Chain mail jewelry is often unisex. But there are ways in which chain mail jewelry can be made to look distinctly feminine - the right weaves in the right combination for example. Adding color is another tactic. This new book puts together these two approaches for modern chain mail jewelry both modern and appropriate for the professional woman.
The book
Modern Chain Mail Jewelry (available through Amazon or
Kalmbach) is by
Marilyn Gardiner, a Canadian designer and instructor who together with her husband, Brad, makes and sells jump rings and chain mail kits. In the interest of full disclosure, I have to say I know Marilyn personally - she is one of the co-founders of the
Grand River Bead Society where I am a member.
While I was fully aware Marilyn was writing her book, I was not privy to the contents and only recently received the finished book from the publisher for review. The review here would be the same whether or not I knew the author. But one of the advantages of Marilyn and I knowing each other is that she has kindly offered to give a signed copy to the winner of this book giveaway!
The designer has a wonderful knack of being able to select the right weaves for really elegant chain mail jewelry. She features necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
The back of the book covers how to make the key weaves used for the projects. Most are familiar ones - Marilyn credits the original designers when possible. There is one exception- she calls the Pheasible weave the Chinese knot because of the resemblance to the Asian cord knotting technique.
The weave instructional section was useful especially for a clear understanding of how to do Jen's Pind Linkage, a tricky spiral 4-in-1 chain. The photographs though were on the small side.
All the jump ring measurements in the book are in metric so if you are used to Imperial sizing, you'll have to find a conversion chart - the book does not include it. Marilyn does helpfully include many of the sources of all the beautiful components which add so much color and flair to her chain mail designs. Her notes are also helpful in letting the reader know which other metals will work for the project and if alternative ring sizes in those metals are required.
Shown here are my favorites from the book. The first project is the pretty butterfly weave which is based on the mobius.
The Japanese stepping stones weave is also a stunning weave when teamed with the right components for this jewelry set. The author certainly encourages the readers to keep a good lookout for striking components.
Marilyn's choices of weaves for chains were striking ones. Rather than a single spiral weave, she uses the double spiral, Her
Classic Chains necklace design below is another great example where she combines the Chinese knot (Pheasible) with Jens Pind Linkage. This, like all her designs, would not look out of place with business attire.
A lovely inspirational project book indeed for chain mail jewelry lovers with good ideas for the kind of components to use. Chain maille - especially the all silver variety - is difficult to photograph well. I can attest from having seen Marilyn's various chain mail designs in person that they are far more elegant than any photograph could ever show.
Giveaway If you'd like to win
a signed copy of Modern Chain Mail Jewelry, please make a comment below. Make sure you leave contact info below if you do not have an online shop or blog.
Email subscribers need to scroll down the post they receive, click on Share Comment and enter your comment. Pick Name/URL. If you don't have a store or blog, leave the URL blank.
This giveaway is for US and Canada only. Extra entries if you become or are a blog subscriber or follower etc. If you also do shout outs about this giveaway, those will count as additional entries too! Please say so in the comments.
It ends in a week's time at
6 pm EST Thursday, August 13, 2015 . I will pick the winner randomly and announce the results as soon as possible after. So be sure to leave a contact email if you don't have an online link or make sure you come back and check! Otherwise I will redraw in a week. Good luck!
Disclosure Before You Go: ______________________________
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