12 Days of Craftmas: One Chainmaille Mandala

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Rebeca Mojica jewelry

(Click to enlarge.) The Chainmaille Mandala is woven from more than 27,000 jump rings and measures 23″ x 23″.

Happy holidays, everyone! We hope this season finds you celebrating with loved ones and enjoying a hot chocolate or five. It’s a busy time of year, and sometimes our gift-giving lists are full of really hard-to-shop-for folks!

Let us help: Stop by the Blue Buddha Boutique Artisan Market, a diverse collection of locally handmade items crafted by some of the most talented artisans in the Midwest.

Let us begin the 12 Day of Craftmas, a blog series that will highlight just a few of the artisans who make every item in the market by hand.

And now that we’ve teased you with the promise of fantastic gifts for the next 12 days, we give you Day 1 — something that is not for sale. We know, we know — but it’s so impressive, it deserves the spotlight: Rebeca Mojica’s Chainmaille Mandala.

Euro 4 in 1 mesh chainmaille

(Click to enlarge.) This close-up shows the rows and rows of European 4-1 that make up the Mandala.

Stop by and see the Mandala and our entire Artisan Market in person — we’re located in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago at 1127 W. Granville Avenue.

And stay tuned for the next 11 Days of Craftmas …

B3’s End-of-2014 Clearance Sale is ON!

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As 2014 winds down, it’s time for our end-of-year inventory clearance sale – and you can save BIG. Shop now to save on overstock items, as well as soon-to-be discontinued pieces.

SALE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

  • B3 Seconds! Read more about these rings here. For B3 Seconds, use coupon code B32NDS to receive 10% off these jump rings that are already a great cost-savings option! In fact, folks are often pleasantly surprised that our Seconds are considered just that — yes, we’re that picky. *wink*

The following items have been further reduced and are priced as marked on our Sale page, no coupon code necessary:

  • Sterling Silver: Yes, we had to say goodbye to silver this year, but we still have some gorgeous findings and rings that are now listed at incredible savings!
  • Kits: Check out our overstock kits. You’ll save up to an additional 20% off on these!
  • Rubber O-Rings: We introduced a new line of rubber rings this year, but we still have some of our previous style in stock — and now they’re 30% off!
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And stay tuned! Before the year is over we just may have some more close-out surprises to come.

Happy weaving!

Cast Your Vote! Rubber Rondo a la Byzantine Maillers’ Choice

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With this last Maillers’ Choice of the year, we are reminded that all good things must come to an end.

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B3 Journeyman Weaver and Patron Emissary—not to mention Retail Supervisor—Dan Rychtarik will be leaving Blue Buddha to pursue a new adventure. Of course, we had get him to come up with one more design for us before he says farewell!

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With Rubber Rondo a la Byzantine, Dan combined our new rubber O-rings with AA mixes to create a colorful bracelet that closes in on itself without a clasp.

Vote now for the colorway you’d like to see released for the December Mailler’s Choice!

Thanks, Dan for the awesome designs and so much more! We will miss you, and we wish you the best luck in the future.

 

Giving Thanks: Why We’re Closed for the Holiday Weekend

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anti-black-friday-webThanksgiving is this Thursday, and we plan to do what we hope you are doing this week: Relax for a few days, eat a delicious meal or two, and spend some quality time with loved ones.

Blue Buddha Boutique — both our online and brick and mortar shops — will be closed Thursday, Nov. 27, through Sunday, Nov. 30. (You can still place orders online of course, but won’t start processing them until Monday, Dec. 1.) We hope you respect our decision to not participate in Black Friday. 

Last year, Rebeca wrote a blog post explaining her thought process that led to this decision. You can visit it here: Why Our Store is Closed for Thanksgiving Weekend.

As the image says: live, craft, hug, eat, laugh, cuddle, rock out, sleep, breathe, meditate, party … just BE more.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A New Face at Blue Buddha: Welcome, Britt!

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Welcome to B3, Britt!

Please join us in welcoming our new Marketing Director, Britt Johnson! She’s just what the doctor ordered – a creative soul with strategy running through her veins. Britt oversees all of Blue Buddha’s marketing efforts, analyzing data and market trends to determine how to best meet our amazing customers’ needs. She is determined to help us prove to the world that anyone can make or enjoy chainmaille.

A Chicago native, Britt graduated from North Central College in Naperville, Ill., and after working the non-profit sector, she found her way to Blue Buddha. Now that she’s been with us for a few weeks, let’s get to know her a little better, shall we?

B3: So, Britt, what made you want to work at B3?
Britt: I was referred to B3 by a friend who thought I would fit perfectly in the professional and creative culture. When Rebeca told me more about the opportunity to help with marketing strategy I was very excited. I love statistics and logistics planning. After I got to meet the staff I knew I wanted to be a part of the B3 team. Everyone was so friendly and awesome – I couldn’t help but get excited.

B3: Who is you favorite artist or maker?
BJ: My favorite artists are probably my parents. My mom is a talented cosmetologist and artist who taught me everything I know about crafting. My dad is a folk musician who inspired my love of music and encouraged me to pursue it.

B3: Favorite work of art?
BJ: Klimt’s 1908 masterpiece “The Kiss” is probably my favorite. I think Klimt’s Golden Phase really created a shift in paradigm for other classically trained artists.

B3: Favorite craft project you’ve made?
BJ: My favorite craft project ever was a brooch bouquet my mother and I made. It had antique jewelry, crystals and hand-crafted flowers. We spent hours in my living room string, pinning, molding; it was the most fun we’d ever had working on a project together.

Britt and her rabbit, Onyx.

Britt and her rabbit, Onyx.

B3: Do you have any pets?
BJ: Two! I have a rabbit named Onyx, and a koi named Zoidberg.

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She has a craft room. Yes, she is one of us!

B3: Favorite band, book, or other inspiration?
BJ: My favorite books are “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien and “El Alquimista” by Paulo Coehlo. Those books definitely shaped me in my youth, and I revisit them often. My greatest inspiration is Jim Henson. His life’s greatest ambition was to make the world a better place by having existed in it. Now it’s my turn to ensure the world is a better place for the children from which I’m borrowing it.

“A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man.” Truer words never spoken than those of that great American patriot, Jebediah Springfield. Before you ask, the answer is “yes.” I checked, and embiggens in a perfectly cromulent word.