Marika's handcrafted jewellery

Nidhogg Chainmaille Bracelets

2017-09-04T22:10:00.001+03:00

Here are two versions of the Nidhogg chainmaille weave. There are two main differences: for one bracelet I used only red rose rings, and for the other, red rose and pink. Also the small rings were woven differently (inside vs. outside).

I love this weave, it's fun and make some beautiful bracelets.

Tumbled Rocks Fully Finished

2016-11-11T17:29:00.000+03:00

I've finally managed to tumble these beach and river rocks to full shine. The cherry quartz has a few light cracks, but unless I tumble it to a small piece, it can't be helped.

These are so shiny, you have the urge to eat them! I tumbled them through all the stages for a full 2-3 months (most time spent in the first and the last stages) and now they're ready.

A new batch is in the double barrel Lortone tumbler once again.

Art Nouveau Heart - Wire Wrapping

2016-09-14T12:30:00.000+03:00

My second wire wrapped piece this year is this art nouveau, free form heart. Not exactly how I envisioned it, but wire does have its own mind and is, more often than not, the boss here.

Wire Wrapped Copper Pendant

2016-09-13T11:43:00.000+03:00

After being busy with chainmaille for over one year, I got the itch to do a bit of wire wrapping as well. Here is the first pendant I made this year. The chain is, of course, chainmaille - JPL3.

Pencil Weave Necklace

2016-07-27T10:06:00.000+03:00

My first necklace of the year in a fun weave called Pencil. It's named this way because the weave creator did it first around a pencil to make this tube shape. I used mandrels for it. The necklace is slightly graduated, using 4 sizes of rings.

It is more of a choker really, draping nicely around the neck. Bright aluminum rings.

GSG Weave And Variants

2016-07-26T10:02:00.000+03:00

After 7 years of mental block, I have finally learned GSG! Not only that, but the same day I made two other variants, AGSG and an unknown one.

Love this weave, it's so easy now, I can't believe I struggled so much with this before.

Byzantine Lace Bracelet

2016-07-02T11:00:00.000+03:00

Here is the first jewelry I made this year. Took me about half a year, but honestly I got a bit burned out and I needed a break.

This weave is called Byzantine Lace, also named under Bastardized Byzantine, take your pick. I do like the first name better.

Clasp is handcrafted from heavy gauge 2mm copper wire.

Chainmaille and Wire Wrapped Jewelry I Made Since October 2015 Until December 2015

2016-07-01T10:41:00.000+03:00

I've neglected this blog for the last couple of months, so it's high time to bring an update with what I've been working on since the latest jewelry piece I showed here, the Lunar Moth.

I've been working mostly with BA (bright aluminum) and copper rings and learning new chainmaille weaves.

The first one is called Vertebrae, a lovely bracelet made with bight aluminum and dark rose anodized aluminum rings.

The next pieces are Maillestrom pendants using BA and copper rings as well as BA and the same dark rose rings I showed in the bracelet above. They're small and very sweet.

Next comes Oops! Yes, that's what the chainmaille weave is called. BA and copper rings.

Next follows my first keychain using a weave called Nereid. Quite stiff this one.

Finally I've learned the initially elusive, but eventually very easy Aragon weave, playing with the colors a bit.

Flat box is a fun variation of the regular box chain, which really sits flat on the wrist. Another easy eave to learn and make.

Because by now the time was nearing Christmas, I made a snowflake pendant, which I hung on the Christmas tree as a decoration.

Next, I did a bit of wire wrapping because I sort of missed it. Here are two pendants I made last December.

I got in a Christmas swap and made and sent my partner, Judit, these three things: a dragonsteps bracelet, a Japanese Christmas tree ornament and the lovely Phaedra pendant with an amber Swarovsk crystal. I hope she liked them.

Lunar Moth Chainmaille Bracelet

2015-10-12T15:19:00.000+03:00

I love this design from Blue Buddha Boutique. It's called Lunar Moth and it's basically a variation of the butterfly weave with different (and much larger) rings.

This bracelet is made with bright aluminum rings and it's very light to wear, I can hardly feel it on the wrist.

Abhainn Chainmaille Bracelet

2015-09-19T11:33:00.000+03:00

Abhainn (in Irish means river) is the name of this weave. Very light on the wrist and the perfect opportunity to play with color.

Made in Bright Aluminum and Anodized Aluminum rings.

Chainmaille Pendant

2015-09-18T11:30:00.000+03:00

I made this pendant based on a 'thingie' shown in the Chain Maille group on Facebook. I kept adding rings to it until the pendant was formed. It is doubled up, so the second pic shows it by side, in a 3D form.

Half Persian HP 4 In 1 Bracelet Gift For Brother

2015-09-17T11:28:00.000+03:00

Here is a bracelet I made for my brother for his upcoming birthday. He wanted something rather flat to wear comfortably. I hope he likes it.

Minerva Chainmaille Bracelet

2015-08-08T14:55:00.001+03:00

A last bracelet before I'm off on Monday on a holiday trip to Greece. The weave is called Minerva and it's a fun one to do. Quite chunky and rather big, but I like it.

Variation on Harvest Moon Chainmaille Bracelet

2015-08-06T13:32:00.002+03:00

I wanted to make a quick bracelet today so I decided on Harvest Moon by Zili, since I had the rings for it. But once it was done, I felt it loses a bit its shape when on my wrist, so to stabilize it and give it some more fullness, I added small rings throughout. And it turned out like this.

Here are a few pics.

Mystique Chainmaille Bracelet

2015-08-04T10:53:00.003+03:00

I've started this chain maille bracelet about a month ago, but life happened, so I had to put it aside until now. As I'm going on holidays next week, I wanted to finish it by then, as it will travel with me, on my wrist.

The weave is called Mystique, it's a modified Euro 4 in 1. A bit tough to add the last set of copper rings, but it was fun nonetheless.

Here are a few pics I took today.

Celtic Wings Bracelet In Bright Aluminum

2015-05-28T16:32:00.001+03:00

Newest bracelet called Celtic Wings. It's an easy weave, surprisingly so. Made with bright aluminum rings. Next time I will try it with colored rings, so the design pops.

Dragonsteps Chainmaille Bracelet

2015-05-18T15:19:00.002+03:00

Learned a new wave: dragonsteps. Love it. Not so easy to start, but once you're a few rows in, it becomes very easy.

Bright aluminum rings. The bracelet is so light and thin, I don't even feel it on the wrist.

Captive 2 in 1 Chainmaille Bracelet

2015-05-17T20:48:00.000+03:00

Here is today's work, a quick bracelet for summer. Zili's shiny BA rings and TRL's pale yellow ones. I can easily see this with a yellow dress, and even for a wedding party at night.

Byzee Beez to Butterflies Bracelet

2015-05-15T17:53:00.001+03:00

New bracelet finished, called Byzee Beez to Butterflies. Weird name, but lovely weave. Came out quite stiff, but I like it this way.

Made with bright aluminum and anodized aluminum rings.Won't be my last with this design.

Sweet Pea Chainmaille Bracelet

2015-04-23T17:13:00.001+03:00

Finished this bracelet today,made in anodized aluminum rings in the sweet pea weave. It took me a while to figure out out, but with Zili's tutorial it went quite fast.

It's becoming a new favorite weave. And this one is mine!

Mosaic Chainmaille Bracelet

2015-03-30T14:29:00.000+03:00

I have some jewelry that I never photographed before, so I'm doing it now along with adding them to my Dawanda store.

Here is a sterling silver mosaic bracelet using a variation on the European 4 in 1 weave.

Dragonscale Chainmaille Bracelet

2015-03-28T19:04:00.000+03:00

I've finally got the hang of the dragonscale chain maille weave. Took me a while to learn it, but now that I got going with it, I can't believe how easy it actually is.

Bracelet is in bronze and copper rings, all handcut with the jewelry saw one by one (*sigh I wish I had a Ringinator, alas maybe later in the year).

Here are a few pics of the finished piece. I might change the clasp though, as I'm not too happy with it.

First Work in 2015 - Hodo Chainmaille Bracelet

2015-02-18T12:22:00.000+03:00

I took a small break from making jewelry last year, but I am back now, and here is the first piece I made this year. Copper/bronze chainmaille bracelet based on a weave called Hodo.

I wanted something simple yet stylish and visually appealing, and the Japanese family of weaves fits pretty well this criteria. The creator of this weave, if I'm not mistaken, is Rebeca Mojica, the author of the popular book Chained, which I have.

I do like this bracelet, but next time I will use smaller sizes for the small connecting rings for a tighter look.

Copper Pendant After An Absence of 6 Months

2014-11-10T12:30:00.004+03:00

I've been away for about 6 months because for one, I kind of lost my mojo, and it didn't help that I had contact dermatitis on the right arm, which didn't really allow me to do any wire work (thank god it was summer as I wouldn't have been able to wear anything with long sleeves).

So here is my first pendant with a purple jasper wrapped in copper wire. It is based on a design by Julie Lockhart, with my own take on it. Not perfect, but I like it and this one is mine.

Simple Soldered Silver Chain

2014-03-04T13:02:00.000+03:00

I love chain maille jewelry, but I wanted to have a simple, thin and light chain that I could wear all the time, day and night, without having to take it off when I go to sleep, for example. I remembered my soldering lessons from before, so this weekend I made this silver chain with some jump rings that I already had at hand. Not perfect, but I see my soldering is better than it was a few months ago when I gave it a previous try.

This one is mine :)