Different Wire Bail Techniques

Though I’m no expert by any means; there are many different ways you can wire a bail. Whether you are using a cabochon, drilled or glass pendant, how someone finishes off the piece by making the bail will sometimes make or break a particular piece. I’ve learned many different styles of bails, incorporating my own little style into some of them as my own ‘added touch’. But in the mainstream, whatever you create, make sure it sets off the pendant or piece; rather the pendant will stand on its own or be incorporated into a necklace.

Here is a simple bail to the left that many people call a ‘rabbit ears’ or ‘simple bail’ or ‘tv ears’; whatever your definitions, it’s how the bail is finished either with swirls, spirals, or whatever makes the pendant ‘pop’.

This bail to the right, is a spin of the rabbit ears simple bail. All I have done is modify it a little and twisted wire back and forth between the ‘ears' to give it a textured look.

 

With these two bails, I learned the one on the left in a wire working class with a national instructor.

What I did was modify it slightly to be used with a coil, to the right, instead of a graduated bail.

On this last bail to the right, I simple used a regular pic-bail and highlighted it with large double coils. It really added to the piece and as an added bonus, it gave a large silver look near the bail and a very textured look and feel to the necklace design.

Learn from others, take their advice and expertise and create your own piece of art. It’s just a matter of letting your imagination run and creativities explode!

Ammonite Fossils All Wired Up

 Ammonite fossils are sought after by almost every shopper, they are all unique from their colors to the fossils encased within the ancient sea sediment. Millions years old and coming from African regions of Madagascar, these little fossils are quite stunning in their own right and in each one you can see the crystallized chambers.

I’ve hand wire wrapped them in non-tarnish brass wire, then mixed them into new necklace designs with all different looks – from crystals to cultured freshwater pearls, cloisonné beads and natural stones.

Southwest meets Old World; turquoise and jasper paired with a center focal ammonite fossil pendant

 

Classy and sassy; ammonite fossil pendant incorporated into cultured freshwater pearls and cloisonné beads

For more of these and other uniquely artisan crafted jewelry, browse our collections at our online Ruby Lane shop!

Southwest Gone Shimmering

A twist of the old Southwest in shimmering delights with tons of faceted crystals! This design is a favorite among many and I’ve just gotten a few back into the shop. Here I feature a beautiful blue turquoise donut with light tan veins running throughout the stone. I’ve accented it by hand twisting brass non-tarnish wire around and then into a bail.

There are tons of hand twisted charms all in faceted crystals and stationed between are lovely lampwork beads in complimenting colors. Everything is loose on the silk cord so you could gently twist the charms around to feature more or less of certain colors if you wanted – this is different in style, the last few I did on cords were held stationary so that nothing moved, I decided to do something different this time.


Browse our collections of fine artisan crafted jewelry at our online shop! Never know what you might find in natural stones, crystals, millions year old fossils and dichroic glass.