Presenting You've Got Maille!

We continue our weekly feature of ArtFire Chainmaille Guild members by meeting You've Got Maille. Here she is to answer our questions.

1) How long have you been a Chainmailler? A year and a half.

2) Why do you like Chainmaille? Well, I'm a Renaissance geek, so there's the obvious appeal there. Beyond that, I just love the way it looks, and most especially, the way it feels. A nice weave has a sinuous, slinky feel and most of them are just irresistible to play with (great for fidgety people!)

3) What is your favourite type of ring? Do you mean materials, or sizes...? I adore anodized niobium, especially in combination with silver, and in general I prefer gauges around 20.

4) What kind of items do you prefer to make? Impossible to answer! I get on kicks where I'll make lots of bracelets, then lots of keychains, or I'll make lots of things in the same weave for a while. I'm currently working on my first maille shirt.

5) Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know? Viperscale continues to elude me. GRR!

6) Which piece are you most proud of? Romanza. Probably that one. It's my biggest undertaking to date.

7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Find a pair of pliers that feels comfortable, own several pair so you can switch out after an hour, and don't hold on so tight. Beyond that... don't be afraid to experiment.

Thank you so much! Drop by You've Got Maille on ArtFire and see her other beautiful creations!

Voting Time in the Monthly Challenge!

The time has come to vote in our first ever monthly challenge!
Our ArtFire Chainmaille Guild members were given the challenge to create an item of chainmaille that fit the category of 'BLUE'. It could use blue parts or signify 'blue' to the creator. These items are available for sale in the participating members ArtFire studio.
So here are the entries...

MikiCat Designs - Blue Moon

Haffina Creations - Bracelet and Earrings Shaggy Loops Chainmaille Blue

Eternal Knights Chainmail - Something Blue

Elaine J Hillson - Crystal Dream, A Tollykit Dragon

Barbs Designs - Black Stainless Steel Byzantin and Blue Glass Bracelet

Poll will close midnight CST on June 30th 2009

Presenting MikiCat Designs!

This week in our regular ArtFire Chainmaille Guild member feature we are meeting MikiCat Designs. I will turn you over to her and see what she has to say.

1) How long have you been a Chainmailler?
I only started designing jewelry in September 2008. Less than a year ago and almost immediately, I became enamored with Chainmaille and now I love it.

2) Why do you like Chainmaille?
I find it soothing and comforting. There’s something about connecting simple rings and creating anything from a chain to sculptures to fabric that is both fascinating and compulsive. It’s one thing I can do comfortably in my studio, on the couch or even in bed... Though you do have to make sure to check the bed for escapees before you decide to go to sleep. (ouch)

3) What is your favourite type of ring?
I don’t think I can say to have a favorite. I tend to work mostly in silver and gold-filled, but I’m becoming partial to niobium as a strong alternative. Aluminum offers so many beautiful colors and is so lightweight but also tends to mar easily.

4) What kind of items do you prefer to make?
Right now I prefer to make jewelry. It’s quick, easy and gives me almost instant gratification. But I am looking forward to trying my hand at larger chainmaille pieces and have an idea for a shawl I’d like to try.

5) Which weave would you like to learn that you don’t currently know?
Full and flat Persian. As noted, I’m a beginner and have only mastered a few weaves. Japanese weaving being the easiest. But the Persian weaves are drawing me and I plan on learning those next.

6) Which piece are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the first Japanese weave earrings I mastered. I used red and purple aluminum rings and every time I go out with my Red Hat Society friends, I wear them. They’re also the first chainmaille earrings I sold. I also did a happy dance when I finally learned Byzantine. Does that count?

7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille?
Patience, patience, patience. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is your mastery of chainmaille weaving. Like anything, the more you practice, play, work with the rings, the better and faster you get. You learn for yourself where and how it’s most comfortable for you, the tools you prefer and exactly how much pressure to put on the rings so as not to mar them, or whether or not to wrap your pliers in tape or Tool Magic. My other advice would be to take lots of breaks. Especially when you’re first starting out. You’ll be doing things with your hands that they are not accustomed to doing. I learned the hard way that you can waste a week with sore hands if you don’t take frequent breaks. LOL

Fabulous! Thanks so much for answering the questions! Drop by MikiCat Designs on ArtFire and see more of her fabulous creations.

Presenting LivnGood Jewelry

Another week has started, and along with it with present another ArtFire Chainmaille Guild member. This time it is LivnGood Jewelry


1)How long have you been a Chainmailler?
About a year and a half now.

2)Why do you like Chainmaille?
It's such a simple motion (open/close jump rings) but it's deceptively involved with the weaves and proper AR and everything. Plus the fact that in the end I have something gorgeous that other people ooh and aah over.

3)What is your favourite type of ring?
Sterling is tops, but anodized niobium is a close second.

4)What kind of items do you prefer to make?
Bracelets mostly - 'cause that what I tend to wear more of. I've done a few necklaces, but honestly I usually get bored about halfway through it!

5)Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know?
I really want to do a dragonscale with silver on top and red or blue peeking out from underneath, but I don't have the right rings for it.

6)Which piece are you most proud of?
This Queen's Snake one definitely.

7)What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille?
Learn how to open and close jump rings as smoothly as possible - that's the most critical part of chainmaille IMO. Practice on cheaper ones before you start a "real" project.

Thanks for that, Jill. You can see more of her fabulous work in her ArtFire studio - LivnGood Jewelry.

Presenting Barbsdesigns!

A new week begins with another feature on a member of the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild. This week's feature member is Barbsdesigns. Let's get to know Barb better.


1)How long have you been a Chainmailler? I haven’t been doing Chainmaille very long. About two years. I really loved it right away though!

2)Why do you like Chainmaille? I like the fact that you can take some wire and turn it into something awesome. I also like the fact that you can get so into it that it kind of takes you away from stress and such.

3)What is your favorite type of ring? I haven’t found too many I don’t like. I am not that fond of the really small maille. I’ve done it and I like the way it looks… It’s just not for me.

4)What kind of items do you prefer to make? I like making bracelets, dog and cat collars, really anything. I like to learn new weaves.

5)Which weave would you like to learn that you don’t currently know? Wow, there are so many. Maybe the next one would be Serpent’s Spine. It just looks so different.

6)Which piece are you most proud of? I haven’t really made anything that I thought was just great. I see other people’s things and think how creative they are. I do really like my things that include stones or crystals.

7)What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? It doesn’t take much to get hooked so be prepared. The people of the Guild are smart and very helpful; you can learn a lot from them.

Thanks Barb, I think your items are pretty special. If you want to see more of Barb's items then drop by her ArtFire studio - Barbsdesigns.