On behalf of the members of the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild I would like to wish everyone a very joyful and happy Christmas and Holiday season! We look forward to bringing you more fabulous Chainmaille creations in 2011.
Happy Holidays
HaffinaCreations - Guildmaster
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Introducing Viking Jones Jewelry
We are back again with another new member of the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild. This week we are featuring Sara from Viking Jones Jewelry. Let's see how Sara tackled our questions.
1) How long have you been a Chainmailler?
2) Why do you like Chainmaille?
3) What is your favourite type of ring?
4) What kind of items do you prefer to make?
5) Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know?
6) Which piece are you most proud of?
7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille?
Thanks Sara, welcome to the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild. Don't forget to check out Sara's creations at Viking Jones Jewelry.
Believe it or not, I have only been making chainmaille for about 2 months. I was hooked from the first ring.
2) Why do you like Chainmaille?
I have a 2 year old heathen child and am a stay at home mom. When she goes to sleep for her nap and for the night is the only time I really have to myself, and then I have to do housework. Chainmaille is seriously my escape from life. For a couple hours each day I can sit there and concentrate on just one thing and I don't have to worry about the piece I'm working on running off and climbing into the dishwasher when I'm cleaning the kitchen. :)
3) What is your favourite type of ring?
So far, 20g 3/16" and 1/8" seem to be a major part of almost every piece I've made. One of those sizes seem to be needed for everything. But I prefer working with the smaller gauges. The heaviest gauge I've worked with is 16g AA and I got those rings to give my daughter something to play with so I could finish a piece.
4) What kind of items do you prefer to make?
I love necklace chains, though I haven't had the time or chance to make many yet. I'm not fond of earrings, but I'm sure chainmaille will start making an appearance when I make them. I like making jewelry because there are so many people out there that think of chainmaille as the E x-1 hauberks and coifs only and they don't really think of it in a jewelry setting, especially in my area.
5) Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know?
Viperscale. I've tried it, but as soon as I get a small patch done and set it down, I lose the pattern and it's just a jumble of rings when I come back to it. I've done tiny JPL, which is supposed to be hard, but I can't get viperscale with huge rings. Eventually I may get it, but I'm not holding my breath. LOL
6) Which piece are you most proud of?
At the moment, my favorite piece is a dragonscale bracelet made with 20g 3/16" and 1/8" (see, those sizes are EVERYWHERE!) copper. It's not quite finished yet since I'm waiting for the clasp to come in the mail, but I love it. I love the weave in general, but this piece in particular because I actually finished it. It's the first bracelet I've made that I cared where the clasp landed on the wrist and hunted for a week for a four-ring copper tube clasp so that it would sit at the bottom of the wrist and showcase just the weave.
7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille?
Find a good supplier of rings - one that has consistent quality in cuts and color (if you use anodized rings). If your supplier constantly sends you rings that aren't round or are broken, find another supplier or learn to make your own rings. Get pliers that are made for the material you want to work with. Don't get pansy pliers if you want to work with steel because they'll break. Then, find some great tutorials. There are awesome free ones online, and they come attached to the people who wrote them so you can ask questions to your hearts content, and these people will love to help you. Oh, and learn aspect ratio. AR is one of those necessary evils, but with it you can go far. :)
Thanks Sara, welcome to the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild. Don't forget to check out Sara's creations at Viking Jones Jewelry.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Introducing Unseelie Designs
This week we are introducing another of our newer members, Unseelie Designs. Let's see how she tackles are regular questions.
1) How long have you been a Chainmailler? I've been making maille since 2005.
2) Why do you like Chainmaille? It's interesting the patterns that can be made out of just little loops of metal. It seems so simple, but it really isn't and there is so much that can be done. It's like it just keeps pulling me back in with some new weave, some new idea or experiment with what I can pull off with those rings. Also, it's comforting to make jewelry or other items that look great and have some strength to them.
3) What is your favourite type of ring? Stainless Steel 4mm ID
4) What kind of items do you prefer to make? Bracelets mostly. Probably because I love wearing them and I really don't need to worry about them too much.
5) Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know? GSG and Stepping stones
6) Which piece are you most proud of? My Balance the Heart bracelet. Yes, it's a simple Byzantine, but getting the beads in there without the entire piece spiraling was a challenge.
7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Just because it isn't easy right away doesn't mean you should give up on it. Sometimes it just takes a while to understand the pattern. It can be easy to get discouraged, but just keep on trying. Eventually you'll get it!
Thank you for answering our questions, and welcome to the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild. Don't forget to check out Unseelie Designs' Artfire Studio!
2) Why do you like Chainmaille? It's interesting the patterns that can be made out of just little loops of metal. It seems so simple, but it really isn't and there is so much that can be done. It's like it just keeps pulling me back in with some new weave, some new idea or experiment with what I can pull off with those rings. Also, it's comforting to make jewelry or other items that look great and have some strength to them.
3) What is your favourite type of ring? Stainless Steel 4mm ID
4) What kind of items do you prefer to make? Bracelets mostly. Probably because I love wearing them and I really don't need to worry about them too much. 5) Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know? GSG and Stepping stones
6) Which piece are you most proud of? My Balance the Heart bracelet. Yes, it's a simple Byzantine, but getting the beads in there without the entire piece spiraling was a challenge. 7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Just because it isn't easy right away doesn't mean you should give up on it. Sometimes it just takes a while to understand the pattern. It can be easy to get discouraged, but just keep on trying. Eventually you'll get it!
Thank you for answering our questions, and welcome to the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild. Don't forget to check out Unseelie Designs' Artfire Studio!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
1920's Inspired Challenge
For the months of October and November, the members of the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild were given the challenge to create a piece or pieces of chainmaille that were inspired by the 1920's. We received some amazing submissions. Join with us as we pay homage to the 1920's.
Fabulous work by all.
This is the last challenge for 2010, but be sure to join us in 2011 when we return with more challenges.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Introducing Treasures by Merry
It is time once again to introduce you to one of the newer members of the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild. This week it is Merry from Treasures by Merry.
1) How long have you been a Chainmailler? My adventure in chainmaille actually started a few years ago. We had been to a local Renaissance Fair where my husband fell in love with a chainmaille shirt. It was wwwaaaaayyyyy more money than we could spend so I said "I can make that" (famous last words and all). I bought a chainmaille book at the book store, hubby made a wooden thing to hold spools of wire and brought me some wire from his shop. He also bought some wire cutters and made a couple of metal dowels. The problem was that the wire was a very large gauge and I had a hard time wrapping and cutting it. Disillusionment set in and I quite messing with it totally. About 6 months ago I started making wire wrapped jewelry and in finding information on that topic I was re-introduced to chainmaille! Only now I had more knowledge on gauge, wire hardness and the various tools. So I found a makeshift dowel (I think it was a large allen wrench), made up some rings and soon had some earrings!! I still have a LOT to learn about chainmaille and consider myself to be on the early side of being a newbie but I am hooked!!
2) Why do you like Chainmaille? Chainmaille appeals to me for many reasons. I think it is an absolutely beautiful and versatile art form. It is amazing to me that you can use this knowledge and these materials to make armor that protects you and beautiful jewelry that adorns you. The possibilities and the weaves seem to be endless! The more I learn the more I realize there is to learn. I love taking a bunch of loose rings and within a little while I convert them into something beautiful!
3) What is your favourite type of ring? I have used aluminum, copper and enameled copper to make rings. I think the enameled copper is my favorite right now (of course that may change tomorrow!). I am making my own rings so I love the colors I can get the enameled copper in and I find it easy to work with.
4) What kind of items do you prefer to make? I currently am enjoying making jewelry. I have made some bracelets but mostly earrings for now. Hubby has asked for a chainmaille shirt so I'll try my hand at that some time in the future.
5) Which weave would you like to learn that you don't currently know? Weaves, weaves, weaves and more weaves!! They all look so amazing and I just want to try them all! I'm looking forward to making a Dragonscale weave bracelet for my sister next.
6) Which piece are you most proud of? Why don't you just ask me to pick my favorite child!! Just joking. I do love all the pieces I've made but I think the copper earrings (listed on my Artfire page simply as chainmaille earrings in copper) are what I'm most proud of because they were my first!
7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? I would say learn all you can but never think you've learned it all! Get some decent tools and dive in head first!! And above all....have fun with it.
Thank you for sharing with us Merry and welcome to the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Introducing Westminter Studios
It is time to introduce another of our newer Chainmaille Guild members. This week we are meeting Westminster Studios. Let's see how she tackled our questions.
2) Why do you like Chainmaille? I'm an Art teacher by day and have always enjoyed methodical and meticulous types of art and craft. In the art realm, I love techniques like stippling and in the craft world I really enjoy crochet. Chainmaille has a similar meticulous nature that I really enjoy. It's like knitting with metal. I'm a very patient person (I have to be as a mother of five lovely children all close in age) and I enjoy and have high appreciation for craft that takes both skill and patience. 
4) What kind of items do you prefer to make? Right now I'm addicted to making bracelets, although I've also got a few necklace designs that I'm in the middle of on my design board. Because I'm a busy mom and also have a day job, bracelets are fun for me. I can complete them in a few sittings, in between diaper changes and making dinner. 
5) Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know? I'd love to learn some three dimensional weaves. I've seen pictures of chainmaille spheres inside spheres and I just think that's really cool. I like the geometry of it, but have no idea how to do it myself.
6) Which piece are you most proud of? I have a steampunk vintage bronze colored copper bracelet that I just finished in the Puno weave that I then filed to give it a distressed look and let some of the natural copper show through. I'm a beginner, so I haven't yet tackled large and complex pieces. I have a chainmaille flower design of my own making that I'm chaining to create a necklace, but it's only half finished at the moment. I'm constantly learning and that's a lot of fun for me.
7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Find some online tutorials, get some scrap wire to practice, and just get started. You'll learn as you go and it's an interesting challenge.
1) How long have you been a Chainmailler? Not long, I fell in love with it this summer and find myself incorporating chainmaille design into my jewelry making whenever I can. I'm new to chainmaille but am learning new techniques all the time and really enjoy it.
2) Why do you like Chainmaille? I'm an Art teacher by day and have always enjoyed methodical and meticulous types of art and craft. In the art realm, I love techniques like stippling and in the craft world I really enjoy crochet. Chainmaille has a similar meticulous nature that I really enjoy. It's like knitting with metal. I'm a very patient person (I have to be as a mother of five lovely children all close in age) and I enjoy and have high appreciation for craft that takes both skill and patience.
3) What is your favourite type of ring? 18 gauge--It's such a flexible size for creating new designs. I like to make jewelry that has a nice weight to it without becoming overwhelming and I keep coming back to 18 gauge again and again because I love the weight of the finished pieces.
4) What kind of items do you prefer to make? Right now I'm addicted to making bracelets, although I've also got a few necklace designs that I'm in the middle of on my design board. Because I'm a busy mom and also have a day job, bracelets are fun for me. I can complete them in a few sittings, in between diaper changes and making dinner.
5) Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know? I'd love to learn some three dimensional weaves. I've seen pictures of chainmaille spheres inside spheres and I just think that's really cool. I like the geometry of it, but have no idea how to do it myself.6) Which piece are you most proud of? I have a steampunk vintage bronze colored copper bracelet that I just finished in the Puno weave that I then filed to give it a distressed look and let some of the natural copper show through. I'm a beginner, so I haven't yet tackled large and complex pieces. I have a chainmaille flower design of my own making that I'm chaining to create a necklace, but it's only half finished at the moment. I'm constantly learning and that's a lot of fun for me.
7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Find some online tutorials, get some scrap wire to practice, and just get started. You'll learn as you go and it's an interesting challenge.
Thank you so much, and welcome to the guild.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
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