The Story Behind O' Deslaine

Every piece of O' Deslaine jewelry begins the same way — with a single jump ring and a pair of pliers.

Who I Am

I'm Kathryn Delaney, the maker behind O' Deslaine. I'm a craftsperson, a lover of history, and someone who has always been drawn to the quiet beauty of the natural world. O' Deslaine is my way of bringing those two passions together — ancient technique and the timeless forms found in nature.

How It Started

My journey into chainmail began with a fascination with Celtic metalwork — the intricate knotwork, the reverence for the land, the way artisans of old could transform raw metal into something that told a story. I wanted to carry that tradition forward, not as a replica of the past, but as something living and wearable today.

What started as a personal obsession with weave patterns and ring gauges grew into O' Deslaine — a small, one-person studio where every piece is made by hand, one ring at a time.

The Craft

Chainmail jewelry is one of the oldest forms of metalwork in the world, and the process hasn't changed much in centuries. Each piece is built by opening, linking, and closing individual jump rings — sometimes hundreds of them — into patterns with names like Byzantine, European 4-in-1, and Box Chain. There are no shortcuts. Every weave is assembled by hand, ring by ring, in my studio.

The materials I work with are chosen with care: pewter-plated silver, sterling silver, and other metals that age beautifully and wear comfortably. Whether it's the delicate drape of a Falling Feather pendant or the coastal rhythm of a Sand Dollar Byzantine weave, each design is shaped by the natural world that inspires it.

The Inspiration

Celtic culture has always spoken to me — its deep connection to the land, its cycles of season and stone, its belief that beauty and function are not opposites. Nature is my other constant muse: feathers, shells, leaves, water. I look for the geometry hidden in organic forms and try to echo it in metal.

When you wear a piece from O' Deslaine, you're wearing something made slowly, with intention — a small piece of a very old craft, shaped by the world around us.

Made for You

Thank you for being here. Whether you're discovering chainmail for the first time or you've loved it for years, I hope something in this collection speaks to you. Each piece ships from my studio, made with care and ready to be worn for a long time to come.

— Kathryn