So, I didn't end up actually doing the micro challenge this week because sometimes when creativity sparks you have to just jump on the moment. I rarely feel personally creative so I had to just go with it. I have to be honest, my OCD bothers me when I see pendants that the back doesn't match the front. I'm coming to understand more that the way framing works with some of the more complex pieces that have multiple attachments that hiding the back just kind of isn't possible really. However my brain wouldn't let go of the matching front and back so I created this instead. This is an Oregon Sunstone with an Augite accent on the bail. I used copper and created two separate pieces that I then wired together. This is 20g base wire, 26g weave wire and 32g wire to bring it all together. What I didn't take into account is that two separate pieces, one with three base wires and the other with four, gives you 14 total base wires to deal with once it's all wired together and the stone is in place. This became a exercise in taking it very slow, backing up when I needed to, and in the end I clipped off a few of the base wires ends and hid them behind the wires that wrap around the base of the bail. The only part I don't really like about this piece are the wires that wrap around the bail. I couldn't get them to lay straight and flat against each other no matter what I did, this is the one part where I finally just said forget it and moved on. To fit with the micro theme, this is one of the smaller pendants I've ever made. It's about 2 inches in diameter, I have big fingers so I typically tend to work in the 3 inch range. It's not the smallest I'm shooting for, but it is one of my smaller pieces.

Week One: CraftyFingas Academy's First Official Challenge The Concept: Pick something you already know how to make - a coil, a gem setting, a component, even a full pendant. And now make it smaller! Smaller wire. Tighter settings. Less room for error. That's it. That's the whole challenge. Why This Works: When you shrink the scale, you can't hide behind sloppy technique; every wrap, every tuck, every transition has to be more precise just to physically fit. Making it smaller forces your hands to slow down and your eyes to pay attention to details you'd normally skate past at a bigger scale. This is how you build real muscle memory and finer motor control, not by doing more of the same size, but by doing it smaller and cleaner. How to Participate: Comment "I'm in!" below Pick your component: coil, setting, link, pendant, whatever challenges you Share your starting piece (or your "usual size" for reference) Post your progress through the week, or just once at the end of the week, Works in Progress (WIPs) count, not just finished pieces Help at least one other person in the thread feedback, encouragement, or just hype Timeline: One week, starting today. The Only Rule: No judgment on where you're starting from. A "smaller" version of your first-ever coil is just as valid as a jeweler's-scale masterpiece. This is about your growth, not comparison to anyone else's.

Ok, since I can't seem to figure out how to post multiple media items in a single post, I'm starting with my favorite piece post. These two pendants were a custom set made for my father-in-law to wear in his recent wedding. They are raw Oregon Sunstones wrapped in 18k gold and both Sterling & Argentium silver. I definitely consider these my crowning achievement. You can find a video highlighting these better on my IG here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAw7yvgvFKW/?igsh=MWI3NGR3ZW9xcW02YQ==

Hello all! I'm excited to be here and super appreciate everything CFA is offering! I'm from Oregon and have been wrapping for a little under 2 years now. I attached a video of one of my more recent creations. I was attempting to make a tree of life with the stone wrapped in the trunk. It ended up looking like lightning attracted to a lodestone. It was an important lesson on how the wire has a mind of its own sometimes.

Well hello, beautiful people, and welcome to CraftyFingas Academy! 🖤 If you're reading this, you're officially part of something we've been building for a long time, a place where wire wrapping and gemstone setting aren't just taught, they're lived. Ashley and I have 30 years of combined experience between us, and this Academy is us handing you everything we know, one lesson at a time. Before you dive into the courses, watch the video above, it walks you through how a lot of CFA works, from navigating the community to understanding our teaching philosophy. Here's what to expect inside CraftyFingas Academy: A learning philosophy built on muscle memory, we believe real skill comes from repetition, patience, and paying attention to the details most people skate past Courses that build from the ground up -wire anatomy, tools of the trade, construction and design philosophy, and technique-specific breakdowns like Gemmy Sidewalls and the Sacred Scarab series Weekly and monthly challenges - a chance to push your skills, get creative, and connect with the community (check out Week One, it's live now!) A community that celebrates your growth - no judgment on where you're starting from, only support for where you're headed. This isn't a "watch and forget" kind of course. It's hands-on, it's real, and it's meant to be worked through at your own pace - messy first attempts and all. So settle in, get comfortable, and let's build something beautiful together. 💫 Comment below and introduce yourself - we'd love to know what brought you here and what you're hoping to create.