Overlapping Circles

Back when I was in first grade, my brother got a compass for school.

Thus began my love affair with circles. I was so enamored with this neat little tool that lets you draw a perfect circle that I often tried to "borrow" it while he was not around. This did not go over well with my brother, and my mother soon had to get another one for me.

I loved my compass. I used to do these mandala-like drawings with multiple circles in various sizes. Then I would carefully color them in with my colored pencils. The one in the picture is from about 10 years ago, but I know I have some from my elementary school years stashed away somewhere.

Funny thing is, I always thought of them as fun little doodles and didn't really see artistic value in them. That is, until I was introduced to chain maille by a coworker a few years back.

Chain maille is just like drawing a pattern with a compass. It's just in 3D. I now use chain maille in a good majority of my jewelry designs, and I don't think I would be here if it wasn't for all those years of playing around with circles and learning about color coordination from my "doodles".

Yes, it took me over 20 years, but I do belive I have now made a full circle. (Sorry, couldn't resist!)