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.
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
BarbsDesigns
Fall Elegance in European 4 in 1 Chainmaille Choker with Crystals
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.
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.
1) How long have you been a Chainmailler? Since 20072) 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.
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.
Monday, August 31, 2009
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.
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.
Congratulations to both, and also to HarmonyInMetal for submitting an entry.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
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.
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!!
We are down on numbers a little this month, but the entries are still wonderful.
Here are the entries.
Black as Night, Handcrafted Copper Necklace
HarmonyInMetal
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!!
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