Just popping in to share a photo of our oldest cat, Zakar, with you. (We’ve recently nicknamed him “Lord Lardbottom.”) As you can see, he’s enjoying the holidays as much as we are…
Ah, Chainmaille.
In the “useful skills to survive a zombie apocalypse” category, I’ve acquired chainmaille-making skills, focusing on aluminum rings. (Which, incidentally, are a HECK of a lot lighter than other metals.) The trick to bending and weaving appropriately, is to a) be a touch obsessive-compulsive b) have the proper tools and c) realize that yes, indeed. Size does matter.
Anything seed bead or ring or component-related requires proper measurements to ensure that the elements fit together. (If seed beads or crystals aren’t cut precisely, it can throw a pattern off, too.) The important thing to remember with rings is that math is important! There is the inside diameter, outside, and gauge of wire to consider. Not to mention, what type of weave (4-in-1, Persian, Japanese chainmaille, etc.) you want to make.
There are tons of patterns you can explore for armor, jewelry, sculptures, and yes, the dreaded chainmaille bikini. (Though, why anyone would want to wear that much metal to cover their private bits is beyond me. Think about it. Metal is a conductor so if it gets hot? Well, you get the idea.)
But I digress. There’s a few books on the subject for jewelry-making purposes that are pretty outstanding. Classic Chain Mail Jewelry, which highlights my favorite weave — Byzantine — includes a ton of ideas for earrings, bracelets, necklaces and the like. There’s also an international organization of chainmaille specialists (http://www.mailleartisans.org) that offer a variety of weaves for you to peruse.
Rubber rings have been slowly added into chainmaille jewelry patterns for the past few years and I’ve dabbled a bunch with these. Link It! has some stunning designs that require bending and twisting — but again. Size matters, especially when you’re bending and twisting rings into submission. (Sigh. I’m behind on a challenge with these. I received a packet of teeny tiny rubber rings that resemble mold. Still haven’t done anything with those yet. Though I fear I should…)
Materials can get somewhat expensive especially if you’re working with natural metals (e.g. gold, silver, etc.) I focus on aluminum, copper, and rubber primarily, but the biggest trick I’ve learned to reduce cost of materials is to have a pattern that you want to make and budget for 10% extra (in case you screw up). Buying rings for the sake of purchase can put a real dent in your budget.
Bonus achievement unlocked! Don’t think I’ll have to spend much time researching types of weaves (and what they look like) for any story of mine. Though, the only real ditty I’m missing is what era these individual basic patterns hail from. (Chainmaille in general dates back to 400 B.C. and there are over 1,000 weaves documented.) Which is funny, because you’d “think” there’d be a historical book on the topic, but alas… Likely in the armor section.
- Mood: Inquisitive with a side of eyebrow raise.
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: *ERROR* *ERROR* Does not compute. *ERROR*
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Some monstrosity of an elliptical machine.
In My Ears: Come Back To Me Janet Jackson
Game Last Played: Tetris
Movie Last Viewed: Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Latest Artistic Project: Holiday gifts
Latest Release: “The Button” We Are Dust anthology
Green Timekeeping
Another Christmas has come and gone, and this year’s presents included an eco-friendly watch from Sprout. Mine (which isn’t pictured on the company’s website) is a purple cotton band, a purple and white face, with a black raven sitting on a branch.
I’ll likely doctor up the lavender band a touch with these paint markers and either add some scrollwork or branches and more crows/magpies/ravens. The band is a bit “too” simple for my tastes. The watch is, indeed, eco-friendly. A bamboo dial, plastic made out of corn resin, and a cotton band. (Also: allergy-free.) The box I can turn into a mini-garden; it even came with a packet of grass!
I have a solar-powered affair, a white watch from Casio, but I’m always forgetting how to ensure the date/time are correct. (Which is funny, considering there’s even an eHow article on the subject.) And another art watch that’s so springy (the season, not the bounce), my wrist turns green when I wear it.
Haven’t really worn a watch much last year but — and this is a big “but” I suppose — wearing one means I don’t have to check my phone and, subsequently, get distracted by other notifications when I see the time. Being plugged in is a necessity for what I do, so it’s something I have to manage. After all, writing and beading and art — in any capacity — requires little to no internet, unless I’m using search for reference material.
To wear or not to wear… A watch. That is the debate.
- Mood: Post hot buttered rum blah.
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Enough to counteract the millions of pounds of fudge I ate.
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Da gym. (Not to be confused with da bears.”
In My Ears: Willie Defeated the Batman Beyond soundtrack
Game Last Played: Tetris
Movie Last Viewed: Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Latest Artistic Project: Holiday gifts
Latest Release: “The Button” We Are Dust anthology
Inspiration Through Self-Publishing?
I felt this article was really interesting because it talks about how one writer gets through the plateaus.
“Salesmen chase five times the number of leads to bring in the one real sale so it’s all the same.
The difference is: writers are selling pieces of themselves. These are our ideas we’re pitching and we’re invested in these, excited by their possibilities, and would be thrilled to write any of all of them. This is why a rejection of any sort can bring your world crashing down. It can feel incredibly personal, even when it is not. An editor changes jobs, a licensing deal comes to an end, a tie-in program is canceled for low sales, the market conditions change, and so on.” — SOURCE: No Need For a Writer to be Discouraged by Bob Greenberger
His solution, to get through those slow times, is to fall back on self-publishing regardless of whether or not the work sells because you’re still productive. I think this is an interesting approach and while it’s not something I would default to, it certainly brings up the question about what writers should be doing when you hit a plateau. For that reason alone, the article is definitely worth a read.
- Mood: Tired
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Pacing myself
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Um…
In My Ears: Matt Bellamy. Well, not literally
Game Last Played: Dragon Age: Awakenings
Movie Last Viewed: The Hobbit
Latest Artistic Project: Holiday gifts
Latest Release: “The Button” We Are Dust anthology
Happy Holly-Daze! And a Free eBook!
Scramble, scramble, scramble… Happy Holly-Daze! I hope you’re enjoying whatever flavor of winter feasts and festivities you happen to celebrate. In my house, we have traditions that last pretty much all December and through the New Year. Some of which are related to nom, nom, nom, noms. (I’ll make every attempt to share pictures when I get a chance. Knee-deep in cinnamon and flour and edible flowers and meat purses and bleach and beads and tape and stamps… Yeah, you get the idea.
Anyhoo, while every Who down in Whoville may be enjoying the finer presents of a merry sort… I’ve got a surprise for YOU. Well, it’s a touch on the bloody side, but… Um… You are talking to a writer who’s joyest joy of joys this year was to pick up The Twelve Terrors Of Christmas…
AnyHOO. Remember that Galleycat contest I told you I won? Guess what? You can find a copy of the re-mix at no charge!
You can now download the entire Varney the Vampire: A Literary Remix eBook FOR FREE from Smashwords.
Yay! Here’s a link to the announcement at GalleyCat. More yay!
Before I go, the amazing, iconic, one-and-only SIR CHRISTOPHER LEE has released Christmas carols heavy metal style! A YouTube! sample for you of the songs available on iTunes below. Enjoy!