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Artist Rebeca Mojica Blue Buddha Boutique, a diverse line of chainmaille jewelry and accessories, was launched by self-taught artist Rebeca Mojica in 2003. Blue Buddha Boutique has grown to a staff of four, with interns, independant contractors and guest contributors helping the company thrive. Most recently, Kat Wisniewski joined the team to help with inventory and weaving.

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Rebeca Mojica
Artist, Instructor, and Owner

A graduate from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, Rebeca worked in media relations and nonprofit development for seven years. She managed several of the most successful PR campaigns ever for various businesses and nonprofits. Additionally, she authored annual reports and newsletters, secured large grants, created community workshop programs, and increased corporate sponsorship for an established local fundraiser by 42% in a single year.

Though her successes made her happy, in the back of her head was a nagging feeling that she wanted to do "something with her hands." So she quit her job, spent a summer working at Interlochen Arts Camp, and then backpacked through a dozen European countries before settling down and living for a year in Germany.

chainmaille jeweler Rebeca Mojica the artist While at a Renaissance Faire in Germany, Rebeca saw several people wearing chainmaille belts. She couldn't find any place to buy them, so she decided to make one herself, thus awakening her passion. Today she knows 65 weaves (100+ if you include variations) and has a diverse portfolio of both upscale and accessible jewelry.

By using colored rings and combining classic weaves in new ways, she erases preconceived notions of this ancient craft. Her designs span from funky and fun to high-end and sophisticated, from earrings and necklaces to curtains and pull-chains for light fixtures. Rebeca constantly strives to take this medium to a new level; her mini-sculptures and colorful juggling cubes are definitely not typical maille fare!

In a very short time, Rebeca also emerged as the pre-eminent chainmaille instructor in the Midwest. Students travel from several neighboring states, including Wisconsin, Indiana and Missouri, to attend her classes. In addition to teaching regularly at Caravan Beads and Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago, Briolette Beads in Forest Park, and Ayla's Originals in Evanston, she has taught at the Bead&Button Show and has been a guest instructor for the Fashion Department at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Rebeca is a member of the Chicago Craft Mafia and Chicago Metal Arts Guild. Her projects have been published in Chain Mail Jewelry, an instructional book by Lark Publishing, and Step by Step Wire Jewelry magazine. Her work has appeared on CLTV and in The Chicago Tribune and The New York Times.

When she is not weaving maille, Rebeca enjoys cooking (especially baking bread *), learning languages, and contemplating quantum physics and fractal cosmology.

Contact Rebeca at rebeca@bluebuddhaboutique.com.


Read Rebeca's Artist Statement


Gianessa Designs Vanessa Walilko
Weaver and Instructor

Vanessa has been fiddling with her fingers since she was a kid, starting at the age of three with her first Lego kit. At the age of nine, she took a beaded jewelry class and her life was forever changed. She has been making beaded jewelry ever since, and launched Gianessa Designs in order to sell her own jewelry. She is a 2008 Gold Medal winner of the 2008 Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Annual Beading Contest, and two of her earlier designs were chosen as finalists in 2005 and 2007. Jewelry is Vanessa's life: she works as a production assistant for another Chicago jeweler when she is not crafting maille or her own beaded designs. She has been with Blue Buddha Boutique since May 2006.

Contact Vanessa at vanessa@bluebuddhaboutique.com.

hug life tattoo Alyse Keefe
Inventory Manager

Alyse joined the Boutique in July 2007 and is responsible for overseeing many of the day-to-day procedures in the workshop. Her knack for efficiency and desire to organize everything in sight have been eagerly welcomed. In her first few months, Alyse learned much more about maille than she knew existed, and created several stainless steel and copper pieces. Her main hobbies outside of chainmaille involve building and riding freakbikes. She aspires to be a tattoo artist someday, and is developing a drawing portfolio.

dawn's beaded amulet pouch Dawn Fromel
Inventory Assistant and Weaver

Dawn discovered maille in the spring of 2007 and was instantly hooked. She began an internship with Blue Buddha shortly thereafter, and by the fall began working part-time doing piecework and quality control. If you've purchased a ring pack or kit from us, chances are Dawn was the one who bagged it. She is a crucial part of keeping our inventory well-stocked, easily bagging tens of thousands of rings each week. Dawn is an avid beader, devoted mother and animal lover.

dawn's beaded amulet pouch Kathy (Kat) Wisniewski
Inventory Assistant and Weaver

Kat has been making jewelry since she first beaded bracelets on a seed bead loom at age 13. She is an entirely self-taught jewelry artist with a wide range of design techniques. In 2005 she officially started her small home-based jewelry business and website under the name Elemental Art Jewelry and has since sold her work mostly at various local craft shows throughout the summers. Currently she has a few pieces for sale at Unique So Chique and Caravan Beads in Chicago. Kat's main focus is chainmaille and wire designs using sterling, copper, semi-precious stones and glass beads.

dreamcatcher by Alison Carpenter Alison Carpenter
Guest Contributor

Alison Carpenter has been interested in little amounts of metal since high school and she enjoys creating amazing dreamcatchers and jewelry from chainmaille. All the designs used in her dreamcatchers and jewelry are uniquely hers. Alison has also been doing beadwork since the 1990's and employs Swarovski crystal beads and other findings in most of her chainmaille designs. A native of Britain, she emigrated to Michigan, USA, in May of 2006. Besides weaving, Alison enjoys other crafts like knitting, sewing, writing calligraphy and spending time with her children and husband (who is also a chainmaille artisan).


Ana Victoria Pizarro
Guest Contributor

Ana specializes in wrapping beads which will be incorporated into chainmaille designs. Ana realized she had a gift for jewelry when she bought a beading book. She made every bead weaving project in the book, and then went in search of more beads and new projects. After few years, in 2004, she began working at Caravan Beads. There, she took many classes to refine her skills, and eventually began teaching classes in English and Spanish. Ana loves working with PMC (Precious Metal Clay) and making wire wraps.


"One must be a work of art, or wear a work of art."
--Oscar Wilde



Philanthropy
The Blue Buddha Boutique is committed to making the world a better place, particularly through education. The company has supported the following organizations:


Testimonials
Feedback about Blue Buddha Boutique and owner/teacher/artist Rebeca Mojica is scattered throughout the site. Below are some of those comments, plus additional testimonials. If you would like to submit a testimonial, please do so using the Guestbook.

Thanks so much for your patience and the wonderful instructions. I really, really, really enjoyed your class.
— Mary O., Oak Park, IL

What a GREAT CLASS! ... You really are a great teacher, and when I get to be more of a linking machine with these two weaves, I'd be delighted to be your student again in Chain Mail II. Thanks!
— Pat D., Chicago IL

Your instructions are awesome! I like the use of the colored rings. I work in a bead store, and I think your instructions are the best out of any I have seen. They are super clear.
— P. Ramos, Hayward CA

I ordered a sterling Celtic Visions bracelet and Bulls-Eye earrings, and they arrived within 3 business days. What amazing service! For some reason I was expecting the pieces to be delicate. Well, I'm pleased to report that I am now wearing one of the most luxurious and beautiful bracelets I have ever seen, and the earrings have a delightful weight to them. Wonderful products! The instructions were easy to follow, too. Thanks so much!
— S. Lederle, Ontario, Canada

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Your instructions were so visually excellent and so easy to follow. Haven't been able to follow anyone else. I wore the Japanese Lace Bracelet today at the market, and got lots of very positive comments. Mine is three rows and really looks fantastic. I can't thank you enough.
— DJ, Melbourne, Australia


Thank you so much for the bracelet. I have received compliments from strangers! Your work is amazing—there is a nice energy to the piece. Thank you, again.
— Deborah T, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

I've received the earrings! Oh my, I can't find enough adjectives to tell you how gorgeous I think they are. :-) Thank you so much for making them! I love them.
— Christina H, Gothenburg, Sweden

Just wanted to say a couple of quick comments:
   1. Fabulous designs!
   2. Delightfully clean, navigable website!!!
   3. VERY helpful charts and FAQ—hopefully will keep me in the proper gauges and sizes!
Keep up the fab work, it is GREATLY admired and appreciated
.
— Michelle M, Kansas City, MO