R&D - Triple Layered Scale Maille Flower via The Ring Lord

Pretty cool, huh?

Want to learn how to make a triple layered scale flower?  Watch this TRL's video tutorial by Bernice.

I saw it a while back, but never had all the parts on hand, until now:-)

The only detail I added are the additional 18 swg 1/4" rings that go thru each punched hole of the middle layer large scales and the center of the flower; without these extra rings, the top and middle layers tend to shift freely; with these added rings, the scales remain in place and the whole piece stays well in flower shape even when thrown around or dropped.

Oh btw, if the plan is to make a triple layered flower, I'd recommend weaving the rings as such from the beginning, because when fiddling with those 18 swg aluminum rings one too many times, they tend to get marred, and the scales get scratched:-(

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Ninja Star Hair Barrette

I've always like dangles in hair accessories, except there are not a whole lot of these out in the market.  So I set out to make one:-)

Borrowing the idea of my Ninja Star scale flower, I pick red and white for the color combo, then added lots of Swarovski crystals to end of the tassels.

The 1-inch French made aluminum barrette is dainty and smooth, perfect for gathering just a small section of your hair at the back or on the side.

Pretty cool, huh?!

Come check out the complete line of my Ninja Star creations at my online Picasa Web Album.

Want to take home this hair barrette?  This item is will be available soon in my online shop DaisyKreates.com.  Don't want to wait?  Send me a note to arrange for a custom listing.

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R&D - Scale Lotus Flower

Been seeing many different lotus flowers made with scales.  Most are made with scales and jump rings.  But since I learned from Xander's tutorial on double-layer scales and rubber flowers, and seeing several other scale flowers with multiple layers, I've been wanting one.  And here's my experiment.

The center is covered with a little wire spiral.

And the bottom is rather open and flat.  With all the little jump rings pulling outward, they function kind of like a stand for the flower.

Using rubber rings instead of jump rings has its advantage, no fussing over closure; but they can be tricky since they are always "closed"; a different way of thinking and linking required:-)

Cute, huh?!

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Ninja Star Finger Ring

A new twist in the popular scale maille flowers! This is a fun ring to wear during the relaxing, warm summer days!

Made of brushed aluminum scales, put together with orange color rubber O-rings and purple aluminum jump rings, this scale flower stays flat more so than many other scales flowers. From the side, it looks almost like those secret "ninja stars" from legends of the ancient days!

Oh, but do not throw this at anyone. For one thing, it is too cute for a weapon; besides, its light weight will not reach too far a distance:-) Bright and anodized aluminum are both light weight, making them well suited for big statement rings.

Measuring at 1 3/4 inches wide, a mere 3/8 inch high, this finger ring fits comfortably for size 7 to 7 1/4.

Available for purchase at my ArtFire studio.

Check out all my scale flower/ninja stars applications, please visit my Picasa Web Album.

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Moon Rabbit Key Fob

In Chinese folklore, Moon Rabbit stories are special. I've heard plenty stories of the rabbit in the moon since childhood; great starting point for lots of design ideas!

This is after several incarnations since the prototype.

I know, it's highly abstract.  But there's enough for the imagination to work with:-)

Made of thick gauge anodized aluminum and bright aluminum rings, the bunny is sturdy enough to hold its shape; but the head, the long ears, and the fluffy tail can all move along the body rings, giving the bunny different poses and looks.

And the little bell will charm just enough to help you find your key chain when it's sitting at the bottom of your purse:-)  I've always needed that!!!

This little cutie can be available for purchase by custom order.  Drop me an email for any questions on custom orders!

My Pet Dragon

My very own pet dragon! Isn't he the cutest?!  This is my first try at multi-weave, semi-free form chainmaille.  Multi-weave for the combination of Dragonback (or Alligator), Byzantine, Box, and Mobius; semi-free form for improvising the neck and adding the paws.  I followed the fantastic tutorial by Derailed on MAIL.  The step by step instructions are easy to follow, lots of pictures and arrows pointing at where to add rings, that's how I like to read tutorials :-)

The tutorial describes the main body with scales.  I added the paws, because all the dragons that I grew up with (yes, I grew up with dragons, in movies, paintings, story books) always have paws.  They also have whiskers and antennas, but I don't know how to add those ...  I'd imagine some wire work would do it, like Corvus's dragons; look for her fantastic copper dragon in MaillersWorldWide!)

Oh, and my dragon also wears shoulder pads and hoop earrings.  Very fashionable:-)  Can you see the earrings?  Big old double hoops!  The shoulder pads/cape is a slight variation from the tutorial. I learned it from Derailed's other maille critters, seriously awesome!

OK, back to my guy; he's flexible enough to curl up for nap.  The neck moves very well; the body section from neck to belly is kind of stiff compared to rest of the body, my guess is because I fussed so much over the shoulder pads that I added a few too many rings.  Anyhow, he'll curl up all right, even chase after his own tail:-)  Awww, the poor thing is pooped from all the jumping and posing all day; it's a lot of hard work to look so adorable:-)

Specs:

All rings are stainless steel, WD 1.2mm, 3/16" ID from C&T Designs, and 5/32" ID from Blue Buddha (F18 SSTL); scales are bright aluminum also from Blue Buddha.  I did have to use larger rings (1/4" ID) to include the key ring into the box weave at his jaws.  That's it.  Not very ring hungry, but the stainless steel part put my hands totally out of commission for quite a while (Advils helped:-)

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Interested in purchasing one of these?  I'd be happy to make a brand new one for you as a custom made-to-order in my online studio DaisyKreates.com.  Thank you!!

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Ninja Ring

A secret ninja weapon you can wear on your finger!



OK, it's really just another Whirlybird with scales as outer edging.



I was playing with my new scales from B3, made a few flower looking thingy, very fun.  Then, I realized scales can be substituted for the outer edge of pretty much any weave.


Here's my first experiment in using scales in a Whirlybird. Just do a simple strip of 3-row European 4-in-1 with scales as the middle row; then connect end to end like a normal Whirlybird. I added an HP-like ridge on both side to tighten the whole thing, they also even out the scales so they spread like sun rays, or flower petals, whatever.

Finding an "app" for this bird took a while. From the first moment it was done, it screamed "ninja secret weapon" to me; does it do that for you?  Any way, after a few tries, it settles as a finger ring.  Big, but still comfortable.  Definitely Not dainty:-)



I wonder how a pair of them may look as earrings? Hum...

Scale Sakura

Scale maille sakura as hair stick ornament.

Based on the new scale flower design by TRL, with extra rings added on the outer edge out of necessity to stabilize the structure; my bronze rings must be slightly bigger than TRL's size.  This turned out to be very useful for attaching more rings, fringes, beads, etc.

Scales are very addictive, I must admit.  Before the whole scale flower thing, I hadn't thought about making anything with scales.  That was then, this is now.  Interesting how things take on their own paths...  Now I see scales are just like rings, bit flat, with off center, smallish holes compared to typical jump rings; sky's the limit, hahaha!

Specs:  Unanodized aluminum small scales, all 18 swg rings 1.2mm WD, in bright aluminum, anodized aluminum, bronze, and jeweler's brass.  Uh, that's about it; I can't remember the exact ring sizes, so many different sizes here; good way to use up leftover rings though.  Handmade double eye pins out of non-tarnish craft wire, also 1.2mm.  Size 5/0 triangle seed beads in silver-lined mauve.  Final sizes: flower 2" in diameter, full length of ornament 4" from the top connector ring to bottom of the longest fringe.

More pix here.