| My real-life name is Elizabeth Parker, but online I am generally found
under the alias ArmoredDrake. I've been learning about maille
since I went to my first Renaissance faire in October 2003, for my
thirteenth birthday. I saw a hauberk there, and my dad
convinced me to try making one for myself. Well, I didn't
start right off with a shirt, but I did have a pair of vambraces
completed within a couple weeks. I then moved on to a coif,
then some jewelry, then my first habergeon, and then...well, as you can
see, I haven't stopped. My first show was with a group of other local artists, all of whom get together yearly for a craft show called Whimsical Women. From there, I expanded to the Bizarre Bazaar in nearby Grand Rapids, Michigan. That was fun because I had lived in the area for ten years, and so all the old family friends would come up to my booth and sort of realize that they knew me somehow. In 2006 I did my first renaissance faire...Grand Valley Ren Fest, the first faire I went to as a patron, also became my first one as a vendor. I've received many inquiries as to whether I sell my things off this site. The answer is no, but if you see something you like, please feel free to contact me. If I don't have it in stock, I'll make it, and if you want something custom-made I will certainly see what I can do. Email me < > (Your browser must have javascript enabled to display
the above email address. As of now, I don't make chainmaille as a full-time career (too busy as a full-time high school student, really), but I don't seriously plan to take it much further than the status of a high-interest hobby. My real interest right now is in astrophysics and astronomy, but I also like foreign languages, and studying chainmaille has given me an interest in medieval history as well, so who knows? I could end up as a steady renfaire vendor, or maybe even a professional jeweler. Anyway, if you're a fellow artisan and want to chat, if you've got a question or comment about anything on this site, or whatever other reason you might have to contact me, you can send me a message at the address above. I'm also a frequenter of M.A.I.L. and The Ring Lord's Forum, so maybe you can find me there too.
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