I design jewelry because I have an irrepressible desire to create and to see my ideas come to fruition.  Chainmail is my preferred style of jewelry, because it combines my interest of history with contemporary materials.  The end result is a funky antique piece or a unique contemporary style - whichever it is, it's always romantic.  I believe my skill and the enrichment it gives my life, is a gift.

I purchase wire and make my own rings for the flexibility of always having all ring sizes available.  I'm certainly not a mathematician, but there are several mathematical equations to consider when designing mail.  One example is "aspect ratio", which is a number that represents the relationship between the wire gauge and the inner diameter of a particular size jump ring. 

Creating chainmail is an ancient art, (since 600 BC), yet mail pieces have a very contemporary style to them.  I see antiquity and modernism at the same time.  When others see my work, they always say "You must be a patient person, because I could never do that!"  They see the meticulousness it takes to make a flawless piece of chainmail.

I'm inspired by the ancient chainmail artisans who weren't able to order their wire from the internet and used cumbersome techniques to join thousands of rings.  They created suits or articles of armor which could mean life or death for a countryman or loved one.  I'm also inspired by modern chainmail artists worldwide who never cease to amaze me at their cleverness. 

Chainmaille Weaves Mastered

Byzantine, Rhino Snorting Draino, Jellybeans on Parade, Full Persian, Half Persian 3-in-1, Celtic Visions, Rosette Link,  Shaggy Loops, Jens Pind, Euro 4-in-1, Japanese 12-2, Japanese 2-6 Variation, Japanese 18-2 Variation, Crysanthemum Weave, Stepping Stone, Orbital, Elf Weave, Helm's Weave, Lutra, SweetPea, Oops, Inverted Roundmaille, Beez to Butterflies, Olivia Byzantine