Breaking your own rules Last week, you crossed into new territory with a technique you'd never tried. This week, the threshold moves closer to home. It isn't on your workbench this time. It's in your head. Every one of us has rules we follow without thinking about them. Center the stone. Keep it symmetrical. Same gauge, same weave, same finishing swirl. Nobody handed us these rules. We built them one piece at a time, because they worked. That's how a style forms. It's also how a style gets stuck. When the same decisions get made automatically, every new piece starts to look like a cousin of the last one. This week isn't about throwing out what works. It's about noticing which choices you're actually making, and which ones are just making themselves. The Challenge Find one unwritten rule you always follow in your wirework, then deliberately break it. You don't need to finish a full pendant. A sketch, a component, a scrap wire study, or a finished piece all count. We're here to question a habit and our natural ways of thinking, not to prove anything. A Few Rules Worth Breaking Composition: Always symmetrical? Go asymmetrical. Always centering the stone? Move the focal point. Always compact? Leave some open space. Technique: Always hiding your connections? Make them part of the design. Always reaching for your favorite weave? Build something without it. Always using the same gauge? Play with proportion. Process: Always sketching first? Build intuitively. Never sketch? Plan it out before you touch wire. Always starting with the stone? Start with the frame. Always adding more? Take something away. Rules for Breaking the Rules Know the rule before you break it. Look at your last few pieces. What do they all have in common? What do you do every time without deciding to? That's your rule. Break a creative rule, not a structural one. Secure settings, tucked ends, and solid construction still matter. We're challenging how your work looks and feels, not whether it holds together. The purpose is to try and see your current creative style, and then intentionally challenge it.

November's giveaway is officially open! We just wrapped up September's giveaway and celebrated our two winners, now it's time to give another two of you the chance to win. The Prizes: Prize 1: Open to all members (Free & Premium) Winner's choice of either: A $50 gift card to Rio Grande (stock up on your wire, stones, or tools), OR A gem parcel valued at $50+ from our personal collection of stones picked just for you. Prize 2: Premium members only A $50 gift card to RioGrande.com AND A $100 gem parcel from our personal CraftyFingas collection When: This giveaway runs through the end of September, with winners announced right here in the community on Sept 30. How to Enter: It's simple, just comment below, and you're automatically entered! That's it. One comment, one entry, no extra hoops to jump through. [This giveaway is limited to 1 entry per person] Premium Members are automatically entered into the Prize 2 drawing as a "Thank You" for supporting this community monetarily. Premium members can comment on this post to recieve a 2nd chance to win by being added into the Prize 1 drawing *Premium members can ONLY WIN ONCE. If a Premium member wins Prize 1, they are taken out of the Prize 2 drawing* **Winner's that live outside of the United States, we will need to discuss shipping and customs for your prize before sending them your way** Comment suggestions: -What you would choose for this giveaway and how it would help you. -What you're most looking forward to improving in the month of September. -Whats a style, element, component or texture you'd like to learn. -Tell us your favorite thing about wire wrapping Winners will be randomly selected and announced at the end of the month. Can't wait to celebrate with two of you soon!

Hello, I was excited to take part in the weekly challenge today, but was the only one online. Was the link for the non-premium members not active ? Thank you very much for organizing this kind of live, and I hope I could join you for a future session! Mélody