Advanced Viking Knit

Wire is something I really love working with. It's a passionate part of my jewelry marking, whether it be chaimaille and jumprings, or wrapping beads with it, or making charms or clasps, or weaving it around a wood dowel (viking knit). Viking Knitting has to be one of my all time favorites. This advanced class is taught at Nomadic Notions. Taught again by Mick Mcnulty (sweet!).

Learned how to incorporate beads into the weave (beads directly on the wire) the first night. The second night we learned about twisting and adding bead embellishment to the outside of the completed viking knit as well as inserting beads inside the viking knit tubes. I didn't personally care much for the beads on the outside thing so I just knitted during that portion of class. I did do direct bead on the wire advanced knitting and also tried inserting beads into the tube (I used gold stone which looks really cool used this way...I got the idea from another student in glass who did it).

My favorite is the twisted sterling silver, although I didn't make enough of it, so I was pretty bummed that it's short. I'm going to have to make a section of chainmaille extension to finish this off. I did this with another piece too, but that is being featured in the my blog post for Rita Marie Ross's Soldering Workshop. The ones below are the ones I did with seed beads added directly to the wire. The solid one I just did a small section but I'm planning to make a full necklace of this since I really like it. The other one was done with sections of bead on wire that were then twisted into these little berry-like thingies. It's definitely one of my more unusual pieces. Thanks to Rita Ross for the idea of adding this pendant!

Gold Plate Byzantine

This is the same byzantine weave I've posted before but I did it in gold-plate jump rings from the Ring Lords. It works very similar to the sterling silver jump rings in terms of stiffness. I get so many compliments on this! I wish I could afford to do it in real gold!!

Matching Chain Maille and Crystal Necklace - "Glitter Maille"

Earlier I posted the bracelet, but here is the set! I've called it "Glitter Maille." The weave is Enigma (or Gridlock Byzantine), and it is a variant of the basic Byzantine weave. This is one of the weaves I learned in the book, Chains by Becky. To get the ange for a necklace (instead of a choker), I used a triangle crystal instead of a square. I wasn't able to find Volcano, so this color is called Bermuda. They are still close. The anodized aluminum in seven different colored jump rings from The Ring Lord. This is a really fun set to wear. I made another set to donate to a local fund raiser and it auctioned off at something like $250!

Foxtail Weave - Multicolor

My hair stylist really liked my set of n00b chains that I showed her at my last appointment. She wished she could have a pink and black foxtail bracelet. So I made her one to give her at my next appointment. It was very fun to make and only took the length of a movie to complete. This is again using anodized aluminum jump rings purchased from The Ring Lords. I wish I knew where to get black (or pink) lobster claw clasps, but I completed the project with a silver clasp which looks "okay".

Next week I begin a class at Creative Side Jewelry Academy of Austin called "Fascinating Findings" taught by an amazing artist, Janise Simmons, in which I'll learn how to make my own custom clasps out of wire, so I'll just have to buy matching wire with my jump ring order for future projects. I can't wait!!

The Book for Learning Chain Making

I've received a few inquiries regarding the books and resources I used to teach myself chain making. I have only purchased one book thus far on chain making which I bought through Ring Lords along with the matching beginner's kit. You'll find both here:http://theringlord.com/cart/shopdisplayproducts.asp?Search=Yes&sppp=1000&websess=89755542795589 I've been very happy with the service with this company too. I just ordered my first order of sterling service and plate gold. If that goes well, I'm considering a 10k gold project! Stay tuned for more chain making posts.

A great site with a huge collection of chainmaille and chain weaves is: http://www.mailleartisans.org/weaves/index.cgi I can get lost on this site for literally hours dreaming of the possibilities.

Chains and More Chains

I completed the rest of the chains in my beginner's kits. Here's most of them. I also completed a bracelet design inspired by the link posted earlier on this subject. The square pendant is a crystal with the same rainbow colors. I'm having fun with the chains, but without making my own jump rings I'm limited to designs that work with the jump ring sizes I can buy pre-made. Investing in mandrels, saws and a tumbler would easily get into the $300+ range so I'll stick with the stuff I'm limited to with the jump rings I can buy, since I tend to be fickle and jump to other hobbies quickly and frequently. If I don't abandon this, I may invest in them. Only time will tell.

Seven New Chain Patterns

This weekend was very productive! I made 7 more chains. Here are the patterns I've learned:

• Byzantine
• Queen's Link
• Flat Queen's Link
• Contessa
• Jazzi-Chain (has beads in it!)
• Serendipity
• Double Lace
• Lacey-Chain

Currently working on the Foxtail pattern. I'm having a blast learning everything, but my hands are sore!! The beginner's kit has 12 more patterns waiting for me. Fun fun fun!

The Chain Maker

I love to learn new things and also love being creative. Since I can never settle on one thing, this means I have a ton of different hobbies/interests. Last night I received the beginner's kit I ordered from a chain mail site to teach myself my latest new interest: chain making. I stayed up a bit later than usual last night to complete my first piece: a byzantine bracelet. The chain is big and loose because I used the bigger rings provided in the beginner's kit. I hope to advance to smaller rings and more complex patterns. This colored-link piece is inspiring and what I'm shooting for:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2774604658_bd7ee83d43.jpg?v=0