As a jewelry artisan, that employs more then just one technique to making jewelry. I would like to tell you a little bit, about some of the technique I use most often.

Wire wrapping is one of the oldest techniques for making jewelry by hand. In wire wrapping, jewelry is made using jewelry wire and findings similar to wire (like head-pins) to make components. Wire components are then connected to one another using mechanical techniques with no soldering or heating of the wire. Frequently, in this approach, a wire is bent into a loop or other decorative shape and then the wire is wrapped around itself to finish the wire component making that loop or decorative shape permanent. Because of this technique for wrapping wire around itself this craft is called wire wrapping.

Examples of wire and beaded jewelry made using wire wrapping techniques date back to thousands of years BC. The British Museum has samples of jewelry from the Sumerian Dynasty, found in the cemetery of Ur that contain spiraled wire components. This jewelry is dated at approximately 2000 BC. Other samples of jewelry from Ancient Rome show wire wrapped loops (one of the important techniques in making wire wrapped jewelry). This Roman jewelry is dated to approximately 2000 years ago. In the manufacture of this early jewelry the techniques for soldering did not exist. Later, as the technique for soldering developed, the wire wrapping approach continued because it was an economical and quick way to make jewelry components out of wire.

Currently, wire wrapping techniques are not frequently used for mass produced jewelry because of simple economics. Machines can cast jewelry components much faster and cheaper. Artisans or craftsmen are required to make jewelry by hand and in the current mass marketplace, machines are less expensive and perhaps more precise. At this time, using the wire wrapping approach to making jewelry is primarily employed by individual craftsmen and women.

Chainmail began in medieval times as a method of weaving metal to create armor for knights, but today it is used to create elegant metal jewelry from various metals.
The roots of chainmail jewelry predate the 5th century, when it was used by the ancient Celts to make armor for the warriors of the time. The name "mail" is derived from the French word "maille", which comes from the Latin word "macula" which means, "mesh of a net".

Making armor consisted of linking iron or steel rings and then closing them by either pressing the ends together, welding them or riveting them into place. Rings were often stamped out of sheets of iron and then linked into alternating rows to form some of the patterns which can still be viewed in museums today.

Today chainmail is used to create beautiful and elegant jewelry for both men and women. Artisans often incorporate gems and beads into jewelry pieces and some still practice the art of making armor. There are several basic chainmail patterns most commonly used today.

Weaving, though typically thought of as a textile art, is easily transferred to metal and jewelry making though the use of wire in sterling silver and other fine metals. Artisans and crafters can make individual woven elements for larger jewelry pieces, or make entire pieces by weaving strands of wire as if they were wool or cotton.

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My customers satisfaction is my utmost concern, ranking right up there with quality. For this reason I stand behind every piece I design and make. By offering a Warranty on all my creations. If your purchase ever needs repair, I will replace any components, and fix it for free for the first year from date of purchase. After the first year I will fix, any of my creations free, of charge. The cost of any components needed for the repair, will fall upon the customer. You will receive a warranty card with every purchase. It will have a picture of the piece/s of jewelry covered along with the item number and name of person who purchases it, as well as the date of purchase on the front of the card. You must present your warranty card, when requesting repair service. If you do not have your card you will be charged $20.00 for the repair, and the cost of components if any. All so included with all my creations is free cleanings and polishing for life.

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