WigJig Newsletter 030511 on Jewelry making, Jewelry Supplies, Beads and Wire

We have just developed a new hand tool specifically designed to work with our WigJig tools. It is a pair of step jaw pliers like the ones shown at right. The unique feature of these pliers is the fact that the first step in the pliers is designed to be exactly the size of a peg for our WigJig Delphi or Cyclops and the second step in the pliers is the size of a peg for the Olympus, Olympus-Lite or Electra. Because of the flat jaw opposite the stepped jaw, these pliers do not mark the outside of any loop made. We really like these pliers and use them extensively. They won't completely replace round nose pliers, but they are very, very handy. These pliers are currently on sale at 15% off.

Fine Step Jaw Pliers

FREE JEWELRY MAKING DESIGN:
With every newsletter we provide a free design from WigJig University to spur the creative juices. This newsletter's free design is the Wrapped Link Bracelet shown at right. These bracelets are made of the "wrapped link" (shown upper right) connected to one another by wrapped bead links. The "wrapped link" is made of 20 G 1/2 hard wire and is made using an approach that is very similar to the wrapped bead link without the bead. The Wrapped Link Bracelets have a look and feel similar to Bali-Style, but unlike Bali-Style can be made in either gold-filled or sterling silver. The bracelets shown at right use either Swarovski 6mm Violet Cubes or Swarovski 6mm Tahitian style Crystal Pearls. I used a gold-filled magnetic clasp with each and a guard chain made of fine chain. These bracelets take about 30 to 45 minutes to complete. Instructions are provided here or by clicking on the pictures at right.

Wrapped Link

Wrapped Link Bracelet

Jewelry Making Technique of the week:
Our WigJig University wire-working technique for this newsletter is how to make a spiral using the WigJig Spiral Maker. Making a spiral is a basic skill and will assist us in some more advanced projects. In the next newsletter, we will show one more advanced project -- how to use two spirals together to make a "cage". Follow our link to instructions on how to make a spiral by selecting either the picture or the text on the right.

Spirals

Announcements:
Vacation Celebration. Last week we did not have a winner of a vacation. This week we had not one, but three winners of free vacations from the Vacation Celebration Sweepstakes. Please congratulate Fay Benjamin, Virginia Longstreet, and Jamie Smith for winning vacations. Please view the bottom of our WigJig Home Page to see our Vacation Celebration banner. Select this banner to enter the contest to win a free vacation for yourself.

Online Books. If you are looking for new and interesting projects -- try one of our Online Books. Our most detailed jewelry making instructions are for sale online. Please select here to view our selection of online books. This week our "Wire Design Basics" Online book is on sale for $3 off at $9.95.

Shipping Policy. We ship all retail orders over $60 for free within the US. For International orders we ship via FED EX International and charge $34.95 (our average cost) for this expedited shipping service. Please select here to view our entire shipping policy.

WigJig University. We provide 1358 pages of free information, tips, techniques and free designs in WigJig University. We encourage everyone to view this information as a source for new ideas, projects, or a way to learn new techniques. We now have a page in WigJig University that shows you designs by type of WigJig tool. Please select here to view that information.

International Vendors. We do have vendors who sell our WigJig products outside the US. We encourage customers to contact these vendors in their home country. Please select here to view our list of overseas vendors.

Classes. We are working to develop web pages showing who has jewelry making classes where. If you are interested in classes, please select here. If you know someone who has classes in using our WigJig tools, please ask them to send us an e-mail so that we can include them in these pages. Please send the e-mails to custsrv@wigjig.com.

This WigJig jewelry making newsletter is provided as part of WigJig University. We try to provide interesting jewelry projects using beads, jewelry wire and other jewelry supplies. We hope that these pictures will provide you enough information for you to complete this project. Some of the skills and jewelry making techniques have not been discussed here. For beginners, we suggest that you visit our Beginners Start Here pages. These pages discuss the skills necessary for making jewelry in the detail that beginners need. We also suggest that beginners to jewelry making might need to visit the WigJig University College of Jewelry Making Techniques for additional information about some of the skills and techniques shown.

Most, but not all of the jewelry supplies shown here can be purchased in our WigJig store. We try to have a complete selection of jewelry supplies in our store including chain, wire, glass beads, findings, watches, tools, etc.