A 69"+ finished section
Drawn down to 1/4"
Categories: Commerce and business
Word count/read time: 503 words; 2 minutes
It started with my helping to identify a chain. I forwarded some links from my website
so she could learn about loop-in-loop chains.
There was mention of needing 10 meters but the cost would have been prohibitive for
her purposes and budget. So I made a few samples of Viking Knit instead which
proved to be satisfactory.
Abruptly and inexplicably the emails dropped off Thursday. It seemed like we
were in the midst of a time-sensitive cyber
negotiation. Then emails wouldn't load
at all because my ISP had yet another bug.
What's this, a phone number
with way too many digits to be American? At 4:33pm, she asked
what I was doing. I said making chainmaille. She was relieved until she found out it
wasn't for her. She was sending emails all along but even after the problem
was "fixed," they never showed up! It was a green light but it needed to be
mailed Monday. A tall order for five meters of double-loop six-sided Viking Knit chain.
I hit the road immediately to get wire. At the fourth store, a course
correction was necessary because there was not enough of the wire I wanted. The weave
would have to be changed slightly which meant the original 24 hours
became 30! A blessing in disguise - the weave came out better than my sample.
Silverplated wire saved well over $1000
compared to 0.999 fine silver. Besides, it would have taken too much time to draw the wire
and then I'd have to weave it all by myself...45 hours of labor doesn't fit
into a 36-hour window.
(FYI: Precious metal Viking Knit chains are poorly made low-quality
impostors if each successive wire is not welded or soldered to the existing one.
"Everyone" chooses the simple and lazy way instead of doing it properly.
It's over-priced junk if it isn't made to jewelry standards.)
The first stitch hit the dowel at 10pm. Two all-nighters were unrealistic
so I enlisted a fellow artist.
Ideally it would have been one continuous chain but had to be woven in three separate
sections to make the deadline. It was still the longest I've made.
With less than an hour to spare, $130 express shipping sent 5.4 meters of finished chain, comprising
nearly 600ft. of 24ga wire, to a frenzied Friday
fiendish fashion shoot in New Zealand. It was one of
the least stressful chains I've made, rhythmic and rote without a sense of time or tedium. Compared to the
Dragonscale bracelet,
it was a walk in the park.
In stark contrast, some sellers'
claim to fame
seems to be how many shows or movies use their pieces.
Anyone with a hefty bank account can pay a ridiculous price
for an obscure actor to wear their stuff. Shamelessly bragging about it,
as if quality or desirability played a role, is juvenile.
The irony: They pay a handsome price for the privilege whereas I was paid a handsome price
as a privilege. I will stick to the latter and remain silent.
Posted by M: October 30, 2020
Please email any thoughts or comments regarding this post.
Comment Section
NOTE: Your comments will be included in this section
as long as they aren't illegal. This section is censor-free so show me
your intelligence or ignorance and everything in between!
|
2024
Good Deals
Transportation Issues
Spining in Circles
Top Purchases 2024
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
|