This week’s Meet and Make designer is Katie Hacker. I’ve known Katie for years and I love making her designs. They’re fabulous AND the instructions are always SO easy to follow! I love reading her blog, too — KatieHacker.com. So I was thrilled when Katie agreed to be featured on the FaveCrafts Blog.

Ten fun facts about Katie Hacker:

1. I come from a crafty family. My parents owned a dollhouse and miniatures business called Dee’s Delights.
2. The year after I graduated from college, I co-wrote my first book, Hemp Jewelry: It’s Knot Hard.
3. I was a regular presenter for 12 seasons before becoming the host of Beads, Baubles & Jewels.
4. Even though I’ve made a ton of jewelry, I wear the same necklaces over and over!
5. I design jewelry projects for a monthly kit club called Katie’s Jewelry Personal Shopper.
6. These days, I’m listening to kids music by They Might be Giants.
7. One of my favorite children’s books is Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems.
8. My kids are super ticklish, just like me.
9. I keep honeybees at my husband’s family farm.
10. Starting January 1st, I’m training for my second half-marathon.

And here’s Katie’s project!

Wire Spiral Snowflake

by Katie Hacker for Beadalon

Materials

• 20-gauge peacock blue Artistic Wire®
• 6 clear 10mm round smooth glass beads
• 12mm round firepolished glass bead

Tools

• Round nose pliers
• Chain nose pliers
• Wire cutters

Instructions

1. Cut six 6″ lengths of wire and bend them in identical U-shapes.

2. Cut five 2″ lengths of wire.

3. Hold two U-shaped wires next to each other so the wires extending from the curve are parallel. Coil a 2″ wire around the wires to bind them together. Repeat for all of the 2″ wires.

4.  To bind the last section together, cut a 4″ length and make a loop on the wire end. Hold the loop in the center opening and coil the wire to bind the sections together.

5. About 1/4″ from the coil, use chain nose pliers to bend each wire outward in a V-shape; repeat for each wire.

6. Next, hold the adjacent two wires together as one and pass them through a glass bead; repeat for each section.

7. Use round nose pliers to make a loop on the wire end, then hold it flat inside the jaws of chain nose pliers and turn your wrist to form a spiral; repeat for each wire end.

8. Cut a 4″ piece of wire and fold the end back by 1/8″ to form a stopper. Pass the wire through a glass bead. Make a wrapped loop to attach it to the center loop on the snowflake.