Today's featured artists is
Victoria Percy from Venus in Chains.
Victoria is someone with whom I am familiar with through the Artfire Guild system. We are both members of the Artfire Chainmaille Guild and we both have a penchant for adding unique elements to chainmaille in order to make it more feminine and jewelry like.
As you can probably see from the above image, this is NOT your local armourers chainmaille. Victoria takes the concept of chainmaille and drags it kicking and screaming into the world of femininity with her innovative use of rose montees (also called mounted chatons). The crystals add sparkle and glamor as well as structure to the pieces Victoria makes. This particular item was the first thing I saw of Victoria's and when I saw it my first thought was to hang up my pliers but after a moment I thought, "How cool! There is someone else who understands wanting to add set stones and sparkle to chainmaille. To make it pretty."
Like so many of us who make jewelry, Victoria has added her special stamp to bracelets. Combinations of rose montees and silver-plated wire make them all unique and absolutely fabulous. Her bracelets offer the wearer and a great feminine look while still being edgy.
This wonderful bracelet features the montees and rings arranged in a wonderful openwork 'brick' pattern. The overall effect is light and lacy with tons of feminine charm.
Japanese maille weave is typically arranged in just a few geometric variations. This one, the diamond variation, is adorned with Sapphire Blue montees.
The gem encrusted look is great for adding extra pizazz to evening wear or a stunning pop of color to everyday duds.
Two of my favorites from Victoria's bracelet collection, these feature the same basic construction. The red and black, left, is a more traditionally sized piece.
The peridot green, right, bracelet is a stunning cuff that makes the statement "Here I am!" The bracelet also won first place in the 2009 Fire Mountain Gems Competition in the findings category.
The pieces above are still more examples of the wonderful bracelets that Victoria makes with montees and rings. The large image is a 'flower' configuration of the Japanese weave and has a classic look yet is all the while fun and modern. In the smaller images are fabulous pieces that combine wavy and multi-strand jewelry components with the montees. Each piece is more beautiful than the next.
Victoria describes her work this way:
"I am proud to say 'Crystal Chainmaille'(sic) is my trademark. The chainmaille pattern is completely unique and original. Growing up, I always loved chainmaille, and I studied multiple patterns, but I never found one that had the proper balance of beauty and power. I set out to find that balance in creating this pattern. It took years of research just to find the right materials: crystals with settings that I could ring in a pattern, just the right size jump rings to provide strength and support while allowing the piece to lay properly, and the right gauge chain. After all that work and research, I have developed a design that is feminine and beautiful yet strong and powerful, just like its wearer!" I think we can all agree that her work definitely does find a harmony between beauty and power.
Many of the Necklaces that Victoria does match her bracelets and would work well in sets. All of them are great as stand alone 'statement' pieces as well.
 | This necklace features the perfect balance between the crystal flowers and delicate bits of cable chain. This is pretty enough to work as a fabulous wedding necklace but is not so elaborate that it would not work for a summery sundress at an afternoon picnic. | | |
|
|
|
| Crystal Flower Necklace In Amethyst |
Left, The Crystal Flower necklace gives the wearer a sparkling underline to her pretty face.
Right, the Girls Best Friend Necklace adds sparkle and a bit of geometric fun to the elegant chain of diamonds.
Bold! Thick and Strong! Unmistakably Venus in Chains!
The Japanese Rope is a masterpiece of design that would fit in with any attire. Great for the executive who wants a splash of color to add to her corporate wardrobe or a fun loving soccer mom who wants something easy to wear that will light up her face, this piece fits the bill. Though it looks like it would be heavy, the nature of the weaving makes it relatively light to wear and quite comfortable.
Unique earrings are also among the pieces you will find in Victoria's shop.
Left, a variation on the Crystal Flower design and right, small bits of the Japanese Rope suspended from simple ear wires.
Among the newer of Victoria's designs, these pretty Ribbons are a great look. They are suspended from a simple earwire.
A less common piece among jeweler's but very common to maillers are the fabulous headpieces that were worn by maidens during Medieval and Renaissance times. These gossamer head covers can be seen at Renaissance Faires all over the country. These are among the prettiest I have seen.
This Headdress is an absolute vision and if I were to choose, I would call this one of my favorite of all Victoria's pieces. It would be great for a bride and could be worn over or instead of a veil. During Medieval times these were indeed used in that manner.
Fabulously lacy and delicate, this complicated looking piece is built from the Crystal Flowers that are a trademark of Venus in Chains (Victoria) and carefully measured pieces of cable chain.
Left is another style of headdress, also built from the Crystal Flower units that Victoria uses so liberally in her work. It is called a circlet by Renaissance folks and is a reminder of the head jewelry that princesses and lesser noble women would wear during those by-gone times. Those of you who are Lord of the Rings fans might recognize this style from the coronation scene when the King (Viggo Mortensen) sees Arwen (Liv Tyler)
Though I am not completely sure this is how bras came into fashion, these 'bikini' style tops look great as sparkling accessories for the somewhat daring among us. Venus in Chains makes these lace pieces with the same flair and montee and ring construction that Victoria uses in all her designs. When she lists these, the description states: "Great for Renaissance Festivals, Clubbing, belly dancing, and Concerts (looks great over your favourite band's T). Believe it or not, it is comfortable over a shirt or by itself; perhaps a bit cold though :)" So here is my question: Do you Dare?
The name of this one says it all. Rock N Roll!! The little dangles shimmer and glint with each movement adding even more appeal to this attention getting piece. Almost makes a gal want to take up belly dancing just so she can wear something so gorgeous! Sigh!
Right you can see another style of bikini top. Still just as lacy and shimmering but with the crystals held in place instead of dangling. I love the chain that hangs below.
I wanted to close this feature with one of the most amazing pieces of work I have seen ever. This is another of Victoria's award winners and was showcased in the Fire Mountain Gems Catalog. She calls it her Celebration Lariat and I think it is just that... A Celebration of all the is possible when a talented designer takes up the challenge of making chainmaille jewelry while still maintaining their personal style.
If you are interested in taking a closer look at any of Victoria's work, the links beneath the images all work. You can also access her shops at the following addresses:
Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/venusinchains This shop has lots of new pieces as well as some of the tutorials that Victoria has written for anyone who is interested in trying her techniques.
Artfire:
http://www.VenusinChains.artfire.com This shop features many of Victoria's peices but does not currently carry the tutorials.
