What is "Things of Beauty"?

I have been doing some sort of creating for as long as I can remember. It started with a very supportive Granny who always made sure I had the tools I wanted (crayons, paper, paint, brushes, pencils, etc.) and some ideas for me to work with. Oh, the fun I had back then! Drawing scribbles, making paper mache balloons, news paper "trees". I eventually graduated to decorating the front window for the holiday with poster paint.

After high school I stopped for quite a bit and then started up again when my now husband (who I dated in high school) started to encourage me to get back to my art. After playing a little with my old oil paints, I realized I didn't have the patience for that and moved on to acrylic. Best thing I ever did! Wow, they had come a LONG way since I tried them in high school.
In/around 2011, I thought about adding jewelry to my other hobbies (painting, drawing, minor sculpting, cross stitch, scrapbooking, playing video games) and bought some beads. On a whim, I decided to look up chain mail, which I had done a little of back in my early 20s. Well, low and behold, I was able to buy pre-cut rings and in so many colors! And that was it, I was hooked.

I've learned a lot of different chain mail weaves through tutorials and books, as well as picking up full designs the same way. I get a lot of inspiration from other works I find, from other jewelry I see and want to see if I can do it in chain mail (tassels being one of them), and sometimes just from a few stray rings that ended up near each other and clicked on the lightbulb! I never know when something will get my attention enough that I have to try it and sometimes try to figure it out because there's no tutorial that can be found. :)

I work mainly in aluminum, but will work with some other stuff (mainly sterling silver or gold) on request only. My aluminum rings come from a very reputable company in Canada that only does stuff related to chain mail. The quality of the rings is the best I've seen from anywhere, and the prices are good. And the more they add to their line, the more things I buy, and the more storage containers I need!

While I do like plain old chain mail (in color, of course), I also like adding other components to my jewelry. I use Swarovski Crystals in many shapes and sizes, Toho Seed Beads, Miyuki Magatama Seed Beads, silver and gold and silver and gold plated connectors and charms, pressed glass/sea glass, gem stones, Czech glass beads (including "O" beads and drop beads), handmade art glass beads (picked up either in my bead store or online on Etsy), mother of pearl carved items, EPDM rubber rings (latex free),... so many things to choose from!

I stand behind ever piece that I make, no matter how much it cost. I take pride in the fact that every closed ring is actually closed, and the rings won't scratch your skin or catch on your clothes. If a piece every is damaged through regular use (don't try to pull a car with it, aluminum isn't that strong!), I will repair it for free. If you're local to me, we can get together and I'll fix it on the spot. If you're not, you will have to pay shipping to get it to me, but I'll pay for the return shipping. There is only one bracelet that isn't completely covered by this, and it's listed in that bracelet's information.

You can trust that I've used my extensive experience of creating all manner of things to make each item I create a wonderful and joyful thing for you! I know it's kind of cliché, but my heart is in every piece I make, whether it be jewelry, fine art, décor or whatever else my silly creative brain decides to try and accomplish.

Oh, and the name? My Granny always used to say of whatever I was making "That's a thing of beauty!". So, what else could I use for the name of my business?