Frequently Asked Questions and Policies
I take pride in my art and I strive to make sure that everyone is happy with their purchase. That being said, I would like customers to keep in mind that I do have a part time job along with three babies. While I try to fulfill every order in a timely fashion, sometimes larger items or inlays take longer for me to complete and ship. Every ring has to be opened and closed by hand. Some pieces only have a few rings, while others may easily have over 1,000 rings. Certain weaves take longer than others, as well. Then there is stocking; if I’m out of a color, I have to order it (if the store has it in stock) and then wait for the color to be shipped. These are some reasons why it may take a little extra time to get a product to you. I try very hard to make sure I have a good inventory so you don’t have to wait long for your Treasure. You choose the color(s), style, and/or length, as I want you to love your product.
What type of materials do you use?
Andonized Aluminum Rings - these are the metal rings I primarily use.
Rubber Rings - These are the same size of as my metal rings, but they are made of rubber. I combine them with the metal rings to make bracelets and headbands. These rings are latex free.
Earring Backs - I have very sensitive ears and I wanted to make sure that there were no problems wearing my earrings. The backs are stainless steel.
Rubber Earring Backs - Each pair of earrings will come with two rubber backs to keep the earring from falling out of your ear lobe. I have researched several different brands and cannot find anything that says whether or not they are latex free. If you do not want the back, please feel free to let me know.
Dragon Scales - I use aluminum and titanium scales that contain no nickel.
I bought a piece of jewelry and it doesn't fit right. What do I do?
I want you to be happy with your jewelry. If you are not satisfied, please e-mail me and I will be happy to fix it.
I ordered a custom bag. How long do I have to wait before you ship?
The large bags take the longest for me to make. There is, on average, 900 - 1,000 rings that go into one of these bags and it takes several hours of labor. I cannot complete one in one sitting due to my job and other life commitments. It usually takes me two to three weeks for me to complete and ship a bag. Your patience is greatly appreciated, and I promise, you will love your new and unique bag.
What is a 'weave'?
A 'weave' is a term used on how the rings are interlaced. There are several methods and each weave has a different look. For more information, please check out my gallery.
What is an ‘inlay’?
An inlay is a design chainmaillers can make into their pieces. For example, one of my inlay chainmaille bags is Fluttershy’s cutie mark. I can do inlays for any symbol and icon except for ones that have copyrights, such sports teams and colleges.
How come there are so many different spellings of 'chainmaille'?
Many people spell it differently for various reasons. The main reason is to not confuse chainmaille (the art) with chain mail (junk mail). I actually read a story about a guy whose father-in-law didn't really care for him. After 7 years, the father-in-law saw him making a chainmaille piece and asked what he was doing. He responded that he was making chainmaille... Apparently, his father-in-law thought he made money off of chain mail (the junk)!
You'll see a variety of spellings, such as chainmail, chainmaille, chain mail, maille (in French, maille means mesh), etc. There currently isn't a correct way to spell it.
How much do you charge for your treasures?
You can find prices for all of my treasures on my home page.
How do you come up with your prices?
Trying to price items is challenging. I look at the cost of the materials used to make the item, the amount of time it took to make it, what other artisans are charging, and much the item is worth. Charging an item too low hurts other artisans who are trying to make a living doing the same thing I'm doing. Charging too high results in a lack of sales (understandably). Getting the right balance is very tricky, so you may see a change in price from time to time as I try to figure out the perfect balance.
I saw an item that looks similar to yours, but for a fraction of the price. Why should I spend more to get the same thing?
This is actually a serious problem with artisans. We can't compete with brand name stores who many times use cheap labor and cheap materials, and are therefore able to sell their items at a fraction of the prices we charge.
I saw this really cool piece online. Can you make it for me?
Fair Use is a very tricky area. I can't, and refuse, to use a unique design someone came up with themselves without permission. Creating an item myself based on a picture of someone else's piece all depends on whether or not the design was created specifically by the individual, or if it's something anyone could have easily created. For example, all the weaves I use are fair game.
Also, most fellow chainmaillers use a variety of ring sizes and materials. For now, I stick with just one metal (andonized aluminum) and a couple of sized (primarily 16 guage 1/4", though I've been recently playing with others). This puts a limit on what I can make. In the future, if there is a demand for different items, I’ll certainly consider expanding!
I want to do my own chainmaille. Where do I start?
Getting into chainmaille isn't an easy hobby to jump into. You have to be dedicated, and you have to be willing to make an investment. You can't just go to your local craft store, buy some rings and pliers, and away you go. Most stores don't sell rings, or if they do, they are cheaply made (if you can easily bend a ring with your fingers, only use it if you're trying to practice weaves, but NOT for the final product)! You have to order rings online. I personally like to use Metal Designz and Chainmail Joe. There's also Steampunk Garage, Weave Got Maille (note that they use a different gauge system, AWG), West Coast Chainmail, and The Ring Lord. These are just some of the main companies that sell chainmaille supplies.
Also, when making one of the most basic waves, such as European 4-1, be prepared to undo rings often. It takes awhile to get the feel of making different weaves correctly and how the rings will lay out in the end.
If you are really serious about getting into chainmaille, check out M.A.I.L. Maille Artisans International League (please note that their website currently has some issues).
Do you attend craft fairs and event?
Yes! Check my Home page for more information. Because I had triplets in January 2021, I'm not going to be doing many shows for awhile.
Where did you get the name "Flying Snails?"
It’s a long story. Back in college, I was obsessed with anime. Most of my usernames involved anime in some way or form. Eventually, I wanted a username that was more generic. I asked my sister, who was in high school at the time, for some ideas. She and her friends liked to draw between classes, and for some reason they drew flying biscuits and flying snails. Flying biscuits was already taken, so I went with flying snails. The name has stuck since.
Please keep in mind that I'm not the only one who uses the flyingsnails username.