About Susan Stephenson

I create what is known as chain maille jewelry.  My jewelry primarily consists of various types of sterling silver and gold-filled jump rings, and occasionally features gemstone and sterling silver drops and links. The jump rings are open, round rings. Once you get the ring in a particular position, you must close that ring by bringing the two open ends together. There are several tools used to work the rings into various designs.

My “studio” is usually mobile.  I have a portable bead board with foam in it that allows me to work anywhere. I gather the tools and materials needed for a particular piece of jewelry and then I must work under a special light with strong glasses.  The work of fitting the rings to create a desired design and assembling them in a specific way requires close precision, and some of my materials are quite small.  It takes time to achieve the accuracy I want, so completing a piece can be a lengthy process.

I started making chain maille jewelry about four years ago.  Every time I would see an ad for a Byzantine bracelet (which is made with jump rings), I liked it. Since my daughter and I had made other kinds of jewelry in the past, I thought that I could learn how to make one of these bracelets for myself. When I realized that other designs could be created with the jump rings, I had to try making them. Then I found it was fun to make my own designs.  There is great satisfaction in creating something with your own hands and then seeing the finished product. It is also satisfying to have other people admire and enjoy what I have made, knowing that it is handmade and of good quality.

Artwork examples