Playing with wire...

[willowoak]

I've started playing with wire again after a fairly long dry spell. Here are two experiments, done in copper wire because I refuse to experiment in silver these days. :) The stones are encased in needle lace. The first picture has two cabs done in standard needle lace:





while the second picture is an agate encased in buttonhole style needle lace.




I like it, but it's a bitch to get going. The wire keeps sliding off the smooth stone. The first time I tried it, the damn thing got so big I ended up making a little cup for the stone to sit it. (the small agate on the right). I may try painter's tape for the first row...although that will have its own challenges.