18 February
Due to a growing waiting list for the Captive Zen class on February 23, we added another session that day. The first class runs from 11:00 - 2:00 and the second class from 2:30 - 5:30 at Briolette Beads. The Flowers class previously scheduled for that morning has been canceled. The class rings provided will be your choice of copper, aluminum or jewelry brass. I will have a limited number of sterling kits available for purchase; to ensure you get a sterling kit, please contact me ahead of time.
And, we are almost done catching up on the backlog of orders. Finally! It took a little longer than we thought, mostly because we were slammed with orders the day we re-opened after Tucson. It's a good thing, but just caught us a little off guard. We'll have a new person starting shortly to help keep our inventory well-stocked. Thanks again for your patience.
13 February
We're open again! Thanks to all those who stopped by the booth in Tucson. I had a fun time being able to put faces to names! My only regret is that I didn't have any time to wander around and see all the goodies the other vendors were selling.
We've started processing the orders that came in and should be back to normal shipping times by Tuesday of next week (Monday is a postal holiday). We intended to get the first batch of orders out today, but technical difficulties—not to mention the new snowfall—foiled our plans. Thanks for your patience while we catch up!
30 January
We're in the final stretches of preparing for Tucson. Whew! We are still catching up on orders (we actually had two sick folks, so we got even further behind).
Orders placed after 6 pm Central Standard Time on Thursday, January 31 will begin shipping on February 13th. Orders placed before this time will ship out as soon as possible—most will probably ship February 4-6.
When we re-open for business on the 13th, we hope to have a fresh inventory of rings and mixes, bagged and ready to go so orders can start shipping at our usual 1-2 business day speed again! Again, thanks for your patience while we recover from various maladies and try to stay warm in the sub-zero weather.
24 January
How exciting! Vanessa has been selected as a 2008 Gold Medal Winner in the Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Annual Beading Contest. She won in the Freeform Expression—Jewelry category for her Phoenix Reborn necklace. An absolutely stunning seed bead piece. Congratulations, Vanessa!
And now for the sad news: one of our employees has been out sick and possibly has pnemonia. We've gotten a bit behind on orders (most are now shipping in 2-3 business days). Please keep this in mind when placing your order, and send some healing vibes this way! We are very sorry for any inconvenience.
21 January
The Tuscon show is almost here! I'll be sharing a booth with Spiderchain at To Bead True Blue. Hope to see some of you there.
We were hoping to be able to process orders while I'm gone, but due to some tech issues, it might not happen. We're hoping we'll be able to at least process some PayPal orders, but it's too early to guarantee it. Keep your fingers crossed, and we'll let you know if it turns out that we can stay open for Internet orders during the show!
15 January
The latest issue of the Mailler's Newsletter is now online, found in the Classes section. Happy reading! The Classes section has also been updated to include our upcoming classes.
We're also hiring again. We're looking for a part-time inventory assistant, as well as a contract-based weaver. (But, we would love it if one person was interested in and qualified for both jobs, in which case we would combine them into one full-time job.) Please see the job openings page to see the description and apply. Feel free to pass on the URL to anyone you know who might be interested.
07 January
We're back! Rebeca will be going through emails and sending PDFs today. Looks like most orders that came in by January 2 will go out today, and hopefully we can get the rest out by Thursday at the latest. Our new phone number is working (but the toll-free number won't be working for another day or so.) After the dust has settled a bit, we'll be updating the site, but in the meantime, note that new classes for January - April have been posted.
2007
27 December
The website has been moved to our new server. If you experience any issues with the site, please contact our webmaster, Craig Brozefsky at craig@red-bean.com
24 December
We are now closed until January 6 for end-of-the-year inventory and moving. We'll see you in 2008, with updated class listings, new anodized rings (F18 orange and violet, anyone?), a few new findings, and new contact information. Happy holidays!
6 December
It's official: we're moving! As of January 7th, our new contact info will be:
4533 N Kedzie
Chicago IL 60625
local phone: 773.478.3767
toll free phone: 866.602.7464 (602-RING)
We cant wait to move into our larger space! To celebrate, we're having a holiday party on Friday, December 14th. See shows for details.
We've posted photos of the new location and you can also check out our wish list in case there is anything you would like to donate (or trade for jewelry/supplies).
Finally, remember that we'll be closed from December 23 - January 6 for end-of-the-year inventory and moving.
5 December
Just in time for the holidays, we've got gift certificates! For now, there's a convenient button right on the homepage to purchase. That button will disappear after the holidays, but you'll still be able to buy gift certificates via buttons on the Supplies and Contact pages. Enjoy!
4 December
We had some email problems recently, and so some customers might not have received shipping confirmation emails. Additionally, some emails I received (and sent) between November 27th and December 3rd seem to have been lost completely. So, if you wrote to me and never received a reply, please send again, and I'll be sure to get back to you as soon as I can. So sorry for any inconvenience!
The shop will be closed for two weeks from December 24 - January 6. During this time, we'll be counting end-of-the-year inventory, packing and moving! Please allow extra time for orders placed during that time and in the first few days of operating from our new space. We'll post a complete schedule on the contact page soon, as we'll also be closed in early February for the Tuscon Gem Show.
30 November
Congratulations to Blanca O, the winner of the guessing contest at the DIY Trunkshow. More info about the contest and photos from our recent shows have been posted to the shows archive page.
We've been so busy that I never formally introduced Alyse Keefe, who began working as our Inventory Specialist in late July. You can read more about Alyse on the About page.
And finally, some exciting news: We're moving! We haven't yet signed a lease, but have found a few promising spots. We will remain mostly Internet-based (retail supplies are available at Caravan Beads and Briolette Beads & More). However, the new location would be open to the public on select dates, such as when we have classes or chainmaille gatherings. I have been dreaming of a perfect spot for casual chain crafting for years, and I'm thrilled to finally be able to offer that space myself! More information on the new location will be posted soon!
1 November
We've got two shows coming up this month: Ayla's Wonderful World of Beads, where you can shop for jump rings, clasps, beads and other item to create your own jewelry; and the DIY Trunkshow, featuring a wide variety of handcrafted items by local artisans (perfect for some early holiday shopping!).
Students and weavers of maille, take note that I just added several thousand rings to the Sale page. Enjoy!
15 October
Students, I've updated the classes section to include November & December classes. Hope to see you soon!
8 October
Attention, supplies customers: the Jewelry Brass is here! You can add the JBRS to your shopping cart in the base metal section. We're still transitioning, so bagging your order may take a day or two longer than usual, but most orders will still ship within 3 business days. Read more about the jewelry brass on the Supplies Updates page. During the next few weeks, we've got brass-colored clasps to add to the findings page, as well as a few holiday kits! Ah yes, it's that time of year again... *grin*
11 September
The Fall issue of Step by Step Wire Jewelry, featuring one of my projects, is now on newsstands! Visit the Supplies section to purchase the magazine or the accompaning kits.
5 September
The latest issue of the Mailler's Newsletter is now online, found in the Classes section. Happy reading!
30 August
The Chicago Craft Mafia is in today's Chicago Tribune, on the cover of the At Play Section. The article features a photograph of me peeking over my black chainmaille scarf.
2 August
Students, new classes for August - October have been posted. Also, I finally got around to posting a few photos from the Bead&Button show.
11 July
Duty served! And I'll be catching up on orders during the next couple of days.....
10 July
I was on standby until last night, but I have been indeed summoned to Jury Duty, so orders won't ship today unless I am dismissed very early. I love the fact that I live in a democracy, and I think the Jury process is a very important aspect of our government....though part of me does wish I hadn't been summoned during a week when I have a zillion deadlines to meet! Keep your fingers crossed that I'll be able to put in my "duty" without too much disruption to the business!
26 June
Today's orders delayed due to flooding—no way to get to the Post Office. Thankfully, I was spared serious damange, but sadly, I cannot say the same for some of my neighbors. An extremely narrow band of thunderstorms hit the the central part of Chicago, causing flash flooding. Apparently, we weren't alone in our perils. A search of online news articles posted in the last few hours showed there's been massive flooding all around the world in the last day and weeks (some of these coming in areas that had been experiencing record droughts).
22 June
You can catch me next Thursday at a very unusual venue: The Biograph Theatre. It's part of the Victory Gardens Theater's world premiere production of
Stuart Dybek's novelI Sailed with Magellan. The play opened earlier this week to critical acclaim, and is packed with references to Chicago's famous
Maxwell Street market. So, for its upcoming Theater Thursday event on June 28, Victory Gardens
is throwing a Maxwell Street-themed pre-show party.
Starting at 6 pm, Theater Thursday-goers will feast on free food from local restaurants, and beer courtesy of Goose Island Brewery. Cool blues music will fill the room as crowds meet members of the cast, and shop a fun selection of hot deals from local retailers, including Books in the City, Bunches, A Flower Shop, Uncle Dan's Outfitters, and of course, Blue Buddha Boutique. I'll have my "bargin bin" of 3-year-old inventory, as well as a few new pieces for eye candy. Fellow Craft Mafia member Lucky Penny Handmade will also be vending her wares. Hope to see some of you there, and if you know anyone going to the play, please ask them to stop by my table!
14 June
It seems as though more and more people are becoming addicted, er, um, I mean discovering the joys of chainmaille everyday. *grin* This is, of course, absolutely thrilling for me. It also means that business is booming, and I need to hire someone to help take care of the inventory procedures, so I have more time to create new designs, plan more classes, and develop kits. If this is something you're interested in, please go to the job openings page to see the description and apply. Feel free to pass on the URL to anyone you know who might be interested.
13 June
I'm back! Bead&Button was great—so much talent and so many wonderful products to buy. I had so much fun in all of my classes, and met some truly amazing people. I hope to be accepted to teach again next year, because I would love to see you guys again and help you create more lovely pieces of jewelry!
I've started going through my emails and processing orders. I think by now most orders placed before June 6th have shipped, and I'm hoping to completely catch up by the end of the week. (Keep your fingers crossed!)
31 May
Bead&Button, here we come! The shop is now closed while Vanessa & I head up to Milwaukee for a very intense week of teaching. I'm looking forward to meeting some of you in person, and I hope you'll enjoy the classes I have prepared. Those who aren't attending should be pleased to know that once I return, I'll have several new kits to add to the instructions page.
Orders placed while we're gone will begin shipping on Tuesday, June 12. We expect to be caught up with the backlog of orders by the end of that week. Thanks for your patience!
16 May
Less than three weeks 'til Bead&Button! Please note that I'll be super busy packing kits before the show, so Blue Buddha Boutique will be closed from Thursday May 31 - Monday June 11. If you get an order to me by May 30, it should ship before I leave.
If you're attending the Bead&Button show and would like to pick up an order from me during the Meet the Teachers reception, we can certainly arrange that. To encourage you to put together your orders in advance, I'm offering a special discount: for pick-up orders reserved AND PAID FOR before Wednesday May 30th, save 10% off all sterling rings and sterling kits, and 15% off base metal rings (but not base metal kits). If you pay via PayPal, we'll refund your savings back to you when we process your order.
I'm looking forward to seeing you in Wisconsin!
14 May
Added a lovely Cancer Awareness Dreamcatcher, with the proceeds going to support a local nonprofit as well as a fellow (fe)mailler with cancer.
Also, there are a few spots open for a Dragonscale Class at Briolette Beads next Sunday, May 20th from 1-5. The class was originally scheduled at Caravan, to accomodate the waiting list for March's Dragonscale class. However, we've had to move the class to Forest Park. For more information, and to register, please contact Caravan Beads at 773.248.9555.
3 May
The latest issue of the Mailler's Newsletter is now online, found in the Classes section. Happy reading!
23 April
I'm pleased to announce that I am one of four new members of the Chicago Craft Mafia, a collaborative and non-competitive organization of independent crafting business owners. Join us on May 5th for our Spring Loaded show, where a portion of sales will benefit local Rainbow House, a nonprofit agency that works to reduce domestic violence in Chicago. For more info, please see the shows page.
20 April
Added a few new classes; please check the class updates page for more info. I'm happy to announce that Vanessa Walilko, who has been a weaver here for nearly a year, will be teaching several classes starting in May. We hope that with two of us teaching, we'll be able to diversify the classes and timeslots.
Time is running out to register for workshops from out-of-state mailler Scott David Plumlee. He'll be doing 2 workshops at Lillstreet on May 12 and 13. I'm signed up for the pendant class, and I hope to see some of you there! Class Photos and Registration Info >>
13 April
At long last, the moment many of you ring customers have been waiting for—you can now purchase anodized aluminum rings with the online shopping cart! Yay! Here's a tip: Save money by purchasing a pack of 1,000 and dividing it into mix 'n' match packs of 250, rather than buying each of the smaller packs à la carte.
30 March
I'm pleased to welcome Alison Carpenter to the Blue Buddha Boutique. She creates exquisite chainmaille dreamcatchers and windchimes, and I look forward to bringing you her work. By late spring, you'll be able to purchase her pieces on this website and at many of the retail outlets that carry Blue Buddha designs. Check out Alison's bio for more about her.
02 March
My Celtic Visions class at Ayla's show this weekend has been planned for some time, but we've just decided to make it more of an all-day affair. The class still runs from 12 - 3; before and after, I'll be doing demos and selling finished jewelry as well as kits. See Shows for more info.
If you would like to place an order for pickup during the show, please let me know. You'll save 10% off the price of loose rings, both base metal and silver! Note that the Celtic Visions class is sold out at the Bead&Button Show, so this may be your only other chance this year to take this particular class.
I've also posted internship openings. Whether you are new to chainmaille, or have experience and are looking to further refine your techniques, I'd love to hear from you.
01 March
One of the new weaves I've created, a simple variation of Celtic Visions, is in desperate need of a name, so I'm turning to you. Check it out, suggest a name, and you could win a free kit. Cool!
20 February
Woo-hoo! Computer woes are finally over. I still have a ton of work to catch up on, but I'm glad to be back in full force! To celebrate, there are some new sale items for those who make maille. Also, I'm planning another Mailler's Invasion at the Chicago Stitching Salon. Please see the Shows page for more info.
18 January
Only two days into registration for the Bead&Button Show in Milwaukee, WI and already classes are selling out. In fact, most classes are expected to fill capacity, so if you want to sign up for any of my classes, do so soon!
And, check it out, I'm in today's New York Times, in an article about verbal communication. The accompanying photo shows me working on the Sears Tower sculpture for next weekend's Stitching Salon.
2006
17 December
Attention, students! New classes have been posted for January - April. Happy holidays, and I hope to see you in the new year!
11 December
I'm excited to be a part of Chicago's Winter Delights Festival. On Saturday, January 20, I'll be doing a day-long demonstration at the Stitching Salon set up at the Chicago Tourism Center. If you're curious to see how I make chainmaille, or if you already make chainmaille and want to work on some projects with other maillers, this is the perfect time! First-time maillers are especially welcome—I'll have plenty of spare rings so you can make a patch of chainmaille, or put together a pair of earrings. I'll also have a cool new sculpture on display, specially made for this event.
29 November
If you're looking to do holiday shopping this weekend, please stop by one of my shows: Formed & Fabricated at LillStreet Art Center and Razor's Edge Boutique Artist of the Month.
7 November
The holiday season is here! I'll be doing several shows and art openings through the end of the year, please check the shows page for more details.
If you're more interested in making chainmaille, but haven't yet taken a class, stop by the stage of the DIYTrunkshow on November 18th. Vanessa and I will be teaching how to make a basic pair of earrings from 11 - 1 pm. There's a $1 fee for materials, but the workshop itself is free. Shop for a while, and then head back to the stage for a free knitting workshop by the Kelly Girls From 2 - 4 pm.
26 October
Blue Buddha designs are available at the newly opened Lower Hater in San Francisco, California. Located on Haight, this shop creates a collective that celebrates all aspects of lifestyle from Hip Hop to Punk Rock, and promotes fashion, art, and design. For the exact address and a map, please see the locations page.
17 October
I was one of three artists mentioned during a recent CLTV Metromix segment about the newly opened Razor's Edge Boutique. You can see a few screenshots on the press page.
9 October
I've received a ton of emails asking which classes I will be teaching at the Bead&Button show, so I won't keep you in suspense any longer. :-) I'm glad so many of you are excited about the classes I will be doing, and I look forward to meeting some of my customers at the show! All classes use sterling silver rings unless otherwise noted.
29 September
The Blue Buddha Boutique will be closed on Thursday October 5th to participate in a nationwide day of mass resistance against the actions of our government. I normally would not use my business website as a vehicle to spread my personal beliefs. However, I've concluded that it would be far more damaging to America and the rest of the world to stay silent than to speak out against the wrongs that I see around me. Read more >>
28 September
I'm back from the Michigan Chainmaille Gathering. Being around so many wonderful maillers really got my creative juices flowing, and I'm excited to put together some new designs. I also had a wonderful time in Loren Damenwood's Prolong Knots Bracelet Workshop. He is an amazing artist; do check out his website, Golden Knots, if you have a moment. (Those rings, those fabulous rings!)
In other very cool news, I'm pleased to announce that I will be teaching six classes at the 2007 Bead&Button Show in Milwaukee, WI. Stay tuned for more details!
21 September
New, exciting pages on the site! There's now a sitemap to help you navigate this ever-growing site. Check out the guestbook where you can leave comments or subscribe to the newsletters. The Blue Buddha Boutique newsletter contains show and design announcements, and the Mailler's Newsletter is geared toward students and supplies customers (who will also be happy to see the newest items added to the supplies section.)
1 September
Join me next Friday as I help celebrate the grand opening of Razor's Edge Boutique in Lincoln Square. This new specialty boutique sells high end fine art in several forms: ceramics, glass, painting, jewelry (which is, of course, where Blue Buddha Boutique designs come in), photography, sculpture, and various types of wearable art. I'm excited to be a part of this shop, and look forward to seeing tons of creative art!
24 August
Students, I've updated the classes section with a slew of returning and new classes through the end of the year. Hope to see you soon!
26 July
Blue Buddha designs are now available at Dancing Loon Artisans in New Buffalo, Michigan. The gallery represents 25 artists in a variety of media, including pottery, glass work, paintings, sculpture and jewelry. For the exact address and a map, please see the locations page.
20 June
Thanks to everyone who attended the book release party. Photos and guessing contest info has been posted in the show archive.
06 June
I'm pleased to welcome Vanessa Walilko to the Blue Buddha Boutique as a weaver. Her creative eye and impeccable craftmanship make her a very welcome addition. You can read more about Vanessa on the new Artists page.
11 May
The Chain Mail Jewelry book featuring one of my bracelets is now available! This full-color book features 30 projects at all skill levels. The photos, illustrations and instructions are remarkably clear. I'm very pleased to have been part of this book. Chicagoans, don't forget about the book release party in June!
27 April
I've added a Press page with recent media mentions. Also tweaked the former Resources section. It's been divided into two parts: the FAQ section, which contains articles, and a links page.
24 April
Looking to create your own chainmaille? Several Kits and Instructions are available for purchase, and more will be added throughout the year.
21 April
I recently handcrafted 25 unique Byzantine Pendants for athlete VIP gift bags for The Billes. This inaugural event, hosted by The Women's Sports Foundation, honors media excellence in the portrayal of women in sports. The Billies benefit dinner gala, featuring Sir Elton John, took place April 20, 2006, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in California.
More info >>.
12 April Your Life! Magazine is giving away Blue Buddha Boutique jewelry. Subscribe to the free online magazine for your chance to win a blue Japanese Triad Necklace with matching earrings.
2 April
The Boutique is expanding, and I'm looking for weavers. Read the current job listings for more info.
1 April Save the Date! On Wednesday, June 14th, from 6 pm to 9 pm, I'll be hosting a Book Release party for Chain Mail Jewelry at Helio Massage and Bodywork Studios (near Clark and Diversey). You will be able to purchase the book—featuring projects by many chainmaille artists, including myself— as well as Blue Buddha Boutique jewelry and supplies. There will be a short chainmaille Q&A, complimentary massages, wine and snacks, a free raffle, and goody bags for the first 25 attendees! More info to come.
8 March
I've used the basis of the Flat Persian design to create a Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Bracelet. Twenty-five percent of sales will be donated to organizations researching this disease.
23 February
Students and weavers of chainmaille, take note: I've created a sale items page in the supplies section.
6 January
Many new ring sizes in both sterling and base metal added to the supplies section, and a change to the layout of that section. Read more about this update.
I've added seven articles to the FAQ section (formerly known as Resources): two were moved from the Supplies section, and the others are new. If you are one of my veteran students, you may remember some of the articles from previous newsletters. (And if you're a new student, now you can see what was mentioned in previous issues!) The articles are works in progress; as I do more research and experimenting, I'll definitely update the text). Happy reading!
1 January 2006
I'm happy to announce that my Quantum Rose pendant is now available at Airsources.com. A portion of the proceeds benefit Pulmonary Fibrosis research at the University of Chicago. I'll be adding more items throughout the year. This reasearch is close to my heart. My father, a big supporter of Blue Buddha Boutique, passed away from heart failure due to PF in early 2005. Learn more about PF on the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation website.
27 November
My work will be available for sale at DEPART-ment this weekend. DEPART-ment is a unique way to purchase handcrafted items, so please come out and support this event. (It's also open until 11 pm on Friday, which is perfect for late-night owls and people with busy weekends!). See shows for more info.
11 November
Posted info on a December show at Lincoln Square Pottery Studio.
Also, visit the show archives to find out how many rings were in the jar at the DIYTrunkshow.
10 November
I'm excited to let you know that I helped with the installation and did a wee bit of weaving for several chainmaille curtains now on display at the Omni Hotel's restaurant in downtown Chicago. I wove about 4 or 5 square feet, which normally I wouldn't consider a "wee bit," but the enormity of this project is astounding. Various artists from across the country worked on the curtains: 20 panels, 13 feet high by 2 feet wide. That's a lot of maille! Very, very impressive. (I'll try to post pictures.)
Other outstanding artwork (including stained glass and a hand-painted mural ceiling) is also featured in the restaurant. I encourage you to stop by for a drink or a meal.
676 Restaurant and Bar (located on the 4th floor)
Omni Hotel
676 Michigan Ave
Chicago IL
