Artisan Market Monday: When Rings Dream

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when rings dream chainmaille jewelry


When Rings Dream chainmaille started when a box arrived at Daniel Rychtarik’s home. Inside was enough jump rings to start creating and selling chainmaille to his friends.

Wanting to learn different weaves and more applications for the craft, Dan furthered his chainmaille education, and after a few weekends of creativity and collaboration with Joshua Diliberto, Dan was determined to make this hobby a lifestyle. Soon, Courtney Hardcastle came aboard and they headed to the Renaissance Faire as their first public event. To keep up with the increasing demand, Rachel Billich joined the team.

when rings dream chainmaille bracelet

Dan recently moved on from B3 as a member of our team, but When Rings Dream continues to grow, teach and create quality custom chainmaille designs.

Stop by to check out When Rings Dream’s items at the B3 Artisan Market, 1127 W. Granville Ave. in Chicago, and be sure to like the WRD Facebook page. 

rubber chainmaille bracelet when rings dream

B3 Guided Learning: A New Way to Learn, Connect and Weave!

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b3guidedlearningWant to learn the basics of chainmaille so you can tackle projects on your own? Looking to hone your skills? Need to add a clasp to a project that you started ages ago, but never finished? Wondering what all those numbers on the supplies packages mean? B3’s Guided Learning is for you!

These affordable sessions are geared toward students age 16+ at any skill level. Most of the session will be spent working on individual projects, though the instructor may take a few minutes at the beginning to demonstrate basic chainmaille techniques, depending upon students’ needs. Guided Learning sessions are perfect for those who need assistance, but don’t require a full-fledged private lesson.

guided learningGuided Learning sessions will be held 6:00-7:30 pm on Thursdays (BYOB!), as well as 11:00 am – 12:30 pm on Saturdays through February and March.

Join us and make beautiful jewelry projects today!

A few notes about Guided Learning: Though we offer the use of Blue Buddha Boutique’s pliers, there are no supplies included with Guided Learning. Students should bring in any instructions or projects they would like to work on. If you’ll be purchasing something from B3 to work on, please arrive 15-20 minutes early so a staff member can assist you. Blue Buddha instructors and staff will help with size conversions, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to supply every ring needed for non-Blue Buddha projects, nor can we guarantee that the shop will have exactly what you need in stock. Whenever possible, have a few back-up projects in mind in case you cannot weave your first-choice project during Guided Learning.

Fees: Guided Learning can be purchased in a 4-session ($48) or 8-session ($90) bundle; a la carte walk-ins ($16 each) are available as well. Bundled sessions are valid for three calendar months following the date of purchase.

B3 Launches Exclusive Faux Gold Collection!

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banner-faux-gold

Blue Buddha’s new Faux Gold Jump Ring Collection is now available in 11 new sizes for you to create affordable, elegant chainmaille with all the glamour of the real deal!

illusion-loops-faux-big

Click the earrings to download the Illusion Loops PDF tutorial for free!

Made of lightweight anodized aluminum, these rings will not tarnish, keeping your piece as beautiful as the day you created it. The look of gold, at a fraction of the price.

While aluminum is technically not hypoallergenic, many folks who have reactions to copper and jewelry brass can wear anodized aluminum without skin irritation. These rings are also perfect if you’re looking to spare your hands; aluminum is easier to work with than jewelry brass.

Another perk of faux gold: the price! With this gold anodized aluminum, your buck goes a lot further—hundreds and hundreds of rings further—than with gold-fill rings.

The B3 Faux Gold Collection comes straight from the creative mind of Blue Buddha’s founder Rebeca Mojica. Her Phoebe collection has been a hit for two years now, and she noticed an increasing number of customers asking if she carried the same pieces in gold. “As they so often do,” Rebeca said, “Customers have the BEST ideas. I mean, why not do these in gold?” She worked with the product development team at Blue Buddha to create the rings in sizes used Phoebe collection, as well as a more sizes she thought would be useful. Rebeca debuted her new gold designs to great success during the 2014 holiday season, and now, convinced of the success of these rings, she’s turning them over to you to see what you will create. dodecahedron

Give it a try with one of our Faux Gold Sampler Packs, and see what beauty you are inspired to create!

Need some ideas on what to weave with the B3 Faux Gold Collection? Try these:

Happy weaving!

 

Artisan Market Monday: Elycia

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We firmly believe that not only should your jewelry be beautiful (and handmade) but so should the vessel you keep it in!

This week for Artisan Market Monday, we’d like to introduce you to Elycia, maker of lovely little ceramics. She hand crafts delightful dishes and that you’ll be happy to display your jewelry in.

elycia

Elycia lives in southern Illinois, in a cottage and studio nestled in Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. Her ceramic pieces are inspired by the nature around her — animal, insect and floral imagery can be found throughout her work. She explains, “I love working in my small, rustic studio. I enjoy the quiet noise of the woods. I enjoy the company of rabbits, deer and squirrels as they venture near by me as if to see what I am doing throughout the day. I have a little bird that often sits on my studio door and sings to me while I work. My studio has no heating, cooling or running water. I often collect rain water to use while working. I enjoy the challenge of adapting to my changing work environment.”

Stop by the Blue Buddha Boutique Artisan Market, 1127 W. Granville, Chicago, and and check out Elycia’s dishes, jewelry and more.

Can’t make it our Edgewater shop? Visit Elycia’s Etsy shop and follow her on Facebook. 

Celebrate National Craft Month With Us! B3 Makers Day is March 7

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We like interesting people who do interesting things. That’s not so strange, right? :)

We’re especially fond of folks who are true artisans — those who make beautiful, cool and useful items by hand.

NOTE: If you are a maker, and are interested in participating in this event, scroll down for more information.

national craft month celebration makers day march 7

To celebrate National Craft Month, on Saturday, March 7, a variety of makers will invite the public to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at what they do at B3’s 2015 Makers Day event in Chicago. 

These artisans will explain the process behind their work—and many will give the public a chance to try it for themselves through make and take projects. all will be held at Blue Buddha Boutique (1127 W. Granville in Chicago).

Last year’s sessions included make and takes and demos of sewing, chainmaille, paper folding, lock picking, lampwork glass and more.

All activities are family friendly and suitable for beginners. Admission is free. Most projects are free; a few will have a modest fee to cover materials (less than $5).

Stay tuned: A schedule of the participating makers and their activities/demonstrations will be available soon!

Maker’s Day
Saturday, March 7, 2015
11 am – 5 pm

Blue Buddha Boutique
1127 W. Granville Ave.
Chicago, IL 60660
map it!

 

*** Are you an artisan who would like to participate in Makers Day? ***

Makers Day is a unique opportunity for you to show and tell — via make and takes and demos — all about your craft of choice. Specifically, we’re looking to showcase artisan projects, anything made by hand, or anything crafty that is made mechanically or using technology.

Interested? We’d love to hear from you! Please email us at [email protected] and let us know the following:

  • What you propose to showcase
  • Your qualifications
  • If you plan to do a demonstration only or if your demo will also include a make and take for participants. (Note: We prefer the make and takes be complimentary, but if there is a nominal charge for your make and take, let us know what that is and what participants get for their make and take.)
  • Your set-up needs (electricity, tables, chairs, etc.). Anything else that Blue Buddha would need to provide?
  • Your availability. Demos will be scheduled in 2-4 hour shifts throughout the day, with a few events that run all day. Let us know what time you can begin (11 am, noon, 1 pm, 2 pm or 3 pm) and what length shift you prefer (2, 3 or 4 hours or all-day). You’ll have 30 minutes to set up and 30 minutes to tear down. If you require more time to set-up/tear-down and have something totally mind-blowing, let us know and we’ll see if we can accommodate you.

If we think you’re a good fit for Makers Day, we’ll be in touch within a couple business days. Questions? Shoot us an email. Thank you!