Friday, September 25, 2009

September Challenge Vote!

The time has come to vote in the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild monthly challenge. The theme this month is 'Fall Finery' and we have some lovely entries from our members.





BarbsDesigns
Fall Elegance in European 4 in 1 Chainmaille Choker with Crystals

It is not going to be an easy choice at all! Below is the poll, so come and vote for your favourite.


Vote for your favourite

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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Well here we are with another ArtFire Chainmaille Guild member feature. This we we are meeting our Guildmaster, HaffinaCreations. So over to Haffina to answer the questions.

1) How long have you been a Chainmailler? Approximately two years, although I feel like I've just begun sometimes, and like I've been doing it forever other times.

2) Why do you like Chainmaille? The results are beautiful, amazing and timeless.

3) What is your favourite type of ring? All of them! Really it depends on what I am making, but I especially love anodised aluminium, EDPM rubber and jewellers brass.

4) What kind of items do you prefer to make? I would have to say bracelets.

5) Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know? Would be easier to answer 'which weaves do you know?', because there are lots I dont yet know, but Dragonscale is top of my list. It so far eludes me.

6) Which piece are you most proud of? My European 4 in 1 choker that I made as the result of a poem a friend wrote. It is also my biggest project so far.

7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Be prepared to become addicted! And be patient with yourself, sometimes it can be hard to 'get' a weave, but patience and perseverance will pay off in the end.

You can see more of Haffina's work at HaffinaCreations on ArtFire.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Presenting LanzaCreations!

We are back to present another fabulous member of the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild. This week we are featuring LanzaCreations. I will hand over to Elizabeth from LanzaCreations so she can answer our questions.

1) How long have you been a Chainmailler? Since 2007

2) Why do you like Chainmaille? It's gorgeous! What's not to love! I love the weaves that are strong and slinky at the same time!

3) What is your favourite type of ring? I mostly use bright aluminum, but I would do everything in sterling if I could afford it!

4) What kind of items do you prefer to make? Bracelets! Necklaces get tedious, and earrings are just not as much fun.

5) Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know? Dragonscale. It's gorgeous, but I haven't gotten my aspect ratios right yet!

6) Which piece are you most proud of? I think the Black and Silver Byzantine Helm Bracelet looks very cool, but it was actually pretty simple to make.

7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? I would only consider it if you're very patient and have a great attention to detail!

Thanks so much Elizabeth. You can see more of her fabulous creations at LanzaCreations on ArtFire.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Presenting NotNillaDesigns!

Our featured member from the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild is also our newest member, NotNillaDesigns. I will hand over to her so we can all get to know her a little better.

1) How long have you been a Chainmailler? Several years, but I just began to sell it and take it very seriously as opposed to a hobby.

2) Why do you like Chainmaille? I love the fact that I can create something out of a bunch of rings and people say it's beautiful. I was said to be 'uncrafty' by my family who knitted and sewed. I just couldn't wrap myself around those things but I found heaven in jump rings. I find it entirely calming and centering to weave.

3) What is your favourite type of ring? I know it makes me sound like a little kid at this, but I really love to work with Bright Aluminum - it's forgiving, it's light, it's shiny and most of all, it allows me to keep my pricepoint at a place where it's affordable. That's really important to me.

4) What kind of items do you prefer to make? I like to make pieces that mean something - that was why I started making the Pride jewelry. I'm part of Leather Culture and I realized that we didn't have a lot of pride wearables and I began to make them for friends and they caught on and I opened this shop exclusively to carry my pride and more 'adult' pieces.

5) Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know? Jen's Pind. I just haven't really needed it, but I feel like I should know it, as it's one of the more difficult and sets the 'real maillers' apart from the hobbiests.

6) Which piece are you most proud of? Oh, this is totally easy - the Chainmaille Bra Top. I spent a long time trying to find a pattern for one that would not flatten the breasts out. I wanted it to actually fit like a real bra and I am happy to say that the pattern I used was public domain and worked wonderfully. It takes a long time to weave, but it is really a gorgeous piece when finished.

7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Try it! The worst thing that can happen is you waste 40 bucks on a starter kit and a couple of pliers from the craft store. But, you may be starting an addiction that you never dreamed of having.
For me, it was a whim - an extension of my beaded jewelry. I had seen some chainmaille handflowers and wanted to see if I could make them myself. For me, the click of the rings closing was the most soothing sound I'd ever heard. I still love to listen to my pliers click those rings closed.

Thank you so much for answering our questions, and becoming a member of the guild. You can see more of her fabulous creations at NotNillaDesigns on ArtFire.