I recently caught up with Christen Carter, the powerhouse behind Busy Beaver Buttons & Merch, just in time for their 30th anniversary party happening this Saturday, September 13th, in Chicago. If you’re in the area, this is the event to check out—it’s going to be amazing—more details on the party below!

Christen started Busy Beaver back in 1995 with nothing more than a button maker, a love for punk, and that unstoppable DIY spirit. What began in her Indiana University dorm room has now grown into a 20-person team in Chicago’s Logan Square. Over the years, they’ve pressed more than 63 million buttons—each one handmade—for some of the biggest names in music, art, and activism.

They’ve worked with artists such as The White Stripes, Questlove, Wilco, Patti Smith, Sonic Youth, Angel Olsen, Sleater-Kinney, and Dropkick Murphys (just to name a few!). They’ve also partnered with leading nonprofits like Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and the Obama Foundation, as well as renowned cultural institutions including MoMA, The Met, and The Field Museum. Not bad for a venture that began with a single press in a dorm room!But what really makes Busy Beaver special is how they’ve never lost sight of the bigger picture. For Christen, buttons have always been about self-expression, connection, and creating community. That’s why they even run their own Button Museum, dedicated to preserving these tiny but mighty cultural artifacts displayed in a collection of more than 60,000+ buttons. The museum holds the Guinness World Record for the Largest Museum Display of Pin Badges and is continually expanding its collection with the assistance of a librarian.

When I asked Christen about the origins of Busy Beaver, she lit up, talking about her punk-rock roots. She told me about being a teenager who loved how buttons were a way to show identity and connect with the DIY scene. A friend taught her how to make one-inch buttons, and before long, her pals in Guided By Voices became her very first customer. Christen’s personal music taste? A little bit of everything. She’s into ’60s and ’70s icons like Harry Nilsson and The Beatles, punk heroes like X-Ray Spex and Devo, and even deep-cut legends like King Tubby and Mississippi John Hurt. Her love of music is baked right into Busy Beaver’s DNA.

Christen’s journey is one of those stories that really sticks with you. She took something she loved—something small, simple, and handmade—and turned it into a thriving business that has touched millions of people, all while staying true to her values of creativity, inclusivity, and community. As someone who deeply admires inspiring women in business, I can’t help but see Christen as a reminder of what’s possible when passion and persistence collide. Busy Beaver isn’t just about buttons—they’re about building connections, amplifying voices, and proving that even the smallest things can spark big change.

When it comes to food, Christen has a palate and set of memories that feel just as heartfelt and eclectic as the buttons her team has been pressing for three decades. Christen doesn’t follow any strict diets—she’s adventurous when it comes to food, though you won’t find her ordering baby octopus. Growing up in the Midwest, her nostalgia is rooted in classic casseroles, often made with that all-too-familiar can of cream of mushroom soup. Think tuna casserole, green bean casserole, and sweet canned peaches or pears in syrup—simple and comforting dishes that remind her of family dinners. To this day, she has a soft spot for it, even visiting River Valley Ranch in Chicago for their unforgettable cream of mushroom soup.

When summer hits, Christen turns into a full-on watermelon enthusiast—it’s her go-to fruit. She eats it nearly every day, brings it to parties, and loves turning it into watermelon agua fresca (with or without booze). She’s equally smitten with cherries and seasonal fruit, but watermelon holds a special place in her heart. On the everyday side, she keeps things balanced: grain bowls topped with pickled veggies and protein, hard-boiled eggs (always cooked to that perfect 7½-minute mark), roasted veggies with rice and air-fried chicken thighs, and—because life is better with snacks—popcorn with nutritional yeast for a cheesy crunch. And yes, she loves leftovers.

Of course, there’s always room for indulgence. Christen is a huge ice cream lover, with flavors tied to treasured memories. In college, her favorite peppermint ice cream was announced over voicemail by a little shop called White Mountain Creamery—yes, they’d actually call and tell her when her favorite flavor was back in stock. She also adores black raspberry with chocolate chunks, and fondly recalls the thrill of biting into an unusually large piece of chocolate in a scoop one day—those tiny, joyful surprises that only food can deliver.

Then there’s chocolate cake—but not just any chocolate cake. Christen’s favorite comes from Portillo’s in Chicago, an old-school style made with mayonnaise. It’s a nostalgic recipe her grandmother once baked, and now her mom recreates it for her. The mayo stands in for oil and eggs, giving the cake its signature richness. For Christen, it’s comfort, family, and tradition in every bite.

Even her family game nights had a signature snack: Spanish peanuts with the skins still on and Red Hots, a quirky combo that she still brings along when visiting friends. And when Busy Beaver Buttons & Merch celebrates at the shop? It’s often with pizza—specifically New Haven–style pies from Piece Pizzeria and Brewery in Chicago, a nod to the city’s incredible food culture and the team’s shared love for gathering around a good meal.

So how do we celebrate Busy Beaver’s 30th? With chocolate cake, of course. Not just any chocolate cake, but a classic mayo chocolate cake—the perfect tribute to Christen’s nostalgia and her family traditions. I topped it with rich chocolate buttercream, added the Busy Beaver logo in frosting, and scattered some fun music note sprinkles as a tribute to all the artists and musicians who’ve been part of their story. It’s a simple, old-fashioned dessert, but it carries the same spirit as Busy Beaver itself: heartfelt, nostalgic, and meant to be shared.

Here’s to Christen, to Busy Beaver, and to 30 years of creativity and community worth celebrating. May it inspire all of us—especially women with big ideas—to keep building, creating, and pushing forward.

Anniversary Party: Busy Beaver Buttons & Merch “Hot Dam! We’re 30!”

This Saturday, September 13th at the Color Club in Chicago, Busy Beaver is throwing a huge bash and fundraiser to celebrate 30 years. All ticket proceeds will support the Greater Chicago Food Depository, with a goal of raising $10,000 (that’s about 30,000 meals!).

The night will feature Chicago’s own Sharp Pins (performing a few Guided by Voices songs — a nod to their very first customer), Detroit garage legends The Hentchmen, a singalong with Amalea Tshilds, a DJ set by Essential Logic, and lessons from 40+ Double Dutch Club!

Chicago Alternative Comics Expo artists will be on-site showcasing and selling their work. They’re also teaming up with Chirp Radio, and Threadless and Chicago artist Luis Romero to create one-of-a-kind mini artworks, which will then be turned into custom buttons on the spot. And for the cocktail lovers: the folks at Wilderness Club have crafted a special drink just for the night: the “The Bizzy Green Key” made with Green Key Herbal Elixir! Tickets are on sale now and you can get them here.

Honestly, I wish I could hop on a plane and be there myself. It’s the perfect mix of art, music, community, and celebration. So if you’re in Chicago, don’t miss it—grab a ticket, support a great cause, and celebrate 30 years of buttons done right. All the ticket links and details are below, and you can also follow Busy Beaver Buttons & Merch on social media to stay updated.

Ticket link: https://dice.fm/event/6827be4f6616f40001f408fe

FOLLOW BUSY BEAVER BUTTONS & MERCH ON INSTAGRAM

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Ingredients for Chocolate Cake 

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup golden sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2/3 cup Hershey’s Special Dark Dutched Cocoa Powder
• 2 teaspoons of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1 cup mayonnaise (do not use light mayo or Miracle Whip)
• 1 1/2 cups water (room temperature)
• 2 teaspoons Madagascar vanilla extract

Ingredients for Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (I used Guittard Unsweetened Cocoa Powder)
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise (do not use light mayo or Miracle Whip)
• 1 teaspoon Madagascar vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

Directions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, both sugars, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
3. Stir in the mayonnaise until the mixture resembles a crumbly texture.
4. Add water and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan.
6. Bake for 45 – 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes and then flip it onto a rack to finish cooling completely before frosting.
8. While the cake cools, make the buttercream. Beat the softened butter with a standing mixer on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes until light and creamy.
9. Beat in the mayonnaise until thoroughly blended and smooth.
10. Gradually sift in the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Mix on low speed until combined, then increase to medium-high speed.
11. Add the vanilla extract and two tablespoons of heavy whipping cream. Beat for 3 minutes until fluffy. If the frosting is too thick, add more cream (1 tablespoon at a time) to thin it out. If the mixture is too thin, add more powdered sugar.
12. Spread the buttercream on the cooled cake and pipe as you prefer to decorate. I got a Busy Beaver Buttons & Merch logo sugar sheet printed off to put on top of my cake from Sweet City USA here in Nashville.
13. Serve and enjoy!