My nephew talked me into going to a ren-faire in Wichita, KS. There was a seller there that sold chainmaille head pieces and jewelry. I fell in love with it, but, I couldn't afford to purchase anything as the prices were quite high.
My nephew said you can make it yourself if you want to learn how. When we got home he came over every evening after school and brought his rings and pliers. This started my education on chainmaille. He thought I would help him make chainmaille armour, I had other ideas.
I had been making jewelry for years from the tiniest seed beads to large beads and I wanted to make jewelry from this new craft. He said OK, he would help me get started. He showed me web sites with tutorials for different weaves, were I could get rings and pliers. I started stocking up on all the things I would need and I learned how to make chainmaille.
I have been addicted to chainmaille since. I have sold many pieces at ren-faires locally, to family and friends and then I started selling them on Ebay.
One time when I was ordering rings I got on a group discussion about making chainmaille and one of the members of the group stated he had started a shop on etsy. I had never heard of etsy so I thought I would check it out. I opened a shop on etsy 2 years ago come December and have been on etsy since then. I now sell my chainmaille world wide and love the craft.
I am still learning different weaves, there are so many different ones it would take a life time to learn them all. I use the basic weaves to enhance my jewelry.
I have even gotten to the point of creating my own designs with chainmaille and am incorporating beads into the designs. I have the best of both worlds, I do bead work and chainmaille to create some remarkable necklaces and bracelets, I also do earrings and key chains.
Stop by my shop and see all the different things I make with chainmaille, it is not just for armour anymore.
http://hildeguardslair.etsy.com
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3 comments:
I am totally jealous of your chainmaille talent! It's amazing! And now I have my verrrry own Hildeguard's Lair Chainmaille Bracelet, it's quite exciting! Thanks for sharing your story!
Aren't Renfairs the best? So mant forgotten skills on display.
I know what you mean about not having enough time to learn it all. I wish I could live a thousand years, just to try all the neat crafts I've heard about so far!
I have a pair of earrings made with what looks like little round jewelry 'things.' Forgive my ignorance here, but I've never heard of your name for it. I LOVE those earrings, and everyone who sees them likes them. Someone in my church made them. I think she's going to try to sell them. I got them as a gift!
Debra
PS-I'm pretty new at blogging too, and I want to get on Etsy. Do you like it there? I'm brand new at Ruebee. Love it!
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