Five Tools to Get You Started Making Wire Wrapped Jewelry

1. Wire Cutters:
The type of wire cutters you buy is very important. You want a very close cut on you wraps to avoid filing. I use these. I got them at a jewelry wholesaler. You can easily find them on line.

                                            

2. Needle nose pliers. These are not what your daddy has in his tool box. You need jewelry grade pliers. They will have smooth stainless steel noses that won't mark up your wire.
Here are the ones I use:

                                      

3. Flat Nose Pliers
These are important to have to flatten the ends of wire wraps and for closing jump rings.
Here are the ones I use:

                                 

4. Nylon Tip Pliers
These are great because they won't mark up wire when using larger gauge wire or aluminum wire.
They are also great for straightening out kinked wire.
Here are the ones I use:

                                     

5. Jumpring Mandrel
This mandrel has small size steps so you can make jump rings. You just coil your wire around the size you want and then cut straight up the side. More about jump rings later.
Here is the one I use:

                                    

So those are the top five tools I use every day. You can get started with just the first three. Check your local jewelry supply store or shop on line. If you buy on line, I suggest you read reviews before you order. In future I will go into detail about where I get my jewelry supplies.

A Portland Wedding

I am co hosting the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop from Katherines Corner. check out all of these great blogs! 

Thursday favorite things is where you can link your favorite post or write a post about your favorite things and share it with old and new followers. You gain visibility for your blog ( it posts on three blogs) and you make bloggy friends too!

 Please share the hop with your readers and let Katherine know if you would like to co-host.

 Here are the rules, yes there are rules. But just a few: 
 Please DO NOT link and run...visit a few of the wonderful blogs that are sharing at the hop. 

• Follow your hostesses Katherines Corner, Sew Crafty Angel And Me let us know if you are a new follower. 
• Visit as many blogs in the list as you can. Please leave a comment and let them know you are hopping over from the Thursday Favorite Things hop!
•  Share the button or a linkback on your post. Grab the hop button code from Katherines button page a Link back to Katherines Corner is always appreciated but is not mandatory 
• No adult content blogs or links directly to your shops please ( they will be removed) 
• Yes you can link giveaways ( they are everyone's favorite thing) Add your giveaways to the Win It Page at Katherines Corner too! Have fun and link up below.

 Just click and link below!

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My friend Sarah got married on the Fourth of July. I made this crystal and hematite necklace with an interesting chain treatment which I am very into right now. Sarah has extensive body art so I thought the clear crystal would be perfect and wouldn't interfere with it. 

This is her flower girl wearing the simple pearl necklace I made for her.

Who is Banba?

Irish mythology is still in the hearts of people of Irish decent living all around the world. Being of Irish decent, I too share this passion. I started out painting water colors of fairies and goddesses, then progressed to making jewelry inspired by the ancient knot work of the Celts. I chose Banba as the name for my collection because she was an Irish goddess and thought to be the first inhabitant of the island. Her name was often used in poetry to refer to Ireland. My hope is that my work will give the wearer a feel for this world of long ago.

Celtic Hoop Earrings

About ten years ago I decided I wanted to make my own style of hoop earrings. So I experimented with different gauges of sterling silver wire. I finally settled on 22 gauge half hard wire. I like to put a swirl at the top instead of a loop to add a Celtic feel that harkens back to the old Irish stone works and metal works of long ago.
Here are some examples:

Purple and clear crystals with small swirl.

Hematite hoops with extra loop to attach a center piece.

Coral chips with pewter beads with larger swirls at the top.
I recently discovered nylon tipped pliers which really help to make the swirls without nicking the wire. I give them a gentle pounding with a flat hammer and tiny anvil. Good luck with your projects. For more of my jewelry visit me on Etsy:
www.etsy.com/shop/banba

Summer Street Faires

I am so excited about working the summer street Faires here in Portland this year! I bought a new display case that is really going to make it easy! I bought this case from the Home Shopping Channel of all places. It is meant to hang over a door, but I know it is going to be perfect for my outdoor shows. My husband is going to put a handle on it so it will be just like a guitar case. Back when I played my guitar in bands, I would keep everything I needed in my case, open it up, plug it in and be ready to play. Now I can do it with this case - just with jewelry!

Yellow Orange Agate Earrings

These polished orange yellow agates are wrapped in sterling silver and have sterling silver ear wires and pewter accents. Perfect for spring! To purchase a pair visit my Etsy shop by clicking on the link on the right.

Come and Join the Blog Hop!

Pretty Petite Pearl Earrings

These pearl earrings would be so perfect for a bride or bridesmaids. They would also be nice for a younger gal for her sweet sixteen party or first communion. The sterling silver is sparkling and is certainly a keepsake.

Giveaway Winner!

The giveaway winner is Laura Rieben! Thanks to everyone else for viewing and participating.  I will do another giveaway in March.

Here's what I've been working on.

This is a turquoise necklace set. I actually bought these turquoise beads at Michaels. They do have some nice beads. You just have to look closely to make sure the beads are real. These beads are top drilled so to cover the wire, I wrapped down.

It's a bit of a messy wrap, but I think it gives it a Boho vibe.
Here are the earrings. To purchase, click my Etsy link at the right side of this page.

Link Party Giveaway!

Wire Wrapped Sterling Silver Earrings with Pewter Celtic Swirls and Green Glass Accents

 To win these earrings:
visit and like my ETSY shop.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Banba/
visit and like my facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/BanbasCelticCorner
If you have a web site, please link back to me.
Then leave me a comment with your email.

I will post the winner on Valentines Day. Good luck!

Antique Turquoise and Pearl Necklace

This totally unique necklace set has been transformed with sterling silver and pearls. As always the clasp is handcrafted sterling silver.
And of course the shipping is free!
Earrings are 2 1/2 inches long
Necklace is 18 inches long
Buy it here:
http://www.banbascelticcorner.com/product_p/255.htm
Here are the before and after.

Carnival Hoops

Wear these to the carnival or anywhere fun! Electric blue and shiny white freshwater pearls with pewter accents strung on sterling silver wire make up these unique tension hoops. Be original. No one will have these! IF you want to learn how to make these look at my previous posts. You can buy them here: http://www.banbascelticcorner.com/product_p/2010.htm

Hearts in Knots Necklace Set

I picked up these puka shells on the beach in Hawaii in the 70's. Seeing that they needed reimagining, I sought out Arizona turquoise to contrast, accented with pewter hearts tied in knots. Other details: the clasp is sterling silver and hand crafted. the beads are also stering silver. The necklace is 20" long and the earrings are 3" long.
You can buy them here:
http://www.banbascelticcorner.com/product_p/2005.htm

Hoop Earring Demo

This is a new way to make hoop earrings that require very little in supplies.  I set out the steps for you below.  Leave me a comment if you have any questions.  

Enjoy!

First assemble your materials. You will need two pieces of 22 gauge half hard sterling silver wire and your choice of beads.

Using your needle nose pliers, create a wire wrapped loop that faces forward.

Then thread your beads onto the wire.

Bend each wire back about one inch.

Hammer the bent ends flat for a nice finish.

Pull the bent portion through the wire wrapped loop.

Thread the bent portion through the front of your ear lobe and connect in the back.

There you have it.

These earrings are available  here.

I am linking up to these parties!

Jewelry Parties are Great!

I had a very successful jewelry party at my house two weeks ago- just a bunch of ladies sipping wine by the fire, trying on necklaces, and talking about things that are important to them. For all of you hand crafters out there, this is a wonderful way to get your work seen.

Here is a picture of my main display:

African Trade Bead Necklace Set

This 21" necklace was made with African trade beads brought back to me by a good friend in the late 80s. They are a very dark blue, (almost black), ceramic with pearly dots. The chain is sterling silver with a handcrafted clasp and sterling silver bead accent. The end caps are sterling silver. The earrings are 2" long wire wrapped with moonstones and sterling silver beads hanging from sterling silver chain.

The earrings are 2" long wire wrapped with moonstones and sterling silver beads hanging from sterling silver chain.