Just how are those jump rings made anyway?

I'm often asked how I create such beautiful jewelry, starting with just a simple coil of wire. Well, let me tell you, it all starts with the humble jump ring.

Now, you might be wondering, what on earth is a jump ring? Well, it's simply a small metal ring that I weave together with other jump rings to create the intricate designs you find in my jewelry

So, how do I make the hundreds of these little rings needed for my designs? Let me take you through the process step by step.

First things first, I set up my high-tech jump ring making station. Okay, maybe it's not that high-tech, but it does the job! I use a drill, a mandrel, and a homemade tool that I created using the handle of a laundry jug. This helps guide the wire onto the mandrel smoothly, without any kinks or tangles. Oh, and don't forget the yarn swift that helps rotate the wire and prevent any kinks from forming.

Once I've wound the wire onto the mandrel, I cut the wire and start all over again with a new coil. Next up, I move over to the cutting station. This is where things can get a little tricky. Jump rings aren't called "jump" rings for nothing – if you're not careful, they can jump right out of your hands! To prevent this from happening, I insert a pipe cleaner into the coil. This helps keep the rings in place while I cut them.

Before I start cutting, I make sure to apply plenty of cutting wax to the coil. This ensures a nice clean cut when I run the saw over the top. Once I've cut all the rings, I clean them to remove any leftover wax.

And just like that, I have buckets and buckets of jump rings ready to be turned into beautiful jewelry! Now, onto the next step – pliers! With my trusty pliers in hand, I start connecting the jump rings together to create the basis for many of my jewelry pieces. 

So there you have it – my secret to creating beautiful jewelry from just a coil of wire. It may not be the most glamorous process, but it's one that I truly enjoy. There's something satisfying about taking raw materials and transforming them into something beautiful and wearable. 

And what do those jump rings turn into? Click here to see the full collection!