Chain Maille with Rebeca Mojica

This post is part of my Bead and Button review.

My first class on Monday was "Intricate Chain Maille" with Rebeca Mojica, founder of Blue Buddha Boutique.

A few weeks prior, Rebeca had emailed all of us asking if we would like to do some prep work (opening and closing rings) for the class.

I jumped at the chance to get started (no pun intended), signed up for the prep and received the kit in more than enough time to open and close the rings.

Because "Intricate Chain Maille" uses a slightly bigger version of Rebeca's "Coiled Butterfly" as a base, Rebeca gave us the option of starting that weave before class.

I made one butterfly using rings close to those in the magazine instructions.

I made a second one using the rings from the kit.  I loved the way it looked, so I added a clasp and wore it for a week or so before the show.

(You can find "Coiled Butterfly" on Blue Buddah's website here or in the Fall 2012 issue of Wirework magazine.)

I think everyone in the class took advantage of Rebeca's offer and we were all sailing into the pattern very quickly.

During the class, Rebeca made sure to check on each one of us and help us through the various stages.  She definitely knows her chain maille!  

After completing "Coiled Butterfly," we added various rings in the middle and around the edges, building on each layer of rings to make a thick cuff.

I veered a bit off path and used bigger rings than Rebeca had in her samples.  As a result, my cuff does not lay flat.  I don't know if you can tell, but the middle part sticks out a bit and the rest of the bracelet tapers from the middle.

I absolutely adore it!  It is bold and thick and awesome!

I loved this cuff so much that I bought another kit in copper, blue and turquoise.  (This one is for my mom, so it may not be as pointy in the middle.)

I cannot tell you how pleased I was with this class.  Rebeca was wonderful and the time just flew by!

If you are interested in chain maille, check out Rebeca's store, Blue Buddha Boutique.  Blue Buddha offers a wide variety of patterns and kits.  (I want to try about ten of them.) 

You can also find Rebeca's book, Chained, on Amazon or on the Blue Buddha website.  Blue Buddha also offers kits for most of the patterns in the book.