I've been reorganizing my studio since the whole Covid thing shut my hands on teaching down... and I found some old silver wire, much of which took on a nasty tarnish... needless to say, I should have stored it better but such as life, I didn't.
An easy and chemical free way to clean silver wire is to use aluminum foil, baking soda, salt and hot water.
1.  Line a heat resistant pan or deep baking dish with aluminum foil, shiny side up.
2.  Boil a gallon or so of hot water and add a table spoon each of salt and baking soda.
3.  Pour the mixture into your foil lined pan and put your silver wire in, to soak.
4.  Make sure the silver wire is laying on or touching the aluminum foil for this to work.
5.  Remove the wire from the dish, run under tap water and give a light buff with paper towel.
While I'd like to say it took only seconds and that the wire came out 'perfectly clean'... truth is, depending on how tarnished your wire is, this might take up to 10 minutes of soaking time and for best results on some deep tarnish, it might take repeating the process after the toughest layers are removed.  Provided you have patience to do this, it works quite well and best of all, cost next to nothing and doesn't use a nasty chemical cleaner.


Here are some images for reference.  Enjoy and remember, you can also clean your silver jewelry this way, provided it doesn't contain any natural stones that might be damaged by the heat or treatment.  This is also great for tarnished findings that are hard to polish by hand.

Hey friends.  I'm sorry to report that after the first month of trying to teach public classes via Zoom, I find it too difficult to enjoy.  I don't feel it represents my best class or my best teaching.  There are a number of 'technical difficulties' that arise from various directions and all of it takes away from what I feel is an enjoyable experience.  

While online Zooming and FaceTiming and etc has become the norm for meetings, concerts, lunch dates and some types of classes... I don't think it's a good tool for teaching wire wrapped jewelry making.  The material is just too small and the interaction needs to be, just too hands-on to work well online.

So for now, I'm excited to share that I've opened up a new YouTube channel where I will be sharing new, free wire wrapped and wire weaved jewelry tutorials and techniques.  In time, I will be adding  beaded jewelry projects as well... bet some of you didn't even know that about me, right?  I also am quite versed in beading and stringing and knotting techniques for jewelry. 

​I look forward to giving 'live' classes again, when the world returns to the Begin Times.

Click here to visit me and my video tutorials on YouTube!  Please remember to subscribe when you get there and press the 'bell' notification button to keep informed about when I post new projects!

If you're not familiar with YouTube, subscriptions are free to you but do support me in many ways.  Your subscription and efforts to watch my video tutorials also helps to support me and my channel so I can continue to make more free wire wrapping and jewelry making tutorials for you.

Many hugs, many thanks and stay creative!  Until we 'meet' again in class.

When you're in the garden and you're picking your fresh string beans... notice the curvature on the spiraling vines... notice how they end in elegantly formed buds waiting to flower.

When you're walking in the park, look up from your feet and notice the trunks of the trees reaching up to the sky, embracing the sunlight with a perfectly shaped canopy of leaves.  

​Translating these beautiful gifts of nature into works of wearable art, takes nothing more than inspiration and desire.

And maybe a technique or two!

I've spent the past 6 years teaching the newly inspired to create unique, one of a kind jewelry by giving my students, sound and traditional techniques.

The more we learn, the more we want to learn!  And so given the latest change in our lives (CoronaMaddess)... I've been attempting to put my classes online.  Struggling with that is the fact that I want to share the more advanced techniques but find it challenging to do so via the internet vs my regular hands on classroom.

I've decided to build more ebook tutorials to share these techniques and also hold Open Studio events to prepare us for the learning of them.

I hope you'll be patient with em while I create for you.
Stay well my friends!  Stay inspired and stay tuned for some amazing things to come.
Much love and always, many thanks for your continued support.
​

​Whew! I'm getting there! Thank you all for your continued emails and support. I've typed, created and posted my brains out... Here's the developing class schedule!! There will be more coming this week as I get them added. Stay well and safe my friends. I miss seeing all of us so much! I hope you'll have the chance to register and give my Virtual classrooms a try. I've also been creating free video tutorials if you're not ready to do the online class thing or can't financially do it just yet. <3 #InThisTogether
https://www.perfectlytwistedjewelry.com/free-tutorials.html
Here is what's ready for online classes!
https://www.perfectlytwistedjewelry.com/classes.html
I will be contacting some of my students directly, this week too! <3
Here's my new calendar!
https://www.perfectlytwistedjewelry.com/calendar.html
Here are my classes upcoming... there will be more coming soon too! ;)
https://www.perfectlytwistedjewelry.com/wire-wrap-jewelry-c…
See you soon.
#PerfectlyTwistedJewlery #WireWrappedJewelry #DIY #InThisTogether #ShareTheLove #StayHome #StayWell #Create #WithMe

Hi Friends!  If you haven't noticed yet, I'm building a bunch of free wire wrapping tutorial videos.  It's in my Menu links but you can also click here and go there.
https://www.perfectlytwistedjewelry.com/free-tutorials.html

Click here to visit my new YouTube Channel and subscribe to get notified when new videos are published!

The videos are complete with material measures, tools list and links to buy them if you need them.  Otherwise, just click any of the videos and enjoy!  Each step has an instructions panel and they all are in real time motion.  Not slides.

If you can support my efforts during these weird and tough times, please visit my store and see if anything special touches you.  I also sell ebook wire wrapping tutorials there.
Otherwise, please enjoy my free projects and please keep me in mind when things return to normal in our world.

My hope by making these free videos is to keep your heart uplifted and inspired during these uncertain times.  I also hope that it gives my mineral and fossil community of friends something else they can do with their beautiful materials!

Stay well and safe friends.  Check back on my Free Tutorials link because I'll e making a bunch of them.  Wire wrapping basics, wire weaving and some kids projects too!  All skill levels to maybe even challenging.  I'm always available on email for questions.
Thanks for your continued support!

#ShareTheLove #StayHome #StayWell #Create #PerfectlyTwistedJewelry #WeAreInThisTogether #DIY #FreeTutorials 

Hi Friends,

Due to the nature of recent events, I wanted to write an update about my classes and how I will be handling them moving forward.

First, I've decided to reduce my class sizes from a maximum size of 12 seats to 6 seats.
This allows for an empty chair between each student.

It might not be known, so I will share that I have always cleaned and disinfected my classroom tools after each use and will continue this with even more detail.  The cabochon stones and beads that I use in class were also washed prior to using them for classroom.  It is my long time habit of washing my natural materials after I shop the bead and rock shows.

Regarding reschedules... 
I prefer you stay home and take care of your health and/or your families.  So if you have registered for a class and are not well to attend, or for family health reasons, decide you should not attend, I will be happy to reschedule you to a future class date without issue.  

As of today, I have decided to not schedule classes between the dates of March 23, 2020 to April 24th, 2020,  nor will I be taking private students during this time.

As most of us know, I also work for the Colorado Mineral and Fossil Show and had classes scheduled for April 10-12, 2020.  THE NEW SHOW CLASS DATES are May 15-17, 2020.

Thank you for your continued support!  I'll be working on a lot of new jewelry designs and digital tutorials in the meantime.  

I will be back to write more later on this, but in consideration of the recent events...

I'd like to remind all my students and friends, that if you've been to the rock or bead shows and/or stores and have made purchases.... to wash your beloved beads and rocks before handling them too much once you get home.

Most gemstones in any form, can be safely washed in warm water and soap.  Please check with your local supplier if you're not sure about washing your material.  

Virtual hugs to all.  Elbows and toe taps when I see us next in class! 

Several of my students ask... "how do I get better?" and while we all know that it takes PRACTICE, patience and creative experimentation, there's something important I'd like to share with you...

There's no such thing as a 'bad' or 'dumb' question... no such thing in a Perfectly Twisted world anyway.  Questions are a key to getting better.   When I was a 'newbie' to wire wrapping and jewelry making, I purchased tutorials, I attended classes and I YouTubed until the cows went home.

But what helped me most was to learn that most good artists who are sharing and teaching their work don't mind if you ask! I love sharing my tips with you, I love helping you challenge yourself and I love to see you grow and be excited in yourself and your wire work.

Take a class!
I took classes from very good teachers. I practiced and I'm still grateful that I was made comfortable to ask questions and learn with a bright heart.  My teachers, online and live, were generous and warm, welcoming and helpful.  I appreciate them and love being the same for my students. <3 ​