Our Story

There is nothing quite like the spectacle and lore of a Renaissance Faire. Since I was a kid and my grandmother first took me to a local faire, I’ve been fascinated by the time period and all things Medieval and Renaissance. In 2005, I attended my first large faire with my now wife, and even though we got there about an hour before closing, I was completely taken with everything. Since then, there have only been a few years that I haven’t gone to the New York Renaissance Faire, and I’ve even gotten my close friends involved too. We go in costume and try to play the part, the whole nine yards. I’ve even taken to designing costumes for some of them and have found a love of that as well, but my first intent was to make something I had only seen in pictures.

What I had in mind was a chain to hold on a cloak that had a stylized chain strung between two equally stylized medallion pieces, they’re also called findings. I looked all over the internet and wasn’t able to find what I wanted, so I did what anyone does when they can’t find what they’re looking does…I made it myself. From there, I decided to start learning different chainmaille weaves and started making bracelets and necklaces and opened a shop on Etsy. While I did this, I worked on my sewing skills and made a few pieces for people and for myself. I want to eventually add costuming to my repertoire of crafting skills I’ve started to develop.

My crowning glory so far, and it’s not saying much, is that I gifted the actress who played Queen Elizabeth I at the New York Renaissance Faire two gifts; a bracelet for the Faire’s Ruby Jubilee (40th Anniversary) and a necklace the following year in a specially designed box. I was overjoyed that she was genuinely touched by both gifts and would love to do it again for another reigning monarch of the faire again some day. I want my pieces to bring people joy and act as conversation starters. My friends have had people compliment them on the things I’ve made them and then they in-turn tell me how much they like my work and I give them a card. The necklace I made was a one-off design that I felt the historical monarch would have worn. My favorite thing to do with my work is custom pieces, basically, you have a style in mind, I make it and it’s the only one of its kind. Even if it’s for a bridal party and they’re all the same style, the design would be different for each member to make that much more special.

My cloak chains and bracelets aren’t the only thing I’ve done though. I have made six tie chains and given them to friends and family as gifts. These are done in a unique style too, but on a smaller scale. Custom work allows me to be creative while still working with the style that’s requested, and I’ve not had a single person not like something I’ve made. All these pieces are hand made by opening and closing each individual ring which makes up each piece. I enjoy every aspect of this hobby and want to share it with everyone so that I can bring as much happiness with it as it’s brought me over the years.

So this is the foundation upon which I built the Silveroak Craftorium. Maintaining a sense of total individuality through the use of my chainmaille while branching into adding my costuming skills to it to create a costuming, accessory and eventually, hopefully, a prop building company. The journey of a thousand steps begins with the first step, or in my case…the first ring.