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Post by NatureNut on Jan 26, 2010 10:22:15 GMT -5
Snagged a piece of Palm Wood from Randy's scrap pile on visit last fall. It was an end cut and I tumbled it with a load of agates and jaspers that I have going now. After its initial exfoliation, I decided to pull it, slab it and cab it by hand. I wanted to wear it right away and was going to glue on an Aranku bail, but it was too wide for the top, so I opted to do a little free form wrap with some aluminum wire. Aluminum wire is real fun to work with because it's so soft, but once you bend it into place, it stays there. You have to work it mostly by hand because tools will easily mark it up. I know it covers alot of the stone, but I like the total funky look. Here's the cab and the wrap. Jo
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Post by Toad on Jan 26, 2010 10:35:05 GMT -5
The wire is kinda chunky. Neat idea.
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Post by superioragates on Jan 26, 2010 11:06:11 GMT -5
I like the free form wraps...just can't seem to get a "handle" on them. This one looks really cool!
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jan 26, 2010 13:13:25 GMT -5
Jo, that is amazing! I love it. I've seen the colored aluminum craft wire and wondered how it would work for wrapping. Thanks for sharing.
Nate
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Post by NatureNut on Jan 26, 2010 14:26:30 GMT -5
Todd: Are you calling my funky, chunky? LOL. Yeah, I hear ya, ideally I would go down a size in gauge. Marie: Think "star". Start by making the bail, no binding. Then (while folding over the bends as you deem appropriate) go upper right, down the back to lower left, then over to lower right (or right, then left), then up the back to the binding and around a couple of times to finish, and hide the ends. I really should take a pic of the back and put it alongside. I've gotten lazy without my Tweetiepy reminding me... Nate, Thanks Dude! Originally intended for floral use, this wire has shown up in the beading and wrapping venue. Go for a 14 or 16 gauge (I used 18 12 here) if you can find it. It's funny, once you make a serious bend, it's almost like it heats up and becomes harder in that bend. Maybe it's my imagination, but it is really sturdy once it's done. Wrap on! Jo
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Post by NatureNut on Jan 26, 2010 14:57:48 GMT -5
Okay, I just got a pic of the back. Anybody see the perfect eye looking at you? ?? Ideally, I would have had the bail ends longer and brought them up and wrapped them around the crosswire, but this one was okay as is. That's what I did for my Christmas wraps anyway.
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Post by moondragon on Jan 26, 2010 15:13:18 GMT -5
What a neat idea. Looks fabulous:)
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Post by Toad on Jan 26, 2010 16:07:02 GMT -5
LOL, Jo. Sometimes it's cool to mix things up.
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Post by sitnwrap on Jan 26, 2010 17:18:20 GMT -5
I saw the eye before the eye saw me. lol. Jo, that is a great wrap and thanks for the back pic. So with aluminum wire, the wire is thinner as the gauge goes down? 16g is thinner than 18g.
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Post by NatureNut on Jan 26, 2010 17:27:41 GMT -5
Lori, I'm sorry I flubbed. I used 12g wire (I'll make an edit above). The next smaller would be 14g and then 16g would be even smaller.
The last wire I bought was 18g for another project, and it stuck in my brain.
Thanks for the catch Lori!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jan 26, 2010 19:33:17 GMT -5
Right out of my scrap pile? Yeah, that looks like some of my junk. ;D lol ...very cool!
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Post by NatureNut on Jan 26, 2010 19:44:08 GMT -5
You got some good junk, Randy. When ya gonna do something with that pile? Here's something that was sitting on top of the pile (wonder if that one accidentally slipped into my pocket also). Maybe the group heading for Burro Creek ought to divert their course over to your house...
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jan 26, 2010 20:15:47 GMT -5
Here's a better pic of that pile (furthest from the camera)......
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damammy
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2009
Posts: 697
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Post by damammy on Jan 26, 2010 20:17:05 GMT -5
Jo looks great, I like the way you let the right side with all the pattern free of wire. The back I see an Owl's eyes. Donna
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Post by NatureNut on Jan 26, 2010 20:45:10 GMT -5
Whooooo... me? LOL. Thank you Donna, I tried to utilize the best, least interesting areas of the cab for the wire. Jo
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Post by montanamuskrat on Jan 26, 2010 23:11:08 GMT -5
Your wrap flows with the stone. Beautiful work. We seen two eyes, one looking right and one looking at you. Kinda catch you comming and going. Debby & Tom
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Post by drocknut on Jan 27, 2010 13:16:18 GMT -5
Wow I can see the eye, too bad it didn't show up on the front too. Yes, I did go back and look...lol. Nice wrap and I never thought about using aluminum wire, neat idea.
Randy, I'm drooling!!! Gee I wish Virginia was on my way back from AZ to Montana...shucks.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jan 27, 2010 13:42:38 GMT -5
It's funny, once you make a serious bend, it's almost like it heats up and becomes harder in that bend. Maybe it's my imagination, but it is really sturdy once it's done. Wrap on! Jo Jo, that's exactly what happens. The wire being bent heats it, because it's stretching the outside of the bend, and shrinking the inside. Then the heating hardens the metal. I've already burned my fingers on the end of a piece of metal after bending it several times (just to give you an idea how hot it gets). Nate
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Post by NatureNut on Jan 27, 2010 14:28:17 GMT -5
Nate, so interesting and good for one to keep in mind while working with wire. Debby and Tom, it's like a creepy face when you really look at it. Drock: No, it's better this way 'cause now, when I want to give some unsuspecting person the eye, I can just turn the pendant over and hold it up at them.
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bouldergal
freely admits to licking rocks
Glacier Meadow
Member since July 2007
Posts: 783
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Post by bouldergal on Jan 27, 2010 20:43:22 GMT -5
Really clever! You make it look so easy, but I suspect I would get it all tangled up! Susan
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