Tuesday, May 3, 2011

And so it begins..

Howdy, and welcome to my first blog post! I’m excited to get started - this’ll be the first time in my life that I’ve ever personally taken part in this amazing cultural phenomenon known as Blogging. Wish me luck!

I’ve decided to start this off by giving you a glimpse into how my mind thinks (scary, right?) – don’t worry, I’ll only go into the details of my creative process! (Phew...) Creative process for what, you ask? Chainmaille, of course! Chainmaille is the art of linking round rings together to form different weaves, which then can be used to form many things – jewelry, armor, clothing, accessories, etc. It’s quite addicting. Or, at least it is for some of us. :)

Anyway, back to me. (Blogging is all about me, isn’t it? So hard to get used to..) First off, I have a mild case of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), but instead of giving in to the pitfalls of such a disorder, I’ve chosen to work to make it work *for* me. I like lines to be straight, surfaces to be consistent, and designs to have flow. And I love efficiency. These traits all bode extremely well for someone in this craft.

I also have good spatial awareness, which allows me to visualize how these (often very tiny) rings can be woven together. Shapes inspire me: modern, vintage, natural. You name it. If I see a shape I like, I try to translate that shape into chainmaille, and then make that into a wearable work of art.

It doesn’t always work out, and I scrap a lot of ideas, but virtually every idea is worth pursuing. I learn a lot from ideas that don’t work out – those can be the best teachers. But I am extremely picky (there’s that OCD again!), so I will only work to sell the best pieces that I can make. I can’t sell what I don’t believe in. I believe in good design, quality of craftsmanship, and making what hasn’t been made before.

If I settle for mediocre, I might as well go home.
If I settle for ‘done before’, I might as well go home.
If I settle for poor quality, I might as well go home.
If I settle for not improving every day, I might as well go home.
If I settle for something that doesn’t inspire me, I might as well go home.

I ain’t going home, and I ain’t settling; I’m here to stay. I hope you stay, too. I don’t aim to disappoint. :)