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:
WIRE-WORK CLASSES: Numbers between 9001 and 9299
Primary Instructor: Nancie Roark

WIRE-WRAP CLASSES: Numbers between 9700 and 9899
Primary Instructor: Elesa Phares

Goal: Understanding Wire, Metals, Tools, and Shaping (Wire-Work) or Structuring (Wire-Wrap)
WIRE9001:Orientation to Wire and Wire Shaping - Jewelry Findings
(this class is a prerequisite for all the other wire work classes.)
WIRE9700: Pattern Wire Bracelet - Intro to Wire Wrapping
(this class is a prerequisite for all the other wire wrap classes.)
WIRE9008:Evaluation and Critique of Wire Artists Work

Goal: Using Wire as Structural Element/Component
WIRE9002:Wire Structure - Cuff Bracelet
WIRE9201: Design Your Own Clasps
WIRE9202: Design Your Own Earrings
WIRE9721: Swarovski Wire-Wrapped Slide Bracelet

Goal: Combining Beads and Cabochons with Wire
WIRE9004:Wire Chain Making and Bead Chain Victorian Choker
WIRE9113:  Wire Charm Bracelet With Drops
WIRE9204: Bead/Wire Chunky Necklace and Clasp
WIRE9722: Wire-Wrapped Cuff Bracelet With Beads
WIRE9723: Wrapping a Cabochon - Pendant
WIRE9724: Fun Components Wire Wrapped Necklace
WIRE9731: Wrapping a Cabochon: Bracelet

Goal: Making Chains With Wire
WIRE9101: Introduction to Chain Making
WIRE9111:  Snake Chains
WIRE9112:  Queens Link Chains
WIRE9114:  Egyptian Spiral Bracelet
WIRE9115: Make A Rosary