Einstein Biker Ring?

During one of my early-morning eBay searches for one of my various esoteric interests, I stumbled upon a biker ring featuring the face of Albert Einstein. No lie. Look!

I'm not sure how many bikers are fans of relativity or the EPR paradox so much that they would get an Einstein ring, but science nerds everywhere should rejoice.

Of course, if science isn't your bag, you can always get a ring of the Flying Spaghetti Monster...

Make Something Beautiful - Day 29

It was a freakishly warm day today. I love the weather, but I really miss Spring and Fall as seasons. One week of 60-degree weather does not a season make.

In any case, since I'm gearing up for a show on Sunday, I thought I make some more Dragon Tail Earrings.

Also, I added a couple hundred stars to the Tiamat dress, truly my most epic project.

I may also be working on a new project. Maybe the eye will tell you something.

Facere pulchrum!

Vanessa Walilko
Chainmaille jewelry, chainmaille clothing, bead embroidery, and beaded art

Make Something Beautiful - Day 26

After making a pink and black chainmaille scales bracelet, the idea for a necklace kept buzzing around my head until I finally made it today.

Vanessa Walilko
Chainmaille scales jewelry, custom chainmaille jewelry, chainmaille fashion, beaded armor and beaded dragon sculptures

Make Something Beautiful - Day 25

I've taken a small break from the Tiamat dress in order to finish up my first scale mail armor piece... which I've been obsessively working on when I wasn't teaching today (even on the train, where a woman named Miriam struck up a conversation with me about it).

In any case, I took a quick break to make some earrings. But I really must get back to work. Obsession calls.

Vanessa Walilko
Chainmaille jewelry, chainmaille scales jewelry, chainmaille fashion, beaded armor, and art

Make Something Beautiful - Day 19

Aside from working on the Tiamat dress (photo below) and a dragon headpiece (still a ninja-secret project), I also managed to squeeze in work on another piece in the bubble series: a longer version of the necklace. I'm tired from thinking of all these ideas. I think it's time to veg out and watch Highlander (the show is now streaming on Netflix... hooray!).

Facere pulchrum, dear readers!

Vanessa Walilko
Custom chainmaille jewelry, chainmaille scales jewelry, chainmaille fashion, beaded armor, and art

Make Something Beautiful - Day 18; and a blog about SNAG

I'm finally back in business. I started to come down with a stress-related cold some time last Monday and, in a desperate attempt to will myself healthy for the SNAG conference in Houston, I spent two days in bed, drinking fluids and overloading on vitamins. I managed to make it to Houston with a little cough, but otherwise asymptomatic. (No chills and no fever = joy and rapture.)

There are no real words for how incredible the SNAG conference was. Even if I didn't have pieces in the shows, it would have been worth the trip. To be in a room with that many serious artists/artisans was divine. Being around other artists is one of the most incredible experiences, and gave me the sense of, "Hey, this is what's been missing from my life." And everyone was so nice. Really, where else can you find out that Andy Cooperman is not only insanely talented, but also a really awesome person? Where, I ask you?!

Of course, the biggest thrill was seeing my pieces go down the runway in the eXtreme Exhibition in Motion show. (Click for the short video of all the pieces.) In fact, I was initially only supposed to have two pieces in the show, the Dragon Lady beaded armor, and my chainmaille shrug, however, because one of the designers wasn't able to make the show, the Egyptian collar I was wearing was given to another model to wear. It was a Cinderella moment.

My beaded talons were also featured as a part of the eXtremities: Exploring the Margins of the Human Body exhibit. I really loved this show. Many of the pieces captured this longing to overcome the limits of the human body. While I always wanted claws, someone else wanted to be a unicorn, and a lobster. I guess we're all looking for something a little more magical.

I'll wrap up this post about SNAG by giving a big thanks to Andy Cooperman, David Gooding, Barbara Kile, Angela Gleason, and
Suzanne Ramljak, all of whom I was able to meet, and all of whom made my conference experience that much better.

Oh, before I forget, I made something today, too: a choker from my new "Bubble Series."

Vanessa Walilko
Kali Butterfly - Chainmaille armor, beaded armor, and art jewelry

Make Something Beautiful - Day 16

A ring made with anodized aluminum F20s. I love the combination of violet and black.



Vanessa Walilko
Chainmaille jewelry, chainmaille scales, chainmaille fashion

Make Something Beautiful - Day 15

I made another found object necklace. I really like playing with the materials for these, even though I create a huge mess when I make them.



Facere pulchrum.

Vanessa Walilko

Make Something Beautiful - Day 14

Today I wanted to do something a little different. I wanted to make a piece a little outside of my usual aesthetic, and use some materials that have been sitting around (I have a lot of beads and rings sitting around). The result is this necklace, which strikes me as some sort of talisman for a dark goddess. I'll use any excuse to use skull beads.

Many of the components of this piece are used in the Tiamat dress: the onyx talon, the star bead, the seed beads. They are also reminiscent of my skulls and scales chainmaille earrlngs.

Scales come up a lot in my chainmaille jewelry. I love the texture of the scales aside from the noise they make. Now, if only I could sit down and finish the scale body piece I'm working on... That's the goal after the Tiamat dress. Oh, an obsessive's work is never done.

Facere pulchrum.

Vanessa Walilko
Kali Butterfly - Eclectic chainmaille jewelry, unique handmade gifts, chainmaille fashion and art.

Make Something Beautiful - Day 12

I'm an Aquarius. We aren't fans of discipline, unless we're this guy. We're generally the outlaw type.

But I'm trying to keep up with this Make Something Beautiful project. Almost two weeks in! Today's offering is a pink and black scale bracelet. After posting this, I'll get back to work on the Tiamat dress. I also wanted to retake some shots and upload them to Flickr. Of course, I sold some of the pieces, so I might just have to use the old photos. Oh, well!



Vanessa Walilko
Eclectic chainmaille jewelry, chainmaille fashion, and art.

Make Something Beautiful - Day 7

This will have to be quick, as I'll be out all day. Jens Pind 5 Bracelet in red. Oh, how I love red...



Facere pulchrum! The sun is out today! I feel excited!

Vanessa

Edgy, eclectic chainmaille jewelry, unique jewelry gifts, fashion armor, and art.

Make Something Beautiful, Day 5

Is it bad that I have to check my blog to remember what day I'm on? This is supposed to be my special project, shouldn't I remember? Oh well.

While I can't show all the neat things I've been making for Rebeca Mojica's book, I can show this: a custom ring I made with little 4mm cabochons. I really love it.





Okay, now I'm really going to design business cards before going to bed...

Facere pulchrum!
Vanessa Walilko
Edgy, eclectic chainmaille jewelry, chainmaille clothing and custom jewelry

Make Something Beautiful - Day 4

I'll post the story behind this piece tomorrow, once everything has been sorted out, but in the mean time, here's the ring I made today--fine silver wire holding a 4mm carnelian cabochon in place. I really love the warmth of this stone.



Facere pulchrum.

Vanessa Walilko
Edgy chainmaille jewelry, custom jewelry, fashion and art

Make Something Beautiful - Day 3

I taught a really wonderful class at Briolette Beads in Forest Park. And I taught my favorite weave: European 4-in-1. (After weaving together over 45,000 jump rings to make a chainmaille shrug and chainmaille jacket the weave becomes your favorite by default, really.)

Of course, I'm still thinking about the Make Something Beautiful pledge I've made to myself, which is now also a daily blogging pledge, so I made a pair of earrings. Can you tell from the bright colors that I really want winter to be over? The colors remind me of an Arizona sunset.



In the spirit of Facere Pulchrum, I think I'm going to put some of my craft stuff away. I will have a house guest in a few days--she doesn't need to be stepping on open jump rings and pins.

Vanessa Walilko
Eclectic Chainmaille Jewelry Designs, Chainmaille Fashion and Art

Make Something Beautiful, Day 1

I'm one of those people who wants a lot from life. Of course, when I'm thinking about all the neat things that I want (and what I have to do to get them), I can get overwhelmed and just end up checking my email since that's a concrete thing I *can* do.

I've come up with a project for myself in order to keep on track. My new motto and approach to every day is, "Facere Pulchrum." For those of you who aren't Latin nerds, "facere" means to do or make (it's one of those verbs that means pretty much anything in various idioms). The adjective pulcher means beautiful, or lovely, but can also convey a sense of being excellent or admirable. The quick translation is, "to make something beautiful." Every day, I have to make something with significance, or something that I just find striking. Schiller stated that, "All art is devoted to joy, and there is no higher, no more serious endeavor than making human beings happy." Why not create beauty every day if you can?



The first thing I've made is a bracelet for the silent auction for the Chicago Tap Theatre. One of my co-workers at Blue Buddha Boutique, Jenna, is a tap dancer with the Chicago Tap Theatre, and they are having what will be an awesome fundraiser, the Shim Sham Shindig on March 6th. (Who doesn't love a good shindig?) Arts organizations are struggling in this tough economy. I hope they raise a lot of money so that can keep dancing. Those of you in the Chicago area should check it out.

Vanessa Walilko
Kali Butterfly - Eclectic Chainmaille Jewelry, Fashion, and Art

Featured in a great Etsy Treasury

My latest creation, the Phoenix Empress Chainmaille Scale Fire Bib Necklace has just been featured in this fantastic Etsy Treasury: Fire!!! I love anything with a fire color scheme, so I think this Treasury is particularly dynamic.



Many thanks to AntoinettesWhims for adding my necklace to this great Treasury.

Vanessa Walilko
Kali Butterfly - Eclectic Chainmaille Jewelry, Fashion, and Art

Upcoming shows

There is some good jewelry mojo in the air. I think the universe is helping me celebrating my upcoming birthday, because next week is a jewelry extravaganza. Firstly, I'll be showcasing some of my latest designs at the Peoria Art Guild's Jewelry Invitational from February 6-February 13. You can find out more on the Peoria Art Guild's website.

Next week, I'll also be participating in a Chicago fashion speed networking event at Salud Tequila, organized by L'Shanell Event Productions. My pieces will be featured in a runway show that night. It looks like an excellent event!

Time to get back to work. I have lots of jewelry to make.

Vanessa
Kali Butterfly
Unique chainmaille jewelry, fashion, and art.