ABS Meeting: March 1, 2021 – Wire Wrap Seahorse

  • 6:00-6:30pm Via ZOOM!   Socializing & Chatting 
  • 6:30-8pm Via ZOOM! Project Instructor: Laura Powell
  • 8-8:30pm      Via ZOOM!   !! Member Show and Tell !!

List of materials:

  • 14 inches of 18 gauge wire
  • 40 inches of 22 gauge wire
  • 12 crystal rounds or bicones or fire polish beads or pearls – 4mm (anything with a hole that the 18 gauge wire will go through)
  • 1 bicone or fire polish bead – 3mm for the eye of the seahorse

Tools:

  • Wire cutters
  • Needle nose pliers
  • Flat nose pliers
  • BeadSmith Multi-Mandrel (circle) (A sharpie will also work or any dowel with a 1/2 inch diameter or 1.5 in circumference.)
  • Ruler
  • Clear or masking tape
  • 2mm or 2.5mm crochet hook (optional)
  • 2 x  5 inch 12 gauge wire dowels (** see Further Info below)

**Further info regarding the 2-5inch wire dowels. 

1- will be available for pick up at Austin Bead Gallery in a limited quantity of kits.   (NOTE: Austin Bead Gallery is not open on Monday’s.)

                         The kits contain the following:
                                      14 inches of 18 gauge wire
                                      40 inches of 22 gauge wire
                                       2 metal rods used for wrapping the wire
                                      A pre-wrapped wire rod for the mane of the seahorse
                                       A pre-formed Seahorse frame
                     You will be able to get 2 Seahorses from the kit!!
                             You will still need to provide the following:
                                      12 crystal rounds or bicones or fire polish beads or pearls – 4mm (anything that will fit on the 18 gauge wire)
                                       1 bicone or fire polish bead – 3mm for the eye of the seahorse

 OR  

2-or these can be made from the base of a wire coat hanger that has been cut into 2-5inch pieces.  The ends need to be smooth to allow wrapped wire to flow smoothly on and off. Test each dowel by cutting the base of the coat hanger into 2-5inch pieces and wrap a small 4 inch piece of 22 gauge wire around a single wire dowel and see if the wire can be removed smoothly with the final results being a small “spring”.  

3-or make with thin round metal kabob skewers.  If the skewer is thicker than a coat hanger, then more 22 gauge wire will be needed. Wood skewers do not work because the wire digs into the wood and it is difficult to remove the wrapped wire without distortion.

With tape, label one wire dowel with a “T”, for top, with a piece of tape and the second dowel with a “B” for bottom.