Joleen's Happy Time Craftcast

Linking Creativity: Chainmaille, Color, and the Cosmic Curiosity of Rebeca Mojica - Joleen's Happy Time Craftcast 30

• Joleen Emery

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Welcome to Joleen's Happy Time Craftcast! In this episode, Joleen sits down with the talented Rebeca Mojica, an award-winning jewelry artist and best-selling author known for her stunning chainmail creations. Dive into the world of chainmail artistry, learn beginner tips, and explore Rebeca’s inspiring journey as a creator, teacher, and advocate for inclusivity.

🌟 Guest Bio:
Rebeca Mojica is the founder of Blue Buddha Boutique and an expert in modern chainmail jewelry. With over 20 years of experience, Rebeca has inspired countless makers to embrace this ancient craft with a contemporary twist. She’s also a passionate teacher and a strong advocate for inclusivity, making her a beloved figure in the crafting community.

🌟 Follow Rebeca on Social:
→  Website
→  TikTok
→  Instagram
→  YouTube
→  Etsy Shop

🌟 Episode Chapters:
0:00 - Welcome to the Happy Time Craftcast
1:10 - Big Raven Farm Retreat Recap
2:25 - Meet Rebeca Mojica
3:50 - What is Chainmail? A Brief History
6:10 - Tips for Beginners: Getting Started with Chainmail
9:00 - Jump Rings: To Make or Not to Make
12:20 - Trends in Chainmail Crafting
14:30 - Craftcation 2025 Details
16:50 - Overcoming Intimidation in Crafting
24:40 - Imposter Syndrome: Struggles & Solutions
35:15 - Rebeca’s Chainmail Timeline Project
39:40 - Joleen’s Magazine Sculpture Vision
42:10 - Rapid Fire Questions
52:40 - What Brings Rebeca Happiness?
57:00 - Closing Thoughts & Thanks

🌟 Quotes from the Episode:
→  “Creativity begins with a question. Let curiosity guide your artistic journey.” – Rebeca Mojica
→  “You don’t have to make your own yarn to knit, so why make your own jump rings? Let’s make crafting accessible.” – Rebeca Mojica
→  “Finding mindfulness in crafting allows you to quiet the noise and connect with yourself.” – Joleen

🌟 Links & Resources:
→  Blue Buddha Boutique on Etsy
→  We’ve Got Mail (Chainmail Supplies)
→  Craftcation 2025 Registration
→  Joleen’s Alcohol Ink Tutorials

🎉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more creative inspiration! 💖

Let’s get crafty, friends! 🎉✨
#HappyTimeCraftcast
#Chainmaille
#CreativeInspiration
#JewelryArtist
#BlueBuddhaBoutique


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Joleen:

Hello everyone. Welcome to Jolene. Happy Time. Craftcast. You've probably guessed I am indeed Jolene, and it is wonderful to see you today. Thank you so much for joining me wherever that is, if you are listening in your car or if you are live on Facebook or twitch or LinkedIn or Instagram or YouTube or any of the other places that we stream to live. Thank you so much for being here. It is a gray day here in Minnesota, and it's actually snowing great big, chunky flakes that are kind of melting before they hit the ground, but the change of seasons is upon us, and I'm actually pretty excited, because we just concluded, as you might know, a pretty long and wonderful retreat season, if you are a part of retreats at Big Raven farm. Thank you so much. We had an amazing year. I think we had 24 retreats in 2024 and we are working on our calendar for 2025 so far, it looks like the number is about 2626 retreats next year, everything from working with resin for beginners, we also have two yoga specific retreats, a retreat on grief and loss, art journaling. We're again going to be doing eco dyeing and cyanotype printing, and then, of course, lots of other yoga teachers will be joining us. So please, when you get a chance, check it out. It's at Big ravenfarm.com on the retreats page. So enough about that. Let's talk about today's guest. I have been really excited for her to be here, because I have. I've dabbled in this medium. I wouldn't say that I have perfected it, but Darren has, and Darren has actually made me a couple of really beautiful pieces. But let's talk about Rebecca. Rebecca Mojica. She is the owner and visionary behind the blue Buddha boutique. She is an award winning jewelry artist, instructor and best selling author. She is known for colorful chain mail pieces, and she is inclusive of the LGBTQIA plus community, which makes our hearts very happy. And as I said, She's the creative force behind blue Bucha. So I know you will do an amazing job of welcoming her. Hello, Rebecca,

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

hello. Thank

Joleen:

you for having me. Yes, and I so I'm in Minnesota, and you're in California, and I would imagine you are having a much different weather day than I am having absolutely

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

I mean, it's sunny and gorgeous. It feels cold to me, but that means it's like in the 60s.

Joleen:

I'm so I'm so happy for you. Your experience. That's awesome. No, I'm totally teasing. Thank you so much for being here, and as I mentioned a little bit in my introduction, chain mail, just an amazing and exquisite art form. I don't know if you heard my last episode. I was telling a story about our oldest son, who has always been into all things Renaissance, swords, dragons, princesses, castles, the whole thing. And when he was about six years old, he was standing in front of a chain mail artist at a Renaissance Festival just watching her, you know, with her pliers and jump rings building a beautiful piece of chain mail. And he just stood in front of her and he went, Oh, you're so beautiful. And and because of that, we've always had this super special place in our hearts for chain mail. So for those folks who might not be familiar with the art form, could you describe it a little

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

bit? I sure will. And it's actually funny that you bring up renaissance fair, because that's how I got into chain mail, really. Yeah, was that a renaissance fair? And saw people walking around with chain mail belts? So it is chain mail, like the medieval knights, the shirts of armor made out of metal mesh, so just linked circles of metal, basically.

Joleen:

And I love it so much. It's so cool. I'm sorry, go on. No,

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

yeah. So it's, you know, I mean, historically, it's been around for 1000s of years, but now, as of, you know, maybe the 70s or so, and then especially 80s, 90s, more and more people started making chain mail jewelry, I will add, there was a time in Victorian ages there's like chain mail purses. You can find so very small, dainty metal circles linked together with a little like circle purse clasp. And you know, over especially since the Lord of the Rings movie came out, I would say, like all of a sudden, there was a lot more interest. And you know, nowadays, artisans work with all sorts of different metals, like anodized aluminum, which comes in colors other dyed anodized niobium and titanium, you know, steel, copper, brass, gold. Gold, Silver. So just, you know, there's a huge variety of styles and esthetics

Joleen:

well, and I am so lucky. I have a few pieces. My husband, Darren, has made them for me, and I've got one of them here for those who can see us. So this is one of my bracelets that Darren made, and I think he just got a pattern, and he he's an engineer, so, like it made sense in his mind. I think as you look at chain mail, it looks intimidating and it doesn't look very beginner friendly. What are your thoughts on that?

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

When I first started doing shows, I remember, and I will say, when I first started doing shows at the supplies and so selling kits and loose jump rings. Jump Rings is what the little tiny circles are called. I definitely had a lot of people who would I'd be at bead shows, because that's kind of like a nice chain mail adjacent, yes. And people would come by and then almost feel, Oh, I'm not there yet. Like, I can't remember times I've heard people say, Oh, I'm not there yet. I'm like, where do you need?

Joleen:

Like, I can stitch, I can string that. O golly, I can weave. But can I chain mail? I can totally see that. Yeah.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

And I think maybe because it's metal. It's intimidating. It uses pliers, which maybe people don't use very much. You know, some beaters definitely use pliers, smaller ones. And, yeah, so, you know, my the way I look at it is, you know, chain mail is, I mean, it's a continuum of spectrum, so there are definitely pieces that require so much meticulous detail and or mathematics, mathematics to like, figure out

Joleen:

Rebecca, it's the math. It looks very mathy to me, like, I love the pliers, I love the tools. Like, I love all of that. I think it's the math and it's the understanding, you know, which one you close and which ones you keep open. But it sounds to me like you have been able to give this a beginner spin, or like a like, beginners shouldn't be intimidated. Yeah.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

I mean, there are definitely projects that when I do make and takes one of my favorite make and take projects, it's like six rings that you wind up. Each one gets intertwined. It's similar to for those who can see, there we go, there's that finger ring. So it's just like a spiral of seven rings that are all linked together like a big donut, right? And, and so that's a very basic pattern that I can start with. Sometimes earrings that are just two rings linked into two rings.

Joleen:

Sure, I've seen that Lynne go into where it captures like a pearl or inside. So okay, so you have, you have beginner kits or beginner make and takes. So what about jump rings? What is your opinion on? Because, you know, I've been a beater for a long time. I started first doing the gourd stitch or the peyote stitch, and then I graduated up to some double needle right angle weave. I've done a lot of herringbone stitch, and then, you know, some stringing and, like, when I really have, like, time, I prefer to stitch, I think it's so much more satisfying. And I've tried a couple of chain mail things. It's honestly the jump rings that give me pause. So could you clarify or talk a little bit about your position on jump rings? Do we have to make them ourselves?

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

Oh, absolutely not.

Joleen:

Scary, and then they don't turn out great, and then I am frustrated. So what's your philosophy on the stinking jump rings.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

Yeah. So, I mean, I feel like it's a good experience, especially if you're taking, like a metal smithing course to just learn how jump rings are made, which is essentially all jump rings come from wire. So it's like a long spool of wire. You coil it around a mandrel, and then you cut it. And often in metalsmithing classes, I mean, you might use wire cutters, or you might use a jeweler saw, you know, scaling up to, if you're doing this on a sort of more bulk level, there are a ton of different machines that you can use so that when you cut it, it's just like you can just go right down the

Joleen:

coil. Beginner experience. When I've cut them, they've the cut makes it like, perfect adjacent, right, like the cut, and then it's warm, and then it's a little wonky, and then I'm upset,

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

you know? And if that's like, for some people, it's really fun and soothing to do

Joleen:

the coiling. And

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

the cutting it's not my favorite thing. I like to tell people, you know, like, I'm I'm a weaver, not a spinner. And, you know, there are some people in the chain mail world who are like, oh, did you make your own jump rings? And if your answer is no, you know, they're kind of turn their nose up. And I'm like, whatever. Like,

Joleen:

come on, crafty friends,

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

friends who, like, who crochet, or, you know, do yarn work, and I'm none of them make their own. Well, actually, no, some of them do make

Joleen:

they know you're going,

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

right? Nobody's like, Oh no, that's you're not, you know, a real crafter because you're not making your own yarn. Or you're not a real painter because you're not, you know, making your own, you know, like taints.

Joleen:

I think that, like, I love this conversation in the like, within the context of, Come on friends, let's give each other a little bit of grace and a little bit of room. You know, like, you're right, I didn't spin my own yarn. I didn't make my own fabric. No, I didn't make my own jump rings, but I still love making chain mail, and I'm just as good as you. So Right. So we do have some folks here in the comments. I don't know if you can see it, but you've got Dory saying hello to you, and Jody comments. I didn't even see that, yeah, and they're just like, hey, you're awesome. Well, I have questions, too, for those of you who are with us live, has anyone in our comments today given chain mail a go? Or have you been interested in it? And if you're driving in your car, go ahead and answer that to yourself, because I will pick up on that vibe. So I was going to ask my next question, Rebecca, about you know, I have seen a decline in the number of people interested in bead stitching or bead weaving. I see more folks, you know, stringing or maybe even using, like, you know, stretch magic and those kinds of things. Chain mail is there still, like, a large group of folks interested in this craft and this, you know, historical artistry, like, what are you kind of seeing as the trend in chain mail?

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

Ah, that's a great question. I feel like, like everything it does, ebb and flow and every now and then there will be, you know, all of a sudden, I'll get an influx of new customers, you know, maybe somebody shared something on a Facebook group or something else, and everybody's like, Ooh, what is that?

Joleen:

Or, you know, right?

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

And I certainly have customers who have been with me for, like, my entire 21 years. Yeah, amazing.

Joleen:

Thank you. Thank you friends, right?

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

And you know, so I think it does ebb and flow, but and there are still, surprisingly people who don't know so much what it is, but not as much as like when I first started, I would really have to explain what chain mail is, because people would be like, Oh, I hate those letters. And I'm like, no, no,

Joleen:

no. Oh, that's so funny. Oh, my God, that's hilarious. I forgot about those to 10 people, if you want everybody remember that like it was chain email too. Like, you know, send it to 10 people and luck will be bumped to full or something crazy. Oh, that's right, I love that. So it ebbs and flows like any other, like any other art form, I would imagine, yeah, and you've talked about, it's certainly beginner friendly. You know, people can get started with a kit. It sounds like are those? Something that we can link in our show notes for how folks can find those?

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

Oh for sure, in the blue Buddha boutique Etsy shop. That's where I sell kits and instructions. And obviously, you know, Google is your friend. If you search for how to make chain mail, bazillions of results will come up,

Joleen:

awesome. And people can actually find you. You will be facilitating sessions, teaching sessions, right at Craft cation 2025 which is in Ventura, California, April, 23 through the 27th and can you tell our listeners a little bit about how they might find you or the best way to get registered for that event?

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

Oh, absolutely. I don't know if I gave you my link. You did? I did. Yeah. So I have a link tree. I'll make sure to go ahead and add my link for craftation there. It might be in the comments here and YouTube too, but craft cation, right? It happens in April, and I'm teaching a few business workshops, as well as the the box weave. Uh, which we've got mail. It's a chain mail company in Minnesota. Uh, actually, they're, uh, sponsoring that class, and they're a really great company with really great supplies. So tell

Joleen:

me their name again. We'll be sure to link them in the show notes. Oh, sure.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

It's a cute pun weave, as in a, a, W, E, A, V, e, okay. We've got mail, M, a, i, L, L, E,

Joleen:

Oh, very nice. Okay, okay, love that, right? Good for you. Ms, O, people, so you'll be at Craft cation, and you have, is it a? Like the code is a, I can't remember what it's called, but it like an affiliate link for, yeah, there's

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

an affiliate link, yeah, so I'll get a couple bucks. Okay, awesome. And register through my link. So anybody who does that, I appreciate you.

Joleen:

Yeah, absolutely. For those of you here live, there are a few fun things in the comments. You know, Dory is saying that she's got a chain mail business, and you have been a tremendous inspiration, and she's on the do not make my own rings, and has no interest in it. Other folks haven't given it a try, just because of the meticulousness of it and maybe some dexterity issues. And then more. You know, Jody says that she's a fan, even though she's bad at making it, which I'm sure Jody is probably not true. I would imagine, like anything, it's kind of muscle memory, and there's definitely a learning curve. And I think for me, like in my attempts with chain mail, I think I give up too quick. I think I need to try again. And I also think that I appreciate Rebecca, that you've given me permission not to make my own rings. I think that was really getting in my way of enjoying it,

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

yeah? Well, and, you know, here's the thing, right? Different strokes for different films, you know, like, I'm saying, you know, Jody's like, Yeah, I'm better at crocheting. And shame Al, Jody is amazing at crochet. And that's, I think, I know Jody. And, like, that's, yeah, perhaps, like, her thing, like, not, like, I started doing shame. I was like, Oh, my God, this is it, you know, and, and I do, I love to take classes and learn different techniques, and occasionally I will get, you know, a secondary interest, like, right now I'm really into alcohol inks. Oh, sure, hang around with the colors and doing that and getting obsessed and buying way more things than I possibly need. I think we all know what that's like, but, you know, not everything is for everyone. Like, first of all, we don't have time and space in our life to take on all of the crafts

Joleen:

also we desire. I want to do them all. I haven't met one I haven't really liked yet. It's kind of a problem. But yeah, I'm with you. Like it is definitely different strokes and finding what you know fits, and then also too, I think sometimes it's just nice to be given permission, even though we don't need it. Like the validation, I would say, the validation of, you know, make this easier on yourself. And I love your analogy that not everyone spins their own yarn to crochet or knit or whatever, like we can go ahead and use some tools that are already there for us, like pre made jump rings,

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

right? Yeah, exactly.

Joleen:

And I have to jump back so I too dabble in the alcohol ink. And for those of you listening and Rebecca, maybe you know this little hack, but did you know that you can salvage discarded canvases and use them as a substrate for your alcohol ink if you prime them with house paint? Fascinating, right? Because you are turning the canvas into that plasticy, um, acrylic structure that alcohol needs to, like, not absorb. Um, so I've done a few projects where I have rescued old frames and then painted them with, you know, wall paint, whatever we have laying around, and then it, it does not absorb the alcohol ink. And you can do really cool things, right? Because, you know, sometimes the yucca paper or tiles or, like, whatever you're working with, where the alcohol ink will, you know, you need a substrate where it won't just, you know, absorb, yeah, it's a pretty cool hack. I've done a couple of videos on that myself. I'll link them for those who are interested. Um, okay, so sorry. A little tangent there. Um, so you shared with me earlier that sometimes you manage something that we call imposter syndrome. Can you like? What are your thoughts on this.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

Wow, do I have thoughts? Yeah. And for those who can't see, I'm actually even wearing a shirt that says imposter syndrome Slayer, which is my favorite shirt that I got from craft cation a few years ago. Oh, that's awesome. I remember as I was getting it, somebody was like. Oh, I love that. And I was like, yeah. I was like, maybe if I wear it, like,

Joleen:

if I wear this, I will absorb it.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

So imposter syndrome is something that to some extent, I actually feel as though I've had it in various areas of my life, like biracial imposter syndrome, sexual identity, imposter syndrome. But imposter syndrome in the traditional sense, and like the business world, is this feeling of like, oh my goodness, I'm a fraud. Everybody's gonna find out that I've just been like faking it, and I'm not, like, legit, you know. And this is not something, this is something that you know, like Michelle Obama, Maya Angelou, like all of these so many people struggle with and, you know, I've, as soon as I found out what imposter syndrome was, probably about like, 10 years ago or so, I was like, Oh, yeah. And then I kind of didn't really think about it as much until when, when I was realizing that the business, blue Bucha boutique that I'd, you know, built up over many years, the business model just wasn't successful, and it wasn't profitable. There were many things about the business that were successful, the culture that we built, I think, you know, but financially, which is what the business is. It wasn't happening. And it was at a time in my life where I wound up, you know, moving across the country for love, shutting down my brick and mortar shop in Chicago, transitioning, working with a different company, like, just all sorts of like, change happening. And then I went through a period in my life that was pretty dark, and imposter syndrome really took hold. And what was funny is that it was almost, I say funny, not haha, but retrospect, looking back now, the I was like, oh, it's not even imposter syndrome. Because imposter syndrome would mean, like, is somebody who's actually made it. And I'm like, I haven't even made it. Like, now I'm like, you know, like, I just felt like I was just like, back to square one, you know, with with nothing, and I was also going through a period of depression and depression plus imposter syndrome, Bad combination, do not recommend, and I describe it to a friend as it's as if the entire comment section of the internet, like, just took up resonance in my brain. And I don't mean like the beautiful, lovely comments we have right now. I mean, like the troll comments, of course. And you know, I don't fun fact about me, I don't get ear worms, so that, you know, when you get a song stuck in your head for days, like, I don't get them. I had one back in like, 2016 2017

Joleen:

I get them every day, so I'm quite envious of that.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

I don't fit them, but I get speech ear worms, and I don't know if there's a different word like for that, like, if I'm listening, if I there's something in a television show or an audiobook that I listen to, right? I just hear this phrase, like, over and over and over again, but never to music. But anyway, so that's what was like happening in my in my head were just voices that were constantly, constantly, I was my own worst enemy, just like, dragging myself down and being like, Oh, who am I? And, you know, I just, I needed to, like, get off of social media even, because I'm like, I can't even, like, see what other people are doing. Because I'm like, Oh no, look at all of these people making all of these chain mail things, and I'm doing nothing, realizing that, like, of course, I can't make all of the things in the world like, and some of those things aren't even things I want to make. Why am I? Yeah, so it was, it was a dark period, and it was also the pandemic was happening. I was also going through menopause, which I had, I was expecting hot flashes. Had no idea it would be this whole, you know, it is a hormonal thing.

Joleen:

It's very surprising, isn't it, yeah, no. Like, I wish somebody would have given me a little, like, heads up that that lasts 10 years, you know, or whatever, like I had, I had no idea. I thought it was like a couple months, and we'll, we'll be on the other side of this. So I was very, very surprised to know that it can last a decade. Like, that's BS. But anyway, how, how did you, how did you then slay the imposter syndrome.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

I'm continuing to slay Okay, so

Joleen:

it's not a it's not like a battlefield that you win. It's more like, it sounds like something that you you can it's like a really long golf game that doesn't end right. You're always trying to improve it.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

Yes, yeah. Yeah, yeah. And, you know, and I think it's, I mean, it can be similar to, I'm guessing, like, someone who's a recovering addict, you know, who it's like, Sure, 20 or sober, but there's still that, like, part of the brain that is like, yeah, that's it's always there. But I think, you know, some of the things that I that that worked for me, you know, and these are kits, these, these are all like tools that I have in my toolbox, that I that I use and pull out. The first thing that I started to do was actually, to just say no. And I don't mean like saying no to requests. I mean, say no to myself. Like, as soon as I noticed that that voice did it was going on in my head about whatever it was, I would do, like, No, I would say it out loud

Joleen:

to silence that little demon. Yeah. And also,

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

I'm a very kinesthetic person, and so even, like, just standing up as I say no, you know, just to kind of like reset and just be like no, and then as soon as the voice starts, I get no, and then coming up with different mantras, so either nonsensical mantras, or more of like a positive affirmation type thing, so that I can just use that kind of like, almost like it's bat, beat towel, whack

Joleen:

a mole, right. Here comes one. And Jody too, in our comments too, is saying, you know, it's like it's, you have to slay it every time, and like, there's, there's no cure. I think there's just ways that we cope or slay in the moment, and some of the things that you're saying with, you know, affirmations or mantras, I think too, for some of us, might even be perspective shifts or, you know, for me, when it happens, I don't know if it's, I mean, I am a Gen Xer, and so I have, like, unparalleled drive. I am driven, driven, driven. And I think that, like, the best wake up call for me, or how I've learned the most about this drive that I just can't I can't culture, I can't like, no matter how successful unsuccessful I am, the drive remains the same in that I am never satisfied, and I will always chase and chase and Chase, right? And it's been my children who are the world's best Gen Zers who look at me and they're like, you don't stop mom. Like you don't like you're relentless, like, why can't you just sit and rot like on a couch, like they do sometimes? And the only answer that I have is, I think that environmentally and culturally, this is who I am, right? And I think that, you know, instead of feeling bad about this inability to kind of rest in what I have. I've just kind of learned to embrace it that I that's what I do. I i drive and I don't think it's bad, and I don't think I can turn it off, but I do need to have that perspective when it comes to like the imposter syndrome in the comparison analysis of, I have this, I don't have that. I think that's for me, where it gets unhealthy,

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

yeah, no, I see that in like, the having a drive is like, I mean, it's a, it is a core part of who you are, right, you know? And I think, yeah, the important thing is to really enjoy the journey. And if that is the like, Oh, I'm enjoying the journey of like, where this drive, not necessarily like, where it's taking me,

Joleen:

but just the route right. I'm doing it right, the role Exactly, exactly. And please go ahead. I was just

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

going to add, yeah. And one other thing that I did for me that I that was very helpful, because with imposter syndrome and depression, both the world shrinks and becomes very small, true, and it is, you know, you were very focused in Word. And so I regularly, I mean, I do meditate, which is very helpful. And some of the meditation I do is definitely not traditional, you know, meditation, but a lot of what I consider part of my practice is taking time to really experience and bond with the natural world. And so I know, I know the benefits of like taking a walk in nature. I'm in the middle of Los Angeles as much as I would love to like be out in trees and forests. And I think the reason why that's so helpful, especially for creatives, is because you are freed from very stark cubed. Shaped lines that we experience being indoors, and you're seeing fractals in in trees and leaves and plants and just these very intricate designs. And, you know? And I don't have that, but what I do have, I have a great view. I'm on the fourth floor, and most of the homes around me are, like, two story apartment buildings. So I can see the moon. And so it's really nice to be like, Oh, this is not a human like construct. I can, like, watch the Moon. I can greet it, you know, when it comes up before my bedtime and see it. I can talk to, like, the trees that I can see the tree tops and just take a moment to sort of feel a world that is bigger than I am, and that is incredibly like peaceful and grounding. And it's something that I think society as a whole, our Western society, has kind of lost.

Joleen:

I agree with you, and you know, it's funny. I should say alternative like ways to meditate. I actually just facilitated two classes last week for health care providers here in Minnesota, and one of the so, you know, I've been I've practiced yoga now for 22 years, and I think I've been a teacher for 13 or 14, kind of lose track, but and I have never really felt that I like achieved that gold ring of combining a meditation practice in with my yoga practice. It has never been accessible to me. You know, no matter how hard I try in this drive, right? Like to be the best at every at the things I try. I'm like, I'm not a very good yoga practitioner because I can't meditate. And I was really hard on myself, until I accidentally figured out that there are mechanisms of my art practice that are very meditative. And so in my presentation last week, I was using the art of book folding as a tool to help people achieve this kind of your muscles take over, and it gives your mind a chance to relax. And so just the repetitive nature of, you know, 3d book sculpture, people are able to at least experience a little bit of what this meditative state feels like, or flow. You know, artists and yoga teachers talk about it all the time, and just how sometimes, because this idea, or a notion of, I'm going to turn off my brain and think about nothing, and that's meditating, well, that's just kind of ridiculous, because that isn't really an achievable thing. And for me, I think that the idea and the methodology of meditating just didn't feel accessible to me until I figured out that for me, I have to connect it to my hands, and if my hands are busy, then my mind is quiet. And it's amazing the things that pop up in that practice?

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

Yeah? I think that. I mean, I think that's beautiful. And I think it also, yeah, once again, just sort of goes to show that whole like, different strokes for different folks,

Unknown:

yeah for sure.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

Yeah for sure.

Joleen:

So, so as we solve the world's problems, what to like, what are you working on right now? Like, what's on your work table? What are you doing in your crafty, artsy space?

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

So, crafty artsy space, the I'm gearing up for the holidays. Okay, so right now I'm actually, I would be like, I'm not doing too much exciting. And what I mean, by that is a little bit behind on, like, my production pieces, oh, sure. Over the past couple years, I started doing more wholesale, which is exciting. So, you know, my work is sold in about two dozen stores across the United States, so that's great. And then every now and then, you know, when I get a few orders, you know, that came in, like, before the holiday season, I'm like, oh, okay, now I have to, like, restock, so I have stuff to sell, you know, to consumers. So I'm catching up on those. And the the next big project that I want to start working on, and I've just started mapping it out, because I'm not sure exactly how it sounds

Joleen:

you're making because it just it just like it feels like home. Rebecca, like, I get this. I totally get this,

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

because I'm like, I know what I want to do, and I know like, where I want to, like, hang out in my in my living room. So because it's going to be, like, 16 feet long, but very skinny, but it's, it's a timeline of the earth. So it's combining my love for science with with chain mail, and essentially just giving me a visual representation so that I can just kind of like, look up and contemplate, like, Ah, okay. So you know, four and. Half ish, billion years ago, when the earth was formed, and then there was, like, nothing really happening, except for, I don't know, like, rocks raining down in the earth. Or, you know, for this period of time, here's when bacteria emerged. Here's when fungus

Joleen:

represent this in metal, yeah. I mean, just

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

mostly, like by changing the weave, or, you know, there's like five major events and just visualizing them. And what I think is really fascinating, right, is because it's going to be, like I said, about 16 feet long, and, you know, at the very end, a very tiny jump ring that is, like 116 of an inch. And that's actually going to be an over representation of modern humanity, basically Homo sapiens. This is, this is all we've been around for.

Joleen:

I love this. I hope you'll somehow, like, take us all along with you, because I would, I would love, love to see that. And you know, like I feel like I said, I feel at home with the way you're describing this because, like, I too. So what's on my work table is a vision, and I haven't quite got it all sorted out yet, but I I know what I want to do, because I was just this past weekend at my local restore. So the Habitat for Humanities store in my community, and I happened upon, wait for it. It's amazing cabinet fronts, and they're all wood, but they are six feet tall and about three feet wide, and it looks like, I mean, it's solid wood, and it's framed, and they must have measured wrong. I don't know what they did, but I got them for $2 and I got two, yeah, and I got, I spent $18 so I got eight of them. And so a couple of ideas that I have is I have a project called warp speed. And warp speed is made with recycled magazine tubes. And I make the tubes, and then I flatten them, and then I find the center of the substrate, and then all of the magazine tubes go out in a radius. And so when you stand there looking at it, it looks like you're like, you know, Star Wars, right into the vortex. So, and I was thinking that maybe this time, instead of being, you know, just haphazard with where my paper tubes go, I might try to coordinate them by color and have it be a little bit more visually interesting with the movement of the color, as well as this, like vortex idea. So I have, as they say, concepts of a plan, and I acknowledge that, and I'm really excited about it, and I'm so excited about these cabinet faces. And the nice people at restore told me that the first Thursday of the month. And this is, if you're in my listening area, this was in La Crosse, Wisconsin. So the first Thursday of the month, this cab, this local cabinet making company, they bring in their goofs, I guess. And you know, I was with my husband, and he was like, could you imagine that many goofs? I mean, I can't, because they're all full hardwood. They're just beautiful. And I just, I love that store so much. I just, I love the day when I can find, like, like, a great big bag of widgets. Who knows what they are, but I just want to put them in a sculpture, do something with them. I love that place so, so much, but that's what's on my work table. And you know, for those of you who follow me, more More to come on that, but that's where I'm headed. So okay, well, so let me go back to people. Can find you at Craft cation that's coming up April, surprisingly, is not that far away. Oh my gosh, I will be sure to link all of that in our show notes, along with Rebecca's affiliate, where she can get a couple books if you register, which, of course, we are happy to do and support. I will also link to your Etsy store, link to the Minnesota weave in mail. We've got mail, we've got mail. We've got mail because they sound awesome. And then now we're to kind of everybody's favorite part of the happy time craft cast, which is a series of words. I ask everybody the same questions. You can answer with one word, you can elaborate like whatever you want to do, just gives us a chance to get to know you better. And the first one is Rebecca. What is your favorite word?

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

So the caveat that I'm gonna put in all of this right, is, okay, I don't necessarily have a favorite any speaking, sure, sure, sure. So I'm gonna steal the favorite word from a friend of mine, which is peace synonym, since that is the synonym of synonym and, like, How ridiculous is it that there's a word for that? Yeah?

Joleen:

Oh my gosh, okay, say it again.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

P, silane. It's like, P, o, e,

Joleen:

that's awesome. Like, you just won the happy time craft cast, like, Olympic champion round there. Like, that's so cool. I love that so much, because I was going to say for me too, like my favorite words jump, like it could be daily or weekly, you know, like they I don't ever have one, like, for sure, for sure. But I think right now, like seasonally, you know, we have four children, and they're all grown up, and as people do, the traders moved away and are, like, living their own lives, dang them, but I like, I'm missing them so much, and I kind of have this, like, nostalgic leg. I've been looking at Family Photos lately, and I've been like, I wish they would come home more, you know. So I have, like, a romantic, nostalgic thing in my heart. Like, I don't know what that one word is, but it's connected to our children, so I don't know what that is, but that's what I'm doing. So then with that, do you have a least favorite word? Of course, I

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

don't have a least favorite word. And like, I guess if I were to think about, I mean, probably I would. There's some, like, not safe for work, for work words, I will not say those. But also, I think I don't know, I guess, words that, like, hate, you know, like, just really negative connotations. Yeah,

Joleen:

I think for me, it's like I have phrases where overused, phrases that people tend to use, and it just kind of makes my shoulders go up. And it would be things like, when people say it is what it is like, I just want to because I don't understand that what that means, and I want you to say it different.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

That isn't that's a trigger phrase for a lot of people, but yeah, it hits

Joleen:

me every time I just pull anyway I sound, I sound like an angry old lady. Okay, what? What is the best kind of sandwich? This is very important question, like, take your time. Think about it.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

Oh, I don't eat gluten, dairy, mammals or birds. Okay, so most sandwiches are not my friend. Oh, sure,

Joleen:

because those things, yeah, right, there is.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

So I'll just do a plug for the hiberito sandwich. That's a Chicago Puerto Rican thing. Chicago is where I spent, you know, the first 40 years of my life, yeah, and it's, it's expanded beyond Chicago, but it was, you know, founded, like, around the corner from my home, and it's in Puerto Rico. We eat a lot of plantains, yes, like, you know, the it's not a green banana, but there are different ways of preparing the plantains, like when they're riper. Here, you take one that is not ripe, and so it's more, like potato we almost or like, it doesn't have

Joleen:

a sweet. Is that? Like, the bread? That's

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

the sandwich, yeah. And then there's garlic mayo, which you can, like, I do vegan version of that. And then lettuce, tomato, and then usually there's meat of some animal on it,

Unknown:

meat of a person.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

Well, okay, I can use fake meat occasionally. I still eat some seafood. So like, shrimp is garlic. Shrimp is amazing on that.

Joleen:

Oh, and sale. Tell us the name one more time. Hi,

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

Barito with a J, yeah, nice.

Joleen:

I think you're gonna I, I usually say Ice Cream Sandwich, the best kind of sandwich. Um, you know, I grew up with my parents owning a Dairy Queen. And so one of the things that we would do is embellish and modify said Ice Cream Sandwich by, like, rolling it in sprinkles, or rolling it in sprinkles and then, like, dipping it in chocolate, or, like, just totally messing with the very nature of said Ice Cream Sandwich. So I think I have, like, Cora memories growing up because, you know, I was the youngest one working at my parents Dairy Queen. They were all like, older high school girls that I loved and idolized. I'm sure I drove them crazy, but because I was like, in I don't know, sixth grade or something, and I have really good memories of making those ice cream sandwiches at my parents Dairy Queen. Okay, so here's like, so coming back to kind of like our core conversation today and like, what does it mean like being an artist? Like, what does that mean to you?

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

I think being an artist means creating. You know, how does

Joleen:

it like? How. Does it feel on your skin? Like, how do you feel you that you are an artist.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

So I mean being an artist to me is, you know, it feels like exhilarating, you know, it's express oneself. And I actually just posted a Tiktok slash. Real about this yesterday from Rick Rubin's book, the creative act way of being. And I really liked his. He has a sort of a definition of, you know, craftsman versus artist, yeah. And I really liked this definition. It spoke to me of, you know, a craftsperson is you know, when you know what you want to do and then you make it. You know, that's a craftsperson. Whereas when you start with a question and use that to guide a journey of exploration, that's an artist. I love that, and I may be slightly misquoting, but that's the essential. So I love that idea of, like, starting with a question and just, you know, sort of going from there, yeah,

Joleen:

kind of like your project, right? Like your timeline of the Earth, yeah,

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

the world. I might do the universe later, but that's they just added, like, 20 billion years to that right to the project.

Joleen:

You are right, like you're starting with a question, and then you are like, I love that, the backdrop of that analogy, and how that helps some of us. Because, you know, I think that, just like, did you make your own jump rings and did you make your own yarn? I think that artists and crafters have, or even maybe not so much craftsmanship, but like, there's a little bit of a push pull in there of what am I? Am I this, or am I that? And, you know, is one better than the other? And personally, of course not, I don't think so, but I feel like, you know, in my own experience, it took me a long time to be able to say that I was an artist, I used to just say I'm a maker, like I just make stuff and and I thought that I couldn't claim artist, because the things that I make are usually made from garbage, and it's not that hard, right? So I had this whole idea and this whole notion, because it's not hard, and because the materials that I use, it therefore cannot be an art form. And it wasn't until one of my friends was standing in my house and she was like, I just kind of think you're dumb. And I was like, Okay, tell me more about that. Like you always talk about how this isn't hard, and I think what you're missing is it isn't hard for you. Jolene, and I was like, Oh, I Okay, you know, that's that was, like, really interesting and really great feedback. Because I feel like once I was able to put on my like, I make most of my decisions based on my Artist's Way or intuition or guiding force and, like, I just finally feel at home with, yeah, I am an artist in in all possible ways, and it fits me good, and I'm crafty, and I make stuff, yeah, like, all the things, all the things, all right, so is there Then a sound or a noise that you love?

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

Mike, cat purring, oh, um. And I'm also, uh, I don't know, I'm very much into, like, ASMR, oh, yeah, so just

Joleen:

the shivers from some of it.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

Oh yeah, yeah. Like, you know,

Unknown:

yeah,

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

that's on my tea mug. Or, you know, yeah, I'm constantly doing that. I was, I told my studio, you know, you listen to too many, like, ASMR videos when you, like, pick everything, you pick up. You're like,

Joleen:

I think that, like, the first time I saw, like, one of those, maybe on Tiktok or something. I really was wondering what I was watching. You know, I was like, What? What is this? And then you watched a little bit, and you're like, Oh, I get it now, okay, that's cool. That's cool. Um, I'm gonna say I'm going to go, I'm going to piggyback off the pet thing. Um, our dog, Augie, is like the highlight of when people come to visit big Raven farm. Like he is the ambassador. He is the welcome crew. Like he takes his job very seriously. And everybody who comes to big Raven farm loves OGGY like, love, love, loves him. He doesn't even really know he's a dog. He's kind of like person adjacent in that he doesn't bark, he doesn't jump, and he doesn't like do any like dog type things like, in fact. If I had to, like, stretch my memory as to the last time he barked, it was probably two months ago. Oh, wow. Like he just doesn't, that's just not His love language. But he does make funny noises when he dreams. And I love that. I love that, and I love him. He knows I'm talking about him. His ears just perked up. But I think that, and I want to say too, that sometimes people who don't love animals, I don't understand them. I know that's really judgy, but like, I just don't get it, because I love them so much, and I couldn't imagine not having, like, that kind of maybe it's experience, right? Maybe they just don't have the experience. And I should be nice, let me think and talk at the same time. I'm not really sure about that. Okay, is there a sound or a noise then that you don't like?

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

Yeah, there's probably a lot of sounds that annoy me. But specifically, I mean, since the pandemic, it's basically been non stop construction in some way or another around me. And like I said, I'm on the fourth floor, and most of the buildings are lower, so all of this noise, even if something is like two blocks away, it feels like it's just

Joleen:

like constant, right? The ones that don't relent. I totally agree with you. I have a I have a new one, and I don't think that Darren is listening to this episode, so I'm going to go ahead and say it, because he should be listening to my podcast. But we were playing Scrabble the other day, and he was eating pita chips while tapping his fingers on the table during my turn. I don't know, fam, what do we think for like, some kind of intervention, because in the finger tapping during my turn, I feel like it was like a tactic and I didn't like it. I guess I'm showing how petty I can be. Alright, is there a profession other than your own that you would like to attempt.

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

I mean, theoretical physicist sounds pretty cool. I don't know that I want to go through all the schooling necessary. And I actually, I mean, I don't really want to attempt right now, another one. But some of the things that do fascinate me over that maybe I would like, I love, I love teaching, particularly like, like, train like, job training, leadership training, sort of coaching. So, yeah, something along those lines, or working with my hands, still something adjacent to that. So, electrician, Chef, oh, yeah, yeah,

Joleen:

yeah, I've, I've always, and I say it every time, I've always had welder on my list, right? Like, I love to, like, weld something, and like, I have a good friend on Tiktok, Tam, I am, is her handle, and she makes, like, Memorial pieces out of people's metal. So like, let's say, you know, somebody special in your life had a big collection of tools. You would send them to Tam, and then she would build them into a memorial piece, like a heart or a fish or whatever kind of sculpture, like, represents your loved one. And I just am fascinated with her work. I'm fascinated with, like, how she stores all these wrenches and bolts and, like, it's just so cool. And I watch, and I'm like, I wish I could do that, but at the same time, I am wildly accident prone. And that just seems like a really bad idea, but I fantasize about it, like the whole helmet and the whole thing, like, I love it all. I think it's so awesome working with hands and creative. I love it. Is there a profession that you would like I do not, would not want to do that?

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

So I don't have a driver's license. I've never actually had one, so I don't want to do anything that involves like driving a bus or a truck. And I'm pretty sure the rest of the world probably would not want me to do that either.

Joleen:

You just stay in your lane. Stay in your lane. In

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

my bike lane.

Joleen:

I I'm gonna say that I don't know, in this particular era, you don't know that I could maybe be like a teacher in a school. I feel like I have so many teacher friends that, like, count the days until the year is over, and I just feel like we got a little bit of a broken situation going on there. And I admire, admire how so many still go to work with love in their heart and take good care. Of you know, our little people in this world, when like so much is being asked of them, I think it just sounds really hard. So yeah, that one for me. Is there anything that you could like encapsulate pinpoint point to like, what brings you like the most happiness? What fills up your cup the most,

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

I would say,

Unknown:

being

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

with loved ones, doing something that we all enjoy together. You know, whether that's whether that is like a walk in nature or just laughing, figuring things out together, I love doing escape rooms, and that seems very small, being like, you know, or Yeah, specific, but really just and I think that what I'm getting at with like the loved ones and doing things that I love is that those are the the moments where I feel like, free to be me, and I don't feel like a I'm trying to, like, assess the situation and figure out, like, what am I supposed to be doing? Or, like, what what's going on? Like, when there are fewer unknowns, and it's just sort of like, I can just relax and like, be me and not be judged, and we'll, you know, just talk and laugh and love and enjoy life.

Joleen:

I totally agree with you, and I would just add that like experiences to me over things bring me like I can't think of a thing like a material thing that I want, that I think like equals any kind of happiness other than maybe a refrigerator that's more quiet, you know, because ours is really noisy, but, but I think that like experiences with my people are like the things that I look forward to the Most, and like hold the deepest capacity for the greatest happiness. And like I said, I've been feeling nostalgic and Rome. I'm romanticizing memories lately, and I think it's it's seasonal, right? Like I'm just ready for everyone to come home and be under the same roof so that I can get my little cup filled back up. Because Rebecca, they're amazing. They're amazing people that I have. I got really lucky, so I hit the lucky branch all the way to the ground. So anyway, thank you, oh my gosh, so much for being with me today. And I just want to, like, bring you back over before we say goodbye to the comments. There are so many people here that love you, that they love your classes and they wish that you are closer and that you're an amazing teacher and a beautiful soul. Thank you everyone for sending all of those, those messages to Rebecca. I love that so much about our interactive part of the happy time craft cast. So thank you for doing that. And like I said, with with Rebecca, we will link everything in our show notes so that you are able to find her again later. Um, and Rebecca, thank you. Thank you so so much. Like the hour went by so so fast, and I'm so grateful to have met you, and I hope to keep you in my circle. Yeah,

Rebeca Mojica, HTCC guest:

it just flew by. Thank you so much, and thank you everyone for joining us and for your comments.

Joleen:

Awesome. Okay, everybody, we'll see you next time. We'll be back on Happy craft day. I'll see you on Wednesday, November 27 have great days, everybody, bye, bye. You.

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Joleen Emery

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