Journey

Before beginning my beadweaving section, I'd like to share my beading journey with you. When I show my work to other crafters, I often get the comment, "I don't know how you do that...I could never"... I'd like to encourage you to try if you really are interested in how it's made. Almost all crafters I've met are very adept at following patterns. That is the key to almost everything in this art form. After that it's technique and whether it appeals to you. If you bead, you can do chainmaille and wirework and vice versa. I'm not good at soldering but I haven't tried hard enough to learn (on the to do list).

That being said, I have a friend who knits. I have absolutely no interest in learning to knit. She makes gorgeous items for me and I reciprocate by making beaded items for her. It's not that I couldn't learn, but I've always had a tension issue with yarn and don't have the patience to learn to control it (technique and time being what is stopping me here).

How did I progress from straight stringing to beadwork? Actually, I made the leap to wire wrapping first thanks to Wendy Witchner. After my session in Pari's kitchen, and several strung projects latter. I picked up a copy of Bead and Button and discovered Wendy. Bead and Button is an excellent resource if you don't have access to instructors. Almost all of my wire and beadweaving was self taught. Beadworks Magazine is my new favorite, simply due to the fabulous beadwoven patterns. However, when I was first learning, I found B&B to have easier to understand instructions and more projects at my skill level.

So, if you like it and you're crafty, give it a try. Just don't jump in and do advance stuff too early (not that I ever follow that advice).

Favorite Jump Ring Suppliers

This necklace illustrates the power of learning chainmaille (or any other chain making technique). I could not find a chain I liked that complimented this extraordinary pendant (made from a Lisa Niven Kelly kit). I finally decided to make my own. The weave is called Jens Pind 4. Although Anne's book had instructions, I found those on the Maille Artisians League website to be easier for me to understand. It's made with 20 gauge sterling silver rings from Spiderchain.

Again, I was a complete nut to try a new weave with such a small gauge, but I love the result. This necklace never fails to get a response and nothing makes your day more than being complimented on a piece you're wearing.

I have several resources for jump rings but by far my favorites are:

SpiderChain
I go to this site for sterling silver and copper rings. Her customer service and quality are excellent. If you've bought rings from a different supplier, she will help you match to her rings. She also will help you choose the right rings for your weave (and figure out all that confusing aspect ratio stuff).

Blue Buddha Boutique
This is my go to site for colored rings (niobium and aluminum) and rubber rings. I also go here when I want sterling or copper in smaller quantities. They have kits and instructions and the wubber set of tools that I love for chainmaille.

C&T Designs

This site has fabulous square rings in a variety of metals. My favorite is stainless steel. They also have finished pieces at great prices for those who want the look but don't want to make their own.



The Ring Lord

This used to be my site for colored rings before I discovered Blue Buddha. I still go here for information and for rings if BB doesn't have what I need.


Urban Maille

Last, but definitely not least, is Urbanmaille. This is the site I drool over every time I need a chainmaille fix. There are no better rings on the market. Their instructions are incredible and I'm anxiously awaiting the day when they publish a book or offer more of their weaves in copper. If you want the absolute best, this is where to go.

In the next post, we'll move on to beadweaving.

Homage to Anne Mitchell Part 2

Instructions are tricky and often it depends on the student. I've found I have one guidebook I always go to when I'm having trouble following a beadwork designer's pattern (the Art and Elegance of Beadweaving) and the same is true for chainmaille. Although Anne is not the only source for chainmaille I use, I do find myself referring to her booklet, Chain Making Techniques, quite often. I also refer to the site, www.mailleartisans.org, for instructions, clarification, and variations.










These two pictures are kits my friend Loretta purchased at the show and I made for her (Italian Links and Crystal Corduroy). We have a great relationship that way, I get to keep the leftover rings and instructions to make something for myself, and she gets the original. I didn't care for the Crystal Corduroy at first, it flips over on your wrist and the wire shows. I eliminated the second problem by adding seed beads between the crystals to hide the wire. Replacing the toggle with a box clasp made all the difference in minimizing the flipping.


The last bracelet (Xox Overlay) is taking chainmaille to the next level. For this bracelet I made my own jump rings. What did I learn from this? I don't like making jump rings. The waste involved was too much for my psyche (kinda like some play the stock market, some can't take it!). I'm very proud of the result and make my own rings when small quantities are involved. I also learned that toggles do work in some weaves, the overlap of rings hide the chain on the bar when the bracelet is closed. I also love mixing silver and copper. Not only does it save money, but you always have a two tone effect. I achieved this before by oxidizing half my silver. Unfortunately, a few times in the tumbler would eventually reduce the effect of the oxidation. With copper, it oxidizes naturally. Tumbling brings back the shinny penny color, but in no time you get nice variations of brown again. When the brown gets dull, you tumble again.

In my next posting, I'll include pictures of some of my other pieces and a list of my favorite suppliers for kits, jumprings, and instructions....then we'll move on to beadweaving.

Chainmaille Homage to Anne Mitchell

My first chainmaille experience was at the Bead and Button show. Anne Mitchell taught a class on the Queens and Byzantine weaves. Two sterling bracelets for less than $100 was a fabulous bargain, especially at the B&B. I was so thrilled with the results, that I bought this kit, Mermaid Mesh, and my friend bought two others kits for me to make for her. I also bought a fabulous toggle from Kate McKinnon to use for this bracelet. The second picture shows this toggle on a different bracelet.

This was a challenging weave to do as a second project. Understanding the weave was easy, it was manipulating without destroying those tiny rings in the center of the weave that was the big challenge. I'd like to say I've learned my lesson about not doing advanced work too soon, but I know I'll do it over again (and have many times). I did learn that, with rare exceptions, I don't like toggles with chainmaille. You have to create an extender chain for the bar to fit through the toggle and most often it shows. It's a disruption to the weave that I find unattractive. I found this clasp recently from ClaspOn-Clasp Off, and I love it. It's perfect for this piece.

Welcome

After over two decades working in finance, I retired to raise my daughter. I love creating and have experimented with many art forms over the years. My hands are always busy and I cannot sit without something to work on. When my friend Pari introduced me to beading, I knew I had found my true passion. I'm rarely without a new beading project and I like nothing more than to challenge myself with a new technique. I'm blessed with a great beading guild and have access to fabulous teachers.

My current focus is creating items from vintage or recycled bottle caps. Every trip to the store finds me browsing through the beers and soda looking for an interesting cap. It's a great way to try a new brew. My friend Lisa pointed that many wine bottles have decorated metal caps and labels, add another hour to my grocery shopping as I scan the wine isle!

I'm a proud member of the Great Lakes Beadworker's Guild, Michigan Indie Crafters Etsy Team, and Etsy Beadworker's Street Team.

In my blog, I plan to include a gallery of pieces I've made and what I've learned from that process and where you might see that technique show up in other designs. I plan to pay homage to those designers who have taught me so much through their classes, kits, or instructions.