bikepartjewelry

Probably a slide clasp, like Z said...or if you could find a square clasp of some sort that's about the same width, that would work too. It's just that the slide clasps are as wide as the bracelet AND have numerous loops so the bracelet lays flat on the wrist. Most other clasps require you to have one connection on either side... http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Slide-Lock-Clasp-Magnetic-5x36mm-6strand-BB135-5-/310339206083?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4841a87bc3 There's also a slide clasp that doesn't have the individual loops, like this: https://www.riogrande.com/Product/Sterling-Silver-Sidebar-Tube-Slide-Clasp/639423

This last step is escaping me...I've made a box bracelet out of rubber rings and AA rings, but I can't figure out the right configuration for the rings to connect the 2 ends. Does anyone have step by step instructions for something that I'm *sure* is stupid easy?

So in essence, make an e4-1 chain, then stitch it up to make box? I've never made it that way, but will try it. Thank you!

I saw this on facebook this morning and wondered how our mailling community could help make this wish come true. Then it hit me...maille snowflakes. Those kids (and parents and teachers) deserve something beautiful to come back to. Does anyone want to make some flakes and send them? Here's the info and the link: http://www.wishuponahero.com/wishes/?id=1382415 If you, like so many of us, are still wondering what you can do to make even the slightest difference after Friday's heart wrenching tragedy, here's a ten-minute project, recommended by the national PTA. Let's try to make this transition for the surviving children - and teachers - as smooth as possible. Welcome Students to a Winter Wonderland When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible. We encourage senders to be as creative as possible, remembering that no two snowflakes are alike. Please make and send snowflakes by January 12, 2013 to the Connecticut PTSA address at the end of this email. Connecticut PTSA 60 Connolly Parkway Building 12, Suite 103 Hamden, CT 06514 It's a quick project that families can work on over the Christmast break together. Maybe even put your names and the city/state you are from on the back.

Business names are hard to come up with. Back when I was making candy wrappers and then some web design, I was Designs by Jodey. When I started making jewelry, I think at the beginning I was still Designs by Jodey. It changed to Bike Part Jewelry once I started making all my jewelry with bike parts. At that time I was not making maille. I've since expanded my business to items without bike parts, but I'm still Bike Part Jewelry. There are days I regret that name because it can be off-putting to some people. I get the comment a lot "I don't ride bikes" or "How industrial" and other such comments. The moral of the story is to be careful choosing your name...you never know what you might be doing in the future and boxing yourself in with a name that indicates you do only one thing may be a problem. I've tried doing a line of jewelry called Sans Velo (meaning without bike), but it still comes under the Bike Part Jewelry name, so same problems as above apply.

I did a show this past weekend and was absolutely shocked at what sold and what didn't sell (and it was my best show ever). I made a few $5 keychains; not one sold. I made 4 mens bracelets; all of them sold. Maybe it's because the show was so close to Christmas, but Ii sold quite a few of my more expensive bracelets (those I define as $20 and up), a couple necklaces (which are always more expensive by nature of being a necklace), and a few pairs of earrings, but not as many as I thought I would. I also put out a box o f $5 and $6 earrings, and I think I sold 3 pairs. I thought that was absolutely bizarre. People LOVE cheap stuff...or not.

LOVE this idea.

Depends on the weave, but for the most part I at least pre-close rings. I dump out a pile of rings in whatever colors I'm using and close a bunch. Sometimes, if a get a wild hair, I'll open rings too. If I'm making a bunch of scale flowers, I get a bit anal about it and put the correct number of scales per flower into piles on my bead mat then put the correct number of each size ring beside them. I do like to have everything laid out on my work area though, so I'm not having to dig through stuff to find something I need. I work sitting at my kitchen table with a bead mat in front of me, an Ott light next to it and my laptop up on a couple of shelves in front of me. The shelves are quite handy for storing finished pieces that need to be coated (i use steel bike parts, so I coat them to prevent rusting), as well as various and sundry other items I need throughout the day. It's also nice to have my laptop right at eye level.

I'd hope we are all particular about quality. Agree with Jax...it takes me longer to work in steel and titanium than aluminum or copper, simply because the material is harder to work. I base my pricing on a few things: what I would personally buy the piece for (though I don't put as much weight on this because I'm cheap ), the materials used and how long it took me to make the piece (as long as it's not a first or second time weave for me).

It's completely weird what sells where and what doesn't sell. I make flower bracelets with bike parts and send them to a couple stores; one in SC and one in CO. They sell like crazy in SC but rarely in CO. There's absolutely no rhyme or reason to what sells otherwise. But I know I can count on those damn bracelets to sell in that one store in SC. At shows...total crap shoot.

I'd say that most people who are experienced will have better closures than new people. It's just part of the curve of learning how to maille. I personally think that good closures are a sign of quality craftsmanship and that the craftsman has taken the time to learn how to properly close rings. It could be the rings being chosen, but I've seen lots of people who use saw cut rings that have horrible closures. They are either not flush or cockeyed...it's harder to make machine cut closures "look" nice in a photo, but the real test is how they feel. I always run my fingers over my work (I use saw cut rings almost exclusively these days, unless the color isn't available) to make sure my closures feel good as well as look good. I tend not to make comments (on this forum or other sites) about closures unless I can actually see at least a couple poorly closed rings. Then I think a comment is in order...not in an ugly way, but to let that person know they may have an issue in their work. I usually hold off on commenting on photo quality for the idea that unless the photo is obviously an attempt at a "product photo" for a website or gallery, the person is perhaps just trying to show their work here on the forum. I could be wrong, and if I am then I should be making more comments on helpful advice of that nature.

I'm on a handflower kick right now because one of my stores asked me to send a few. I have not ever found a good way to display them though. Anyone have a great way to display them that they'd like to share?

I've been teaching my kids on and off for a couple of years; they are 8 and 11 now. The hardest part for them is opening and closing rings properly. I'd start with that, and then go to 2-1 or 1-1 chain. Then start a real weave like E4-1 or J4-1. I started them with 18g rings, but moved to 16g because of their manual dexterity issues.The 18g was just a little too thin and they'd mangle the rings. The 16g was better.

I've been too busy to post as much as I did a few months back. Homeschooling a kid, trying to figure out curricula, taking care of house, family, etc...and then there's the maille that I'm so far behind on.

I work at my kitchen table. I have it set up so I can work either standing or sitting. If I work sitting, I work on the table on a bead mat. If I work standing, I work on a couple of stacked shelves I found that are the perfect height for me (plus the table under them). My laptop is on top of the shelves no matter if I am sitting or standing. The shelves give me room to store stuff I'm working on, as well as piles of crap and papers. My back lit keyboard is underneath the shelves. All my supplies are in a couple of large wooden cabinets to my left. Next to them live my 12 hermit crabs...I like to watch them at night when they are most active b/c they are very entertaining little creatures. The only downside of me taking over half the table is that we can't sit down and eat together as a family (me, hubs and 2 kids). I'm usually at the table working while they eat in the living room.

Let's keep this to maille only, cuz I totally know where my mind went. New for me: Tried Hoodoo and failed, but I think I need to try it with larger rings so I can see what I'm doing. Tried Symmetrical allure sheet and am still working on it. I was at the bowling alley with my kid for his weekly homeschool bowling league when I tried making it, so the lighting sucked. I'm going to continue it tonight. I'm in process of making an Orbital Berus pendant, but the instructions I have are pretty difficult to follow. Anyone know how to make this one? Once I figure it out (and I have time...hahahahahahaha....*dies laughing*) I'll make a clearer tut for it. It's really pretty and I'm looking for new pendants to make. People seem to like them in the stores I'm in. I completed the scale construction of the bra, but am working on figuring out why it's not doing what it should be doing, which is supporting. I printed out a bunch of weave tuts last night and have plans to try them eventually. I tired of the weaves I know and want to learn something new and pretty.

stainless in copper in dragonback copper and brass (or bronze) in dragonback

A lot of it depends on what you consider to be masculine. I made a good friend of mine a 20g 1/8" or 5/32" blue aTi necklace in inverted roundmaille. He loves it and it looks great on him. When I think of necklaces for men, copper/brass/bronze and stainless come to mind immediately. Persian Dragonscale makes a really nice necklace and can be made in 16g rings, which I think, in that weave, looks quite masculine. Vipera Berus 4-1 and Viper Basket would make nice masculine weaves using larger rings.

That is super cool. I love that weave. It's one I need to try.