Introducing Two Coin Jewelry

2011 has begun and with it we introduce another of our members. In this blog post we introduce Two Coin Jewelry, run by the talented Anthony. Let's see how he answered our regular questions.

1) How long have you been a Chainmailler? I have been a chainmailler for about 6 months now.

2) Why do you like Chainmaille? I was always interested in chainmaille since my D&D days, and became more so when I started attending Renaissance Faires and seeing the different chainmaille works.

3) What is your favourite type of ring? I’ve really gotten to like Beadalon’s Artistic Wire as it seems to hold up best to me (I am still working on softening my grip) but I am getting to like anodized aluminum now as well. I use mostly 18g and 20g wire for my work.

4) What kind of items do you prefer to make? I prefer to make jewelry as that is my trade. I am very slowly working on wrapping and cutting stainless steel rings for either a maille shirt or helm (a coif I believe is what it’s called). I am going to need much more wire for this, but I have time.

5) Which weave would you like to learn that you don’t currently know? I currently want to learn the different Persian weaves as well as the different Japanese weaves.

6) Which piece are you most proud of? I think right now it is my tri-colored byzantine bracelets that I make.

7) What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Start out easy and take breaks. When I first started, I practiced different weaves for about two hours or so straight without stopping each day for a week. When the weekend came, my wrist hurt to the point where I couldn’t pick up my son (which isn’t good for a stay-at-home dad). I found out I had tendonitis in my wrist from all the repetitive motion of opening and closing rings. It took four weeks for the pain to go away and I couldn’t weave at all during that time period. Now I take breaks and stretch often and I have had no more issues.

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, and welcome to the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild. Drop by Two Coin Jewelry on Artfire to see more of Anthony's creations.

Merry Christmas from the Artfire Chainmaille Guild

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

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?

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.

Have a Maille Christmas!

Have a Maille Christmas!

   Curated By: HaffinaCreati...

ArtFire.com

Craft Tutorials

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!

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.

Copper Chainmaille Earrings with Pearls

The Lucky Dogs

Art Deco Crystal Chain Maille Circlet

Venus in Chains

Swarovski Crystal Chain Maille Flower Headdress

Venus in Chains

Flappers Delight - chainmaille weave necklace

Little Metal Merchant

1920's Inspired Full Persian with Unakite Necklace

Nightmaiden Designs

Gun Moll - matte onyx with seedbeads on Stainless and Aluminum

Little Metal Merchant

Triple Spiral Weave Copper Chainmaille Necklace 1920's Inspired

HaffinaCreations

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.

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