Got to love a challenge

​Whether I am working with Viking knit, weaving a couple of wires or multiple wires at a time I like pushing my limits of what I can do with wire.  I recently took a class at our local bead shop – Beadology in Iowa City – on using leather and wax cord attached to a glass rectangle to make a bracelet.  The class used a macramé technique to weave the bracelet.  Many of us knew each other so just as much socialization was going on as jewelry making so - we had a great time.  Knowing me so well the comments were “We know Zanetta is going to go home and do this with wire”.  Challenge accepted.  The blue bracelet is the one I made in class - a fun summer bracelet.  The green one is the one I used copper and black wire attached to the enameled disc.  The great thing is I had the enameled disc for about 3 years and couldn't decide​ what to do with it.  This class was the perfect solution. 

​This set up my next challenge to myself.  Tatting with wire.  My grandmother taught me to tat when she stayed with me for a week after the birth of my first daughter.  Rachel is 26 now. It is a way of making lace and doilies using a shuttle or a needle.  I am a shuttle tatter.   If you are not a tatter the simplest explanation is that you tie a knot that slides to make rings and chains to form your shape.  The challenge to myself was could I form that knot with wire so it slides rather than kinks.  Took more time and patience than using thread but I was able to tat the earrings that are pictured along side one of my doilies.   The wire knot is looser than with thread so the results are a little lacier, but I am pleased. On this first try I stuck with three simple rings forming a cloverleaf.  I will have to try for a medallion using rings and chains next.