Lots of us adore making chain maille jewelry. But in glass not metal rings? Leave that to Kim Edwards of Lone Tree Studio, a truly innovative artisan! Instead of using metal jump rings like the rest of us, Kim uses her skills as a lamp work artist to create glass rings!
What she does is an incredible feat. Think about it. She is working with molten glass! She must create not just rings but uniform ones of the right dimension so they work with whatever weave she is trying to accomplish.
She explains, "I shape each link individually in the flame and add links as I go to create the chain. I use a glass called borosilicate, which is the scientific name for Pyrex, so in spite of its delicacy, the chainmaille I create is fairly strong."
She stumbled upon her novel method when she was distracted - her grandfather had just passed away - and was aimlessly playing with glass creating loops and squiggles. After that, she wondered if she could join the pieces together to form chains. It was a short hop to the chain maille concept!
Astonishingly, Kim is now looking at more complicated weaves! Check out Jewelry Making Daily's full interview with Kim.
Before You Go:
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips
What she does is an incredible feat. Think about it. She is working with molten glass! She must create not just rings but uniform ones of the right dimension so they work with whatever weave she is trying to accomplish.
She explains, "I shape each link individually in the flame and add links as I go to create the chain. I use a glass called borosilicate, which is the scientific name for Pyrex, so in spite of its delicacy, the chainmaille I create is fairly strong."
She stumbled upon her novel method when she was distracted - her grandfather had just passed away - and was aimlessly playing with glass creating loops and squiggles. After that, she wondered if she could join the pieces together to form chains. It was a short hop to the chain maille concept!
Astonishingly, Kim is now looking at more complicated weaves! Check out Jewelry Making Daily's full interview with Kim.
Before You Go:
- Chain Maille Jewelry Making Tips
- How to Make Easy Chain Maille Earrings
- Chain Maille Flower Tutorials
- Byzantine and Box Chain Maille Tutorials
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips
Wow ! I don`t have words to describe the lovely glass maille by Kim Edwards . Without reading this post and just looking at the pictures I never would have believed that it was glass rings used to create these beautiful works of art Kim`s patience and passion in creating these pieces is something fantastic and very very inspiring. Thanks introducing the work of Kim in this post .
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work! Borosilicate glass comes in vivid colors, so her work must be even more impressive in person.
ReplyDeleteYes, she is awe inspiring. We may not be able to do lamp work but she encourages us to think outside the box!
ReplyDeleteI agree. Her work must be even more gorgeous in real life. The feel of glass is very different from metal too.
Insaneinsaneinsane!!! So beautiful and delicate it makes me weep! Thanks for the post, Pearl, it made me happy.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow!!!Kim's work is gorgeous, and the fact that she makes her own chain out of glass absolutely boggles my mind. :)
ReplyDeleteSeen her work before, also on BeadingDaily and this is freaking awesome!
ReplyDelete