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Full Moon Design is looking for a sales representative. |
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Wire Artist Guild Article by Nina Graci When Moli?re the French dramatist wrote: "The greater the obstacle, the greater the glory in overcoming it" he never imagined that one day the proverb would be applied to jewelry making. However, when the obstacle is the tedious, repetitious work of making wire links, the greater glory goes to Sally Schubert and Dennis Cranford of Full Moon Design. "We named our business Full Moon because there are two sides to every moon and we are no exception, " says Sally. "I represent the bright side or jewelry design part while Dennis is the dark side or mechanical design department." Their collaboration produced an aid to wire jewelry making that not only speeds the link-making process but also produces professional-looking links. The invention of their favorite tool began when Sally and Dennis went into the sheep raising business on the advice of Sally's employer. "I was a personal assistant to an actor on the farm where he raised a large flock of Romney sheep solely for their beautiful fleece. I oversaw script supervision, art archives, payroll and accounts receivable for the orchid business. One day I purchased some ewes from him and started my own small flock raising them only for their wool. We named them Abralamb Lincoln, Lambie Pie, Baasarati, Lamborghini, Wooliam and so on. Two were obedience trained (just like dogs) and came when called and worked with a leash. The two trained sheep accompanied me to "Twilight Tuesdays" in the park in Healdsburg in the wine country. We used them as petting animals and educational tools for the children. Then I had eye surgery and while recuperating, I wasn't allowed inside the barns or near the sheep. As a hobby, I enjoyed researching the history of antique beads and reading about the cultures that produced hand carved beads, especially those from eastern lands. I was also attracted to silver wire because it was so strong and yet it could produce such fragile and delicate jewelry designs. A friend encouraged me to make wire and bead earrings as a way of to strengthen my eyes. It wasn't long before I found the round nose pliers method of making links very clumsy, time consuming and tiring. Not only that but the connections I was making did not meet my standards. I explained the problem to Dennis and drew a picture of the tool I thought would help. It stand-alone and produce professional-looking uniform links that were perfect circles. Oh and it should also have a slot so that the previous loop did not interfere with the new connecting loop," says Sally. Dennis created the mechanical drawings and The Fixture was born. And it had to be beautiful as well!" laughs Dennis. Ralph Waldo Emerson said 'Nothing is ever achieved without enthusiasm," counters Sally. It was with a great deal of enthusiasm that Sally invented The Fixture, a system that met all of her requirements, was easy to use, and had a stable base that could be used anywhere. It produced perfect connecting loops in less than half the time that it took with round nose pliers. "My eyes got the exercise they needed and because my hands didn't tire, I began to enjoy creating and experimenting more. The process became so easy and such fun we invented another one. After using it to create my own jewelry designs, we felt that other wire jewelers would benefit from The Fixture too so we setup our site and put our favorite tool on the market. " The Fixture is now available in two models. The Original Full Moon Wire Wrap Fixture is made of stainless steel imbedded into a hand turned solid oak base with felt on the bottom to protect furniture. It comes with three tips that adapt to standard wire gauges and wrap diameters. There are two slotted tips measuring 3/32" and 1/8" diameter and are designed for 22 to 18-gauge wire. One unslotted bonus tip of 1/16" diameter designed for 24-gauge wire and smaller is included. The Utility Fixture has a fiberboard base with rubber feet to protect furniture and comes with the same tips. "It's easy to use, " says Sally placing the fixture on the table in front of her. " Choose a loop size and install the appropriate forming tip. Holding one end of a 12-inch piece of dead soft wire with your fingers and the other with pliers, wrap the wire around the tip and make a couple of close wraps around the shank of the wire. Snip off the excess wire - preferably with my next favorite tool, which is orthodontist nippers. They do a wonderful job by the way. Any tool that cuts wire nicely enough to be used inside a child's mouth has to be good. Now for the second loop. Remove the first loop from the fixture and string a bead onto the shank of the wire. Return the wire shank to the fixture, and, once again, make a loop around the tip. Make a couple of close wraps around the shank of this second loop and snip off the excess. Take the bead and wire segment and thread a new piece of wire through one of its loops and place it over the fixture tip so that the recessed slot in the tip holds the loop of the first segment. This is what produces the perfect circle link," says Sally who is a web designer by profession. The Full Moon site was initially a way to market The Fixture and the jewelry created with it. However Dennis and Sally were not content to use the internet solely to stimulate business. "Now that we live in Central Oregon we use the Internet to reach the outside world with our machine and jewelry designs. It's also our philosophy to promote the inspiring and creative people in our community of Terrebonne. We do this on our site under the heading Full Moon Chronicles. With so many talented jewelers and glassblowers spread all around this large rural area, we have no problem finding unique artistry to feature on our site," says Sally. Sally and Dennis have created a tool that is in some ways like a wire jeweler's answered prayer. It speeds the tedious repetitious aspects of wire jewelry construction, leaving more time for the fun part, that of designing and experimenting with wire. And, best of all, it gets the jewelry to market faster. (541) 548-4783
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Beatwork.about.com Review Wire Wrap Fixture Full Moon Design Every now and then I run across a product or tool that makes me wonder how I've lived without it! This is one of those tools! I like to make bead pieces with wrapped loops, but I really hate to make the loops. I've struggled with two pair of pliers and got a sort-of method down. But - that's all past now, as this is the way to go. It may take a bit of practice at first, but reading through the directions and making a couple of samples will help. Just wrap the wire around the tip, then do your loops. No more bending the wire, and then bending it back around, as is the usual method in making them with pliers. And the little slot in back holds the work away from you, so that it is not in the way. It seemed like a little courtesy at first, but as I went on making my loops, I realized that this feature alone makes the product worthwhile. The Original Fixture is a beautiful piece of sculpture while it's not being an incredible help, and the smaller Utility Fixture would be just right for anyone with space or budget limitations. In my sample I used 24 gauge wire, just to get used to the feel of the tool, and there is a smaller, perfect size loop maker just for this tiny wire! This tool a well made precision instrument, I found it to be a joy to use. If you ever have occasion to make wrapped loops, I strongly suggest you check this one out. You may never go back to the old way! Contact Full Moon Design for ordering details. From Paula S. Morgan, |
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