Wire wrapped spiral lava stone pendant necklaces

For the past few weeks, I've been playing around with a different sort of wire wrapped lava stone pendant. I've made plenty of these necklaces in the past, but I've been using two different colors of wire and have been twisting them into more complex spiral designs:

For each one, I'm using the same basic pattern: two types of wire, which I twist into spirals and swirls. However, each design is unique, as you can see. Some look like ocean waves; others look more floral... it's amazing what can be made with a simple spiral! It reminds me a bit of this toy I had as a kid called Spirograph. Do you remember this? Basically, you'd use stencils and spin them to create circular patterns. The end result was always different from the last. I loved that toy!

So far, I'm finding that it's easier to work with regular metal wire (copper, silver, etc.). The color-plated wire is stiff and isn't as easy to bend. I've solved that problem by laying down the color wire first and then adding the silver or brass, or whatever. It's just much easier to do the top wrap with regular wire -- though I do like that stone with the two different blues. Maybe I just need more practice!

Check out my wire wrapped and enamel jewellery at Naomi's Designs or MayaGirl Creations. Check out my novel, REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD, on Amazon.

Wire wrapped lava stone pendant with blue and turquoise spirals

It was a slow summer for my jewelry projects, but for the past few days I've been really productive! I'm still working on my Christmas ornaments, plus I've made about a dozen new earrings and necklaces. One of my favorites is this blue and turquoise wire wrapped lava stone pendant:

I don't like working with color-plated wire as much as I like working with plain silver, copper or brass. Colorful wire looks really pretty, but it's a bit more difficult to maneuver -- and it isn't as easy to twist into spirals. Still, it looks nice and I do enjoy making pieces with it. If you've read any of this blog, you know how much I love blue and this necklace is no exception. I didn't add too much wire, but I like the combination of the light and dark shades.

When I used to make these wire wrapped pieces, my designs were pretty random. I'd twist the wire around and just see how it would turn out. I've had a lot of practice by this point, though, so my wire wrap designs are much more deliberate. What's funny is that I've gotten some orders for older pieces and it was now difficult for me to recreate that "random" look.

I have a craft fair in a few weeks and the lava stone pendants are usually well-received. I hope people like this one, too!

Check out the rest of my wire wrapped and enamel jewellery at Naomi's Designs or MayaGirl Creations on Etsy.

Wire wrapped lava pendant with brass and copper spirals

It's been a while since I've made one of my favorite types of wire wrapped jewelry: the classic wire wrapped lava pendant. This one was made with brass and copper wire, which I twisted into a series of spirals.

The challenge in making this was layering the wires. I usually use only one type of wire; I then loop the end to make the bail (the part where you thread a cord or chain so the pendant will hang) and create the rest of the design using that one piece. This makes it easy for everything to stay in place since the entire wire is attached.

In this case, I layered the brass wire over the copper. The hole was too small to make a double bail so I wrapped the wire around the loop at the top and then made the design. I was a bit worried that the wire would fall off or come loose, but I secured it tightly enough that it stayed in place. I even took it for a little "test drive" when I went to class the other day and my teacher noticed it.

Right now, I'm trying to make another lava stone necklace using blue and turquoise wire, but the color wire has a different texture from the plain metals. Because they are anodized, the color wire is a bit tougher and not as easy to maneuver. I tried to do a spiral design this morning but am not happy with the result. Oh well, time to try again!

Meantime, please check out the rest of my handmade wire wrapped and enamel jewellery at Naomi's Designs and MayaGirl Creations.

Photo Gallery: Wire wrapped lava stone pendants

When I began making jewelry in 2010, one of the first things I made were some silver wire wrapped lava stone necklaces. I made them for my mom and some friends and these wire wrapped necklaces were pretty crude. For my friend's necklace, I basically wrapped the wire around the lava in no real pattern so that it just looked like a blob of silver with a couple of crystals stuck in for good measure. For my mom's, I couldn't figure out how to attach things like beads, so I glued them on. Both liked my gifts because they, well, were from me, but really, my pieces were not my best.

I've had a lot of practice making these and have (thankfully) gotten better over the years. Here are a few of my favorite wire wrapped lava necklaces. You can find them all, as well as my other types of jewellery at Naomi's Designs or MayaGirl Creations.