New Free Wire Tutorials - Back to Basics

As some folks know, I write jewelry tutorials. I currently sell them through my Etsy site: www.ShaktipajDesigns.etsy.com.

I promised some changes for 2009 and here is the first installment: my new free tutorial series, BACK TO BASICS and MORE!

The first lesson: Wire Weaving Basics. This lesson will show you two different methods for weaving wire in a pattern, and some solid guidelines for weaving any pattern. It focuses on weaving in tight closed spaces. Just click the sophisticated lady for a link to the PDF download!

NOTE: This link takes you to my new blog, where you can download ALL of my Free Tutorials. :^D



I started because I was asked to share some techniques, and because many of the tutorials I had seen left a lot to be desired. It seems many people are putting out tutorials without giving real value. Many of the tutorials have out of focus pictures, repetitive photos, and big holes in the explanations. Worse, the people putting them out are not experienced enough actually be qualified to teach others - but you don't find out that they really don't know any more than you do until you've paid the money.

My personal problem with many tutorials is their insistence on a 'Dragnet' delivery - remember the old TV show? "Just the facts, Ma'am." Yes, we're here to learn a technique, but that doesn't mean it should read like an accounting book. Come to think of it, I've read accounting books that were more interesting...............I got into wire working because it was exciting to me! Because it NEVER fails to pique my interest, because it is a puzzle with a prize at the end! To my mind, a tutorial should communicate that kind of intense interest in the author.

But I think the greatest failure of many of the tutorials I've seen - free or paid - is their lack of instruction. Now, that may seem like a funny thing to say, but here is what I mean: They provide a sort of recipe for making the project at hand, but they don't give you the benefit of their expertise and experience by letting you know the challenges you may face. More importantly, how to avoid and fix mistakes! In a word: Troubleshooting!

There are so many of these, that beginners and some more advanced students seem to accept certain problems in their wirework, because it is not easy to find understandable, complete, comprehensive instructions for quite simply, doing the work correctly!

I've decided to try to remedy some of that! I know there is no one way of understanding or teaching that reaches everybody, but I'm going to try to add to the knowledge base in a way that actually lets people know what they may be missing.
If you don't like a bit of humor, don't download them, please. I really try not to write dry tutorials, so I crack a joke once in a while. If you like your instructors to be demigods, sinless, blameless, and nearly perfect in every way - don't download them - PLEASE! In most of them, I freely admit to quite a few failings - otherwise, I wouldn't have much to share with you in the way of troubleshooting.

If you like understandable, complete, comprehensive, and of course, DETAILED instructions, with a dash of humor and LOTS of troubleshooting - WELCOME to BACK TO BASICS and MORE!