First Assemblage By Tangled Metal

I decided to try my hand at a mixed media assemblage. It turned out to be a very fun experience. I created the above work of art and I am pretty happy with it.I will certainly be creating more in the near future.

Chainmail Dice Bags From Tangled Metal

It was more than 25 years ago that I created my very first chainmail dice bag. It was for my dice. I made it from coat hangers. I have come a long way since those days so many years ago. I now sell my dice bags in more than 35 shops in the US and several in Canada. Here is a link to shops where you can buy Tangled Metal Dice Bags. I also have them in my Etsy shop: Tangled Metal Dice Bags on Etsy.

Over the years I have had to create new products made in chainmail. I will continue to try to find new and interesting things to create from chainmail.

Tangled Metal Recycles Reuses And Repurposes

Reclaimed Copper Wire Bracelet

I tend to reuse and recycle and repurpose anything and everything. I like to see things transformed into art rather than discarded into a land fill. Here are a few more items created using what others would call trash:

1923 Kodak Camera Made Into A Night Light

Cuff Links Made From Vintage Watch Movements

I will continue to try and help the environment by creating things from other people's discarded items. For me it is fun to see what can be made from something that it was never intended to be.

What Is Steampunk

What is Steampunk? For me it can be summed up in one simple statement:

Steampunk is a subculture inspired by Victorian age Science Fiction.

This is before the industrial revolution when travel by horse or boat was the norm. Carriages powered by steam are just coming about. The internal combustion engine is still on the drawing boards.

Steampunk is kind of a misnomer as well. Many associate it with gears and clocks. Well, that is actually a shoot off of Steampunk called Clockpunk. There are so many subgenres of the subculture that it is easier to lump them all into the same subculture. Confused yet? You're not alone.

If you asked 100 people who are into the Steampunk theme what Steampunk is you'll likely get 100 very different answers. I personally have always found the Victorian era to be quite beautiful. It seems that people were genuinely nicer to one another then. Of course, that is what I have thought from the writings of the time. Who knows exactly how things really were.

What is your definition of Steampunk?

Steampunk Airships From Tangled Metal

I recently started making Steampunk air ships and dirigibles from vintage light bulbs in Home Decor section of my Etsy shop. Each one is unique and whimsical! It actually started out because a friend of mine who owns a Gallery here in Eureka Springs, Ar said she had some gears and things she'd like to trade me for some work for her gallery.

In the box of trade items she had several vintage and antique light bulbs. She asked if I couls do anything with them and of course, my answer was YES! I didn't know what I was going to do with them at the time but I soon figured out that the bulbs looked like balloons!

I also started making hot air balloons out of the smaller bulbs. So far just about every dirigible I have made has sold quickly. So, I will continue to make them and see what happens.

Moving In A New Direction

For the longest time I have been wanting to make some bigger items. Recently I started my hand at lamp making. The above photo is a 1923 Kodak pocket camera that I turned into a night light. It sold very quickly as did the other night light I made from a 1940's camera flash unit.

I also created a couple of larger lamps. Of the five I created three have sold in the last month. So, I will be working on some more lamps. They are fun to make and I try and use as many old items as I can find. So, each lamp is unique.

The one above uses several elements including parts from turn of the century clock and a fry basket as a lamp shade. Each lamp is unique and has its own personality. Soon, I will be making some clocks and other large pieces.

Tangled Metal's Steampunk Creations

Here are a few of the Steampunk items I have created. Some are still Tangled Metal Etsy Shop. I try and create jewelry and accessories people will want to wear and use. Of course, I do not always succeed.

Tangled Metal At Fayetteville First Thursday

It is that time once again! Fayetteville First Thursday Art Walk starts tomorrow. It is located on the square in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It runs the first Thursday of each month March through October, excluding July. It starts at 5pm and goes until 8pm.

Why am I excited? This will be my 3rd year to set up. It has always been a juried show but it used to be that you had to jury in each month. This year 10 spots for the whole season were available and both Rachel and I got spots!

To learn more about this fantastic program visit the Fayetteville First Thursday Website. And if you happen to be in the area, be sure to stop by and say hello!

What Would You Like From Tangled Metal

Blogging on a regular basis is one of the most difficult things for me. I try and post on my Tangled Metal Facebook Page every day. That is a pretty big chore for me sometimes. I like to work with my hands much more than sitting behind a keyboard. So, I want to know what you would like for me to blog about.

Leave a comment or email me at eric@tangledmetal.com

Winter Isn't Quite Done

A mix of ice, snow, sleet and freezing rain has been the scene for the last couple of days where I live, Eureka Springs, AR. Last Saturday it got up to 68 degrees and today is is 30. I guess I will be staying in today making some jewelry and catching up on some reading. How is the weather where you are?

Tangled Metal Inspiration

Someone asked me the other day what inspires me to create? The simple answer is Everything. That is right. I find inspiration in everything I see. I find it in nature, industry, dreams, you name it. I really should keep a notebook with me at all times. I am sure I have forgotten a lot of ideas for jewelry.

I would like to know what inspires you. Feel free to leave a comment or send me an email: eric@TangledMetal.com

Chainmail Hacky Sack?

As spring starts to roll around you may be looking for ideas to get the kids out of the house. You probably have some cabin fever as well. Let me introduce the solution: The Chainmail Hacky Sack from Tangled Metal. It is the most durable hacky sack on the market. It is made from tarnish resistant stainless steel and filled with colorful recycled leather.

It is guaranteed for my entire life. Yes, I plan to be around a very long time. It is the one hacky sack you'll climb on a roof to retrieve. You'd probably even crawl into a storm drain to get it back!

I started making these over 15 years ago for juggling balls. Then one day someone came up and started hacking with it. (Hacking is the act of playing hacky sack. You basically kick it around. It is also called a foot bag or footy bag, who knew?) Ever since that day many years ago I have made them as both!

I now return you to your regularly scheduled program. Have a great day/night/weekend/weekday!

Happy Valentine's Day From Tangled Metal

I hope your day is fill with love and chocolates!

The Curious Crow in Eureka Springs

My girlfriend and I have a little shop in Eureka Springs, Arkansas called The Curious Crow. It is located at 1 B-1 Center Street on a landing of a stairway between Main Street and Center & Spring Street. Our little shop holds many fun treasuries from chainmail jewelry to creepy art dolls. I thought I would share a few pictures of the shop with you today.

We opened the shop in May of 2012. Next time your in the North West corner of Arkansas stop by and tell us hello!

Happy Mardi Gras from Tangled Metal

Incense Burner Revisited

The first incense burner sold so quickly I made another one as quickly as I could. This one has an olive green bottle. I will be adding more to my shop soon. This one can be found here:
Incense Burner Wine Bottle Covered In Chainmaille Olive Green

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Chainmail Wine Bottle Incense Burner

I started a new product line this week. Using recycled wine bottles I started making safe and beautiful Chainmail Wine Bottle Incenses Burners. The base model is pictured above but I plan to have some with beads and other embellishments soon including some Steampunk themed ones. When done they will appear in my Etsy shop in the Other Chainmail By Tangled Metal Section.

The first one I made sold a few minutes after I listed it. The base price is $25 and they will go up depending on what I add to them. I just wanted to share this new product with you.