Morningstar Mail creates beautifully unique chainmail necklaces, earrings, bracelets, armour and endless adornments. Inspired by the armouries of dark queens, wandering knights, and forest witches. Each piece is hand forged ring by ring from durable stainless steel. In a world where all things fade, stainless steel endures, resisting tarnish and preserving its beauty through the passage of time
Hiii, I feel like it's a good time for an introduction! My name is Xantia Valentina, I am a proud young Kamilaroi woman living on Wurundjeri country. I started making chainmail 2 years ago heavily inspired after visiting the Victorian Medieval Festival, however I always had a soft spot for fantasy and gothic themes growing up with the never ending story, the dark crystal, the munsters and addams family, the hobbit and lord of the rings, just to name some favourites. My imaginary friend when I was very small was Herman Munster, lol.
Alongside Morningstar Mail, I also work in lived experience youth mental health and homelessness advisory and advocacy, I maintain lived and living experience of these areas. I live with neurodivergence and chronic illness. I am a multifaceted artist and also create Aboriginal dot paintings which I use to share my story, I believe in Art for Advocacy.
Burning passion is at the core of everything I do, whether it's spending 40 hours on a suit of chainmail armour, or fighting for justice within my community. I am very honoured to hold balance between my creativity and activism, and the ability to merge them. I love finding healthy ways to take out my frustration of this world, like destroying my arms bending 12g stainless steel or transforming the anger into literacy to write to politicians or share with media, enforcing awareness.
Making chainmail makes me feel like I can quite literally suit up in my stainless steel armour and jewellery and have an extra layer of strength and passion with me while I navigate this difficult world and continue my advocacy work fighting against the insane injustice, racism, ableism, capitalism, complete inhuman nature we see today.
I am a staunch, proud Aboriginal woman.