We recently released a follow up PDF to Rebeca’s super popular Elfweave Braid project.  Elfweave Variations takes the weave to the next level by offering your tips for creating 4 additional projects based on the original weave.  This PDF was created in response to folks who have been asking us for more advanced projects – we hope those of your looking for the next challenge will find it inspiring!

You can find the Elfweave Variations PDF

on the Elfweave Braid kit page!

Each of these variations can be made using enameled copper for the colored rings in place of the anodized aluminum rings used for the Elfweave Braid.  Below are some of our favorite two color combinations to help inspire your color choices for these variations.

Violet + Gold

Lime + Green

Gunmetal + Ice Blue

Burgundy + Black

Royal Blue + Seafoam

Lavender + Eggplant

Amber + Peacock Blue

colored jump rings · Elf Box · Elf Sheet · Elfweave Braid · kits · variations

Welcome to the first article in a series of three that we’re calling “Anodized Aluminum 101“.  Ever wonder what causes color variation?  Want to know what the anodizing process looks like?  Not sure why there are no white anodized aluminum rings?  Stay tuned to find answers to all these questions…and more.

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We make it our priority to give you the most consistent products we possibly can.  We do this because as artists ourselves, we know it’s important.  You have a vision and you need certain materials to make it into a reality.  We not only get it – we’re obsessed with it.

In the beginning of 2010, we started on a journey to create our own anodized aluminum rings and we set out on that journey with our persnickety ways in tow.  Everything worth doing is worth doing right and to us, right means bright, even, shiny color and as much consistency within each batch (and from batch to batch) as possible.  While we take the time to quality control every batch of rings before we package and sell them to customers, we certainly don’t want the process to be too time-consuming to be cost effective or to produce too much waste.  Basically, consistency is key.

We are now making 100% of our own anodized aluminum rings and still looking for ways to improve them.  The fact is however, that color variation (to some extent) will just be a fact of life.

There will always be some level of variation within each batch and variation is even more likely from batch to batch (and from size to size) as they are all dyed separately.  To make these variations play nicely in our world of perfection, we quality control our anodized aluminum rings – ditching broken or malformed rings altogether, and demoting off-colored rings to our sale packs.  In the few cases where there is still a great deal of variation (which happens most often in rings with a small surface area such as our D20 and F20 rings), we toss in an extra 10-20% to give you more rings to choose from if super-consistency is important to your project.  We are also happy to answer questions about the color of our current batches before you purchase them.  In the rare event that we have a color that is very different from our normal stock, we indicate that on our website with a note and/or by changing the name of the color altogether.  We do what we would want someone to do for us – give us the best product they can and communicate when it’s vastly different from what we’ve gotten used to.

Throughout this journey, we have learned a number of things not least of which is that anodizing is a fickle process.  (A fickle process associated with chainmaille?  Never. *wink*)  Fickle process or not, however, we are committed to producing the most consistent product we can (what can we say – we like a challenge!)  To read more about this quest for consistency and to learn more about the anodizing process, check out the next article in this series coming tomorrow - Visit to an aluminum anodizing factory.

anodized aluminum · Anodized Aluminum 101 · colored jump rings · quality control

Here in Chicago, cooler air is rolling in which can only mean one thing – fall is upon us!  The changing of seasons inspires a change in lots of things from the foods we want to eat to the colors we want to be surrounded by.  It’s a great time to be newly inspired.  This fall, colors are classic, rich and full of depth.  They remind us the most of our anodized niobium rings.  With colors that show their many facets with every angle, they are subtle but filled with life.  Experiment with adding in bright punches from our enameled copper and your projects will follow the same trends as fashion week!

As you’re planning your next project, consider using one of these suggested combinations or print out the palette and play around with mixing and matching your own.

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color ideas · color palette · colored jump rings · fall 2011 colors · inspiration

Depending on your locale, the world outside may not exactly be full of colorful life but with spring right around the corner, we’re inspired by the knowledge it soon will be! This spring’s color palette is inspired by blossoming flowers, swimming pools, and gentle skies.  These luminescent colors are best found in our enameled copper, anodized niobium, and glass rings.

As you’re planning your next project, consider using one of these suggested combinations or print out the palette and play around with mixing and matching your own.

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Consider trying out this palette with one of our new artist-designed kits that use these rings to create weaves that are reminiscent of spring flowers.

Coiled Bracelet by Rebeca Mojica

This delightful bracelet uses Rebeca’s signature technique of “coiling,” which mimics the look of coiled wire by stringing tiny jump rings onto larger rings. A simple technique, but the possibilities are endless!

Features Anodized Niobium

Akimbo Bracelet by Kat Wisniewski

A little off-kilter, staggered and definitely akimbo. This intermediate level pattern feels like a warm sunrise with rays of complimenting color.

Features Enameled Copper & Glass Rings

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March is National Craft Month! What better time feel the creative spark and tackle that project you’ve been dreaming of?

chainmaille kits · color · color forecast · color palette · colored jump rings · inspiration · jewelry kits · jump rings · kat wisniewski · Rebeca Mojica · spring 2011 colors

X12 Weave Samples

As those of you who receive our newsletter and/or follow us on Facebook and Twitter are well aware, we recently expanded our selection of 100% Made-in-the-USA anodized aluminum rings to include size X12 (12g 7/16″ / 12g 11.1mm) – a big ring for big ideas!  Featured in Rebeca’s Shaggy Loops project in 30-Minute Necklaces, X12′s are great for quick, airy projects with a lot of volume and movement.  Advanced chainmaillers will also love their potential for projects that use the coiling technique (explored in the final chapter of Rebeca’s book.)  We’ve been having a blast playing with them in the studio – here are some weave samples and ring counts (we have included rings per inch counts as well as counts to make a 7.5″ bracelet or an 18″ necklace) to get you going with this new size.  We can’t wait to see what you create with them!

Byzantine using X12 & L16, ring counts: L16=11 rpi (83 bracelet, 198 necklace ), X12=1 rpi (8 bracelet, 18 necklace)

Spiral, X12=5 rpi (40 bracelet, 90 necklace)

Rosettes, X12=9 rpi (72 bracelet, 162 necklace)

Box, X12=12 rpi (96 bracelet, 216 necklace)

Shaggy Loops, X12=7 rpi (49 bracelet, 126 necklace

“30-Minute Necklaces” featuring Rebeca’s Shaggy Loops

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Here’s even MORE inspiration! We featured size X12 AA in September 2011 for our Featured Product of the Month contest and this very cool piece by Lia H. was the winner.

Want to participate in the contest? Find out what’s happening this month by clicking on the category “Featured Product of the Month”.

anodized aluminum · chainmaille · colored jump rings · large jump rings