@funcountess I now use aluminum wire (I'm pretty sure) because it's really easy to bend and once you get things heading in the right direction, you can bend the branch to suit your vision. I have a blue spruce that's grown very nicely except that the tip of the trunk wants to bend over for some reason, and I have to keep wire on it to make it go straight up. I ordered it online and bought a roll. I used to use copper wire, but a friend who's been doing bonsai for years told me that aluminum is better for the plant.

One thing that's important to remember is not to tighten it down too much, so it doesn't cut into the limb as it grows.

Jim