Beads & Jewelry Making Supplies by WigJig Newsletter for 10/31/2005

With every newsletter we provide a new jewelry design from WigJig University to spur the creative juices.  The new design for this newsletter is the design for the tie chain shown at right.  We have received many requests for jewelry designs that were appropriate for use by men and finally we got a request for instructions on how to make a tie chain.  This was something that we could do so we came up with the design shown. 

The tie chain jewelry making project shown is made up of two wire components made on our WigJig Delphi or Centaur connected to one another by two segments of commercial chain.  In the picture at left, the top, almost onion shaped component we call the "button holder" and the wearer would slip a shirt button through the rounded portion of this component, letting the button's thread slide up the slot to the top.  The button on the wearer's shirt holds the tie chain in place.  The tie is then slid inside the loop in  the tie chain which helps to hold the tie in place and helps to keep your tie out of your soup.  (We hate it when that happens.)

The centerpiece of the tie chain shown above  is a decorative wire component that we call a Flemish Spiral.  In an alternative design, we also show how to make a tie chain with a single bead as a centerpiece as shown at right.  Finally, the "vanilla" alternative design for a tie chain, is a chain only, with no centerpiece.  For this alternative, you would make the button holder wire component and connect it on both sides to the ends of a 6" length of medium chain. 

To view our instructions for how to make this jewelry item please select here or any picture above.  We hope you like this project.  We think that it will make excellent Christmas presents. 
 

Jewelry Technique:
This weeks jewelry making technique is the continuation of the series of new pages on how to make common wire components.  In these new pages we discuss how we make open loops and wrapped loops.  In our vernacular, on open loop is a type of eye loop made to connect beaded components as shown at right.  In an open loop, the loop can be opened and closed repeatedly using bent chain nose pliers to allow connecting it to ear wire findings or other loops. 

By contrast, a wrapped loop (shown at left) is a closed loop in that once completed, it can not be opened.  For this reason, the wrapped loop is very strong and is an important technique for connecting jewelry components where strength is important like in making the chain for a bracelet.  Because the wrapped loop  is closed, you must connect it in place as part of the process of making the loop, before the loop is wrapped closed. 

To view our instructions on how to make open loops and wrapped loops, please select here or any of the pictures above.

We have also added some new pages of information to our beginner's instructions including information for beginners on jewelry making tools, on  jewelry making supplies and on beginner's jewelry making skills.  To view these new pages of information select here and follow the links at the bottom of the page. 
 

We are continuing to improve our newsletter, so please feel free to provide feedback at custsrv@wigjig.com. 

Announcements:
Online Books.  If you are looking for new and interesting jewelry 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.  These books are delivered over the Internet and there are no shipping costs on an order with just online books. 

Shipping Policy.  We waive the shipping charge on orders over $60 shipped within the US (as long as these orders remain over $60).  For International orders we ship via UPS international service 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 2,000 web pages of free information, tips, techniques and free jewelry making 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.  We are also happy to sell our WigJig tools to stores.  Please send us an e-mail if you are interested in selling our WigJig tools. 

Classes.  We have a listing of various jewelry making classes using our WigJig tools that are offered by bead stores throughout the country.  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 at custsrv@wigjig.com so that we can include them in these pages. 

SHIPPING WAIVED ON ALL ORDERS OVER $60.00 SHIPPED TO USA - Customer Care - WigJig, PO Box 5124, Gaithersburg, MD 20882; (800) 579-WIRE (phone), (240) 597-2262 (fax), custsrv@wigjig.com (email).  Privacy Policy.  All content on this web site including jewelry and wire designs are copyrighted by WigJig.  WigJig is a registered trademark.  Last modified: 10/31/2005