Knots are amazing things…
You can use them to secure your thread as you sew, or turn them into a decorative embroidery accent.  They can be used to make everything from horse equipment from jewelry.  Humans have been using everything from hair, leather, rawhide and natural fibers since… well, the dawn of humanity to make knots.
I recently came across two very unique ways of using knots to create something decorative and useful at the same time.
The first one is this great tutorial from Threads Magazine, how to make a knotted belt:

The knotting pattern looks awfully complex when you look at this …read more

To me, spring and summer clothes should be light, airy and simple.  But when the weather gets cooler I want to bring out the more embellished, constructed and interesting clothing!
There are lots of commercial options for pre-made clothing embellishments out there.  You can find everything from fabric roses, elaborate braided trims and beaded fringes.  If you’d like to try making your own clothing embellishments, but aren’t quite sure how to start, I’ve got a few options for you.
Threads Magazine has a great how-to for making a faux fabric bows, using bias-cut fabric.   The trim gives the illusion of a …read more

Flower jewelry has shown up on the runways during several fashion shows for the Spring and Summer 2010 collections.
These two lovely pieces are from the latest shows for Paris Fashion Week – they’re quite different, but both share some similarly shaped flowers:

Metallic gold rose choker from Veronique Leroy.

A seriously chunky rose & chain necklace from Chapurin.
If you’d like try your hand at make your own flower jewelry, I’ve got a few links to get you started.
The first one is one of my own tutorials – I think this may be the world’s easiest way to make roses out of ribbon.  …read more

Have you noticed how function and form seems to be the operative way to do things nowadays? Whatever a person does, be it professional or for personal gains, it seems to be fashion forward is really the way to go. I think for the most part, the feeling of looking nice while being an expert at what one does ups the ante quite impressively. Sort of making a bold statement even before the goods are “delivered”, so to speak.
The same is true for all the techie stuff we own. Suddenly, those could be dressed up too! First, there was the cellphone case. A …read more

Do you sometimes find yourself at a loss when you suddenly receive an invitation to attend some gathering? Tossing between your work, the homefront, your kids and a million other little things in between can surely catch you off guard when out of nowhere, your social life beckons.
Then another problem struck: you don’t  have anything in stock to give as your gift. But you love wine, and you have a lot in your cellar! A-ha, there you go.
So how do you package it?
Shown above are dfifferent perpectives of the wine paper bag that is being featured up at the Dasiy Janie (love her name!) …read more

I’ve taught everyone from young kids to older adults how to make woven hemp bracelets.
They’re fun, easy and portable craft that has so many different possibilities.  Change the type or the color of cord.  Add different beads or try combining knots to create a whole new look.
There are a few common problems that tend to crop up – most of which are easy to fix!

The round knotted bracelet isn’t smooth, with one bump on the side – keep even tension on the three bottom strands when you’re pulling up to lock the working strand in.  The problem is the three …read more

Okay, I’ve got one more variation on the basic knotted hemp bracelet to share with you all!
Before we begin, here are all the links:

Part one – starting the bracelet
Part two – round bracelet
Part three – flat bracelet

You can add small beads to the flat bracelet to make little beaded picots on the side.  I recommend using an “E” bead, or a bead that can easily slide over one strand of the hemp cord.
Start your bracelet like usual, and make two knots using the flat bracelet technique.  Slide one bead onto each of your working cords like this:

Finish the knot as …read more

Yesterday, I shared the basic techniques for starting a knotted hemp bracelet and then making a round braid.
Today, we’re going to make a flat braid.  To make things simpler, I’ve used my extremely rudimentary photo editing skills to color the working strands red and green.
To begin, start your bracelet using the technique from yesterday (the link is just above).  Secure it to your work surface and choose one strand from either side of the bundle of cords and pull them to the sides like this:

I’m going to describe the working strands as left (colored green) and right (colored red) as …read more

In my last post, I showed the basic supplies you’ll need to make your own braided, beaded hemp bracelet, as well as the basic how-to for starting the bracelet.
The first technique I’m going to share is a basic, round knot that spirals around the outside of the bracelet.
To begin, start the bracelet as shown in the last post and secure it to your work surface.  I’ve used tape and clamps to attach my braiding to a table – but my favorite technique is actually to loop the end of the braiding over my big toe.  Sounds funny, but it works …read more

Braided hemp or cord bracelets are still popular with teens and tweens, so I thought it would be fun to share a few how-tos with my younger readers!
I’ve taught these bracelets in classes for anyone from a single, older woman to a dozen 11 year olds – they’re quick and easy to and there are lots of options to customize your own design.
To begin, you’ll need a sturdy worksurface, a clamp or tape to attach the cord to your work surface, as well as this stuff:

That’s a ball of hemp cord (available from most craft stores), a selection of beads …read more