Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Other projects

When I'm not designing jewelry, making beaded dragon sculptures or making massive chainmaille armor pieces, I've been known to design a website or two.

Be sure to check out http://www.rhondapopko.com/. To be fair, Rhonda did most of the designing, I just added content, and also switched it from the byzantine iWeb coding system to something easily updated in Dreamweaver. Be sure to check out her work (if you didn't at the Artisan 133 reception, that is). Her silks are really amazing.

Vanessa Walilko

Handcrafted Beaded Jewelry, Chainmaille, Fashion and Art

Monday, October 20, 2008

Rubber Rings Workshop

Just yesterday I took a class with Susan Thomas at the Blue Buddha Boutique studio. It's definitely a new way of working with jump rings--actually manipulating the shape of the rubber ring instead of using it in place of metal rings. I took the marathon bracelet class on Sunday, and were my hands feeling it that night and today.

Here's the result of hours of meticulous work:



You can purchase rubber rings at Blue Buddha Boutique, along with Link It!, Susan Thomas' book.

Vanessa Walilko
Handcrafted Beaded Jewelry, Chainmaille, Fashion and Art

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Artisan 133 Reception Recap

My Friday night reception at Artisan 133 was a resounding success.



Rhonda Popko, my high school art teacher, and I shared the space for the reception. Rhonda did silk painting demonstrations while I worked on my latest chainmaille piece. I think I've decided it's going to be a cropped jacket with high collar. Who knows--these things always evolve.

Thanks to everyone for coming. Everyone seemed excited by my newest jewelry designs, and all my friends were kind enough to take photos with me at the show. Cindy and Beth at Artisan 133 really know how to put together a good show.

Vanessa Walilko

Handcrafted beaded jewelry, chainmaille, fashion and beaded sculpture.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Chainmaille Distraction

I know. I should be working on more inventory for my artist reception at Artisan 133. I should be working on my Tiamat dress. However, my philosophical kindred are Herbert Marcuse, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Randolph Bourne and Lou Andres-Salome, to name a few. When I received an 11-pound box of aluminum rings in the mail on Monday, I wasn't about to repress my libidinal urges.

After creating my chainmaille shrug, I realized that I wanted to do another one. First I thought of making some sort of jacket, and maybe the current project will morph into one. Who knows. Regardless, after many months of agonizing over the design of the shrug/jacket, I finally decided upon the style--bell sleeves with black scales acting as fringe for the sleeve edges and hem.

Here's a rough in-progress picture. I'd take a better photo, but this is already taking too much time away from my work!



Vanessa Walilko

Handcrafted Beaded Jewelry, Chainmaille Fashion and Art

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Artist Reception at Artisan 133

Join me at Artisan 133 for an artist reception. I'll have my latest chainmalle and beadwork designs and will be debuting part of my clothing line!

Artisan 133 is located at 133 West Prospect Avenue in Mount Prospect. Hope to see you there!

Vanessa Walilko

Unique handcrafted beaded jewelry, beaded sculpture and chainmaille