Sunday, July 26, 2009

Presenting Dark Ridge Creations!

We are back to present another of our fabulous ArtFire Chainmaille Guild members. This week it is Dark Ridge Creations. So now I will hand over to Donna to answer the questions.

1) How long have you been a Chainmailler? I have been a chainmailler for about 5 years. I started out with a kit from Urban Maille. I was hooked immediately.

2) Why do you like Chainmaille? I really enjoy working with small things. I also like working with seed beads. All things small.

3) What is your favourite type of ring? I work with 18 gauge 4mm rings the most. I cut my own rings which makes it handy to have just the size ring to try something new.

4) What kind of items do you prefer to make? I make mostly bracelets.

5) Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know? Half Persian 3 in 1. I have tried this weave and just can't get it. I have cabochon type items that I would like to use it on. I will keep trying and soon I will have a aha moment.

6) Which piece are you most proud of? I have been making what I call cuff bracelets. They are from .75" to 1" wide. I recently sold one that was made up of sterling and gold filled rings. The next one is all sterling silver 12 in 2.

7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Just jump right in and start. Recently I was visiting my sister in law and I pulled out my rings. It didn't take long to get her hooked on it. I started her out on the byzantine weave.

Thanks you Donna! Come by Dark Ridge Creations on ArtFire and see more of her lovely work.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

July Monthly Challenge Voting is Open!! Fire and Ice!!

Its time again! We have come to the voting part of the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild Monthly Challenge.
The theme for this month is 'Fire and Ice', chosen by last months winner Barbsdesigns.
So here are this month's entries..









Fire and Ice, Red Handcrafted Copper Bracelet ~ HarmonyInMetal

Beautiful creations from everyone!!

So now we vote! Pick your favourite 'Fire and Ice' creation and vote for it below.
Voting closes July 31st at midnight CST


Sunday, July 19, 2009

Presenting Jessica C Jewelry!

We are back again with another wonderful feature of one of the great members of the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild. This week we meet Jessica C Jewelry and see how she tackles our questions. So over to Jessica.

1) How long have you been a Chainmailler?

I've been making chainmaille since the mid-90s. I went to a Renaissance Faire that was held in Raleigh and became intrigued with a man who was making chainmaille while he sat at his booth. I watched him for a while before my friends drug me away, but I was too interested to forget it. I hit the library the next day and found a few books with fairly decent pictures that I could work from. I taught myself European 4-1 from a black and white photo in one of those books. Since I mainly made cuffs and armor pieces, European 4-1 was really all I needed. It wasn't until around 2003 that I started digging online to find more patterns that I could scale down into jewelry. Armor is nice to have, but it took way to long to make it and I really couldn't show it off without giving myself a hernia trying to carry it (all was made from galvanized or stainless steel). I've been making mainly jewelry since 2003.

2) Why do you like Chainmaille?

I guess I like chainmaille because I love puzzles, and to me, putting together chainmaille is like putting together a 3-D puzzle. Each piece has to go in it's proper place or you just end up with a pile of jumble rings that don't make anything pretty.

3) What is your favourite type of ring?

Not sure if you mean size, metal, or shape, so I'll cover all. For size, I use all sizes: 14g rings up to 24g rings. I can't get any gauges smaller than 24 gauge to hold their shape. I use only round rings. I tried oval ones once, but they frustrated me to no end, so they still sit in their little bag in my studio. And for metals, I try to use as many different kinds as I can. I first used galvanized and stainless steel, so my hands are used to working with them. Now, I've added bright and anodized aluminum, bare and enameled copper, and silver to my repertoire. I've fiddled with niobium, but I don't really like it a lot, so I only use it when it is requested for hypo-allerginic reasons. Neoprene has been fun to work with, and I have some new items coming soon that use those interesting rings. Can't afford gold at the moment, so I haven't really every used any before.

4) What kind of items do you prefer to make?

I mostly make bracelets and earrings. I'm working on more necklaces to add to my storefront soon. And I have a hauberk that I have been working on for a LONG time. It's been in storage for a while because the person I was making it for decided after three months worth of work that he could not afford to pay for the finished piece, so he canceled the contract. I may finish it one day to sell, or maybe just to hang on my dummy as a display.

5) Which weave would you like to learn that you don't currently know?

Half-Persian 3-1. It vexes me. I can't get it started.

6) Which piece are you most proud of?

I don't think I'm really proud of any particular piece. The hauberk, when finished, will be something that I could take pride in, since it has an inlay and it's a piece that required a lot of time. But as for my jewelry pieces, I really don't have a particular one that I am most proud of.

7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille?

If you are just starting out, don't start small. Use slightly larger rings that you actually want to use eventually to give yourself time to learn weaves without frustrating yourself by pinging little rings across the room.

Thank you Jessica! Stop by Jessica C Jewelry on ArtFire to see more of her wonderful creations.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Presenting Lil'Mouse

The ArtFire Chainmaille Guild is pleased to introduce another of its fabulous members. This time it is Lil' Mouse Here they are to answer the questions.

1) How long have you been a Chainmailler? 4 years, i think.

2) Why do you like Chainmaille?
it is so different and unique... much more fun that basic bead stringing.

3) What is your favourite type of ring? I really like the Enameled Copper, but work mostly with AA and rubber.

4) What kind of items do you prefer to make? I make a lot of jewelry, but i am planning on branching out into home goods, and clothing.

5) Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know? Jens Pind! It is killing me that I can't figure that one out from the many different tutorials out there!

6) Which piece are you most proud of? Hmmmm, I think it would be this one from my ArtFire Shop - Black and Silver Square Weave Necklace. I really love the way it turned out, and it is BEAUTIFUL!

7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Watch out, it is ADDICTIVE!

Thank you very much Lil'Mouse! You can see much more in their studio on ArtFire, so go and have a look.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Presenting The ChainMaille Lady!

The ArtFire Chainmaille Guild presents another of their fabulous members. This time it is The ChainMaille Lady! Here she is to answer the questions.

1) How long have you been a Chainmailler? Over 4 years

2) Why do you like Chainmaille? I like the symmetrical nature of chainmaille. I find the repetitiveness of chainmaille soothing and relaxing. I also love to create a gorgeous piece of jewelry from just plain jump rings.

3) What is your favorite type of ring? Sterling silver

4) What kind of items do you prefer to make? I love making cuff-like bracelets. I also love to work in micromaille. I love the challenge of those teeny tiny rings.

5) Which weave would you like to learn that you don’t currently know? Viperscale. It reminds me of the Dragonscale which I love!

6) Which piece are you most proud of? My Hardanger Eyelet Bracelet

7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? You must love repetitiveness and be a perfectionist when it comes to closing jump rings. If your closed rings are “sloppy”, especially when it comes to jewelry, you could potentially harm your client. Improperly closed jump rings can cause scratches to the client’s skin and snags on their clothing.

Thank you very much! Drop by The ChainMaille Lady on ArtFire and see more of her awesome creations!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

We have a Winner!

We have a winner in the first ever ArtFire Chainmaille Guild Monthly Challenge!
Our winner is Barbsdesigns with her gorgeous Black Stainless Steel Byzantin and Blue Glass bracelet.



Thank you to all the guild members who entered the challenge, and to everyone who voted and help to promote this event!
Can't wait to see what we come up with for July!