Since I am currently waiting for the post lady to come and replenish my stock of sterling, copper and brass wire, I was at a loose end this evening. I have some new wire designs I’m dying to use for another line of jewellery, but as I know what I want to do and don’t have the wire for it, I’m in limbo.

The only relatively thick wire I do have is a coated copper wire roll from Spotlight. I don’t intend to use this for the jewellery I sell, as I like to use raw copper so that it colours naturally over time.

So - I decided to experiment! I’ve seen some chainmaille around, and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to give it a go.

So, I used my copper wire to make some jump rings, and moseyed off through the big wide web to find some help.

I saw a few helpful bits and pieces, and managed to make this tonight - (please excuse the bad photos - my camera has gone AWOL, so I’ve had to resort to using the webcam!)

Chainmaille Bracelet

Bracelet and workspace...

Chainmaille closeup

Chainmaille back and clasp

The clasp in the last photo was handmade by me, too - out of regular copper. You can also see that the jump rings are a little rough - as I was experimenting I didn’t bother to make sure both ends of each ring were flat.

I’m really happy with how this turned out - I think I may have to practice making more chainmaille - and some of the different weaves are just amazing. It does take a lot of patience, though…

Have any of you made chainmaille? Or would you like to? Would you buy chainmaille jewellery?

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• They’re ‘Delicious’ - my new line of necklaces!
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If you would like to be considered for next week’s Superb Sunday, please leave a comment on this post letting me know which of the following products was your favourite, and also leave your Etsy shop link in your comment!

1. Ivory Chrysanthemum by Red Ruby Rose

Ivory Chrysanthemum

2. Slowly the leaves turn by Realisation Creations

Slowly the leaves turn...

3. Wire Bird Table Lamp by Birdfromawire

Wire Bird Table Lamp

4. Cara Feathery Resin Cuff by Bobishi

Feather Cuff

5. Sea Creature by Blue Drops

Sea Creature

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Related Posts

• Superb Sunday - 30th Nov 08
• Superb Sunday - 28th December 08
• Crochet and sea glass and wire, oh my!
• Superb Sunday - 21st December 08
• Superb Sunday - 7th Dec 08

If you would like to be a guest blogger on My Crafty Journey, please use the contact form above to get in touch.

Ouissi

My sewing journey began further back than my memory permits me to remember. My Aunt is a seamstress, wedding dress designer and corsetier so I cannot remember a time when she didn’t have a room full of sewing machines, pins, hand cut patterns and bags and bags of beautiful fabrics. As children we were allowed to search through the bags containing scraps for a piece we wanted as a cloak or other dress up item. In fact some things never change…I still hunt through them!!

Christmas Pudding

She taught us all to sew, the basic stitches and pattern cutting and using the sewing machines. And in me at least she instilled a love of fabric and drape and particularly embellishment. I have, as a teenager and an adult, spent hours hand beading trains and bodices in front of their open fire and it lead to a love of embroidery, beading and cross stitch. I love the intricacy and the fact I lose myself and time working on a tiny area. During my school exams and degree periods I used sewing to escape the stress, when my beloved books just reminded me too vividly of the piles of relevant tomes I still had to read and remember.

So when I found myself housebound and violently ill with hyperemesis during a much longed for pregnancy I bought some fabric and started sewing for my baby…laundry bags and quilts, cubes and toys. After my son was born, I wanted to try something different. Once he started sleeping through the night I could find time for myself and explore my sewing further.

Dolly Mixtures

I had always love the feel of felt and the bright rainbow of colours it comes in so I bought a few pieces and attempted to make my favourite biscuit, a Jammie Dodger. I had noticed that no-one did felt sculptures of British classic foods…American foods, Japanese foods even the Chinese foods we eat with my Hong Kong in-laws, but not British. I made a few and loved both the process and the stitching…plus people would comment on them. So I opened an Etsy shop and the rollercoaster started!

I love what I do…I love food, cooking and sewing so the combination is perfect for me. A month or so I opened a Folksy shop for my British buyers and both are going well.

I still have the Jammie Dodger….It was the start of it all!

Visit Ouissi - http://britishcreamtea.typepad.com

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Footage...

There, I admitted it. I simply do not understand the obsession some women seem to have with shoes.

Admittedly, I have too many pairs, but that tends to stem from two things -

1. I am a pack-rat, and keep old, scuffed, sole-broken shoes loooong past when I should; and

2. I have a tendency to buy cheap shoes when I need them for something (usually work) and they are too uncomfortable/wear out too quickly, but, bringing us back to 1., I can’t bring myself to part with them.

That, and I pretty much refuse to wear heels. Oh, I own a nice pair of black heels, and a sexy red pair of shiny stilettos (which, in my defence, were bought after a traumatic breakup in an attempt to be a new, crazy woman). I also have one pair of boots with heels, which I will wear on occasion to work, as well as a pair I bought years ago because I was my best friend’s maid of honour. But that’s it. And do you know how many days a year I would wear those, altogether?

Less than my number of fingers, that’s for sure. Though, it was only in preparing that list that I realised how many pairs of heels I have, for a person who hates wearing them…

When I was a teenager, I was completely oblivious to any kind of fashion cares whatsoever. I absolutely lived in sneakers. I’m still fond of my sneakers, but I spend most of my time in plain black flat shoes for work - and as I am up and walking around for hours, comfort is my first priority! I have also become a convert to my rip-off pink crocs that I bought for $5 at a cheapie shop. They are just so darn comfy!

So - are you a shoe fashionista? Are your shoes - as a colleague of mine once said - your babies? Or are you like me and just have no idea what the big deal is?

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But everybody’s already written about the resolutions you should make - you know, like eating healthily or exercising… getting more organised…

So, I decided to take a slightly different perspective. Here’s a list of 10 New Years Resolutions that you absolutely shouldn’t keep… but, chances are, you will…

1. Get Terribly, Hideously Drunk

This is so, at 8am the next morning, when you are vomiting, you will be reminded as to why you should never get terribly, hideously drunk again. Should you?

2. Don’t dare attempt to take up that hobby you’ve been dreaming of for years

What’s the point? You’ll just spend lots of money to find out that you hate rock-climbing/fly fishing/glass-blowing/kite-flying/(insert hobby here). Oh, and you’ll meet new and interesting people and add to your life experience *shudder*. Just stay at home, nice and safe, and keep watching TV, my friend.

3. Ignore your dearest friends - and while you’re at it, your partner and kids, too!

They love you anyways, right? Why bother putting any effort into maintaining the relationship at all. If they’re really your friend they’ll be there to lend you $5000 when your uninsured car blows up and you need a new one right now!

Your wife? Eh - all the hard work is done! Just sit back and grow that beer gut, buddy! No-one needs to put any effort into keeping the other half happy once you’ve got them!

Don’t even mention the kids… they have the Internet to tell them what to do…

4. Eat whatever takes your fancy - and do it now!!

Mmmm… chocolate (please read beer if you are male). As much as you can eat. For ever. Doesn’t that sound like heaven? Of course that little piece (drink) won’t do you any harm… Diabetes happens to other people!

5. Make sure your job stresses you out!

You are so damn important that the cup of coffee you made wrong/sale you didn’t make/typo you missed will snowball and mean an end to humankind!!! The planet’s oceans will boil away! No-one will ever love/hire/smile at you again because you’re the harbinger of doom!!

Of course your mistake will still matter this time next year!!! Won’t it?

6. Watch too much TV

TV is your warm, fuzzy friend. It loves you! Never leave its side, or you might miss the Australian/American/Pop Idol finale! Or be the last to know what country Brad and Angelina get their next kid from! Shock-horror!

Of course the fact that you sit inert for hours each day, your eyes and attention mesmerised by a glowing lightbox, is healthy! This one really helps you stick to resolutions 2, 3, 4 and 8, as well, so it’s extra-important to keep!

7. Make promises you don’t keep

This goes for promises to others, and promises to yourself, as well. Let’s be frank - whenever you say “I promise”, everyone knows you don’t really mean it! And then they go and act all hurt and surprised when you don’t keep your promise! I mean, how dare they!

8. For heaven’s sake - don’t exercise!

Really,  there’s no solid evidence that it does you any good, right?

9. Buy whatever you want, whenever you want, and damn the credit card bill!

Recession? What recession? I’ll just keep spending… they money will come from somewhere! I can afford to pay my new $2000 TV off over 12 months - I only have to pay 18% interest. Oh yeah, and the $500 worth of clothes… and the new computer… um…

10. Keep making To-Do lists… and never finish them

Organisation is totally overrated. So what if you’re mobile phone is cancelled because when you got the bill you put it in the pile of already un-opened mail and forgot about it?

Just keep living on the fly, and you can look forward to endless messyness, disorganisation and frustration! Won’t that be nice

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This list, was, of course, written with tongue in cheek - but it also carries a message - especially to myself ! Some of these things I am notorious for, (number 10 in particular - ahem), and some I am lucky enough to have overcome.

So, do share! What’s the New Years Resolution that you shouldn’t keep?

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