Wire Wrap Cuff Bracelet

Jessica Cooley spends whatever spare time she has perfecting her glass techniques on fashionable fused-glass jewelry and kitchenware. Two of her favorites are this fused glass cuff bracelet and a wine goblet.

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Filed under: Jewelry Making, Wire, Materials and Supplies, Crafts

Jessica Cooley grew up around stained glass. At only two-weeks-old she was already spending her days in her grandparents' stained glass store. Today, she is not only the store manager, but also a glass artist herself. Cooley is studying fashion merchandising and promotion; spending whatever spare time she has perfecting her glass techniques on fashionable fused-glass jewelry and kitchenware. Two of her favorites are this fused glass cuff bracelet and a wine goblet.

Materials and Tools:
fusible glass
glass kiln
glasscutter
running pliers
1/8" fiber paper
6-gauge half hard half soft round sterling silver wire
20-gauge half hard half soft sterling silver wire
round nose jewelry pliers
flat nose jewelry pliers
stainless steel bracelet mold
6mm crystals
anvil
hammer
disposable napkin

Steps:

1. Cut four glass triangles, two from blue dichroic glass and two from clear dichroic glass.

2. Cut small strips of fiber paper.

3. Layer the triangles on top of each other with two fiber strips in between.

4. Place glass pieces in the kiln and fire to fuse together.

5. Cut 6-gauge wire 15-1/2 inches long.

6. Fold the wire in half so that the two ends meet but don't form a crease.

7. Using round nose pliers make a spiral shape at each end of the wire. Make sure the spiral goes around twice on each side.

8. Place a napkin on the anvil and place the wire on top of the napkin. Hammer the wire with good solid hits so that every place on the wire is smashed flat.

9. Wrap one inch of the smaller wire around the area where the two spirals meet, three to four times, so they do not come apart.

10. String crystals onto one of the ends of the 20-gauge wire where the spirals meet. Stretch the wire to top side of the bracelet and wrap it two to three times, add more crystals and bring the wire to the bottom side of the bracelet, wrapping it around 6-gauge wire. Continue adding crystals and wrapping the wire around the outside bracelet form in a zigzag-type design.

11. Thread one of the fused glass triangles onto the wire (in between the crystals). Thread on more crystals, attaching the wire to the top and bottom of the bracelet form. Thread on the second fused glass triangle and continue adding crystals. Evenly space the glass triangles on each end.

12. Wrap the wire, at the end several times around the form.