Tangled Metal Is So busy!

I recently made a deal with a distributor for one of my best selling lines and their initial order was 200 items. I am about 3/4 of the way through the first part of the order which was 88 items. My hands are sore and I might be a tad bit grumpy because of that.

I would love to say that is the reason that I have not blogged lately but it would not be entirely true. The main reason is just me being lazy and slacking. I have six different blogs that should be maintained but lately I am finding it difficult to keep up with one.

Anyhow, I am working full time on my art and I love it but I have been making the same thing over and over for the last week and I can hardly wait until this order is done so I can move on to something different. I am going to try and blog more often so stay tuned.

Coffee Thoughts On Chainmail

Before coffee every morning I think some pretty random thoughts. My mind has yet to focus on little more than the process of putting the coffee maker on and yet I come up with some pretty spiffy ideas.

Today while setting up the coffee maker I was thinking about a device I am making to cut rings more efficiently. Currently I use a jewelers saw.

It is like a coping saw, only with a much smaller blade. I can buy a machine that will cut my rings for about $500. It uses a circular saw blade connected to a motor to cut rings very fast. Of course, I don't have $5 extra in my pocket today, let alone $500.

I have been building a prototype machine in my head. I have gone through several designs and many failures without ever having to build the machine. I am very lucky in that way. I can do much of the trial and error in my mind without having to build it.

All the basic pieces for the machine are pretty simple and I have been picking them up here and there for a couple of weeks. So far my entire investment is about $25 or $30. I have almost everything I need to build my first working prototype. The most expensive piece is the blade. The blades cost anywhere from $8 to $15 each. The problem is most places have a $50 minimum order.

All and all I figure I will have less than $50 in the machine when I am done building it. It will save me a ton of time when cutting the rings I use to make chainmail. Today, while setting up the coffee pot, I figured out how to build my splash guard for the blade coolant system. Interesting how your mind can work when you have not completely woken up.

More Christmas Ornaments By Tangled Metal

Chainmail Christmas Ornaments by Tangled Metal on Etsy

Over the weekend I created a few more chainmail Christmas ornaments and added them to my shop. Later today I will be adding some chainmail Christmas jewelry as well. Christmas is going to be here before you know it.

Our tree is white. We decorate in silver and gold. We do put a little color into it but not much. We only use white lights. How do you decorate for Christmas? Do you use a lot of color? Do you decorate outside? Or do you not celebrate Christmas? What holiday if any do you celebrate?

Fall Is My Favorite!

I am happy that I live in an area that has such great fall colors that people come from all over to enjoy them. I live in the Northwest corner of Arkansas in a small town called Eureka Springs. You may of even heard of it. It is a tourist town so for 8 month out of the year the population is about 10,000 to 15,000 and the rest of the year it is only about 1500.

The fall colors here are very beautiful. Though this year we did not have near the normal rainfall, so, I am not sure if the leaves will make it to what they normally show. Time will tell. It is however starting to cool off. Lows in the 40s and highs in the 70s.

Fall has always been my favorite time of the year. I like the cooler weather. I like the sound of the leaves crunching underfoot. I guess there isn't much I don't like about fall. I just thought I would share that with all of you.

New Steampunk Designs from Tangled Metal

Sometimes it is better to join them than to try and beat them. Though I do a lot of one of a kind steampunk designs, they are very different from the mainstream. I decided to do a few designs that are mainstream but fit with my unique design style. Here are three from my latest works.

This one is made from a vintage Bulova watch. You see a lot of Steampunk jewelry using recycled clockworks like these. 

This one has a honey bee pendant and some gears from turn of the century clocks. It is simple but very fun.

This one uses pocket watch parts from the mid 1800s. It is different than most but still a great set of jewelry.