Andalusite Cage Wrap

The early days of National Craft Making Month were filled with the long built up energy of getting ready and of months without crafting.  And so I burst into the month with millions of ideas and new sources of inspiration ready to create!

This was one of the first pieces I made last month and I wanted to talk about making it.

This isn't a formal tutorial, but I took a fair amount of photos as I was making the piece, just so I could remember.  I'd love to share the process.

Step by step 

Materials, one large bead, 22 gauge sterling silver round, square and half round wire

This bead comes from a lovely strand of Andalusite coin beads that I've been treasuring and using slowly. I chose this one because it resembles a road disappearing on the horizon.  And the crossing is a thicker black point with an inclusion of the brown crystal off center.  It looks a bit like a sunset.  Many of the stones have the crossroad directly in the center of the stone, but this one really seemed to fit my mood better.  It's more like I'm on the journey and I cannot see my destination, but I know the crossroads is ahead. 


I measured the bead carefully with my calipers and also used a strip of scrap paper to measure the edge circumference.  Then I used my ring mandrel and mallet to form the two frames.  I bent the end wires perpendicular to the fame where they met and then back on the front wire, forward on the back wire.  I also measured the width of the bead at it's center, then I used the caliper to mark half the target distance on the neck wires (the thickness of the bead divided by two) and bent the wires up exactly that distance from the frame wire.  When I put the two bundles of end wires together, the two circles stood out parallel

I also created a small hammered 'S' element for the back of the cage using the frames width as a guide.  I wanted it to sit slightly higher up in the back so the stone could still be seen underneath.


 I hardened the round wire by pulling and made a freeform design to use as the edge of the cage.  I had hoped to do something a little more geometric, but the first attempt is still nice looking.

I formed the frame wire around the mandrel as well and trimmed the end short creating a spiral at the end of the design to overlap a wave at the beginning and create a secure resting place for the end of the headpin supporting the bead. 


Then I chose the front frame and wrapped at points where the design was touching.  I was gently reshaping the squiggling pattern as I went to insure a more even spacing of the wraps, to make sure it was secured all the way around the frame and just for aesthetics. 

I repeated this process with the front frame wire.  I taped the wire ends together to hold it in place as I wrapped.  I attached it at the top and bottom of the piece, leaving some space at the sides to attach the 'S' element and leave a little room to adjust the side wires before the last wrap made their positioning permanant.  


Once I was satisfied with the attachment points on both sides all the way around the frame, it was time to add in the bead.  I slid the pin through my bottom design, the bead and then into the taped bundle of wires at the top. 

I checked the fit in the frame, the stone was sitting just a little bit higher on one side than the other, but it was quite easy to adjust the wrapping so it did not interfere.  This is what you get from designing as you go.

Then I removed bottom of the tape holding the wires together, made sure they remained formed a tight bundle with the round headpin in the center and wrapped them twice with half round wire.  I separated the wires, chose the two in the center, bent them backwards over my tiny needle nose pliers, secured them with two more wraps of the halfround wire and trimmed the wrap wire.

One nice thing about a freeform design when I'd planned something more regular, is it's easier to decide what to do with the extra length of the frame wires.  I just spiraled the ends and bent them down to accentuate the design. 


I think this design will work well with a wide variety of beads, as long as they are fairly large.  It's delightful that it's open on the front to display a gorgeous bead and the back also make a nice ornate pendant with a background of the stone's color.

I'm imagining something more like knotwork for the side design for the formal version.  It is more of a filigree setting than a free standing cage.

Please, tell me what you think of this writeup.  I'd love to write a tutorial or two on more popular pieces, and I need feedback!

-Simbelmynë

Comments

[nytesong]

I love the silver wire work stuff. It's beautiful! I'd love to see another one.....preferably with a sky blue stone! Or better yet that blue stone I always tell you looks like water (does it come that big?).

[Intentional Stones]

I have some pale blue chelcedony that might be nice. Maybe with stars on the sides?

I made a tiny version of the design for the charms http://www.flickr.com/photos/simbel_myne/4029942141/ but there wasn't room for the edge wirework. I'm loving these versatile designs.
-Simbelmynë