Student Orientation & Curriculum Guide 
Curriculum
Electives:Wire Work

Working with wires of different thickness, hardness, shape, color, materials, strength in fashioning jewelry and other objects is a very desirable skill.   It takes experience with the feel of wire, how it is shaped, how it's strength can be structurally enhanced, and how it can be interlinked, interlocked and interconnected with other wire, with beads, with other materials. This "feel" will vary a bit with the type of metal. For example, brass is harder than sterling silver.

There are two approaches.

The first is called Wire Work. In wire working, the artist creates shapes, using various sizes of wire. The artist can create jewelry findings, such as clasps, headpins and earwires. S/he can create chains of linked wire shapes. S/he can create unusual shapes to dangle from earrings, or to embellish pieces as decorative components. SHAPE is the key word here.

The second is called Wire Wrap. In wire wrapping, the artist uses wire to create structural components, then assembles these into a supporting system. This is similar, though on a micro-scale, to building and engineering a bridge. The artist might create a setting for a stone, or a piece of jewelry which depends on controlling the tensile strength of the wire in some way, to hold the stone in place, and keep it from popping out. STRUCTURE is the key word here.

CRITICAL SKILLS TO LEARN:
- Understanding wires, metals, hardness, and measuring wire
- Understanding tools and mandrels
- Using tools and wire to make shapes; developing Control over how to make shapes
- Using wire to build structural components
--- Learning about support systems and structural elements/components
--- Hammering and twisting wire
--- Making coils and springs
--- Learning how to lock wires together
--- Learning how to create cradles and encaging
- Combining beads with wire
- Combining cabochons and other differently shaped objects with wire
- Chain Making
- Designing Earrings
- Designing Clasps
- Finishing Touches

Course Electives:
Primary Instructor: Donna Zimmer

Goals:
Using Wire as Structural Element/Component
Understanding Wire, Metals, Tools, and Shaping (Wire-Work) or Structuring (Wire-Wrap)
Combining Beads and Cabochons with Wire
Making Chains With Wire

CORE CLASSES:

WIRECORE1: MIX & MATCH MULTI-WIRE TECHNIQUES BRACELET
Learn about wires, tools, and several simple wire-wrapping techniques

WIRECORE2: WIRE WRAP BRACELET WITH BEADS
Learn to create structurally-functional bracelet with wires and beads

WIRECORE3: WIRE WRAP CABOCHON - PENDANT
Learn to make structural supporting frame w/pendant bail by wrapping cabochon

ELECTIVE CLASSES:

WIRE10: JEWELRY FINDINGS and CHAIN BRACELET
Learn to make simple wire shapes and jewelry findings, as well as a chain-linked bracelet

WIRE11: COLD CONNECTION TECHNIQUES
Learn to build 3-dimensional components using Cold Connection Techniques
as an alternative to soldering

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We also offer once a month:
WIRE CLINIC: Making Coiled Loops

OTHER EXAMPLES OF WIRE PROJECTS: