NICOLE HANNA JEWELRY FAQ

Do teach classes in person?

No. At the moment, I'm not currently teaching workshops or classes in person.
Do you wholesale?

At this time, I do not offer wholesale purchasing options.
Do you accept requests for custom work?

While not widely advertised, I do occasionally accept requests for custom work, depending on my current work load. Please feel free to inquire via the contact form. Be sure to include budget, preferred materials, and preferred size.
Do you have a book available on wire wrapping, or plan to write one?

Not at this time. I am a minimalist by nature and am not likely to support waste through the publication and production of a physical book. Digitally, PDF tutorial bundles are available to help get you started on your own wire wrapping journey.
How did you discover wire wrapping?

In the faraway lands of Michigan, 2006, I was at a local craft fair, selling beaded necklaces I'd collected over a year rampant with crafting obsessions. While taking a break and viewing the work of other sellers, I ran across a lovely display of wire wrapping and thought to myself "This... this is what I want to learn", so I went home, looked up wire wrapping online, bought a spool of wire and wrapped what was the ugliest thing I'd ever seen. But it was a start.
What is your favorite resource for tools, wire, and gemstones?

Currently, I buy most of my tools from RDJTools (Etsy), Rio Grande, or Amazon. My wire is also generally from Rio Grande or Amazon, depending on immediate need and speed of delivery. The prices and quality, I find, are comparable. There are a number of gemstone sellers I utilize, such as Patrick & Kayla Warner on Facebook, but most of whom I cannot remember, as I tend to order when they pop up in my feed, assuming there's a need at that moment.
What tools and materials do you recommend for beginners?

I typically like to recommend a quality pair of flush cutters, flat nose, and needle nose pliers. For materials, 20 gauge and 28 gauge wires are popular, and with a single strand of 8mm round beads, a limitless number of designs can be imagined.
Why haven't you released a tutorial on (insert request here) yet?

I love teaching. I love sharing designs. But I also love creating one-of-a-kind artistic representations of my techniques. I sell both tutorials and finished work and, as such, it would be impractical to provide instructions on every piece I make. Some things must, by necessity, remain sacred to my brand and line, so customers know they are buying a unique, one-of-a-kind piece.
I'd love for you to make a tutorial on a design, but just for me. Can you do that?

Unfortunately, no. Tutorials require a massive investment of time. Though I could, technically, produce a PDF or video tutorial for individual, private use, the cost would be exponentially higher in order to cover the hours invested and the rights to use a signature design tied to my personal line.
Can I come to your house for a workshop?

Unfortunately, I live in a small two bedroom condo, where space is not at a premium. My office is in the second small bedroom and is shared with my ritual practice, where there is not room to host others.
I no longer see a lesson on your website. Is it still available?

If a tutorial is not visible on my website, it has been retired and is either no longer available or only available as part of a bundled package.
Do you plan or sketch designs?

I try not to, though have been know to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to jot down a rough idea before it vanishes.
How do you measure wire lengths needed for a specific project?

Since I don't plan designs, I don't measure wire lengths. I cut random lengths of wire and work a project until I think it's done. Sometimes I have scraps, sometimes I add more. Since I rarely repeat a design, projecting lengths is often an exercise in futility.
How do you keep your wires from tangling?

I never ever work from a spool. I always cut a random length of wire and either allow it to hang over the side of my chair and move freely while I weave, or I wrap the end of it around a lightweight, plastic sewing bobbin, and unwind as needed. Lengths longer than 300cm generally need to be wound around a bobbin, or will inevitably tangle.
What do you do when you mess up?

There's no such thing. Seriously. There's no such thing as a screw up. There are set-backs, there are unexpected design elements, there are additional steps, but nothing within my control is a screw-up. Breaking a stone may require a re-design, but with wire....? Everything is mutable and possible. My weave is crooked? I'll add another weave to compliment that movement and create a sense of cohesion. Screw-ups are just an opportunity for innovation!
How do you (fill in the blank)?

For a variety of general how-to wire-wrapping questions, please see the Tutorials tab and check out my videos and PDF lessons. In my blog, I also provide many free resources for general questions on product photography, building a business and learning the skill of wire wrapping. If you don't see a resource listed, it's because I don't offer it at this time. But definitely check back frequently, as I'm always posting new videos and PDF lessons.