Vote to select a winner for February’s “Featured Weave” contest!

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CAST YOUR VOTE NOW!

Submissions for February’s Featured Weave Contest are closed and the B3 team has done the difficult job of narrowing down the submissions to our group of finalists which means it’s time for YOU to cast your vote to determine the winner. This month, folks got busy creating pieces using dragonscale.  We were totally blown away by the range of creations which highlight so many different ways to use this weave!

To share the survey, we recommend you copy the link to this blog post and use that in any emails, blog posts, or social media posts you’d like to make about it (we’ve noticed some weirdness in the past with sharing the link directly – it sometimes like to bump people out of voting that haven’t already.)

Get a sneak peak at the all of our finalists below:

                  

FEATURED WEAVE FOR MARCH – Full Persian


For March, we’re featuring full persian.  This weave was requested by our community on Facebook and we can’t wait to see what you create with it!  The weave works in a number of sizes from very small (base metal size D22) to quite large (base metal size T16) and offers neat tapering options.

Want to see which B3 sizes work well for this weave?  Visit our base metal stats & uses page and our sterling silver stats & uses page, or check out these weave ideas posts right here on our blog.

Never tried this weave but feeling up for the challenge? You can purchase Blue Buddha instructions for Full Persian 6-in-1 here on our sale page. (Scroll all the way down almost to the end of the page to find them.)


 

 

Chainmaille Blog Bomb! Plus, great giveaways.

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UPDATE! Scroll down to check out the “aftershock” blog added to this blog bomb 2/21. One more chance to enter to win!

We had so much fun with our blog hop in November that we could hardly wait to do another one.  This time around, we’re doing a blog “bomb” – 4 blogs, 4 giveaways, all in one day.  BOOM!

The theme for this explosion is learning.  Whether it’s picking up chainmaille pliers for the first time, starting a new weave or really venturing into a new craft of any kind, taking those first few steps is altogether exciting, scary and confusing.  But that’s what makes it worth doing!  In re-launching our jewelry-making classes, we are energized knowing we’ll get to help lots of folks take these kinds of leaps, lead them through breakthrough moments and watch them create beauty.  We also can’t wait to do some learning ourselves as we invite makers of all kinds into our space for monthly CRE8TIME Maker Studios.

There’s something special about coming together to create as a community and we’ve really been missing that in our space.  We can’t wait to invite you in to part of it (and yes, we’re still brainstorming how to include folks not within driving distance in the fun!)

In the spirit of our diverse community, we have a very cool group of crafty bloggers participating today.  Make sure to click through on each of their posts below and leave a comment.  Doing so with automatically enter you to win a kit and instructions for our “Flowers” bracelet project.  (Please note: giveaways are open only to US residents this time around.)

Hands Occupied | Blogger: Heidi Gustad

Heidi Gustad is an experienced blogger who has worked with Michaels, Etsy, iLovetoCreate, EKSuccess Brands, Cricut, and more. She currently writes for Mod Podge Rocks!, Discover Paper, Craft Gossip and The Good Weekly. Heidi is also a Librarian when she’s not crafting up a storm. 

 

Check out Heidi’s post documenting her first chainmaille project. (P.S. – We love that B3 Team member & ambassador Darlene was part of her inspiration to learn!)

Lovestruck Jewelry Blog | Blogger: Sara Richardson

Sara Graham Richardson’s jewelry-making journey began in 2005, when she was hired to be an assistant editor for a new magazine called Step by Step Wire Jewelry. Having been hired for her journalism background at the time, she knew almost nothing about jewelry. With some encouragement, she discovered a new creative medium for herself and  now sells chainmaille and wire jewelry through her small business, Lovestruck Jewelry.

Check out Sara’s post all about the different ways to learn chainmaille.

ChiIL Mama Blog | Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

Bonnie Kenaz-Mara (AKA:  ChiIL Mama) is a a freelance writer-videographer-photographer with a P.R./Marketing & Theatre Arts degree from Miami University and over 25 years of experience in the business.  She and her two kids have taken on chainmaille jewelry through two previous blog hops with Blue Buddha Boutique and have proven crafting can be a family affair!

Check out Bonnie’s post all about creating community and passion through art!

BONUS! BLOG BOMB “AFTERSHOCK” – ONE MORE GREAT POST + GIVEAWAY


Poise.cc Blog | Cinnamon Cooper

Cinnamon Cooper taught herself to sew on her Holly Hobby sewing machine when she was a wee lass. She made the cutest outfits for her cats and dolls. Eventually she realized that sewing handbags and totes was great fun because they didn’t have to fit her hips or her waist which eventually led her to create www.Poise.cc — a small handbag empire where politics are fashionable and where handbags are designed to suit your purse-onality.

Check out Cinnamon’s post all about finally finishing her first chainmaille project, 6 years later.

Finally, make sure to leave a comment here on our blog to be entered to win the grand prize: One FREE 3-hour, chainmaille jewelry-making class held at Blue Buddha Boutique.  The winner will get to choose which class they would like to attend from all our upcoming classes and should be prepared to attend the class in-person.  We do not currently offer our classes online so this giveaway is really for folks nearby (or willing to travel) only.

Go!  Get inspired!  Leave comments!  Win cool stuff!  All contests will end at midnight CT on Tuesday, February 26th.

**Please note: Your comment may not appear right away.  In order to prevent spammers and robots from taking over our giveaway, we must approve comments, particularly from folks who have not commented on a previous blog post.  We will do so frequently throughout the day, so we’ll get to yours soon!

Get your “Maillers’ Choice” kit today!

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This month’s “Maillers’ Choice” kits are now available on our sale page. Scoop up your fan-customized “Japanese Cascade” necklace & earring kit today only from noon to midnight CT. Don’t forget!  You can purchase instructions with your kit today and save 5% off each!

Love “Maillers’ Choice”? Join the Club!

Add a “Maillers’ Choice” Club subscription to your order and receive all kits in 2013 to your mail box automatically each month. Please note that subscriptions purchased today will begin in March, so if you would like the February kit, you must add that to your order as well.

Happy Valentine’s Day, to the things that make us feel alive.

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We started a tradition last year of doing an unconventional Valentine’s Day post.  In 2012, we celebrated the love we have for our (many) B3 pets and this year, we wrote some sweet nothings to some of the creative pursuits that make us feel alive and sometimes even keep us sane.  Reading these, we think you’ll relate to many of the sentiments.  You’ll also get to learn a little more about the eclectic group that is the B3 team.

What creative outlet would you send a Valentine to?  Leave your love notes in the comments of this post, share them on our wall on Facebook or post them to Twitter using hashtag #craftlove.

Aimee’s Love: Wire Wrapping

Wire wrapping,  I love you because you allow me to express my creativity in amazing ways.  I can turn a bad mood into a beautiful piece of art, and a good mood into a masterpiece :)

Jen’s Love: Metalsmithing

Metalsmithing, I love you because, well, I miss you. And they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder which is why I really, REALLY love you. You are my obsessive, compulsive outlet. You help me to express myself when I cannot otherwise because I am such a self-conscious weirdo. You have been absent from my life for too long now, metalsmithing, and that is going to change.

Lisa’s Love: Designer Vinyl Toy Collection

Designer Vinyl Toy Collection, I love you because when I look upon your vast array of colors, they make me smile and sometimes do a happy dance. You inspire me in my creative pursuits, also reminding me to keep a high standard of cute in my life.

Jenna’s Love: Tap Dance Improvisation

Tap Dance Improvisation, I love you because I used to hate you, but now you provide a time when I can access the unique part of my brain where I am thinking, but not planning.  You’ve helped me find my artistic voice and become a better choreographer.

Rebeca’s Love: Dinner Group 

Monday Night Dinner Group, I love you because you inspire me to reach new levels of culinary creativity.  But you also support me when the cake falls or the khorasan wheat is too al dente.  Here’s to another decade of deliciousness!

Kat’s Love: Chainmaille Clothing Projects

Audible Odyssey clothing project, I love you because, you are a really fun challenge and I look forward to collaborating with this great company on a dance production from one of the founding members!

Jason’s Love: Miniature Painting

Miniature Painting, I love you because when we’re together everything else fades into the background. I don’t think about anyone else and I only have eyes for you. We’ve told some fantastic stories and brought so many characters to life.

CRE8TIME to make what you love!

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As busy adults, there are days when it can be difficult to find time just to eat lunch or respond to an email or even just to breath for a minute.  It may sound cliché, but it’s true we definitely live in a fast-paced world.  As such, we often find ourselves responding to the question, “How on earth do you find time to make chainmaille?” Or even hearing, “Oh, I would never have the time or patience for something like that.”  Sound familiar?

Open Maker Studio at Blue Buddha Boutique

There seems to be a number of misconceptions about people who love to make things.  Sometimes it’s that people think that’s all you do.  Surely you must not have a life outside of making if you can actually find time to do that.  Other times it’s that people think we must have super-human patience in order to take the time to create.  The truth is though, all of us (the B3 team, our customers, our peers, etc.) are people with full lives including work, families, school and personal lives.  And we can probably all agree you don’t need super-human patience when you’re doing something you love.

It’s for these reasons the new CRE8TIME movement resonated with us (and why we’ll be hosting an open studio for makers of all kinds on the 8th of every month starting in March.)  We’re all for encouraging people to carve out time to be creative and we’re excited to be a part of this larger movement.  Should you need some motivation to make time to create, we thought we’d share some really incredible responses we got from our community on Facebook about why we all are making the commitment to make more time to create.

Warning: you might just want to get up, get out and get making after reading these answers!

Rich Y.…because I’ve finally learned to see value in my own work.
Meta G. I’m retiring and will have PLENTY of time.
Tish V. It inspires my spirit and helps me focus.
Tatianna A. I no longer have to go to college anymore.
Paul G. It is who I am.
Megin V. I enjoy giving what I create to others!
Paula A. I want to!
Christina P. I have to spend time doing it to make my creativity thrive!
Lora B. I must.
Deanna D. If I’m listening to my soul, it’s the only thing I can do.
Jennifer R. It feeds my creative soul and fulfills me.
Janine D. It helps make the world more beautiful and bring joy to those I share my creations with.
Peggy B. You have it wrong. The sentence should end with “because”.
Dorie H. I deserve it. After a long day working 2 or 3 jobs (depending on the day), I love to work on chainmaille to relax and zone down.
Micheladas M. …it’s what I love to do.
Maureen M. It makes me happy!
Sandra D. It is the best thing to do. And it is very relaxing.
Debbie T. It brightens my soul and strengthens my heart.
Charlene A. …creating things for myself and others makes me a better person, inside and out.
Judith D. …it keeps my emotional being strong.
Sibera N. …it completes me.
Elisabetta S. è il modo migliore per rilassarsi (It is the best way to relax.)
Linda S. I really slacked off in 2012 due to having surgery and just not feeling like getting crafty!
Elizabeth C. I want to!
Joanne H. …creating something keeps the little grey cells active!
Khristine C. …the more I create the more rings I can buy.
Sherri T. It feeds my soul, so I can deal with reality.
Jessica S. …it makes me happy and forces me to stop and see the colors around me.
Tiffany H. …sleep is overrated when you have a newborn! (I’m joking, I just need the “me” time.)
Mary Ann A. …it provides such joy in my life!
Cheri M. …after 3 years of staying focused to my bachelor’s degree, I will be done in Oct.
Jen M. My soul needs it.
Benjamin P. I am losing money I can make making Chainmail!
Lauren M. Creating makes me a much nicer person to be around.
Jessica A. …I’d die if I didn’t!
Dori B. I deserve it!!
Mary Pat T. It helps me focus and lifts my spirit to make beautiful things! And I should be done with my Master’s in May!
Sheila J. …it’s when I can be the “real” me.
Vanessa C. It is my stress reliever and I enjoy it so why not make more time for something I really enjoy!
Darla J. Because time spent creating creates time for everything else.
Monica G. I want to inspire myself and other and give them something to smile about.
The Alchemists Vessel I need to. It is a compulsion. Must. Create. Something.
Wolfsong Dreams I have so many project ideas in my mind my head might explode if I dont! lol