**A shout out to "Ken" at the Augusta, Maine Home Depot. What a lovely man and so very helpful.**
For those out there that don't already know it, if you're doing wirework and like to work with copper, make your way over to your local Home Depot. In the electrical department they have just about every size of copper wire (and some aluminum if you so choose) you could want. I took a trip out there today and found some really great wire on sale - I got six feet of 27 strand wire - which would make that 162 feet of copper wire (some 16gauge, some 18gauge and some 20gauge) all for a grand total of $7.50. What a bargain!!! All I have to do is to strip it (using a utility knife, or some tell me, a vegetable peeler) and it's ready to be twisted, formed, hammered and/or bent into some beautiful pieces. Copper is great wire to practice with as it behaves almost as sterling silver wire will, and copper jewelry is also gaining in popularity all on it's own. Read here about the properties of electrical grade copper, and here if you are curious about "health" benefits to wearing copper jewelry.
And, now, if you'll excuse me, I am off to make some copper jewelry!!!!
