students showed me a bracelet mandrel that her husband made. He cut off the thin bottom portion of an ax handle. The wide upper section of the handle made a great, low cost bracelet mandrel. After we made the wiresmith bracelet, we tested out the ax handle bracelet mandrel…It worked perfectly.

 

A week later I took a field trip to my local hardware store in search of an ax handle that I could convert into my vary own bracelet mandrel. As I looked through the replacement handles, I came across a handle that I thought would work even better than an ax handle…a pick handle. An ax handle has a sharp almost pointed ends, the pick handle however has smooth oval shaped ends. This smooth shape mimics a wrist a lot more than an ax handle does.

 

So why would you use this type of a bracelet mandrel instead of buying one? The obvious reason is cost. A replacement pick handle set me back $15 (US). A new bracelet mandrel from a jewelry supply company would cost at least twice that amount. Pick and ax handles are made from good hard wood so they will take a lot of abuse. They are far lighter than a steel mandrel, this makes them a lot lighter as you are working.

 

Transforming a pick handle into a bracelet mandrel is fairly easy and requires very little skill. Measure from the wide end of the handle 11 inches and mark it with a permanent marker. Using a saw cut across the handle at the mark that you just made. Once the cut is complete, use sandpaper and clean up the cut edge. Finish the mandrel by measuring the circumference of the mandrel starting at the wide end. With a permanent marker mark the 7 ½ inch, 7 inch, 6 ½ inch, 6 inch, and 5 ½ inch on the mandrel to make is easier for you to shape a bracelet at the proper size.

 

Here’s a picture of the final product-

 

 

 

I hope everyone has enjoyed this little tip. Let me know what you think.

 

‘Til next week,

 

Jim McIntosh
Mackintosh Jewelry Studios
http://www.macjewels.com
email: jim.mcintosh@macjewels.com

I know, I know...this is something that I should have been doing all along. However, we have been really busy around here and something had to give. Unfortunantly it was my blog. That is all about to change. I am now devoted to posting new information each week. So i hope that you enjoy my rantings.

I plan to use my blog to talk about tips and tricks that I have found, probplems and trends that I see developing, new work that i like talking about, and just about anything else that i think will be helpful. I also plan to use my blog to answer any of your questions, so if you have one email it to me at jim.mcintosh@macjewels.com and I will do my best to answer it.

So what do I want to talk about today? Here's something. In the June issue of Jewelry Artist Magazine an artist wrote to them to complain about a project that they recently published that the artist felt was a "rip off" of one of there original designs. The artist expressed how difficult it is to come up with new and interesting designs.

I can completely sypathize with the artist. Coming up with a new and interesting design that will catch the eye of collectors is extremely difficult. As artists we need to always be looking for ways to change some of the current designs that are out there to come up with something new. So how can artists come up with new and exciting designs? Here are a few suggestions-

1. Doodle. I am always scribbling shapes and designs. I fill up page after page of designs in my sketch book. These designs may never be used...actually many of them are virtually inpossible to do using wirewrapping or wiresmithing techniques. However, when I find a new look or design that I like, it immediatly becomes a new work of art.

2. Magazines. I love to look at fashion magazines. I am not looking to copy the work of other artists, I am looking for inspiration. I look at the shapes, the stones, and patterns. I use these to inspire my own work.

3. Take a class. I love to look at how other artists create. I recently taught a class in Kansas City Missouri and one of the students in the class had some of his work there. He had read both of my books and was inspired to create his own designs that looked nothing like the ones outlined in the book. He did fabulous work and even passed on a few of his own suggestions on wire art that I thought were wonderful. So the lesson here is, always be willing to learn from everyone you come in contact with.

These are only a few things that I use to inspire my work. I hope that they will help you as you explore your own wire creations.

'til next time,

Jim McIntosh