ArtFire Chainmaille Guild

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Introducing Doktor Nix

This week we meet another new member of the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild. We are going to meet Nick, the creative force behind Doktor Nix. We asked Nick our regular questions, so let's see how he answered.

How long have you been a Chainmailler? I have been making chainmaille for about a year and a half now.

Why do you like Chainmaille? I love the feel of the chain and the mesh, as well as the strength of a finished work. It's both functional and beautiful. It has also provided me with a point of focus that has helped me with my severe adult ADD. Working with chain calms and quiets my mind.

What is your favourite type of ring? I personally enjoy working with small diameter copper rings. I love the feel and weight of copper as well as the beautiful way it tarnishes. For sellable items, however, I prefer to work in steel for its durability and resistance to the elements.

What kind of items do you prefer to make? I like making anything that's new. Anything I haven't made before. Every new challenge is a thrill and an adventure. I'm always looking to find what else can be done with the medium.

Which weave would you like to learn that you dont currently know? I really want to learn Japanese weaves and to learn Turkish round. Both are absolutely beautiful and I have not had the opportunity to work in them yet. Turkish, specifically, has given me a lot of trouble so far.

Which piece are you most proud of? I would say that I'm most proud of the flogger/cat-o-nine tails that I made of chainmaille. It was a challenge offered to me and I enjoyed rising to meet it. The piece always attracts the most attention.

What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Chainmaille takes a great deal of patience, focus, and endurance. If you can make it past the repetitive tedious nature of the work, it can be deeply rewarding. There is simply no way to get through a piece without putting some of yourself into it, and that shows in the end. If you rush the work or try to work around the time and effort it should take, that will show as well.

Thank you Nick, and welcome to the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild. You can see more great creations at Doktor Nix on ArtFire.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Chainmaille for your Ears

Curated By: HaffinaCreati...

ArtFire.com

Craft Tutorials

Friday, August 12, 2011

Introducing kiwimaille

This week we introduce you to another of our newer guild members. This week we meet kiwimaille. We asked them our regular questions, so let's see what they have to say.

How long have you been a Chainmailler? Roughly about 12 years, off and on. I started by helping a friend of mine, coiling and cutting rings, then I wanted to start learning how to actually make maille. The rest is history. :-)

Why do you like Chainmaille? It is an amazing stress reliever, and I love making things that others can enjoy.

What is your favourite type of ring? Currently, I've been using a lot of aluminum 3/8th and steel 5/16th.

What kind of items do you prefer to make? Things that are unique and useful. I love finding a piece that is a challange to figure out. Mostly jewelry and inlays.

Which weave would you like to learn that you don't currently know? Jens Pind, this is such an interesting looking weave.

Which piece are you most proud of? To date, the piece I am the most proud of would be the Chainmaille inlay I made and donated to our new office building, its 8777 rings of Epic. Only not purple... :

What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Start small. Not micro maille small, just a small project, something that you will use and be proud that you made. Because you totally should be proud that you -created- something. It's an amazing feeling. And find a pair of pliers and cutters that you will not kill your hands using.

Thanks kiwimaille and welcome to the guild. You can see more of their fabulous creations at kiwimaille on Artfire.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Introducing Tangled Metal

We are here again to introduce another of our newer members. This week we are meeting Eric from Tangled Metal. We asked Eric our regular questions, so let's get to know him.

How long have you been a Chainmailler? I started making chainmail in 1986 after reading the complete Lord of the Rings series. I wanted to have a suit of armor like the warriors in the books. So, I guess I have been making chainmail for a little over 25 years.

Why do you like Chainmaille? I like the how you can take metal and weave it so that it becomes almost like cloth. I have done some very tiny chainmail (2mm outer diameter in a 30 gauge wire) and it had the feel of very fine silk.

What is your favourite type of ring? I enjoy working with stainless steel rings. I like the strength of the metal and the shine you can get from it. Of course I also like titanium rings for the strength and light weight.

What kind of items do you prefer to make? I prefer to make jewelry, but I am never opposed to make armor, clothing, home decor and accessories. I just enjoy working with chainmail not matter what I am making. It is really fun to watch a piece take shape.

Which weave would you like to learn that you don't currently know? After 25 years of weaving chainmail, I am not aware of any weave that I do not know. I do however have a lot of fun finding new ways to make 3D items in chainmail.

Which piece are you most proud of? I have chainmail on every continent except Antarctica, I have had pieces in movies, television shows, on Broadway and on thousands of people over the years and yet I am most proud of the small scrap of the very first piece of chainmail I ever made. It is a learning scrap from a shirt made from metal coat hangers.

What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Be prepared to learn a lot about patience. Spend the extra money on professional grade tools. Take the time to do it right the first time. And lastly, if you end up making chainmail as a job, never underpay yourself. You may only be a minimum wage crafter at the start but as you get better you should pay yourself a fair wage.

Thank you Eric, and welcome to the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild. You can see lots more of Eric's creations at Tangled Metal on ArtFire.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Introducing Enchained Treasures

After a small hiatus, we are back with another introduction to one of our newer members. On this occasion we are meeting Susan, the creative goddess behind Enchained Treasures. We asked her our regular questions, so let's go and see how she answered.

How long have you been a Chainmailler? I started during the tail end of college in 2004 so 6 years.

Why do you like Chainmaille? I've always done art. went to school for it. And I always gravitated
towards 3d. Sculpture and 3d design were always my favorite classes. I see jewelry and chainmail specifically an extension of this.

What is your favourite type of ring? Hmm, I tend to use anodized aluminum in 5/16 a lot.

What kind of items do you prefer to make? Something that challenges me either in design or size. I've been doing a lot of inlays lately. Also, full on outfits can be fun if the creativity is left to me.

Which weave would you like to learn that you don't currently know? helms chain, it looks easy but i've never done it. I tend to perfect the weaves I know and leave the experiments to Beth our "mistress of weaves".

Which piece are you most proud of? My maille banner. It's 3 feet long.

What advice would you give to someone who was considering doing Chainmaille? Start with an easy to work with metal. I started in steel and then did blackened steel and it KILLED my hands. And my friend who was also learning never got past the rings flinging around the room to make a piece. Try bright aluminum first, your hands will thank you.

Thank you Susan and welcome to the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild. Be sure to check out Enchained Treasures on ArtFire to see more of her fabulous work.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

June Challenge - Persian Weaves

For the month of June the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild members were set the challenge of creating pieces with Persian weaves. We have some great entries, so let's go look.