This Weeks Feature And Giveaway!

Getting To Know The Ambitious You've Got Maille

A little about the seller

Well, there are two of us. I am the organizer and general mommish type, Deanna. My 15-year-old son Brandon is also creating things but since he's visiting his dad in Cleveland at the moment, all of his brilliant creations are there with him (so stop back at the end of July to see what he's come up with!)

Hobbies (or just random interests): Oy, where to begin  I'm an animal lover. I am allowed to live in my home by the good graces of 2 dogs, 4 1/2 cats and 1 Senegal parrot. I also love horseback riding and go whenever I can with a good friend of mine. I like music. I play violin, viola and piano, and am attempting to teach myself Irish fiddle and tin whistle. That's not going all that great, though, due to work, family and other obsessions. I'm an obsessive creator, and I tend to go through phases of obsessions with making different things. Some things I dabble with: calligraphy, polymer clay, woodburning, cross stitch, crochet, decoupage, collage, a little drawing, and of course chainmaille and jewelry making. Things I want to explore: Oriental brush painting, wire wrapping, lampwork/glass, stained glass, sewing (mainly costume), metalworking, and I'm sure I'll think of more. I also love hiking. Walking is okay, but if you can get into the woods and connect with nature... I just recently re-started it and forgot how much I'd missed it. Renaissance reenactment. Brandon and I are both extensively involved with the middle school Renaissance club, teaching them dancing, helping make costumes (a little…), and he's been in the Human Chess Match three years running. We also go to as many faires as we can.

Tell me about yourself?
Pretty much just did, my hobbies define me far more than my "work." To pay the bills I type medical records from home, which is great in that it gives me a flexible schedule to spend time with my family and create things. I'm a mom and wife, and my husband is very supportive and likes to brag about my work. And play with it while he's sitting at the computer 

Other etsy shops YouveGotMaille loves:
Delavande, of course. There are SO many maillers I could put here (I'm the leader of Etsy Chainmaillers' Guild street team) but I'm going to just send you to the guild blog to check them all out. I love seeing the different things people do with the same craft.

Other insanely cool stuff:
Merimask Designs - Just.. AMAZING work. Especially the frost dragon mask.
KG Celtic - She's got some gorgeous Celtic and Renaissance circlets, bridal jewelry… I just love all of it
Jewels by Nature - The clockwork/steampunk stuff is crazy cool, I plan on picking up something to add to a chainmaille creation for myself one of these days.
Thyme 2 Dream - Really nifty wire work, again with a Renaissance/fantasy theme. Her ear cuffs are spiffy.
Spooky Kitten Couture - Oh, if only I had a couple of hundred dollars lying around for one of her costumes…
Totus Mel - She has tatted jewelry that's so lacy and pretty… I wants it.
Mindhunting - I linked you to a specific item in their shop there because it's the most mindblowingly gorgeous lampwork I've seen. Make sure you look at everything else, because it's all gorgeous.
The Haunted Hollow Tree - Okay, I can woodburn a little but this is some stunning pyrography.
V Silcox Designs - Painted glassware. Another "when I have a little money that I don't spend on little metal rings and beads" wish list item: one of her candleholders. She works not only with the way the item looks but with the shadows it casts too, which are magnificent.
Created With Joy - Polymer clay canes that make me wish I was had some talent for making canes.
Dragon's Breath - This is the kind of metalsmithing I aspire to do. Some day.
I know that's a lot of favorites. Trust me, I have dozens more, and a list of things (handmade soap, and caramels being some examples) that I want to try when I get a chance.

A little about the Store

How long have you been on etsy?
About a month.

What exactly do you do (What do you make?): At the moment, mostly chainmaille, mostly jewelry. We're working on doing some other cool stuff in chainmaille (I have a neat belt in the works, and I want to do some candle holders decked in anodized aluminum colors. I've run out of rings so this week I'm going to dabble in some wire work while I wait for my order to arrive. Among other things… so many ideas, so little time…
I also have tucked in my head to do some framed illuminated calligraphy quotes, when I get around to it. And I think Brandon might do some woodburning. Oh! And I intend to do a line of "Bearing Arms" -- teddy bears garbed in armor from various periods, some with letter opener swords and whatnot. Just need to find teddy bears that I think will work well. I took a metalsmithing class earlier this year. It's my fervent hope that one of these days I will be able to set up a little metalsmithing studio in the garage and do some more complex work. Fingers crossed.

How did you first pick up your craft?
Two years ago for Christmas I bought Brandon a kit to make a chainmaille dice bag. He left it sitting for two years. I had bought Dylon White's book The Art of Chainmail (highly recommended) and was dabbling around with it several months ago. Brandon saw it on the kitchen table while he was eating breakfast one morning and said "OH!" Light bulb.. sad to say he picks up new weaves far more quickly than I do.

Favorite thing about it:
Brainstorming new designs. And the process itself is relaxing in the way needlework is relaxing.

Any inspirations?
Tons. The galleries on these two websites, which I browse for amusement when I'm supposed to be working. The Ring Lord and M.A.I.L.

SALE

15% off any item over $30 in the store.

CONTEST

YouveGotMaille is offering a winners choice of any $5 or less item in the store free, or $5 off anything in the store (stacks with the sale).

TO ENTER : Go To YouveGotMaille's Shop And Post Your Favorite Item Here On The Blog. The Winner Will Be Posted Sunday July 20th. Good Luck Everyone !!

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