Playing with Macrame

I've never done macrame before but I keep noticing all the cute bracelets and great tutorials out there and decided to give it a try.  As usual, once I start something I get addicted for awhile!

Beadaholique has some really great video tutorials for the Shambhala bracelet, the Bazaar Wrap Bracelet, with beads on the inside and the Cinnamon Bark Wrap Bracelet, with beads on the outside.  Another one is this easy macrame bracelet tutorial by smitten by a knot.  

I've also played with different closures and really like the one in this tutorial from Rings & Things.  These are just a few that I've found.

I think this is my favorite of the ones I've made.

I used a mood bead that I got in Eureka Springs a couple of years ago.  I've done a few things with it but never really liked it.  It seems to go perfectly with the hemp.  I love mood beads!  Must be the child of the 70's in me! 

This has been a fun learning experience!

~Thought for the Day~

“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”

~Henry James

"Back to Nature" Wood Beads & Leather Necklace

For some reason lately I'm attracted to leather in jewelry.  Maybe it's the changing seasons.  I've never done much with it until lately.  I guess I'm going through  a leather phase!  I have a few other ideas I'd like to try, too.

  I crocheted this necklace with wood beads on bronze wire and attached a piece of brown leather on each side.   Matching earrings were made by adding a round wood bead and wood donuts to large bronze jumprings. 

~Today's Quote~

Stop every now and then.  Just stop and enjoy.  Take a deep breath.  Relax and take in the abundance of life.

~Unknown

"Au Naturale" Wood Necklace

This necklace is made with wood beads in assorted shapes and sizes and crocheted on bronze wire.  I finished it by stringing a row of beads on each side and attaching a wooden focal. 

I'm trying to get more creative with my photos because I just keep reading how important that is.  Ugh!  I take about a jillion pictures to get a few good ones!  My sister is the photographer in the family.  I wish I had her talent! 

I would love to know what works for you when it comes to taking pictures of your jewelry. 

Inside, Outside, Light box???  Any tips would be appreciated!

~Today's Quote~

The moment you stop saying "if" and start saying "when" is the moment your dreams start becoming a reality.

"Mother Nature"

I mentioned awhile back that I had bought a box of beads at a garage sale.  These are some more of them.  At the time I thought I'd never use them, just not really my style, but of course I didn't get rid of them!  I was looking through them the other day and saw possibility.  Wood, bone, & turquoise.  Together they all had an organic feel.  I mixed them up and started stringing.  That's the magic of wire crochet!  Just string them up and see what comes out!  Copper seemed to be the accent to use with this scheme.  I used tarnish-resistant copper wire and added a textured copper washer.  The earrings are smaller copper washers that I also added texture to. 

I'm sure most everyone already knew this, but I just recently discovered that you can click on the picture and get an enlarged version.  This shows a lot more detail!

~Today's Quote~

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Recycled Wood Bead Set

I must confess most of the beads and the pendant in this set came from a necklace that was on a clearance rack. I really liked the beads and pendant and thought I could use them to make something else. They're small wood beads in natural and olive green. I used most of the beads and findings and added some brown seed beads of my own.

~Today's Quote~

"Every time I hear the dirty word "exercise"

I wash my mouth out with chocolate!"