Angella Goddard says she has 鈥渁lways been the crafty type.鈥�
鈥淚 remember a phase I went through years ago making willow wreaths. I ended up with a garage full,鈥� said Goddard who grew up outside of CFB Shilo, Manitoba.
That general interest has now become focused on a rather old crafting skill, creating chainmaille items.
The interest came by happenstance one day on a ride.
鈥淚 enjoy riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle in the summer months and that鈥檚 where I came across my first Chainmaille piece,鈥� said Goddard, 47.
鈥淵ears ago while attending Andersonville Rally and races, I purchased a wallet chain from a vendor there. You see when I ride my bike I do not carry a purse but I do have a small wallet in my back pocket. The chain I bought myself was rough, made of galvanized fencing wire in a tight box weave pattern. I paid a lot for it. But it was handcrafted and cool.鈥�
The purchase became the seed for Goddard to begin the craft herself.
鈥淎 couple years ago I started UpCycling old jewelry and leather,鈥� said Yorkton鈥檚 Goddard. 鈥淚t just wasn鈥檛 my 鈥榯hing鈥� so needing something to help pass the long cold Saskatchewan winter I looked at my old wallet chain and thought to myself, 鈥業 can make that鈥�.鈥�
So Goddard took her first small step into crafting chainmaille.
鈥淚 ordered my first kit from Metal Designz in Saskatoon,鈥� she said.
鈥淥nce the rings arrived I watched a YouTube video over and over and over again until I got it right.
鈥淭hree-days later, I had completed my first wallet chain.
鈥淚 was pretty proud.鈥�
And from there it just sort of evolved for Goddard.
鈥淚 remember I was at work one day and noticed a co-worker Bill Krobath was wearing a Chainmaille necklace around his neck,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ouldn鈥檛 you know it he has been doing Chainmaille for years.
鈥淚 started asking him questions. I needed to know more 鈥� his tips, his tricks.鈥�
Since then the pair have stayed chainmaille friends.
鈥淏ill has started to create Chainmaille again which I take with my work to trade shows, craft sales and local shops,鈥� said Goddard.
While chainmaille might best be known as a type of medieval armour, Goddard notes it is actually very versatile.
鈥淐hainmaille is not just about armour, it鈥檚 doesn鈥檛 have to be rugged and medieval,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 have hand crafted a full bikini, wallet chains, bracelets, necklaces, rings, hair clips, purse chains, key chains, vest extenders, zipper pulls, dog collars and more . . . The sky is the limit.鈥�
鈥淚 cannot calculate the hours I have put into these projects.鈥�
The process of creation is slow by the nature of the medium.
鈥淢y Chainmaille is woven one ring at a time in a multitude of colors and different metals in different sizes and gauges.鈥�
Typically inspiration comes from what Goddard has seen elsewhere.
鈥淢ost times I find a pattern on the internet or from a picture I have seen somewhere,鈥� she said.
Goddard said she sources most of her rings from Metal Designz out of Saskatoon.
鈥淪helley Hubbs runs Canada鈥檚 five star rated Chainmaille supply store,鈥� said Goddard. 鈥淗er family operation is fast friendly and always willing to help a fellow 鈥榤ailler鈥�.
鈥淚 weave my work out of metals such as aluminum, anodized (colored), stainless steel, pure copper, jeweller鈥檚 brass, bronze, titanium and sterling silver and even rubber.|
Twisted Sister鈥檚 Chainmaille can be found at Howlers Custom Cycles, Kamsack. In Melville at The Shops, in Macgregor, MB. at Lorie鈥檚 5R shop, and at North 40 Fabrics in Yorkton.
鈥淚 also set up at trade shows and craft sales whenever I have an opportunity,鈥� said Goddard.
Goddard has a Facebook page and will be launching a website in the near future.
鈥淚 am proud to say my chainmaille has reached across Canada, from Nova Scotia to Vancouver to Sturgis 麻豆传媒AV Dakota USA, and as far North as Flin Flon, MB,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 have many pieces in stock and encourage custom orders.鈥�
