http://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2009/07/03/jewelry-design-ideas-for-briolettes-plus-free-project.aspxAs a teen, I routinely stuffed my size 9 feet into size 8 shoes, trying to deny that my feet would never be small again. The same kind of denial recently led me to try stuffing a piece of 22-gauge wire (my favorite size!) into the tiny, delicate drilledenCommunityServer 2008 (Debug Build: 30417.1769)http://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2009/07/03/jewelry-design-ideas-for-briolettes-plus-free-project.aspx#36720Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:38:10 GMTe599e337-6bb7-4670-8e80-180f614937ac:36720LisaMarlene, your article really struck home. Just yesterday, I was adding a crystal bead to a handmade sterling hook clasp. Of course, I used the thickest wire that the crystal would accept. But I broke the crystal about half a dozen times, trying to make a wrapped loops right up against it. VERY frustrating. I ended up keeping the 20GA wire, but used a very delicate touch, Commandment #3. You've inspired me to order some finer gauge wire and experiment. Thanks!!!<div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.beadingdaily.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=36720" width="1" height="1">http://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2009/07/03/jewelry-design-ideas-for-briolettes-plus-free-project.aspx#36232Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:11:49 GMTe599e337-6bb7-4670-8e80-180f614937ac:36232Kelly's CreationsI found this article to be the most amusing I have read to date. I, too, prefer a heavier gauge wire and often times have tried to force the issue of my preference only to jam a wire into a pearl and then have it break off thus rendering the bead useless. I don't have a delicate touch, so when I work with 24 gauge wire, it snaps between my fingers. Oh well, eventually we all find what we do best!<div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.beadingdaily.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=36232" width="1" height="1">