It's been a while since I worked on this blog due to personal reasons that I should get around to blogging about in May. However, I have exciting news. My Swarovski crystal dragon was recently awarded the Gold Medal Prize in the Home Decor/Doll category of the Fire Mountain Gems Swarovski Elements contest.
And, I was recently featured on the Petite Tuques blog. Her Etsy mini is posted below--check out the cool work!
Be sure to check out the interview. Enter the giveaway for a chance to win a free pair of earrings!
Vanessa
Aluminum chainmail jewelry
Handcrafted aluminum chain mail jewelry
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Beaducation - New Order and Giveaway Winner
My latest order from Beaducation arrived the other day. It arrived just in time. A friend of mine asked me to alter a bracelet that she received for her birthday. Since she's so petite, she worried about how the bangle would fit. I'll be cutting down the bangle and creating a chainmail chain for the bracelet.
Yes, those are two fists bumping.
As such, I got the Power Punch Pliers so that I can punch through the sheet metal of the bracelet. I love how easy these pliers are to use. I tested them out with some anodized aluminum disks (spoiler alert: new designs will be appearing in my summer shows). They work great.
Punch through metal like paper with these awesome things.
As a final note, the winner of the Beaducation class giveaway is Cheryl H. Thanks to everyone for posting your comments. Hopefully I can do another giveaway in the future and offer another great prize.
Vanessa Walilko
Chainmail Jewelry
Aluminum chain mail jewelry
Yes, those are two fists bumping.
As such, I got the Power Punch Pliers so that I can punch through the sheet metal of the bracelet. I love how easy these pliers are to use. I tested them out with some anodized aluminum disks (spoiler alert: new designs will be appearing in my summer shows). They work great.
Punch through metal like paper with these awesome things.
As a final note, the winner of the Beaducation class giveaway is Cheryl H. Thanks to everyone for posting your comments. Hopefully I can do another giveaway in the future and offer another great prize.
Vanessa Walilko
Chainmail Jewelry
Aluminum chain mail jewelry
Friday, February 18, 2011
Living without Apology
Deisree Adaway wrote a great post about not apologizing for who you are. I recommend reading it if you ever find yourself apologizing for all the things that make you uniquely and sincerely you.
Vanessa
Aluminum chainmail jewelry
Handmade chain mail jewelry
Vanessa
Aluminum chainmail jewelry
Handmade chain mail jewelry
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Beaducation Class Review and Giveaway!
When Kate Richbourg asked me to review a class for Beaducation, I was honored. I've known about Beaducation for a while, but I fell in love with them last year after winning a gift certificate for the Bead Dreams competition. They have everything that a new or experienced jewelry designer could want, from supplies (I currently have my eye on their anodized aluminum blanks) to tools to video classes that you can watch over and over again.
I recently took the "Lilies and Leaves" class by Janice Berkebile. Their free videos are an amazing resource for jewelry-making tips, and as I discovered, the classes are fantastic too. This particular class offers intermediate students a ton of valuable information. Berkebile shows you how to make spirals out of wire and how to form a lily and leaves out of copper sheet metal... even showing how to correct a common mistake which is an incredible bit of information to offer students.
This is a wonderful project. I've made a couple forays into metalsmithing, but I'm a chainmail woman. This video taught me how to use pliers to texture metal--how clever! I also learned a couple extra tips about keeping bits of metal in one place for easy clean-up and how to lengthen the life of paper templates. Also, can I just say that I love how delightfully tactile this project is? I want to do some experimenting with my anodized aluminum leaves for a brightly colored variation.
I strongly recommend the class for anyone looking to take on a new project. Best of all, "Lilies and Leaves" is on sale until February 18.
But that's not all... I'm offering my first ever giveaway! I will be selecting one lucky person to win the class of their choice on Beaducation. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this blog by the end of the day on February 20 with the answer to this question: what class would you take if you win? I'll pick a winner at random from all the comments. Make sure to leave your name and email address in the comment... if we can't get a hold of you, you can't win this fabulous prize!
Don't wait--enter the giveaway today!
Vanessa
Aluminum Chain Mail Jewelry
Handcrafted Chainmaille jewelry
I recently took the "Lilies and Leaves" class by Janice Berkebile. Their free videos are an amazing resource for jewelry-making tips, and as I discovered, the classes are fantastic too. This particular class offers intermediate students a ton of valuable information. Berkebile shows you how to make spirals out of wire and how to form a lily and leaves out of copper sheet metal... even showing how to correct a common mistake which is an incredible bit of information to offer students.
This is a wonderful project. I've made a couple forays into metalsmithing, but I'm a chainmail woman. This video taught me how to use pliers to texture metal--how clever! I also learned a couple extra tips about keeping bits of metal in one place for easy clean-up and how to lengthen the life of paper templates. Also, can I just say that I love how delightfully tactile this project is? I want to do some experimenting with my anodized aluminum leaves for a brightly colored variation.
I strongly recommend the class for anyone looking to take on a new project. Best of all, "Lilies and Leaves" is on sale until February 18.
But that's not all... I'm offering my first ever giveaway! I will be selecting one lucky person to win the class of their choice on Beaducation. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this blog by the end of the day on February 20 with the answer to this question: what class would you take if you win? I'll pick a winner at random from all the comments. Make sure to leave your name and email address in the comment... if we can't get a hold of you, you can't win this fabulous prize!
Don't wait--enter the giveaway today!
Vanessa
Aluminum Chain Mail Jewelry
Handcrafted Chainmaille jewelry
Monday, February 7, 2011
Birthday resolutions
My new year starts on October 1. I have that time until January 1 to work out what I want to achieve. I test out those goals until February 5--my birthday--and then I get serious about things. The idea of a New Year's Resolution is a little daunting, but thankfully I can break that off into manageable monthly chunks and then really get cracking on plans for the new year when my new year comes around.
There are already many awesome things a-brewin'. I'm finally sitting down to work on tutorials for my designs. Instructions for how to make a a pair of beaded star earrings are already on my VanessaSellsSupplies Etsy shop. A chainmaille belt tutorial will soon follow.
Instructions for my Unfoldings of the Implicate Order beaded necklace are in issues 28 and 29 of Bead Magazine.
And, the trophies I won in the British Bead Awards arrived, along with some neat certificates. Best early birthday gift ever.
My shameless love of winning certificates and awards has been around since elementary school, when I craved the colorful certificates that meant I had mastered one of the Holey Cards. I guess I've always been a monomaniac.
Also, I made organic wild rice crackers with a recipe I tweaked myself. It's going to be a good year!
Vanessa Walilko
Aluminum chain mail jewelry
Handcrafted chainmail jewelry
There are already many awesome things a-brewin'. I'm finally sitting down to work on tutorials for my designs. Instructions for how to make a a pair of beaded star earrings are already on my VanessaSellsSupplies Etsy shop. A chainmaille belt tutorial will soon follow.
Instructions for my Unfoldings of the Implicate Order beaded necklace are in issues 28 and 29 of Bead Magazine.
And, the trophies I won in the British Bead Awards arrived, along with some neat certificates. Best early birthday gift ever.
My shameless love of winning certificates and awards has been around since elementary school, when I craved the colorful certificates that meant I had mastered one of the Holey Cards. I guess I've always been a monomaniac.
Also, I made organic wild rice crackers with a recipe I tweaked myself. It's going to be a good year!
Vanessa Walilko
Aluminum chain mail jewelry
Handcrafted chainmail jewelry
Friday, December 31, 2010
Happy New Year and one quick word of advice
All in all, 2010 was pretty stellar for me. I accomplished every goal I set out to achieve and accomplished a number of things that I really didn't expect to. I believe now more than ever that although many things are out of our control, the one thing you are in charge of is your attitude. Once you change your attitude about where you think you can go in life, the possibilities are endless... if only because you've forgotten to be afraid of things that you don't need to fear.
Now that the more metaphysical ramblings have been dispensed with, I want to offer a quick word of advice for all artists, designers, and makers of cool things: raise your prices. As the new year approaches, reassess the work that you do on a daily basis and seriously think about what you're worth. Chances are, you are not charging enough for what you make, you're not covering your expenses and your hourly rate is woefully inadequate. You might just be so excited that people are willing to buy your work that you don't want to charge more, or you don't think people will pay more. They will. Just as you can change the shape of your life by expecting more from it, you can change the shape of your business by expecting customers who really appreciate the work that you do.
Preaching over. Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve.
Vanessa
Aluminum chainmail jewelry
Handmade chain mail jewelry
Now that the more metaphysical ramblings have been dispensed with, I want to offer a quick word of advice for all artists, designers, and makers of cool things: raise your prices. As the new year approaches, reassess the work that you do on a daily basis and seriously think about what you're worth. Chances are, you are not charging enough for what you make, you're not covering your expenses and your hourly rate is woefully inadequate. You might just be so excited that people are willing to buy your work that you don't want to charge more, or you don't think people will pay more. They will. Just as you can change the shape of your life by expecting more from it, you can change the shape of your business by expecting customers who really appreciate the work that you do.
Preaching over. Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve.
Vanessa
Aluminum chainmail jewelry
Handmade chain mail jewelry
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Happy Holidays - A Month in Review
To all of you who follow this blog, my sincerest apologies for the long absence. I have been so busy with shows and orders and something had to give and the blog was that something. For those of you who aren't fans of Kali Butterfly on Facebook, here's a little bit of information on what's been going on:
1) My work can now be found in Northern Lights Gallery in Racine, WI and Team Blonde in Forest Park, IL. If you're in either area, check them out.
2) I somehow survived doing three shows in three weekends, culminating in the awesome madness that was One of a Kind. I met a ton of people and talked to them about chainmail jewelry and armor. I also had a delightful conversation about the origin of my name and my business name, and my work was also featured in the Time Out Chicago blog (photos 13 and 14). In any case, if you missed something at One of a Kind, I am listing jewelry on Etsy so you can still find that special something. All orders placed by 3pm CST on Monday will have guaranteed Christmas delivery.
3) Instructions for my Unfoldings of the Implicate Order necklace will be featured in issues 28 and 29 of Bead Magazine. Issue 27 will feature images of both my Implicate necklace and my scalemail armor piece and hopefully that will be hitting shelves in the US soon.
4) With wholesale orders finished for the year, I have time to work on my latest armor piece. Originally it was going to be inspired by the goddess Amaterasu, but since I am mildly obsessed with the phoenix, I've decided to make a phoenix-inspired jacket. The photo below is just a small sneak peak of what is to come.
Speaking of, I am off to work on said armor piece. Happy holidays!
Vanessa
Handmade chain mail jewelry
Aluminum chainmail jewelry
1) My work can now be found in Northern Lights Gallery in Racine, WI and Team Blonde in Forest Park, IL. If you're in either area, check them out.
2) I somehow survived doing three shows in three weekends, culminating in the awesome madness that was One of a Kind. I met a ton of people and talked to them about chainmail jewelry and armor. I also had a delightful conversation about the origin of my name and my business name, and my work was also featured in the Time Out Chicago blog (photos 13 and 14). In any case, if you missed something at One of a Kind, I am listing jewelry on Etsy so you can still find that special something. All orders placed by 3pm CST on Monday will have guaranteed Christmas delivery.
3) Instructions for my Unfoldings of the Implicate Order necklace will be featured in issues 28 and 29 of Bead Magazine. Issue 27 will feature images of both my Implicate necklace and my scalemail armor piece and hopefully that will be hitting shelves in the US soon.
4) With wholesale orders finished for the year, I have time to work on my latest armor piece. Originally it was going to be inspired by the goddess Amaterasu, but since I am mildly obsessed with the phoenix, I've decided to make a phoenix-inspired jacket. The photo below is just a small sneak peak of what is to come.
Speaking of, I am off to work on said armor piece. Happy holidays!
Vanessa
Handmade chain mail jewelry
Aluminum chainmail jewelry
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