Working with wire?

[goldkiwi.livejournal.com]

Hello, I've been lurking for the past month or so, but I've been inspired by everyone else to start crafting again once exams are over! I don't have anything to show as of yet, but I do have some questions regarding jewelry and wire. I looked in the FAQ but I didn't really see anything which dealt with them...

Basically, I'd like to add metal wire (preferably sterling silver) swirls and loops to bracelets, necklaces, earrings, etc, shaping them using jigs. I've gone to some websites like WigJig and looked at Bead & Button magazine and thus have been inspired to make pretty things, but when I got to my local Michael's, all I found were coloured copper wire and these cheap plastic jigs (Wild Wire).

I ended up buying the 20 gauge wire, and I don't know if it's too thick for me as a beginner, but so far I've been having difficulty working with it, and the jig is all but impossible, as the little pegs keep slipping out of the hole. I'm debating whether to splurge on more expensive jigs (like the Wig Jig Delphi) and sterling silver wire, but I don't want it to be a frustrating waste of time and money, considering that I live in Canada, and so will have to pay extra in taxes, shipping, and exchange rates (if I buy online, since I can't find local retailers).

I was wondering if anyone has any advice or tips on working with such things, and how the 20 gauge copper wire compares to sterling silver wire? It seems that such jewelry wire comes in "half hard" "dead soft" and so on, with "half hard" being the most recommended on the projects I want to make. Is half hard 20 gauge sterling silver about the same hardness of 20 gauge copper, or is it harder, or is it softer? Should I just be working with a thinner (larger gauge #) wire? Someone please help!

-thanks, Rie