Spirit Pendant

by Mary Bailey

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Coiling, Weaving
Skill Level: Advanced

This pattern came about by using a variety of techniques that I incorporated into a single design. By publishing their personal designs using these same techniques, the ladies whom I feel most influenced this round wire "Spirit" design are: Mary Tucker, Lisa Barth, and Eni Oken. Enjoy!

Materials

18 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire

H11-18D

Lesson Quantity: 12.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $0.85
Gold Club Price: $0.64

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20 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire

H11-20D

Lesson Quantity: 15.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $2.06
Gold Club Price: $1.54

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26 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire

H11-26D

Lesson Quantity: 11.00 feet
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 25FT
Price: $2.31
Gold Club Price: $1.74

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Premium Gemstone Donuts 1/2 Pound Bag

E2-101

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $22.80
Gold Club Price: $17.10

Out of Stock

Apple Jasper 4mm Round 8 inch Strand

A1-911

Lesson Quantity: 14.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $6.30
Gold Club Price: $4.73

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Apple Jasper 8mm Round 8 inch Strand

A1-913

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.37
Gold Club Price: $5.53

Out of Stock

Apple Jasper 6mm Round 8 inch Strand

A1-912

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $6.37
Gold Club Price: $4.78

Out of Stock

Onyx 6mm Faceted Rondelle Beads - 8 Inch Strand

A1-325

Lesson Quantity: 5.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $13.65
Gold Club Price: $10.24

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copper spacers

Lesson Quantity: 15.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Tools

Flat Nose Wire Pliers

G2-506

G2-506
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Round Nose Wire Pliers

G2-507

G2-507
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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6 Step Barrel Plier - Pack of 1

G2-503

G2-503
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.95
Gold Club Price: $11.21

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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.97
Gold Club Price: $12.73

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12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler

G7-30

G7-30
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.97
Gold Club Price: $2.23

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Scotch 0.94 Inch Painters Tape for Taping Wires Together

G13-5

G13-5
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $5.97
Gold Club Price: $4.48

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Marker -extra fine

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Instructions

Step 1

Straighten the 18-gauge wire and then find and mark its center. Use round nose pliers to form a 5mm inner diameter (ID) loop at the mark. Center the loop alongside a round shaping item that is the same size as the donut and shape the wire around the item.

Mary Bailey's Spirit Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, 18-gauge wire using round nose pliers to create a loop.

Step 2

Place the wire frame around the donut. Looking at the donut as though it were a clock face, put the loop just created at 6 o'clock and mark the wire at both 3 and 9 o'clock. Make a 4mm (ID) loop at each of these locations.

Mary Bailey's Spirit Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Adding more loops to the frame.

Step 3

Where 12 o'clock would be, use flat nose pliers to bend each side of the frame 90° up, forming the bail wires.

Mary Bailey's Spirit Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Flat nose pliers bending the frame to form bail wires.

Step 4

Cut one piece of 26-gauge wire about 3 feet long. Leaving a 2" tail, use this wire to begin coiling around one of the 18-gauge bail wires; starting about 1/4" above the bend and coiling down until there are 8 to 10 coils "on" the curved frame. Slide a 4mm round bead onto the 26-gauge wire. Keeping the bead on the outer edge of the frame, wrap the 26-gauge wire once around the frame and then 2 complete times around the base of the bead, followed by three coils on the frame, heading away from the bead.

Mary Bailey's Spirit Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, 26-gauge wire being coiled around 18-gauge wire.

Step 5

Adding more 26-gauge wire as needed, after the third coil around the frame, gently straighten the remaining 26-gauge wire and thread it through the center hole of the donut. When it comes back out the other side, bring it up to and wrap it around the frame, twice. Now add another bead, repeating the entire procedure until there are five beads attached to the frame, and the 26-gauge wire has passed through the center 4 times.

Mary Bailey's Spirit Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Adding beads to 26-gauge wire thats coiled.

Step 6

On the 26-gauge wire's fifth pass through the center, wrap it around the frame until it hits the bottom of the first side loop. Thread the 26-gauge wire through the loop, coiling it 3 times around the inside of the loop.

Step 7

Immediately after the loop, use the 26-gauge wire to add twelve coils around the frame (adding more wire as needed). Then repeat the procedure of threading the 26-gauge wire through the center hole three times, with two coils between the 1st and 2nd time and three coils between the 2nd and 3rd time. Add one more 4mm round bead, wrap it to the frame and then repeat the coiling process, reversing the coiling pattern, until the entire pendant frame has been wrapped.

Mary Bailey's Spirit Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, 26-gauge adding 12 more coils to the frame.

Step 8

After the entire frame has been wrapped, trim and tuck the starting end of the 26-gauge coiling wire.

Mary Bailey's Spirit Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Tucking the 26-gauge wire after the frame is wrapped.

Step 9

Use the remaining 26-gauge wire to weave the two bail wires together with a figure-8 weave, for about a 1" length.

Mary Bailey's Spirit Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, 26-gauge wire weaving the two bail wires together.

Step 10

Trim both 18-gauge wire ends so they are even, and use round nose pliers to roll them under, toward the back of the pendant.

Mary Bailey's Spirit Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, 18-gauge being trimmed and moved to back of the pendant.

Step 11

Use your favorite bail-making tool to roll the bail wires toward the back of the piece.

Mary Bailey's Spirit Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Rolling bails.

Step 12

Use 3" pieces of 20-gauge round wire to create your own headpin charms, using a selection of beads you chosen to match the donut. Attach one charm to each side loop, and attach three charms to the bottom center loop.

Reviews

Mary Bailey

For more than 20 years, Mary has been continually learning and expanding on her knowledge of the art of scrimshaw. As a 'scrimshander' she is continually seeking new ideas and techniques to enhance what she creates on her hand etched cabochons. It was such a need that led Mary to find and contact Dale with regard to expanding her basic wire artistry skills, taking them to a higher level to compliment her scrimshaw creations.

Mary's scrimshaw work has been published in such magazines as Knives Illustrated, Blade Magazine, Wire Jewelry Artist, and Colored Stone. She has taken awards for her scrimshaw work at custom knife shows and at Dragon-Con.

Mary resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, Joseph, a custom knife maker and rock hound. Together they share a love of gems, minerals and lapidary (both being members of the Mid-Tennessee Gem & Mineral Society club). Because of their different artistic crafts, their interests blend in many ways.

From that first contact with Dale (over 10 years ago) has grown a bond between two creative women that has remained strong to this day. "Dale and I seem to balance each other in so many ways. We use each other as sounding boards for ideas and designs. She is my teacher as well as my friend."