Blue Buddha featured in the Chicago Tribune

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I’m excited that Blue Buddha Boutique is featured in the Minding Your Business column by Ann Meyer in the Chicago Tribune. I appreciate being recognized for my artistic talents, but it is also immensely satisfying to be acknowledged in the business community. You know, bridging that whole right-brain/left-brain thing and all. :-)

See the full article here: Small businesses have flexibility to make big changes. And if you’re local, grab a print copy to see a full-color photo. (I can’t scan it in and upload it here, due to copyright.)

Intricate Japanese weave pendant

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Here’s a sneak peek at a design that didn’t make it into my upcoming book.

It is a large pendant. I actually love the pattern, but am not 100% happy with the movement of the piece. It tends to lie fairly flat when worn, but I would prefer a piece that is stiffer and less supple (ie, less prone to curling when the wearer leans forward). So it’s back to the drawing board for this one.

For those crafters who are curious, the piece uses size B20 sterling and niobium (latte blend and mermaid blend), and size G19 in sterling. Yes, you can feel free to reconstruct this piece for yourself. :-) Here’s a head-on image for easy reference:

Book cover of Chained!

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It’s possible that I’m a little obsessive in checking Amazon rankings for my book, especially considering it hasn’t even been released yet. *cough, cough* Today when I popped over there, I noticed that the cover image is now visible. Woo!

We will begin accepting pre-orders for Chained on our website sometime in September or October. (The book is due out in December.) If you want to be notified as soon as we begin taking pre-orders, please sign up for our special book mailing list.

In the meantime, yes, you can pre-order from Amazon, but I have a favor to ask. If you pre-order, could you do so on the 4th, 14th, or 24th of the month? The reason is that it will help the book’s ranking if there is a spike in orders on one day, and if the book gets pushed to the top of the jewelry category, even for a day, perhaps people will realize that chainmaille is indeed here to stay. :-) Thank you for your help in book bombing Chained! (Yes, book bomb is an actual phrase.) We’ll have a massive Book Bomb day much closer to the release date, for all you folks who have wishlisted the book.

Bead&Button photos, part IV (the jewelry)

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The final installment of our Bead&Button photos features the really fun stuff: the jewelry! Most of these are my favorite entries from the Bead Dreams competition. The final three images are other lovely jewelry I saw during the show. Enjoy, and be prepared to drool a little.

Variations of a Peacock by Stephanie Czaja
We are proud to say that Stephanie was a Blue Buddha intern for a short time (before an actual job changed her schedule and meant she could no longer come in). Congrats Stephanie!


Chainmaille Jacket by Vanessa Walilko
2nd Place, Wirework category AND People’s Choice Award
Woo! Way to go, Vanessa!
You of course, all know and love Vanessa already through her work at Blue Buddha. See more of her armor and sculpture creations at Kali Butterfly Dark.


Flight of Fancy by Rachel Reilly
1st Place, Wirework category
Facets of Avalon Amazing microknitted wire. (I don’t think microknitting is a word, but I’m using it anyway just to convey the eye-popping reaction I had to this piece! Simply amazing.)

And because you can’t really appreciate Rachel’s piece unless you see it close up, here is a detail shot:


White Clovers and Clovers by Yukiko Yamamoto
2nd Place, Seed Bead Jewelry
All you seed beaders are nuts. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how this is put together.


Warrior Rings by Lynn Davy
Lynn Davy Beading
*nods of approval* Though we still think seed beaders are nuts.


The Stone Flower by Tatiana Fitzpatrick
J & T Design


Himalayan Blue Poppies by Barbara Caraway
View Barabara Caraways portfolio on GlassArtists.org


Cigno Sinistro (sinister Swan) by Sara Sally Lagrand
3rd place, Lampwork/Glass
What can I say? I love eyeballs.
Pretty Babies Glass


Nitidus Quasar by Pamm Horbit
White Lotus Beading
Nitidus is a latin word meaning “explosive bloom.”


Beautifully Baroque by Lynn Ann Schwarzenberg
River Poet Design
1st place, Polymer Clay
What this woman does with clay is amazing. I love creating customized niobium chains to match her polymer clay pendants.


Finally, here’s some other jewelry that I fell in love with during the show.

Flower of Life Bracelet made by a customer of A Beadtiful Thing, by joining several Flower of Life segments together.


Omni bought some scales on Friday during the show, then showed up at the booth the next morning with a spiffy new badge chain. Cool!


And finally, one of my personal favorites from the entire show is this stunning reversible necklace made with rubber and aluminum by B3 student/customer Sarah Meadows. She’s got other beautiful pieces in the works, and I’m encouraging her to try for Bead Dreams next year!