Tuesday, November 25, 2008

I don't know if you remember, but earlier this year, I posted a tutorial on how to wrap briolette beads.

I just recently got an interesting e-mail from a fellow jewelry maker. She said that wrapping briolettes was information that she worked hard to discover herself and that it was hard-earned; she was upset that I was sharing it. She called me out on her blog, too.

Well do you know what I say. Knowledge is worthless unless it is shared. It's not a commodity to hoard.

Furthermore, ANYONE can figure out how to wrap beads. Most bead magazines have instructions. Plus it's easy enough to find by googling.

So in as a response to her letter, I am re-posting my tutorial, below.

Good luck to all my fellow beaders and jewelry makers, and I hope your briolettes turn out BRILLIANTLY!


The Contrariwise Method to wrap briolettes and tear-shaped beads


Supplies:

  • Silver wire. (22, 24, or 26 gauge, depending on the desired effect, size of stone, and size of holes in the stone ) I don't cut my wire at a particular length; I use the entire roll and cut it at the end.

  • Bead / gemstone (briolette, teardrop, or marquise shape)

  • Round Nose Pliers

  • Cutting Pliers

  • Fingers

    Instructions:

    1)Thread the wire through the bead's hole, making it poke out about an inch on one side.

    2)Pinch both wires at the top of the briolette to form the shape of a triangle, making sure that the stone is centered

    3) Take the short end and wrap it around the longer wire 2-3 times, like this:


  • 4)Snip off the tiny bit of wire sticking out.

    5)Using your round pliers, create a loop:

    (You could actuall stop here, finish with a wrapped loop, and be done. But we'll continue with wrapping the wire down the gemstone.)

    6)Now start wrapping the wire. You will wrap around the wire below the loop, then wrap around the bead. You can stop wrapping above the hole in the bead or below it, depending on the look you want. In this case I wrapped below the hole.

    7) At this point you need to decide how to finish this off. There are a number of ways:


    • Cut the wire flush and either tuck it under the last wrap or press it neatly against the stone.

    • Wrap the wire back up the bead carefully, then secure it by tucking it into the bead hole or wrapping it a couple of times under the loop. (If you want a "messy" look, wrap the wire back up loosely.)

    • To create a swirl in front of the bead, cut the wire, leaving about 1/2 inch. Then create the swirl and press it against the bead. Example:

    • Wrap the wire back up once accross the front of the wrapping, then a couple of times below the loop. (My preferred method). Example:


    And that's all there is to it! Happy wire wrapping!

    bead wrapping tutorial briolettes how to wrap



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    48 Comments:

    1. Anonymous said...
      Thank you. I love when people are willing to share a bit...it's what someone does with the info that makes it uniquely their own.
      OMB said...
      Sharing your knowledge is wonderful. And like you said, the information is available elsewhere. Keep doing what makes you happy!!!!!
      High Desert Diva said...
      You rock.
      Contrariwise said...
      Thanks guys! I've got a couple more tutorials planned. AND a request for some more tips about how to optimize FeedBurner settings. Look for those in the near future.
      Melissa said...
      I too post tutorials I find by searching. I have never been contacted and asked not to. If their site is free, and they have no statements saying you can not share the information, then I dont see what is wrong with it. The one you are showing, is very basic, and can be found in a million different places.
      Contrariwise said...
      Actually, this particular tutorial was written by me and these photos were taken by me. I didn't copy it from anywhere.
      CarolynArtist said...
      AWESOME turorial!!! I had to giggle at person who said she came up with wrapping these! :p
      Virginia said...
      What a great tutorial! When I started teaching, I worried that my students would start to become competition in my local market but I've been teaching silk painting and seed beading for almost 7 years now and not one of my students has sold in a local gallery with anything that looks like it came from my hands.

      I do have a couple of students who now make more of their own accessories and gifts instead of buying them from me. They have so much joy in that creative process and in giving gifts made with their own hands that I'm actually glad to have "lost" their business.

      World folklore is full of stories where the scrooges are bitten by fate and the open handed are blessed. It is safer & happier to be open handed. Better or your health, too. :)
      barbara said...
      good for you... you go girl!
      All Wired Up TOO said...
      I am also of the "Knowledge is worthless unless it is shared." school...

      thinking of writing a tutorial myself..
      Anonymous said...
      One of the main things that attracted me to your blog, was your willingness to help other jewelry makers, with your hints, tips and also the tutorials, especially the photo taking and blog tips. They are priceless!!
      The other woman is being just plain ridiculous. I even spoke to another blogger about you being kind enough to share so many things, she is now also a follower of your blog.
      I hope you sell a million pcs. of jewelry with that particular wrap...LOL
      Hot Rocks said...
      Excellent tutorial! I cannot believe someone would be so upset about this!! You are so right, you can find tutorials on this kind of stuff in mags and books and online..so not sure what her problem is! It is nice that you took the time and effort to share this with those new to making jewelry!
      Mary Ann said...
      Great tutoril. Thanks for sharing. I've always been afraid of wrapping ovals, but you make it look so easy that I think I'll give it a try.
      n*stitches said...
      I think this is a great tutorial! I assure you that your poster did not "develop" the technique. Otherwise, how did you know how to do it??
      Unknown said...
      hmmmm..that seems a bit strange to me that she'd look at it that way.

      regardless. very generous of you to share. beautiful work.
      jelveh Designs said...
      great tut, thanks for the share...
      Live, Love, Laugh, Write! said...
      Thank you so much for posting this! I've been planning on figuring out how to do this and hadn't gotten around to it yet - so I was really excited not to have to look for the information! I'm marking this post to come back and reference later with some supplies in hand :)
      UniqueNurseGranny said...
      A nice tutorial.It was said long ago there is nothing new under the sun.Sounds like the caller was working in the dark.
      Wear Your Wild said...
      I think I love you! :)
      And leave it at that.
      Contrariwise said...
      Uh....all I can say is that I'm...speechless!
      Anonymous said...
      Thank you for sticking it to that buttinsky! AWESOME, LOVELY and TOTALLY IMPRESSIVE!
      craftyLinda said...
      Good for you. People like that are just mean. Remember what goes around comes around and she will get hers. I think it is great of you to pass on what you have learned. I thank you very much for all for your info.
      Katherine said...
      Awesome, I was recently thinking about Googling this, now I don't have to!
      Tammy's Treasure Chest said...
      I found a free tut on this very technique last night, but yours is soooo much better. Great way to show the scrooge that you are your own woman!
      Dana Meanor said...
      Well for crying out loud! Wire wrapping is not brain surgery and you can see/learn how to do this in a hundred different places. I can't believe another crafter would criticize for sharing a technique like this!

      I actually do this wire wrap a bit differently...maybe I'll share my method and have someone after me for it! Ha, Ha! :)
      Anonymous said...
      you are the definition of share and share alike..when are they comeing to take your picture for the dictoionary?
      ;)
      Grizzly Mountain Arts said...
      Thank you for sharing! I'm sorry you're getting some heat from other jewelry blogs.
      SortaFlowering Designs said...
      lol! Good for you:) Thank you for sharing, I am sure your kindness will come back to you doubled =^.^= Happy Holidays~
      FishBulb500 said...
      I was just thinking about this the other day, and was going to search your blog for it. Voila! Here it is. Thanks for posting it again, and making me giggle to boot. :)
      Crimzen Creative said...
      You are amazing! Yes, share knowledge - those who keep it secret are hiding something and are afraid of those that can do it better. I love your creations!
      Touch of Beauty Designs said...
      Way to go girl!
      outofthepinksky said...
      As I mentioned before, this tutorial was a great help to me! Thanks so much for sharing!
      Mei Tan said...
      Thank you for being such a sharing person. I write and sell tutorials too and have met (online) someone like you mentioned recently. She actually accused me of copying someone else's design and have no shame of selling it. Like you, all photos and instructions were prepared by me. She said she has been making the same thing for the last 15 years but can't show any proof of her finished piece/s. I finally managed to clarify the matter with the "owner" of the design (so she claimed) and this "owner" cleared the air for me and said it is not her design. Phew! But its an experience. There are all kind of people around who is jealous with what you are doing.
      Mrs. G said...
      Hat off to you! The design looks hard to master even with the tutorial. I don't see how sharing the steps will prejudice a master beader.

      Thanks for sharing.
      Paw and Claw Designs said...
      Tips are for sharing not for hording!
      Anonymous said...
      My bible says, there is nothing new under the Sun, so she could not possibly have invented the technique. Oh yes! by the way that's in the King James version.

      Thank you for sharing!
      Pat.
      WW said...
      Thanks for sharing. It's all Karma in the end!
      swisssidejewelleryetc said...
      I agree with all the above. I have learned so much from your blog - even if I haven't managed to get around to doing it all yet - at least I know what can be done and the tips and tutorials are an inspiration and motivation to me. Thanks so much.
      Anonymous said...
      I agree, sharing is great, and there are tons of books out there on wire wrapping and the internet is a font of information. I like to see how other people put to use what they have learned. It becomes your piece once you start and no two artists interpretation is going to be the same. We all want to learn so we can create our own unique piece, put our own spin on. Thank you for sharing, I look foward to following you blogs.
      Horse Creek Jewelry said...
      The kind of energy and kindness you put forth will always come back to you in other ways! Your tutorial was extremely helpful and helped me perfect what I already was trying to learn myself. Believe me, this is NOT medical school, most people who want to learn this would have. But looking at your work..you inspire me alot and I am proud that I have learned from the best as I can see. You rock..thanks so much always, Helene
      Anonymous said...
      Knowledge is only becomes valuable when shared. I dont understand when people think they have to hide their techniques. I found your blog when I was looking for the same technique and with my first try I was hooked! Thank you for being someone who shares what they know and for inspiring me!
      Jo said...
      What a cheek! I can't believe that someone would get so upset about such a great tutorial. Did she honestly learn everything about wiremaking by trial and error without any reference at all to books, magazines and the internet?
      What on earth would she think of those of us who dare to teach jewellery making for a living?!
      Your tips and tutorials are great - don't stop!
      JMW Jewelry said...
      Oi, some people... It's not like this is the hardest thing to figure out on your own, ya know?
      Dreaming when I should be working said...
      RIGHT ON!!! The person who emailed you obviously does not realize that we all stumble upon some techniques that others before us have used...if you go to Eni Oken's new site you'll find a bunch of basic lessons for free (plus other paid ones). One of the great things about the internet is the sharing of information!! I'm sorry that person was a poor sport but I love that you foster a sense of community here! Keep it up!! Oh, Eni's new site is jewelrylessons.com if you all are interested.
      Designs by Victoria said...
      I finally got around to doing my own tutorial on wire-wrapping, inspired by this one of yours:

      http://dbvictoria.blogspot.com/2008/12/wire-wrapping-tutorial.html
      Anonymous said...
      Rae of Rae's Creations is a real b*tch. I can totally see her getting all jacked up about your wire wrapping article. She thinks she invented jewelry making and that nobody else can do it as well as she can. To hell with her.
      PixelPerfect.Weddings said...
      It's really unreal that anyone would care? It's the internet these days, you can find anything, what is she going to personally attack anyone giving out advice on the internet?
      I understand not wanting to give out the secrets of being the BEST! BUUUUT you can tell someone a million times how to do something, doing it brilliantly is what separates hobbyist from professionals!
      I don't make jewelry very well and I try.
      but i am a professional photographer, and the digital camera era sucks for us!
      But hey you can still separate the professionals.
      Kendra Goodrich said...
      I'm glad your sharing it! As a fellow jewelry maker I am always happy to share what I know with whoever is interested. You can learn just about anything online (in fact I learned quite a few things looking online) but it is actually doing it and practicing it that is really important.

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