22 June
Posted our wire knotting workshop photos to our page on Facebook. Also, in case you missed the update in the supplies section, we now have First Class shipping for small (under $35) orders. We're testing it through the end of July to see how it goes, but so far, it seems to be a huge hit! If you have any feedback for us, please let us know!
12 June
Caught up on orders, and we also posted our Bead&Button Show photos to our page on Facebook. Now to get caught up on class listings and new products!
10 June
We're back from the show! We're mostly caught up on orders, but there are a couple of orders with out-of-stock items, and we'll be dealing with those over the next few days. We'll post photos soon. (We would have posted photos on Facebook already, but the website seems to be having problems accepting our images right now...) But soon!
1 June We're now at the Bead&Button show. We are accepting Internet orders, but please note that orders will take several days longer to ship than normal, since 2/3 of the office staff are at the show. Your order may also be delayed if the studio runs out of some inventory that is at the show. No phone orders will be accepted until June 10. See the contact page for more info. Thanks for your patience. We'll be back soon!
23 May We're now (mostly) closed to finish preparations for the Bead&Button show. Any orders that came in through midnight Friday, June 22 will ship early next week. Subsequent orders will begin shipping June 1. You'll still see us pop in occasionally on Twitter, but mostly we'll be up to our ears in little plastic baggies! We aren't accepting phone orders during this time, but we will be checking messages periodically.
A reminder to our retail stores and professional crafter customers: Please bring extra copies of your state tax certificate in order to qualify for tax-free purchases. We do need to retain a copy for our records.
We'll reopen for Internet orders only on June 1, but please note that orders will take several days longer to ship than normal, since 2/3 of the normal office staff will be at the show from June 2 through June 8. No phone orders will be accepted until June 10. Additionally, we might not be able to answer chainmaille-related questions until that time, as all our maille experts will be at the show. We don't expect to have time to stay caught up on email while at the show. We will, however, be tweeting live from the show floor and look forward to staying connected with our out-of-state/country fans via Twitter while we're gone.
As we tie up a few loose ends before we leave, we wanted to let you know that the customer survey will be closing on Monday, May 25. If you haven't already filled it out, please do so! We're so excited that so many of you let us know your opinions. We'll be tabulating the results in June and letting you know how we plan to address your concerns.
And finally, we're looking for an intern! If you live in Chicago (or can at least get to Blue Buddha studios once a week or more) and you would like to earn free jump rings, please apply. Interns help create sample weaves in a jillion sizes and in different metals.
18 May
The latest issue of the Mailler's Newsletter is now online, found in the Classes section. Lots of eye candy in this one. Happy reading!
Also, we're conducing a customer survey—the first in a series of short surveys that will help us figure out how to better serve you, and to make sure we're growing our company in a way that aligns with your wants and needs. Please take about 5 minutes to fill out the 10 question survey. Thanks so much for your input!
5 May
I'm very excited and honored that my Poseidon's Embrace necklace is a finalist in the Bead Dreams competition. It'll be on display outside the Bead&Button show floor; please do stop by and take a look!
Speaking of Bead&Button, we're weighing and packing rings as fast as we can. This means that orders might be delayed a day or so here and there.
We will be closed from May 23-May 31 to finish show preparations. You can still place an order during that time, but those orders won't begin shipping until June 1st. (If we're done prepping for the show before May 31, we will certainly re-open, but we're not promising anything!). We'll keep you updated on our Bead&Button progress!
6 April
It's time for another Craft Racket, a networking night for crafters sponsored by the Chicago Craft Mafia. Whether you've been making maille for only a few weeks, or for a few years, (or if you have other crafty passions), the Mafia would love for you to join us at our quarterly informal gathering. Meet fellow crafters, ask questions, network, snack, and of course, have fun!
I'll be creating the tip sheet for this Racket; the topic is Product Photography on a Shoestring Budget. However, feel free to stop by and ask questions about any topic that interests you!
