"Learning from books and teachers
is like traveling by carriage, so we are told in the Veda. The
thought goes on, 'but the carriage will serve only while one
is on the highroad. He who reaches the end of the highroad will
leave the carriage and walk a foot'." Johannes Itten,
The Art of Color
This utilitarian double eye pin will allow you to link beads
together. And a challenge you will face each time is, "How
in the world do I get these two loops the same blithering size?"
A little advanced planning will help and the instructions will
be explained below. Please don't get yourself into a dither
(now that's a word from the Stone Ages) trying to make these
eyes E-X-A-C-T-L-Y the same size. You will drive yourself nuts.
Notice in my example that the eyes are not perfectly the same. I
made the eyes imperfect on purpose. Just kidding.......
What You Need
12"-24" of 16 gauge copper wire
Sharpie or other permanent marker pen
Round nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Wire cutters
Plastic mallet
Anvil
A bead
Click on thumbnails to see an enlargement.
Step 1.
Mark your pliers with a Sharpie which will guide how large the
loop of your eye pin will be.
Step 2.
With 16 gauge copper wire you will make a sample that will help
you determine the size of your eyes. Make the loop of your eye
pin. Mark the the joint with your Sharpie.
Step 3.
Unravel the loop with your round nose pliers, flatten with
the plastic mallet, and measure the length of the wire to the
guideline you marked with your Sharpie. This measurement is how
much wire you will need to make the second eye the same size
as the first one. Remember, both eyes have to be made according
to the Sharpie guideline on your round nose pliers.
Step 4.
Cut a piece of silver or copper wire 12" to 18" long.
This will allow you to make a number of double eye pins. Begin
by making a single eye pin using the guide on your round nose
pliers. Insert the bead from the other end, and measure how long
the tail needs to be in order to make a second eye pin of the
same size.
Comprendo?
Step 5.
Grasp the end of the wire lining it up with your Sharpie guideline
and with just a little bit of the end peeking through.
I like to line up the wire so that when I make the eye it will
be formed in the same direction as the first eye.
Step 6.
Make and eye pin as described in previous instructions.
