I used a few videos on YouTube to refresh on my ole' square knot (for hemp bracelets).
I know it's not perfect but for less than a dollar in materials, I'm happy with it.
Waxed Linen: $2 for a huge spool (used about ~14 feet?), thinner is better. you can experiment with other string options.
Silver square beads: $2 (22 pc, used 12 here), bigger holes are better. The bead will need to go through two carrier strings.
Next round, I'm going to try pink embroidery floss and metal beads. I want a whole stack of 'em.
Instructions:
1. Make a loop by tying a knot in two equal length pieces of waxed linen, about 3-4' each, halved to 18"-2'. Do a square knot to start the bracelet.
2. Then place your first bead on the carrier strings. square knot it to secure it.
3. Leave about 3" empty space (no knots) then make a regular OH knot. This is where your 10 beads will start.
4. Square knot, bead, square knot, bead til you get your 10 beads threaded. Finish the 10 beads with a square knot.
5. Leave another 3" with no knots to match the beginning of the bracelet. This is the end of the bracelet and the beginning of your slider closure.
6. After the 3" blank area, leave another 2-3". This is where your adjustable area will be (it needs to be bigger than your wrist in order to get the bracelet on/off).
7. Thread your final bead into your last square knot. Trim edges.
To make the slider closure, view the Slider Knot closure tutorial. You can use a contrasting color or stick with the same color. Either way! I left the ends a little straggly on the slider closure.
I just haven't been feelin' crafty. But I saw something about the Shashi bracelets, along with the simple, woven/beaded look of these bracelets, I thought, "I could make that..."
We'll see how it goes. I've not done much jewelrymaking in a long time and I'm not sure I've done bracelets anytime recently. I'm excited! Why spend $20 on something you could make?
Some things I have going on in the back of my brain.
I saw this AweSoME(!) video from EnKore Makeup on YouTube re: making your own (Hello Kitty) MAC palette so I got some board from Michael's, some pink sparkle foam and some really cute embellishing paper. I have no idea how to cut the board. I thought I could do it with an x-acto knife, but not so much. After cutting the board, it should be all downhill.
I have been thinking about making bath bombs for the holidays to give out and share. I think you make them with Citric Acid and baking soda. And whatever fragrance oil you would like to add. I have been LOVING LUSH. I dropped about $80 there and was dreaming all week about a super soft, super relaxing bath with a Vanilla Fountain. I had the roughest week at work and couldn't wait to get that bag o' goodies home to the tub.
Anyway, it'd be nice to share that joy with others. It made the water feel like liquid velvet. Soooo smooth, sooooo soft. Not sticky or greasy though.
I'm also still wrapping up my Jack's Mannequin swap package. I made a tshirt that says
"big hearts
are for breaking" with a rainbow/gradient(?) piano. It was a new technique for me. I made a bookmark (talked about that already) and a piano bamboo tile bracelet. I've probably made 4 of those for swaps, and counting. I also decoupaged a vintage LA postcard to say, "Fuck Yeah! We could live like this!" with a bunch of other little quotes and colorful additions. I'm thinking of mounting it on a canvas but I'm probably not that motivated.
My tiny book made it to it's home. I was sad to see that go. I loved the leafy sea dragon page.
I'm hard at work on a "tiny book". It's about strange/adorable sea creatures. "Sea" is used loosely. "Weird" is used loosely. Some creatures are completely normal except for how they ambulate, look, act. I'm not done yet, but I had a big push tonight. I feel like I have a clear idea of where I'm going now, too, so that's helpful.
I signed up for another swap (because I'm an addict).
It's one tiny thing. This edition is a book. So I'm making a tiny book for my partner. She listed tentacles as one of her interests so I think I might make a little science book of tentacles. Did you know: tentacles are only classifiable if the suckers are only at the tip and on the underside? So an elephants trunk: tentacle. An octopus' arm: not a tentacle, merely an arm.
