Presenting HarmonyInMetal!

The ArtFire Chainmaille Guild is proud to present another of its members. This week it is HarmonyInMetal! Let's go and learn more about this talented artisan.

1) How long have you been a Chainmailler?
I started with maille about 4 years ago.

2) Why do you like Chainmaille?
The options are almost limitless. In my work I like to start with the
bare minimums, usually wire and sheet metal. Chainmaille allows me to
take a plain spool of wire and turn it into something beautiful. I love
to see people’s reaction of surprise when they feel how flexible and fluid
the metal is.

3) What is your favourite type of ring?
Copper. I like to play with color using the metal itself and copper is a
perfect canvas.

4) What kind of items do you prefer to make?
It depends. For weaving I prefer bracelets but I don’t actually wear a
lot of bracelets so I find myself making more necklaces.

5) Which weave would you like to learn that you don’t currently know?
Elfweave, it completely eludes me. It turns into a jumbled mess of rings
every time.

6) Which piece are you most proud of?
Vintage Viperscale. This piece really changed the ballgame for me.

7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille?
Buy the best pliers you can afford. You’re going to spend a lot of time
with them in your hands and you want them to be comfortable. Also
whenever possible buy handsawn rings or saw them yourself. The saw
provides a clean cut that allows for smooth, tight joins with no gaps.

Thank you HarmonyInMetal! You can see more of her fabulous work in her studio on ArtFire - HarmonyInMetal.

It's a Tie!

The ArtFire Chainmaille Guild August Monthly Challenge has ended with a tie between HaffinaCreations and Barb'sDesigns!





Congratulations to both, and also to HarmonyInMetal for submitting an entry.

August Monthly Challenge - Voting Time!

The time has come to vote in the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild Monthly Challenge. This month's theme was 'Black As Night', chosen by last month's winner HarmonyInMetal.
We are down on numbers a little this month, but the entries are still wonderful.

Here are the entries.

Black Byzantine Chainmaille Necklace with Glow In The Dark Stars
HaffinaCreations

Black Stainless Steel Scherzo Chainmaille Cat Collar
BarbsDesign

Black as Night, Handcrafted Copper Necklace
HarmonyInMetal

So these are our wonderful entries, and now we need you to vote for your favourite. When you select your favourite and click on VOTE it will take you to another page, where if you scroll down you will see the current results of the vote.
So let's get voting!!

Presenting Catinalife!

This weeks feature is of one of our newer members. Catinalife makes wonderful items of jewellery, both with Chainmaille and other media. Let's see how she answers our questions.

1) How long have you been a Chainmailler?
Just a few years now, as I have time I learn new patterns and design uses. Time is the biggest issue.

2) Why do you like Chainmaille?
I get a rhythm going with my hand movements and usually make an item too long if I am not careful.

3) What is your favourite type of ring?
Still learning my way around with what will work best especially when combing with the gemstones.

4) What kind of items do you prefer to make?
Bracelets are my best. I usually make full sets with necklace, bracelet and earrings if possible.

5) Which weave would you like to learn that you don't currently know?
Byzantine, I really need some time to practice that design.

6) Which piece are you most proud of?
A simple 4-in-1 necklace with silver and gold 4mm rings and used blue Zircon Swarovski crystals which really gave it some flash.

7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Practice, patience and practice, good tools and good quality rings.

Thank you Catinalife! You can see more of her fabulous creations at Catinalife on ArtFire.

Presenting Cheli!

A new week, a new member feature for the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild. This week we are featuring Cheli. Let's hand over to Cheli to answer the questions.

1) How long have you been a Chainmailler? 3 years.

2) Why do you like Chainmaille? History in general and jewelry history in particular is my favorite subject when reading about ancient jewelry techniques and stumbled upon chainmaille weaves, I was fascinated. The idea that I can use the same technique that people used centuries ago was like traveling in time and bringing a piece with you. Amazing.

3) What is your favourite type of ring? 20ga ,2.8"

4) What kind of items do you prefer to make? Necklaces and bracelets.

5) Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know? Half Persian.

6) Which piece are you most proud of? Solar Eclipse Onyx and silver chainmaille collar.

7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Have a lot of patience and use your imagination.

Thank you Cheli. It is great to have you as a member of our Guild. You can see more of Cheli's designs at her studio on ArtFire.

Presenting RedPanda !

We are back with another ArtFire Chainmaille Guild member feature. This week we are meeting RedPanda. Let's hand over to her and see how she answers our questions.

1) How long have you been a Chainmailler?
Since 2005, when I was just graduating from high school.

2) Why do you like Chainmaille?
Because it's different from the common jewelry that you see a lot on handmade sites. I also think it's rather versatile. It can be chunky and manly, or delicate and feminine.

3) What is your favorite type of ring?
I love working in sterling, and do so when I have the chance.

4) What kind of items do you prefer to make?
Anything that comes to mind! Mostly jewelry, and of that, mostly bracelets. I make a ton of bracelets.

5) Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know?
If I'd like to learn a weave, I learn it! I don't keep weaves in a want-to-learn queue typically. If I see something I want to make, I make it! :)

6) Which piece are you most proud of?
Hm. I'm not really sure. I've got a really pretty sterling dragonscale bracelet, but it's relatively basic. I've got a lot of gemstones that I've been working on incorporating into my work recently. Hopefully I'll make up something complex and new and exciting soon!

7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille?
Go for it! Always use saw cut rings over machine cut, even though they're more expensive. It's worth it.

Thanks so much for letting us feature you! You can see more of her wonderful chainmaille creations at RedPanda on ArtFire.

Presenting EternalKnights!

It is time to introduce you to another member of the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild, or in this case, two members, because EternalKnights is actually two people, Trinity and Seraph. So let's see how they answer the questions and get to know them just a little better.

1) How long have you been a Chainmailler? We've been doing this since high-school, which for one half of the group, Seraph, is over 10 years. Trinity's been doing it since 2001ish.

2) Why do you like Chainmaille? It gives us a creative outlet, and generally is a lot of fun to do. We've been having so much fun making pieces, going to shows and just playing with ideas, that it's not really work more like a fun distraction from life.

3) What is your favourite type of ring? Oh so hard to choose. We've fallen in love with so many pieces, but really the EPDM rubber rings have proven so versatile. While we really can't say we have a favorite, it is on the top of the list!

4) What kind of items do you prefer to make? We really like making armor - since we've been doing Live Action Role Playing it's kind of a must-have item! But for others we love making earrings, since they can come out so fun looking.

5) Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know? That's hard for Seraph to answer, possibly perfecting his work on Tetra Orbs. But Trinity is trying to work on learning Persian and Half Persian.

6) Which piece are you most proud of? It'd have to be the silver byzantine bracelet. It was the smallest links Seraph's worked with and we're so happy about how it came out.

7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Patience is key! Trinity started learning with the harder patterns, she took years to even get 4 in 1 correct! It's taken a lot of patience but it's worth it.

Thank you Seraph and Trinity, it's great to have you in our guild. Drop by EternalKnights on ArtFire to see more of their wonderful creations.

Monthly Challenge Winner!

We have a winner in the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild Monthly Challenge - Fire and Ice!

Congratulations go to HarmonyInMetal


Wonderful piece! Thank you to everyone who entered and everyone who voted and helped us chose a winner!