Tag: wire

Mossarium: Adding birds

On By CarynIn Craft

I love my little mossarium, and keep looking for tiny things to add: little plants from the yard, lichen, birds. Birds! I cut out flying bird silhouettes on my Cricut from black cardstock, and hung them from monofilament attached to a wire mobile.

Photo description: more card stock black bird cutouts than I needed in four sizes on a green Cricut mat

I used 22 gauge black coated copper wire to hang a fishing swivel on the inside of the terrarium.

Photo description: small fishing swivel connected to black wire with a closed loop

I made a circle of wire with a cross bar and loop, and hung it from a banana stand so I could balance it as I added the birds, which had monofilament strung through the body area. I only needed seven of the smallest birds I cut, the rest will be saved for other projects. I used super glue to tack the line onto the wire because I didn’t want the line to slide along the wire, and I didn’t want to add weight by making wire loops.

Photo description: tiny bird mobile hanging from a banana stand, terrarium lid in the background
Photo description: mobile in place in the terrarium lid, showing the wire circle hanging from the fishing swivel attached to the peak of the lid and the birds hanging down
Photo description: terrarium lid in place over the moss covered mini landscape

Here is a 5 second video of the birds “flying”. I put the terrarium on a small lazy susan, so when I turn it, the birds turn at a different rate, and will continue to spin briefly when the turntable stops. The swivel doesn’t spin as freely as I would like, but this is a happy start.

Throwback Thursday: wire snowflakes

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback

In November of 2005 I made a wood and nail jig and produced several styles of wire snowflake ornaments.

Photo description: twisted dark blue wire snowflake with one branch replaced with a crystal bead
Photo description: twisted copper wire snowflake with crystal beads around the center and double the amount of wire
Photo description: twisted silver wire snowflake with a single crystal bead in the center

It is quite satisfying the number of permutations that can be achieved with a single jig just by skipping an element or doubling the wire or adding beads in different places. I did move away from the black velvet for photos, but was having trouble with white balance using the cream colored felt. Yes, I could break out Photoshop and adjust them to all match, but I think the varied backgrounds are appropriate for a Throwback Thursday.

I don’t have the jig anymore, but it was a simple affair with nails driven through 1/8” or 1/4” plywood. I didn’t make any more wire snowflakes after this round because it was a pain and a twisting nightmare.

Knitting row counter

On By CarynIn Craft

Here is a different version of a row counter for knitting. I used flat round wood beads and copper wire to make a chain with larger loops to accommodate larger needles. I then used a wood burner to number each bead; it is actually easier to wood burn the assembled chain rather than individual beads. To mark the tens, I used a copper lobster claw clasp with a copper clay leaf (that I made many, many years ago and has been waiting for a project). I find the lobster claw easier to deal with than a melody clip.

Photo description: handmade row counter in the center with handmade copper leaves on the right, then going counter clockwise: purchased copper lobster clasps, bead reamer, pliers, a pile of row counters waiting for their dangle, and a spool of 22 gauge copper wire.

Stitch marker necklace

On By CarynIn Craft

I thought I would make up stitch marker necklaces for the stitch marker swap at the Fiber Fest. I’m good with wire, but not entirely sure that wire is the right material for hand made stitch markers. It seems they would catch on the yarn. So I made holders instead. I have a large spool of square copper wire (20 gauge) that looks awesome twisted. I used satin cord for the necklaces with a simple slide knot so the length is adjustable.

From top to bottom:
Form a loop at one end of the wire,
twist the wire using the loop and a bent angle,
form a hook at the opposite end of the wire,
form a circle and catch the hook around the base of the loop
Many stitch holder necklaces

Full disclosure, it has been awhile since I’ve done wire work, and it took my hands a few rounds before they remembered the moves with efficiency. I also didn’t make it to the swap meet. I was quite ambitious of me to attempt a four hour stretch at my first festival in many years. It is OK I only made it an hour and a half. Next year I will plan better. And make markers like these:

Stitch marker made from satin cord (objects in the image are smaller than they appear)

Nose wires and ear ties

On By CarynIn Craft
Aluminum wire prepped for masks

The pattern for the cotton masks I’m making calls for using twist ties. Probably because they are readily available, except in my house. But, as wire is one of my favorite media for crafting, I have a large supply of spooled wire and can “shop” in my craft room. I chose aluminum wire because it is light and bends easily, which makes it easier to conform around the bridge of the nose. I made them about 6”, then curled the ends in twice so it can’t poke through the fabric. The wire pictured above is about 18 gauge (that describes the thickness of the wire), and dead soft (that describes how easily it bends or the “hardness”). I won’t soon run out of wire; I even have a spool of electric fence wire that is aluminum and 17 gauge, and although it is a little harder, may still work. I might have to anneal it though. Hmm.

Making easy semi-elastic ties

Elastic is again running low, even after I cut up all my 1” elastic. For our own masks, I’m making ties from old t-shirts. I cut 2” off of the shirt and pull it to make it curl in on itself. No sew, and more comfy than ribbon. I’ll save the elastic for the donated masks, though, since the hospitals don’t want things made of used (even if clean) clothing!

And yes, the title of this article particularly amuses me. Six months ago it would have had very different connotations and would have fit better in a piercing blog than a craft blog!