Chained: Create Gorgeous Chain Mail Jewelry One Ring at a Time Paperback – Bargain Price, December 13, 2010

Book arrived in beautiful condition-"slight wear" was VERY slight. Excellent illustrations and photos of step-by-step projects.

My daughter-in-law introduced me to chain mail jewelry. I was hooked immediately, but needed a book with projects. While there are hundreds of tutorials on the web, they are mostly for learning weaves, not making completed projects. "Chained" not only has simple instructions and teaches basic weaves, but you learn by creating gorgeous projects as you go.Pluses: The book doesn't jump right into projects, but rather it starts with the very basics of how rings are made, sized, how to open and close rings properly. This is invaluable in producing jewelry that looks professional, not home-made. Techniques taught also corrected some bad habits I picked up early on. All projects have listings for both precious metal ring size requirements and base metal sizes. This means you can make an inexpensive version of each projects before ruining precious metal rings, which can be quite expensive. Also, many projects look so good in the base metal versions, I'll never bother doing precious metal versions.Reviewed: Chained, by Rebecca Mojica The pictures and instructions are VERY clear and concise. The photographs of finished projects grab your interest, but the project instructions don't let you down. Each project is rated beginner through advanced. Most of the projects are beginner or intermediate level. Also, each project is rated according to the time it will take to complete. For example, one beautiful necklace is a beginner level project, but epic time length. This sets realistic expectations of how long you will have to devote to each project. If you want to shop at Blue Buddha Boutique, which is owned by the author, kits are available for each of the projects shown, so you can make one exactly like the one shown in the book. But since the materials lists are given and are complete and clear, you can buy your supplies anywhere that sells quality rings.Minuses: I haven't found any real drawbacks with this book yet and I have completed several projects already and I've had the book only a week.Bottom Line: Buy this book and start with affordable projects today. Leave books like "Chain Mail Jewelry: Contemporary from Classic Techniques for the folks with the deep pockets and want expensive boutique type jewelry. Buy this book (Chained) and begin creating gorgeous affordable pieces that are more approachable. Jewelry that is both beautiful and fun.

I have to say I was a little disappointed in this book. I was looking for some advanced weaves -- Jens Pind, Dragonscale, that cool Caterpillar thing she does, Cyclon or even Half Persian. The majority of the weaves were a base of byzantine, Japanese or helms.I gave this book 4 stars anyway, because the book was very well written -- it was like talking to an old friend about her passion. It relaxed and conversational, and packed with TONS of useful information for a beginning weaver.The photos are also gorgeous, and Rebeca's instructions are the best.... and I've purchased a ton of patterns ... if you can't learn it from Rebeca, you can't learn it. If you're newer and having a tough time with a weave, you need these instructions. Period.She goes through all the pros and cons of metals, which was also nice for the beginner. I felt like there was too much time spent on opening and closing rings, but again, if you're beginning, you need to know how important a perfectly closed ring is.It did leave me feeling like there's room for alot of creativity in weaving and using color, which I tend to shy away from because I don't care for aluminum and niobium is too pricey.Additionally, she's confident enough to tell you where you can purchase supplies at places other than her store, which is just plain cool.Rebeca's perfect quality of work and her use of color make her pieces shine. If you're just beginning, you'll be out buying rings in no time after reading this. If you've been addicted for awhile, you'll be eagerly awaiting her next, hopefully Expert Only, book, and I'll be waiting with you.

I am a self taught Chainmaille Artist. I have been using instructional products as well as materials from Rebeca Mojica's company Blue Buddha Boutique in Chicago for almost 3 1/2 years. This book offers beginners and advanced jewelery makers alike, an insight to developing and fine tuning basic technique as well as design.The gorgeous photographs, and easy, step by step directions are in clear, concise English and not too technical. Each section focuses on a specific weave 'family' and shows beautiful variations & color schemes. There is even a section for beginners outlining tools and how to properly use them; materials and how to care for them and pros and cons for using them in jewelry projects. Saving time and money!I am so happy to have found Rebeca & Blue Buddha and learned from her; an Icon in the industry of Metal Arts, Jewelry Design and Instruction. She attends the Milwaukee Bead & Button Show with wonderful lessons and products that are essential for making the dazzling jewelry in her book and for creating your own designed inspired by her expertize and her staffs diligent prototypes.If you are interested in learning to create jewelry in unique and eye catching designs this book is a must have.This is not your average instructional manual. It is a guide for anyone wanting to learn technique, design and create something you can enjoy wearing, giving as gifts or selling.You will learn in one book what took some people years to perfect. 'Friends flip through this book amazed and ask, "Can you make this?" With a smile and proud nod, I reply, "Yes, and you can too! Buy the book!"My only question is "When's the NEXT one coming out?" :)

This book covers the following 4 weaves: Japanese, Byzantine, Helm, Coiled. The pictorial instructions look clear enough although haven't made anything yet from it as wanted to start off with European weave rather than Byzantine for the projects I had in mind. I may use this book in the future, and there are at least 5 projects for each of the 4 weaves covered. It's fine for beginners who don't have a preference for any particular weave, but I feel I was misled by the description which says "no other book shows how to use so many weaves..."I probably wouldn't have purchased this book if I'd known the European weave was left out, which is a basic one and which looks better IMO than the byzantine from what I've seen so far on the internet. I will eventually try out some of the others later on, but it's back to internet tutorials for me now.

I have recently started creating my own jewellery and found a recommendation for this book. Now that I got it I cannot wait to start on the projects listed in here. The introduction and the tips and hints are great in this book even for beginners like me.

I am thrilled with book and have tried this craft and really enjoyed myself so now I need to stock up on the jump rings. I look forward to many hours of doing this subject

This book hardly ever leaves my side. The patterns are concise and easy to follow even for a newbie like me. I Have really taken my chain skills to another level.

Nice book. The weaves are not too challenging so perfect for a beginner. Pleased to have it in my collection.