Beading Arts

No, I'm not being cute.  The fabulous Kat Wisniewski sent me a kit for a bracelet that is featured in her new book, New Connections in Chain Mail Jewelry with Rubber and Glass Rings (my review at the link).  I don't work in chain mail at all except for a very few small pieces, just for experiments, so I had a certain amount of trepidation upon receiving the kit.  All those jump rings (well, duh!). It turns out that as long as you follow the instructions, which are super-easy to follow, you will end up with a fabulous piece of jewelry!  Who knew? Arched Ascent Bracelet, designed by Kat Wisniewski Inexpertly assembled by Cyndi Lavin My biggest challenge was closing the jump rings properly.  But not to worry...there are a few extra in each size needed just in case you really mess one up (I did!  Twice.).  Still, I think I ended up with a very presentable bracelet that I'll be proud to wear.  You can find Kat's kits on her website, New...

Do you like chain mail jewelry, but wish it had more color?  One of the easiest ways to add color is to integrate glass and rubber rings into your work, and Kat Wisniewski shows you how to do this in her new Kalmbach publication, New Connections in Chain Mail Jewelry with Rubber and Glass Rings .  Other sources of color, like enameled copper rings and anodized aluminum rings are not ignored, but the projects in this book let the rubber and glass rings take center stage. Kat goes over the basics and pays particular attention to good technique while opening and closing rings...and frankly, since that's mostly what you do in chain mail, it makes a lot of sense to get it right!  She also has a great chart on pliers, and she covers the basics of inner and outer diameter, wire gauge, and aspect ratio too. But mostly this book is about the projects.  Each of the 25 projects has a list of exactly what you will need to make it as shown, plus some color options. ...

I never thought about it this way before, but Theresa Abelew points out that chain maille is the ultimate recyclable project.  If you don't like what you get, take it apart and try again...no waste! If you have been daunted by the dizzying array of jump ring sizes (inner diameter?  outer diameter?  what???) and weave patterns, then you might be ready for Theresa's new book Play With Chain Mail , published by Kalmbach .  The author concentrates on presenting four weaves in their basic formation, followed by jewelry projects which will help you practice each.  The patterns covered are rosette or mobius, box chain and Byzantine, European 4-in-1, and Helm chain.  Each section starts with the classic chain and then moves onward to more interesting applications. One problem with working on chain maille is that so many different ring sizes can be required.  Theresa is mindful of that, and has given you a chart in the back that you can quickly check t...

Do you love chain maille, or do you find it intimidating?  Do you love the sleek minimalism of it, or do you wish there were a way to jazz it up a bit?  No matter what your opinion of classic chain maille, I think you're going to be enchanted by Vanessa Walilko's book Chain Mail + Color , published by Kalmbach . Never fear if you've not tried chain maille before.  Vanessa introduces you to three very simple weaves that you will be able to master quickly.  She teaches you all the little tricks and techniques to working successfully in the Basics section, and (YAY!) gives you a list of suppliers who carry the various materials that she uses. The main body of the book is broken into three sections.  Once you've learned the weaves, you can then choose to add colorful aluminum scales, disks, or washers to make your designs really pop, but without adding a lot of weight.  Oh, and did I forget to mention that the jump rings themselves that you'll be wo...

Advanced Chain Maille Jewelry Workshop:  Weaving with Rings and Scale Maille  By Karen Karon  Interweave/F+W; $26.99 It's hard to believe that it was three years ago that Karen Karon's first book on chain maille jewelry was published by Interweave (my review at the link).  It is by far my favorite book on the subject. And now, chain maille enthusiasts, take heart!  At long last, Karen's sequel, Advanced Chain Maille Jewelry Workshop , is available! One of the most important things for me when I'm learning a new skill or trying to improve one is that the instructional source I use is well-organized.  Just like the first book, Advanced Chain Maille is amazing in how thoughtfully it is laid out.  There is a quick review of tools, materials, and techniques in the beginning, including chain maille math.  Then Karon moves right into fabulous new weaves, each more complicated than those in the first book, and progressing in difficulty thr...

I'm not a real afficionado of chain maille, but once in awhile it's really fun to dabble in, especially when you can whip up a fast and easy (and super-cute) pair of earrings in almost no time!  I'm not sure exactly what you would call this pattern of linking your jump rings: it is either a simple 1 x 1 chain with extra loops added to every other link, or it's a 3 x 1 chain without the second attachment for the outer rings of each 3. Does anyone know if this pattern has an official name? Anyway, it's easy to do, as I said, and you can be wearing new earrings in an hour. Materials and Tools Pair of silver earring wires 26 Twisted jump rings (20 gauge, 8 mm) 14 drops or charms 2 pair of chain nose pliers 1. For each earring, pick up a drop on 6 jump rings, and close the rings. 2. Starting with 1 open jump ring with an ear wire on it, pick up 3 closed jump rigns, the outer ones with crops and the middle one plain. 3. Use an open jump ring to ...

I have really fallen in love with Kalmbach's "The Absolute Beginners Guide" series, and the most recent addition is no exception.  Lauren Andersen has written Making Chain Mail Jewelry for the series, and if you've got chain maille on your list of techniques to master in 2014, this book is a great place to start.  Check out this statement by Kalmbach: "Open.  Close.  It's that easy!"  It is, yes, they are right.  But in Lauren's capable hands, you see how opening and closing jump rings can become an art form! Crystal Cross bracelet It's so easy to follow the instructions in this book.  The photos are very clear, and different colors are used in the basic instructions so that you can easily tell how the rings are being manipulated.  You will learn seven basic weaves and then use them to create 18 beautiful chain maille projects, some super-simple and some which will challenge you to move ahead. So pick up your jump rings and two pai...

Wire bracelet with Maruti beads Some simple tutorials:     Making a wrapped loop     Basic wirework information and supplies     A multi-strand necklace with wrapped loops     A "leftover" toggle necklace     Creating a wire and ribbon necklace     A freeform seed bead necklace on a wire armature     Copper necklace with wire links     A wire wrapped beach rock     A Crocheted wire necklace     A "sea glass" necklace     Circuit breaker necklace     Faerie Bells     Chain maille bead earrings     Freeform peyote on a wire armature     Black Sparkle Ring     Antique Key necklace     Button charm holder     Crocheted Pearls necklace     Chain Drop earrings     My Heart's Chatelaine necklace ...

There are so many book reviews in our archives, and these books are still perfectly good guides to working with wire, both for beginners and for more advanced practitioners!  Starting tomorrow, I'll be posting book reviews and giveaways on the newest wire books. Book reviews:      Wire Wrapping     101 Wire Earrings     Contemporary Copper Jewelry     Chain Style     Lacy Wire Jewelry     Classic Chain Mail Jewelry     Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders     Making Beautiful Bead and Wire Jewelry     Handcrafted Wire Findings     New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry     Simply Bead and Wire       Chains Chains Chains     A Bounty of Bead and Wire Earrings     Spotlight on Wire     Absolute Beginners Guide: Making Wire Jewelry  ...

Have you ever thought about what would happen if you integrated chain mail with other materials, like textured metal, leather, wire, and beads?  Well, Laura Poplin has given this a great deal of thought, and has come up with a marvelous new book, Unconventional Chain Mail Jewelry . The introduction covers the basics of all the different materials that you'll be working with.  Most attention, of course, is paid to the jump rings that you'll use to construct your chain mail, including helpful charts so that you know you're choosing the right rings for the project.  I wouldn't say that this is really a beginner's book, but a highly motivated beginner could definitely enjoy working through some of the projects. Unconventional Chain Mail Jewelry  actually covers only 5 different chain mail weaves, which surprised me at first.  However, the variations are endless, as I soon learned, so my opinion now is that limiting the weaves to some basics like these was a ...

 As chain maille gains in popularity year by year, wonderful new books keep appearing that will help you get started.  This new volume from Interweave Books was written by Karen Karon.  Chain Maille Jewelry Workshop is a terrific beginners book, and will no doubt be of interest to those with experience too.  Karen covers all the basics of materials and techniques, but she has added some amazing "next step" information to each chapter that everyone will love: speed weaving tips!  Wow, I'm still working on getting my jump rings to be the right size :-) Never fear about that either, because Karen has a terrific series of charts at the end with the aspect ratio problem all spelled out for you.  Not being a lover of math, I'm so happy that someone else has done it for me ;-) Karen covers seven different popular chain maille weaves, with a project included to use the new skills in each section.  These weaves cover the three types: chain, sheet, and ...

Basic Wirework informational and suppliers links Book reviews:    Wire Wrapping    101 Wire Earrings    Contemporary Copper Jewelry    Chain Style    Lacy Wire Jewelry    Classic Chain Mail Jewelry    Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders    Making Beautiful Bead and Wire Jewelry    Handcrafted Wire Findings    New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry    Simply Bead and Wire    Chains Chains Chains    A Bounty of Bead and Wire Earrings    Spotlight on Wire    Absolute Beginners Guide: Making Wire Jewelry    Show Your Colors    Making Wire & Bead Jewelry Some simple tutorials:    Making a wrapped loop    A multi-strand necklace with wrapped loops    A "leftover" toggle necklace    Creating a wire and ribbon necklace    A freeform seed b...

We met Vanessa Walilko , who runs Kali Butterfly last year, and so I asked her if there were anything new wire projects in her life.  Oh yes, there certainly are! The biggest news is that I recently created a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for my most epic chainmaille project, a chainmaille wedding dress.  The Kickstarter campaign was fully funded (and then some).  You can read all about it here on the Kali Butterfly blog . I'll have to link together 100,000 rings together to complete it.  :)  In other news, my chainmaille flapper dress was chosen as a finalist in the Bead Dreams competition. Also, I'll be teaching at Bead&Button again .  Here are the links to all both classes: http://www.beadandbuttonshowstore.com/b122633.html (The Friday session is sold out) http://www.beadandbuttonshowstore.com/b121077.html   Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media...

Basic Wirework informational and suppliers links Book reviews:    Wire Wrapping    101 Wire Earrings    Contemporary Copper Jewelry    Chain Style    Lacy Wire Jewelry    Classic Chain Mail Jewelry    Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders    Making Beautiful Bead and Wire Jewelry    Handcrafted Wire Findings Some simple tutorials:    Making a wrapped loop    A multi-strand necklace with wrapped loops    A "leftover" toggle necklace    Creating a wire and ribbon necklace    A freeform seed bead necklace on a wire armature    Copper necklace with wire links    A wire wrapped beach rock    A Crocheted wire necklace    A "sea glass" necklace    Circuit breaker necklace    Faerie Bells    Chain maille bead earrings    Freeform peyote on a wire...

Artist: Vanessa Walilko Website: Site: Kali Butterfly I create wearable art from thousands of tiny metal rings made from aluminum wire. My passion is pushing the boundaries of traditional craft by creating pieces of art. With chainmail, I love creating the unexpected with wearable, fashionable clothing pieces. I also love making statement jewelry pieces that are lightweight and musical. I've been making jewelry since I was eight, but it's only been in the past two years that I've made my love of making a career. During that time, my chainmail fashion and jewelry have been featured in national exhibitions at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. My work has also won international awards, such as top honors in the British Bead Awards and the Bead Dreams competition. Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

  Are you interested in learning chain maille (or chain mail as the author of this book prefers)?  Classic Chain Mail Jewelry by Sue Ripsch may be just what you've been waiting for.  Beautifully clear color photos and step by step directions will guide you through each chain style and through each gorgeous project.  Because really, what's a technique without a project to show it off? You really won't believe you eyes when you see how many different looks you can get from a pile of jump rings and a pair of pliers.  Thank you to Sue for the over 30 classically elegant projects, including bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.  I feel that this book, published by Kalmbach, is the perfect introduction to chain maille for those who long to give it a try.  Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

You know how every once in awhile an idea comes along where you say, "Why didn't someone think of that sooner?"  Well, here's one! Cindy Thomas Panokpf has written a delightful book showing us how to combine basic chainmaille with bead weaving.  Why didn't I think of that?  :-)   Beadmaille contains 25 fun and contemporary projects that will start you drooling.  If you've never done chainmaille...not to worry!  Cindy takes you through the basics that you'll need for her projects.  If you're not terrific at bead weaving...not to worry either!  There are projects for all skill levels, and wonderful illustrations to show you exactly what you should be doing.    ***FREE STUFF ALERT!!!*** Would you like to win a free copy of Cindy's new book?  Just leave me a comment below and you'll automatically be entered.  If you tweet or post on Facebook or other social spots about the contest, you can leave a second comment and be e...