WigJig Newsletter for January 11, 2004

If you are unable to view all the pictures in this newsletter you can always view the entire newsletter at:  http://www.wigjig.com/newitems/. 

International Gem and Jewelry Show, Tucson:
For those of you who will be visiting the International Gem and Jewelry Show in Tucson, Gary Helwig, the inventor of the WigJig, will be demonstrating our WigJig Products at the "Best Bead Show" in the Keno Senior Citizens Center from February 4th through February 8th.  He will showing jewelry made using the WigJig and will be happy to demonstrate how that jewelry was made.

New Products:
We have added several new products to our Internet Store.  We now have four sizes/styles of gift boxes for jewelry.  Some of these boxes have clear lids which make them very convenient if you are trying to store jewelry, or sell jewelry.  The clear lids allow you to view the jewelry in the box, while protecting the jewelry from the tarnish that results from exposure to the atmosphere.  You can view these new boxes here.  We have also added 26G Sterling Silver and Gold-Filled 1/2 hard, round wire in a 1/2 ounce package. 

ON SALE:
We update the items we have "On Sale" with every newsletter.  A small sample of the products we currently have for sale at a discount are shown below.  Please click on any of the text below the pictures to view our entire list of sale items.  Quantities are limited for these items so please shop early.  This sale will be effective through January 23rd, 2004. 

 
Clear Lid Gift Box
Great for storing or selling jewelry!

6mm Round Swarovski 50 Facet Indicolite Beads
 

.019 Soft Flex Bronze 10 ft length
Try soft flex at a bargain price!
 

Make this bracelet with instructions in our "Working With Wire" Video
 

Earring Post with Loop Finding
Great for making our Queen of Clubs Earrings!
 

24G Round, Half-Hard, Sterling Silver wire 1/2 ounce
 

          Necklace

Jewelry Making Technique:
This weeks technique is the use of Soft Flex and Soft Touch bead stringing wire.  The bracelet project shown at right shows how we can combine a component made on a WigJig with a string of beads on Soft Flex or Soft Touch.  Soft Flex is easy to use, but involves techniques that are different from using beading thread.  The following paragraphs discuss some of the aspects of Soft Flex that must be considered.

First, Soft Flex was invented to overcome the problem of breakage that exists in any beading thread.  With thread, the inside of all beads have microscopic peaks and valleys that act as a saw while the jewelry is being worn.  Over time, this constant sawing action, will ultimately break any thread.  Soft Flex overcomes this sawing action by using woven stainless steel micro-strands of wire bundled into a single wire and covered in plastic to prevent rust and provide colors.  For this reason, Soft Flex is very, very hard to cut.  This is exactly the property that you want in a bracelet or necklace; but it must be considered when you are making that bracelet or necklace.  Because Soft Flex is so hard, it will ruin most cutters.  The stainless steel in the Soft Flex is harder than the steel in an economy flush cutter.  For this reason, when using Soft Flex you should consider purchasing a cutter that is designed to cut Soft Flex.  In our Internet Store we sell two cutters that will cut Soft Flex easily, one premium and one economy. 

The next thing that you need to consider when working with Soft Flex is that Soft Flex and Soft Touch work better with crimp beads and Bead Crimping Pliers.  In the bracelet at right you should be able to view the crimp beads on either side of the WigJig component.  When done properly, the crimp beads hold the wire and won't let it slip.  The process for performing the bead crimp is described here and here.  The second of these two pages provides an animation showing how to complete this technique. 

We believe that Soft Touch (by Soft Flex) is the best bead stringing product on the market.  Soft Touch is the premium grade of bead stringing wire made by Soft Flex Company.  Soft Flex bead stringing wire, while not quite as flexible as Soft Touch is excellent for making necklaces and bracelets and will stand up to a lifetime of wear without breaking.  If you visit our Internet store, you will see that we have a sale on a 10 foot length of Bronze Soft Flex.  This package is smaller than the normal size and for this reason is a very economical way to try Soft Flex.  Good luck with your bead stringing projects.

Pearl & WigJig
Bracelet

Announcements:
Online Books.  If you are looking for new and interesting projects -- try one of our Online Books.  Our most detailed instructions are for sale online.  Please select here to view our selection of online books. 

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 Over 1,500 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 our designs by sorted by the WigJig tool used to make them.  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 still working to develop web pages showing who has 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. 

 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.