What I did on my Birthday
I had a little bit of time yesterday… a little bit, mind you. So I started playing with the new Murano glass beads I bought earlier and decided to attach it to my 16 gauge jens pind chain. Whoo hoo, that was a great idea. I finished it this morning, ending the bracelet with the same glass bead on the other side. I’m debating if I like it or not. I like the idea, but the chain is a bit small for me and it seems too anchored by the two beads on the end. Grrr…
Why I’m not on Etsy
I always get a lot of questions and unsolicited advice to sell on the Internet, especially at Etsy.com. However, I am not of fan of the handmade shopping block because if you do a search on “chainmail”, you get hundreds of items to choose from and a seller like myself could get lost in the crowd. Also, I’ve browsed through there myself and there are sellers who buy the same kits that I buy from my ring supplier and sell them at their shop. Which is fine with me, but my urge to be unique and not be a cookie-cutter prevents me from selling straight out woven bracelets unless requested. Sure, I post the weaves I’ve learned, but that’s not the heart of my designs. It’s the foundation of my craft that allows me to securely build on top of the skills I’ve already gained.
If some random shopper in Boston will compare my shop and someone else’s shop with lower prices, she will most likely not research and pick the items from someone else’s shop. Or, she could try to figure out why I’m charging more for my jewelry, but due to the general laziness of the population, it probably won’t happen. Pricing is the bane of a lot of jewelry designers, and the ones who are just starting out… “I started making jewelry 2 years ago!” seriously undermine the rest of us designers who have been at this for a significant amount of time… going on 20 years, even though it includes being 6 and stringing pony beads. But honestly, a lot of TLC goes into my designs and I try my best to be fair to my customers and also fair to myself.
I feel that this blog and the Tribe is a lot more personal, because jewelry is a very personal thing. I know I should be doing a few more things like measuring the length of everything, but it’s a learning process and I’ll remember to start doing that eventually. I just really want all of you to know that I’m not trying to rip you off, nor am I selling myself short by pricing too low. And, hopefully convey the message that you are getting the only very best chainmaille jewelry around. 
From My Personal Collection
This is my first attempt at anything purely in rose gold. I ♥♥♥♥♥ it. I might take off the dangles in the front, but I haven’t decided yet. First of all, I stopped by a bead store after jury duty a few weeks ago and stumbled into the biggest and brightest candy store I’ve ever seen. A whole room full of beads and findings in rose gold, yellow gold, and sterling silver on one side, then gorgeous Italian Murano glass beads on the other side. I left the store with nothing but gorgeously shiny rose gold findings because anything in rose gold, especially bead components, are very difficult to find. They are generally not commercially available. Which is why I always go gaga over it whenever I see it.
One night last week, I felt compelled to start working in rose gold (hey, I had all this new stuff to use), so I dug up my precious envelope full of 3 whole ounces of 14kt rose gold-filled 24 gauge wire and went to work. The brown of the crystals complimented the gold nicely and then I started thinking of some other color to go with the package. Something hit me light a bolt of lightning and I busted out my favorite dusty rose crystal and I was set. Whoo hoo! I dug up whatever rose gold rings I had and this is what I have to show for it. Later on, I’m going to dig through my stone collection to find some stones that will go with the color scheme I have going. But I love this necklace. Obviously.
Custom order only. Please inquire.
Busy Beaver
Yes, I have been a busy little beaver lately, but I think it’ll pay off soon. 
I spent the weekend making some prototype designs and one turned out really well. Now I just have to price it and debate if I want to oxidize it. The Gothic influence is strong today. Must oxidize everything… maybe.
Here’s what I’ve been working on… this week will be spent cranking out designs and packaging. Then pricing in Euros. 
Large Parallel Flower Pendant - Sashi Blue
My bellydance instructor, Sashi, loves all things blue. This blue crystal color embodies her love of blue very well, hence the title above. =) This is actually a very large and substantial pendant in size and for comparison, I have included the smaller pendant and an Arrowhead water bottle cap. Once I gather some friends for a photoshoot, hopefully I won’t be needing the water bottle cap.
This is one of my favorite designs and for my first attempt at the large pendant, I really like it. It would make a wonderful addition to anyone’s jewelry collection, more particularly a bellydancer’s costuming collection.
Isn’t it amazing what a difference in wire gauge makes?
STERLING SILVER ~ $60 (includes adjustable 18″ chain)
Sold to Sashi herself… more available as needed. Just ask for a custom order.
5mm Magic
My favorite ring size is 18g, 5mm. My favorite Swarovski crystal size is also 5mm. There’s something about this size that is very appealing. It’s not too big, but not too small. For most applications, it’s just perfect. The 5mm rings make some of my favorite weaves, including the GSG and the Double Spiral. Maybe there’s a psychological aspect to it, but either way, 5mm is my favorite size. And to top it off, my new instructions for a Half Persian 4-in-1 says I can use 18g, 5mm rings. <3
I also love making necklace chains using 18g, 5mm rings and connecting them with bits of my favorite pre-made chains… I really need to gather my friends for a jewelry photo shoot… I have a beautifully gorgeous lariat that begs for a model before I take a picture to capture its timeless elegance. Using 18g, 5mm rings… and some 5mm Swarovski crystals… I think.
Decisions…
I have the *ring* itch. I want to make beautiful chains and dangle them from other chains, etc. For bellydancing, I can make a beautiful necklace and dangle excruciating small handmade chains from it, or I can think of something else to do with the small chains. I should go make some annoyingly small chains before I order a crap load of rings only to discover that my eyes hurt after 10 mins of making chains. Haha.
Notebook
This morning I was eating breakfast and looking for something to read… I like to multi-task if it’s an informal meal and no one needs to talk to me. Either read a magazine or watch TV while I’m eating. Some mornings I’ll grab my breakfast and eat it in front of the computer if it’s a busy day. Today I took a bite of oatmeal, looked around for something interesting, then ran upstairs to grab one of the many empty notebooks I found while cleaning.
That was around 8am this morning and I can’t keep away from it. If anything pops into my head, I write it down. Random things right now, but I started a to-do list for today. Something also inspired me to start working on my taxes… so I started adding and itemizing things. 
I also took inventory of 95% of my rings, sterling, gold-filled, rose gold-filled, and copper. Yesterday I was hanging out at the bead store and inspired by one of the chainmaille ladies to start mixing metals… she was working on a 16g Jens Pind with sterling, yellow and rose gold. It was pretty. Enough to get me thinking about mixed metal jewelry. And to add to the mixed metal topic, the new kit I just ordered from Urban Maille is a Half Persian mixed with sterling and copper.
I wrote out all of the chain weaves I know and then listed all the corresponding ring sizes that go with it… mostly in 18g because that’s all I can remember. Then I started another page for weaves that are good to mix metals with. I have to add the Viper chain to it because I was staring at my unfinished yellow and rose gold bracelet and it looks better than I thought.
Inspiration is a strange thing… but be happy when it comes.
Earring #4 ~ Dangling Butterfly
I’ve been quite busy with my sister visiting and then trying to figure out what “normal” is after she left. All I really have to show for her visit is this pair of earrings which I absolutely adore. Why do I love these particular ones so much? Because I actually got to dangle my precious butterfly inside a jump ring. Ha! And it’s just a perfect little design. ♥
Sterling Silver ~ $45
