Fuller rosettes listed . . .

Yesterday I managed to make 4 of the new "fuller rosettes" bracelets, all in pink and red "Valentine-y" colors.  ☺  They are now their own listing in RainbowMaille's Etsy shop as of this morning.

 I really do like the addition of the extra center ring, it adds depth and fullness, plus the additional layer of color really makes the "flowers" pop I think.  ☺

 

New fuller rosettes. . .

I was toying with an idea and decided to test it out on one of my personal pieces, it's mixing rings sizes and adding to an existing pattern, the kind of simple modification that can be great or meh.  

I have been wearing it and looking at it for a few days now and I think I like it but I also think it will be better in a single strand configuration.

Because the larger pink rings are a slightly darker shade of pink it adds a depth of color and size difference makes the pattern look fuller.  I tried it in side by side rosettes but it crowed the center connecting ring and didn't look quite the way I had imagined.  

So I think I'm going to make batch of single strand bracelets with the fuller rosettes and make them their own new listing on Etsy.  ☺

 

Contemplating Craft shows . . .

I have spent some time researching local craft shows and fairs and found myself in a bit of a conundrum.  It is highly unlikely I will be able to set up at any of the events I have found, there are several obstacles in my way.  

First, I have not received a state license since I moved here recently.  I have a business license it's just from a previous state not the state I just moved to.  ~sigh~  So no one want to let me set up to sell wince I am not officially licensed to collect sales tax in this state.

Second, many of the larger shows that I would like to attend are what are referred to as "juried" shows, which means there is a panel that votes and approves applicants.  My research has shown this process to be rather slanted towards existing relationships, with a weighted preference for previous members, as in if you were there last year you have a leg up on getting in this year.  In some cases due to the preference for returning displays there are very limited chances for someone new.

Third, the application process in some cases is rather demanding, aside from the actual application and fee many require photographs of the display you plan to set up.  In the case of someone new, how can I submit a photograph of a display set up that I have never set up before?  ~sigh~  I have considered creating a display in my house just to shoot some photos but some of these places have very specific requirements that the photos be at an event or that you set up exactly what you submitted in your photograph, so faking a table display may be rejected or limit what I can do at the event.

Nothing is ever easy.  ~LOL~  Maybe next year after I've had some time to get things in order and do a smaller event that I can photograph.

 

Constantly learning. . .

I have continued to learn new patterns of chain over the years and sometimes I just like to fiddle around and modify the patterns I already know.  I have experimented with using different sized rings and even mixed sizes of rings that's how I learned/discovered the Stepping stones/bubbles pattern. 

 

Japanese Lace Bubbles bracelets

I have found the European 4-in-1 pattern to be very easy to modify, it is the base of basic box chain for instance.  Also if you mix the ring sizes you can do a semi-box mod that I think is really cool. 

 

European 4-in-1 variant 

Plus it makes rosettes, small and large rosettes and rosettes on a vine.

 Small rosette bracelets

I have made the rosettes on a vine in multiple strands connected now in a 2 wide and 3 wide version.  I have been wearing the 2 wide version since I finished a couple of weeks ago, I have become rather attached to it.  ~LOL~  In the wearing every day and looking at it regularly it struck me that it could use some more rings so the other day I added larger rings to the center of some of the rosettes just to see how I'd like it.  I'm still undecided it does make it look fuller and the additional color is interesting since the small and large pink rings are not the same shade of pink, it adds . . . depth.  I only did it on every other one because I wasn't sure how I'd like it, but I'm not sure I want to add it to all of them because I don't want it to look crowded.  

 

Why I Maille. . .

The first chainmaille project I did was a kit I picked up at Hobby Lobby just to see if I could do it.  I soon discovered not only could I do it but I quite enjoyed it.  My first pattern and still one of my personal favorites was/is Helm's chain it came so natural to me, I attribute it to my heritage. ☺  Although, Helm's chain is not the only pattern I enjoy making, I enjoy making chain in just about any pattern except Byzantine I can't stand it for some reason.  ~LOL~  

I think part of the reason I like making chain has to do with my inherent OCD tendencies.  Counting rings and lining them up in patterns is satisfying to me, looking at finished shiny neat patterned jewelry makes me smile.  I think part of why I don't like Byzantine and certain other "patterns" is because they look messy to my eye.  I tend to like more clean, linear patterns that flow in one direction.  ☺

I honestly could make chain all day everyday if only I didn't have to like clean the house and cook and stuff.  ~LOL~ 

Newest shop listing. . .

Inspired by Valentine's Day I have made a batch of European 4-in-1 bracelets with lots of pink and red.  
 

  Etsy listing

Not that those are the only pink and red items, there are several others in different styles and patterns such as Helm's chain, Simple vision, and European 6-in-1.

Of course, any jewelry on Valentine's Day is a good gift no matter what color it is.  ☺

 

Chains have families part 2

Some people define the chain families along different lines.  There are multiple ways patterns can be sorted aside from family such as structure, appearance, form, attribute, level of complexity.   

There are hundreds if not a thousand patterns of chain possible, of course, not all patterns are suited for all applications.  Some patterns make better jewelry while some make better clothing.  However, there are some patterns that only seem to be art sculpture like this cube.
 

I did not make that cube, I found it on one of my favorite sites for chainmaille patterns and information.  MailleArtisans.org  I highly recommend them to anyone looking to start making chainmaille, they offer a huge catalog of photos and patterns, many patterns with tutorial instructions and diagrams. 

Sometimes I make a variant I think is all my own like this version of Japanese Lace I call Bubbles.

Then I visit MailleAtrisans and find it's already there, although it's called stepping stones over there, and there are multiple versions based on not only Japanese Lace but also Byzantine and others.

Since people have been making chainmaille for literally  hundreds of years it's really hard to come up with original things.  ~LOL~

Chains have families

Chainmaille patterns have family groupings, often based on their origin.  My personal favorites are Celtic and European patterns.

The Celtic pattern family includes Helm's chain, Celtic vision, Celtic wings and several variations.

Helm's Chain

Celtic Vision

 Simple Celtic Vision

 Celtic Wings

 Lucid

 Aura

 The European family includes 4-in-1, 6-in-1, 8-in-1 and many more.

European 4-in-1

 European 4-in-1 shag

 European 4-in-1 large rosettes

 European 4-in-1 small rosettes on a vine

 European 4-in-1 modified

 European 6-in-1

 There are many many more chainmaille patterns, these are just some of my personal favorites to make.

Valentine's Sale !!

There is a coupon code available on RainbowMaille for 20% off any purchase over $15.00 valid now through February 14, 2016.

SWEETHEARTS  

Happy shopping from RainbowMaille
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RainbowMaille

Better late than never!

I started an Etsy shop called RainbowMaille to sell chainmaille jewelry just over 6 months ago.

I started a Facebook page to support and promote the Etsy shop a couple months later.

And now I'm starting RainbowMaille's very own blog.  ☺  

So welcome to RainbowMaille a blog all about the chainmaille jewelry I make and sell.  

I have been making chainmaille for almost 5 years.  I started with a cheap and simple kit I bought at Hobby Lobby just for fun and almost immediately became addicted to playing with rings.  That first kit was for Helm's chain which is still one of my favorite patterns, all the other patterns I now make I have learned by trial and error.  

I have learned many things along the way, such as the quality of rings makes a big difference not only in the finished product but in the working of the rings.  A lot of cheaper rings have consistency issues or bad ends that don't butt properly which makes them harder work with.  Super malleable light gauge rings are easy to work with but will not stand up to regular wear.  Some patterns only work with rings in specific proportions.  All good lessons learned the hard way by making things that didn't work and/or didn't last.  ~LOL~

I have become very methodical, picky and OCD about the chainmaille I make.  I want the things I make to last.  So I have changed ring suppliers and become very focused on my "closures".  I have learned that with better quality rings you can achieve near perfect closures that are barely visible, where the ends line up not only side to side but top to bottom, also making sure the closure is tight and there is no space.  Misalignment and gaps lead to scratching and snagging which can stretch rings out of shape and cause breakage aside from ruining your favorite sweater.  ☺

I know there are people who can make chainmaille faster than I do but I like to take my time.  I like to layout a design before I start a piece, I always count the rings.

 

I work in stages and spend on average between 4 and 10 hours on each piece depending on the pattern and size.  ☺