Artist Market Monday: Pajaro Negro Taxidermy Jewelry

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April Montiel is the artist behind Pajaro Negro taxidermy jewelry and is a proud Chicagoan, born and raised.  She attended the University of Denver and has a degree in anthropology.  April prides herself on her Mayan culture and the “momma bear” instincts she acquired as a mother of a fiesty daughter.  April has a strong belief that all living or once living things should be treated respectfully.  She prides herself in taking what was once just thrown out like trash and gives it a hauntingly beautiful second life in each piece she produces.

 

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Her jewelry integrates pieces of bone, teeth, butterfly and beetle wings, moss, and flowers with antiqued metal decorative elements, resulting in lovely wearable and natural memento mori earrings, necklaces, cufflinks, and more.

Her Artist Statement notes:

“I have a strong belief that all living flora and fauna should be respected both in life and death.  By sourcing ethically acquired flora and fauna that was once considered trash and respectfully bringing it back to life through each piece I make.  I try and bring out the beauty and celebrate the life of what once was.”

Stop by and see these celebrations for yourself!

 

B3 Retail’s Loyalty Program + Upcoming Bonus Shopping Day!

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At Blue Buddha’s Retail Store + Artisan Market, we reward you for shopping locally!  We’ve started the B3 Retail Loyalty program, so you earn points with every purchase in store, including on chainmaille supplies, kits, class purchases, and local-artisan goodies!  We have an upcoming Double Points day coming up on May 31st, but here are other ways to earn extra points:

  • 1 point for every $1 spent in store (does not include pick up orders paid in advance online)
  • 100 points for signing up
  • 25 points for posting a picture on social media: come in and show us the post you made tagging us (using @BlueBuddhaBoutique, #B3ArtisanMarket, #buddhamaille, etc) and we’ll give you 25 points!  (1 redemption per store visit; tag must be made within the previous 3 days)
  • Double points on 5th Sundays (in 2015 this is March 29th, May 31st, August 30th, November 29th)
  • Triple points made on purchases the week of your birthday
  • 50 points each year for your birthday too!
  • 25 points for signing up for the B3 newsletter
  • & More fun opportunities throughout the year!

Rewards: 

  • 250 points:    $5.00 gift card
  • 500 points:    $10.00 gift card
  • 750 points:     $15.00 gift card
  • 1000 points:  $25.00 gift card ($5 bonus!)

$1 spent is equal to 1 point.  Points can be redeemed right away or you can choose to accrue them up to the maximum value (1000 points).  Loyalty program applies to in-store purchases only.  Points are not earned for online purchases, however gift cards earned can be used in-store or online.  Points must be used within one year.

 

Discount Code for pick-up orders at Bead&Button Show

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If you’re heading to Milwaukee in a few weeks for the Bead&Button Show, here’s your chance to pre-order anything you’d like from our website and pick it up at the show. Plus, we’ll even throw in a discount code for your order! Double-plus: you can shop Rebeca’s class kits before they are available for shipped orders.

Blue Buddha will NOT have a booth on the show floor! Rebeca will be at the Meet the Teachers reception Wednesday evening, but we won’t have our entire inventory there, nor will the discount code be valid. So, you see, it’s best to shop in advance!

Here’s what you need to know:

bead-button-bag1. Place pick-up orders by May 21 in order to guarantee delivery at the 2015 Bead&Button Show.

2. In honor of Rebeca’s 9th consecutive year teaching at the Bead&Button Show, use discount code 9YEARSBB* to save 9% off your entire pick-up order.  This percentage stacks on top of our regular Mix ‘n’ Match discount, making your prices a great value!
*Code valid on Bead&Button pick-up orders ONLY (we cannot honor the code on orders that require shipping).  Offer good through May 21, 2015.  Place your order soon!

3. You can purchase kits and instructions for Rebeca’s 2015 classes before anyone else has access.

4.  During checkout, select Bead&Button Pick Up as your “shipping” method, or you will be charged for shipping. In the notes section of checkout, indicate which of the following times you’ll pick up your order:

  • Wednesday June 3 – 3 pm (classroom 102A)
  • Wednesday June 3 – during Meet the Teachers (8 pm – 11 pm)
  • Thursday June 4 – 2 pm in the Gathering Area (Hyatt 2nd floor)
  • Saturday June 6 – noon (classroom 102A)

If none of the pickup times work for you, please contact [email protected] BEFORE Tuesday, May 26 to arrange a time that works for you and Rebeca.

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Place pickup orders by May 21 in order to guarantee delivery at the 2015 Bead&Button Show.

See you in a few weeks!

 

Rebeca at her first Meet the Teachers at the 2007 Bead&Button show!

Rebeca at her first Meet the Teachers at the 2007 Bead&Button show!

 

 

 

May Maillers’ Choice Colorway Voting

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It’s time to vote on a colorway for our May Maillers’ Choice kit. Please select your favorite combination for the new Byzantine Butterfly bracelet.

This design was created by Britt Johnson in honor of her mother for Mother’s Day. Each complimentary colorway is perfect for Spring!

This month, your choices are:

 

Aluminum with teal glass rings, white rubber, and purple lined amethyst seed beads: d95a2f0e-82ec-47dc-8ea2-0560af352ef5

Aluminum with Montana glass rings, black rubber, and dark blue iris seed beads:

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Aluminum with hematite glass rings, red rubber, and opaque black seed beads:

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Copper with amethyst glass rings, purple rubber, and hematite seed beads:

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Jewelry brass with smokey topaz glass rings, green rubber, and metallic brown iris seed beads:

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Artist Market Monday: DreamBean Candles by Bright Endeavors

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Bright Endeavors “lights the way” for adolescent mothers in Chicago, who receive coaching, guidance, and on-the-job training while producing premium soy candles & bath products. For these young women, Bright Endeavors is a pathway out of poverty – the first step toward quality, permanent employment.

Bright Endeavors’ products not only look great but do good; every purchase supports the organization’s mission, and customers aren’t simply buying a beautiful item – you’re empowering young women.

The B3 Artisan Market carries a wide range of these delightfully scented candles in sizes from small votive to large blue wine bottle to travel sized tins.  The soy wax can also be used as gentle body lotion when melted.   These candles have been very popular in store, so come try them out today!

 

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