Guitar string cuff
This is the cuff that I made, using a guitar string for decorative coiling. Wow, is that guitar string hard to maneuver! Anyway, I'm not totally happy with the cuff, it's a little clunky.
But, what I wanted to show you all was the heavy wire that I made the frame out of. It's stainless steel, but could be easily made from silver.
Anyway, I started with three really long strands of thin (probably 16-18g) round wire, clamped it, and used a drill to twist them together in a clockwise direction. I did this three times, to make three different strands of twisted wire, all the same length. Then I clamped all three strands of twisted wire together, and using the reverse on my husband's drill, I twisted them together in a counterclockwise direction, and got this lovely, ropelike wire to work with.
So, this is how I have brought my knowledge of fiber arts and spinning to jewelry making, lol. This is exactly how to make a triple plied yarn. :-)
Comments and faves
zaplecione (40 months ago | reply)
Marcy - FABULOUS!!!!!
I like your new desings extremely!!!
Guitar stringseems to give a lot of possibilities:)
followtheredbrickrd (40 months ago | reply)
Thank you! Everytime my son breaks a string I giggle, lol, because it means I have more to play with! I need to do a little research, though, and see if there's a way to temper it, because it's very very hard to work with...and I'm afraid it'll ruin my cutters.
zaplecione (40 months ago | reply)
Marcy if you wish I may send to you broken cello strings - my hubby plays cello. I think we still have some ;P
weirdlywired (40 months ago | reply)
I LOVE the texture of the twisted strands roped together like that. If you do make this in silver (or a mixed metal combination), LOS would make that detail SO much more apparent.
Asta R (40 months ago | reply)
How can you be NOT HAPPY???!!!
It's not possible, this cuff is fantastic!!!
Asta R added this photo to her favorites. (40 months ago)
followtheredbrickrd (40 months ago | reply)
I would love to have cello strings!
Yes, weirdlywired, I totally agree. I tried to use some LOS on the steel but it didn't do anything, lol. I thought I remembered somewhere someone oxidizing steel, but it must not have been with LOS lol.
Anastassia, I love the overall appearance of the cuff, what I didn't like was a weird jog where the coils connect at the curves...it's not visible in these pictures because of the angle I took the pics from. I tried and tried to get it to not have that jog, but the hard wire just wouldn't cooperate with me. I got a LOT of comments on it at the show I went to, but no buyers, even though I only had it priced at $20, lol.
jojobell (40 months ago | reply)
Wow Marcy! These wires really give it a different look! It looks fantastic!
firefly20021967, tys25, and countryrose71175 added this photo to their favorites.
countryrose71175 (11 months ago | reply)
absolutely gorgeous.... i'd buy one.....