'Our War'

Hi,

I watched a programme last night called 'Our War'.  Wow. Normally whenever I watch something on TV I tend to multi-task and do something creative at the same time.  However, you know when you watch something that draws you in to the point that you can't do anything else, well this was that something.

It was such an emotionally charged programme and it really got me thinking.

I, like many of us, have my off days where the slightest little thing can and often will annoy me.  However, watching what those brave young soldiers went through helped me put things in perspective.  I can't promise that I won't ever have those moments again, but for now I am more grounded.

Not being able to find the exact beads I want, not knowing what to do with the beads I have and not making a sale are nothing compared to not being able to find your friends during a series of explosions, not knowing which of your injured friends to attend to first, or not making it out alive.

My thoughts are with those young men that have served, are still serving or are unable to serve again...

Peace,
Annaliese
(JBA)

Chaimaille

Hi,

Last night I decided to try something new, always a good thing for a designer to do.  So I decided to try out some chainmaille jewellery.

There are so many different chainmaille weaves just waiting for me to indulge in but as I had a limited number of jumprings in only two colours I chose to make a bracelet and earrings set using the Byzantine weave.

'A Byzantine chain is a metal link chain design used in jewellery that incorporates a rope-like texture and intriguing textural design. The chains are supple and flexible, draping gracefully about the neck. 

The chain is a 4 in 1 chain meaning that each link passes through four others. It is a variation on the Box chain whose links point in a constant direction, unlike Byzantine whose links alternate in direction.' (Wikipedia)

This was my first attempt at this weave. In fact it was my first proper attempt at chainmaille.  Sooo, did I make it easy for myself?  The answer would be 'no'.  I chose to use small jumprings, id (inner diameter) 4mm.  I also chose to use two different colours.  In this case I used turquoise and mat silver.  This may not have been so bad if I had practised the weave first so I could see where all the jumprings went.  But oh no, I decided to go straight into it.  Needless to say it took me a little longer to make the bracelet as first I had to learn the weave at the same time as trying to figure out which coloured jumpring I needed to use at which point.  So to say it took me a little time is an understatement.

There is a quick way of creating this particular weave which uses open and closed rings, due to me complicating things for myself I ended up opening all of my jumprings and adding them one at a time.

I was watching 'Criminal Minds' and I'm not sure whether it was my viewing choice, my adapted method or perhaps a mix of the two but I actually found this project to be strangely therapeutic.

I hope you like it.  Please feel free to leave me a comment.

Thanks,

Annaliese (JBA)