The June Maillers’ Choice kit will be a set of Ripple Double Spiral Necklace & Earrings, designed by B3 team member Darlene! This kit uses six rings sizes to create a gentle ripple through the weave.
So, we’re asking you: Should the kit be plain aluminum, or aluminum and a color AA? (You’ll be able to select from several colors when you click to vote.)
BRING ON THE CRAFT.
We could not be more excited to announce that the DIY Trunk Show is back and it’s time to get those vendor applications in! The 2014 show will take place 10 am – 5 pm, Saturday, November 22, at the Broadway Armory (5917 N. Broadway in Chicago). Complete details are available on the APPLY page of the DIY Trunk Show website. We look forward to applications for all kinds of handmade goods, but are especially interested in adding more vendors in in the following categories: men’s items, pet items, candles/home goods and bath and body.
Take a minute to read over the information on the application page before diving into the application itself. In the meantime, here are some quick facts about the show and a snazzy video to get your blood pumping for this year!
If you’re not familiar with the beginnings of this amazing event, check out these blog posts on the beginnings of the DIY Trunk Show and then how B3 came to manage it.
We can’t wait to see everyone in November!
We’re lucky to have such a creative team who consistently comes up with new, amazing designs. Heck, in the last few weeks alone we launched Barrel Ride Necklace, Wobble Necklace, Rubber Interwoven Bracelet, three additional new Spring Seasonal kits and our latest Exclusive Collection kit, Niobium Sleek Cuff). Phew! Can we take a nap now? *wink*
With that said, it’s time to retire a few of our older kits. They’re still great projects, but discontinuing these will help us make room for even more fun new kits. Note: We’re just discontinuing the kits. You’ll still be able purchase the instructions, and then buy jump ring packs and findings to complete the project – just not all packaged together in neat little pre-counted packets. So, order these kits before they’re gone on June 15:
One of the best things about chainmaille is the wide variety of metals you can weave with. Often, when maillers are looking for colored rings, they reach for the AA – but we like to switch it up a bit! 
We recently started carrying a new size of enameled copper jump rings that are the size equivalent to our CC14 base metal rings. During our weekly employee mailling time, Weaving Wednesdays, B3 team member Jen made an enameled copper version of one of our favorite earring designs, Illusion Loops. (You can download the free PDF instructions for Illusion Loops Earrings here.)
Each metal has its pros and cons, but enameled copper rings are some of the brightest and most colorful you’ll find. We love ’em! Just note that enameled copper is quite soft, so these rings work best doubled or in dense weaves with little chance of a ring getting caught on something and pulled open.
We have just have a few colors of these rings right now, but will be introducing more soon. Tell us in the comments or email us at [email protected]: What colors of enameled copper would you like us to carry in this size?
Happy weaving!
Rebeca gets asked a lot of questions about chainmaille. A LOT. And for good reason. She’s a pro! These questions come in through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and via email ([email protected]). Do you have a burning question about weaving? Inspiration and design? Tricky weaves? Using tools or different kinds of rings? Her favorite food? Rebeca is ready to field your questions about chainmaille, crafting, running a business and even her hair color…submit yours today!
Without further ado, here is the first episode of Ask Rebeca. What are the best pliers for making chainmaille?
Now, this video is not necessarily a formal Ask Rebeca episode, but we hear this question often. People tend to fiddle and get frustrated with the toggle clasps we love so much, so Rebeca shot this quick how-to video showing an easy way to fasten and unfasten a toggle clasp. Easy peasy!
