Hey there! My name is Amanda and I'm what's most commonly known as an 'artisan'. I was born and raised in Claresholm, and I have been doing creative things of some sort since I was old enough to hold a crayon. Some of my most vivid memories of my childhood include sitting in my grandpa's shop with a stack of scrap wood, a hammer, and some nails and creating 'THINGS'... I'm sure at the time they were supposed to be something amazing, but looking at them years later I question my motives. Throughout my school years I always enrolled in art classes, learning as much as I could about everything; pottery, watercolour, oils, charcoal - basically anything I could get my hands on. After graduation I took Art History classes at the University of Lethbridge, then moved on to Print and Photo Journalism courses at Lethbridge College. Many years later I tumbled out the back end of the education train with what felt like a complete loss of creativity. I couldn't pick up a pencil to save my own life (good thing it never came down to that). After a few years of being completely dead in the creativity department I was wandering around a craft fair with family at Christmas. Lo and Behold a Christmas miracle occurred! There in front of me were two girls making some of the most amazing things I had ever seen. I reverently picked up a bracelet in what I now know to be something incredibly simple, gasped at the $400 price tag, promptly returned it to the table, and walked away thinking "how hard could chainmaille be?". That table was responsible for the spark that re-lit my creative fire. Well 5 years and a very broad learning curve later - here I am! I work predominantly in a hypoallergenic alloy of stainless steel, but I also use titanium, niobium, aluminum, copper, bronze, brass, and rubber to provide colour or uniqueness. Aside from chainmaille I also dabble in photography and graphic design. I started my own 'business' of selling my jewellery at craft fairs, roller derbies, and online a year ago. So far it has been a very interesting journey! One I hope to continue with for many, many years... or at least until I get arthritis.