Pages

Monday, April 18, 2016

Almost Heaven Headpins

Can't tell you why the name of the headpins, but it just kept popping into my mind so that is what they came to be! I don't often name components - or even designs for that matter. But I love them! Created by our own Kimberly Rogers of Numinosity and Numinosity Beads

I have had a love/hate relationship with artisan headpins for a long time, so I have been buying them and encouraging myself to use them. I was  pleased with these.
Awesome Headpins

I want to share with you how I wrapped these. I have never done this before but it worked the way I'd hoped it would, although there was a little bit of chaos along the way.

First I made a charm out of the headpins, leaving some of the wire and wrapping it loosely with the remainder of the headpin wire. 

I prefer 20-gauge wire for this kind of wrapping, but the natural Turquoise nuggets wouldn't take it. 22 would be a little wimpy for the lower wrap so I decided to use two strands, one of each. But the 20 gauge could only go as far as the ceramic disk. So after putting the two wires through the loop of the charm, I bundled all four pieces together and crimped them with the chain nose pliers, then used one of the 20-gauge strands to do most of the wrapping below the disk. I then put the disk on the 3 strands that were left. I took the remaining 20-gauge strand and one 22-gauge strand and brought them down as a wrap over the edge of the disk and wrapped both around the "neck" of the earring. I finished off the top in the normal fashion on the one remaining 22-gauge wire, hardening it as best I could. Then went back down to the two wires that came over the disk, made sure their wrapping was snug, cut the 22 wire and finished off the bottom wrapping with the remaining 20 gauge. Whew!

You can find these earrings here
The remainder of the components are handcrafted ceramic disks made by Nadia Karapencheva of NadiaTerra, natural Turquoise nuggets, handcrafted bronze beads by Anna Chernykh of AnnaBronze, Strawberry Quartz with speckles of Pyrite. Plenty of deeply oxidized copper wire, and Black Niobium Ear Wires. 

Thank you for stopping by today. Have a Happy Tuesday! I'll be back on May 3rd. Hope to see you then. The most wonderful Nikki Zehler will be here tomorrow. :o)

Norbel
She Flies Again - Etsy Shop

13 comments:

  1. Norbel, please make more earrings with artisan headpins!! And these from Kimberly are gorgeous. Your wirework is beautiful I love the bohemian look of these.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Janine! I'm going to keep working with them until I feel totally comfortable. Thank you!

      Delete
  2. You are right. These are ALMOST HEAVEN. Superb!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Susan! I'm so glad you like them. Thank you for stopping by!

      Delete
  3. These are just wonderful!! I've been a headpin lover for years so I'm happy you're encouraging yourself to use them!! I love all the different layers of wrapping, it adds so much dimension and interest to these beauties!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kristi. I've watched your work with headpins and always love what you do. I've been determined to get it right. :) Thank you! I'm glad you like them.

      Delete
  4. I really love the way you left some of the headpin wire exposed to have a little wrap going on. I think it adds to a sculptural balance and intrigue and shows that you are not just an assembler of parts but have an innate design sense. thanks so much for featuring my crazy headpins and giving me such a nice shout out, Norbel!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kim, I can't thank you enough for your words. If I thought of myself as an assembler of parts, if I didn't think there was something more to what I do, I wouldn't do it. It is incredibly gratifying to have you say that. Thank you. It means a lot. I love your crazy headpins!! :) And I look forward to the challenge of working with all the others I have. Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  6. These earrings are almost as sweet as you, dear Norbel! Headpins like these can only be done justice with some crazy wire wrapping--you mastered them! And I love the little X details with the wire. Beautiful pieces!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so kind, Ms. N. You make me smile, always. :) The X!! I have been doing that on my wire wrapping for a couple of years. Not every single piece, but a lot. It's just been my little "secret" thing because no one has ever commented on it. Yay Nikki!! You won!! I decided to buff back the X on these. If I get to Tucson next year, you'll receive your prize then. . . . when I find it. Seriously though, thank you so much for your kind words. You're the best.

      Delete
  7. Love what you done here - really neat!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Claire. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I appreciate it!!

      Delete
  8. Super cool earrings! Great wire wrapping and beautiful design :)

    ReplyDelete