I recently went out & bought an industrial sewing machine. Why I waited so long is beyond me. It is amazing & will change my sewing life as I knew it. For instance, this machine is such a bull that sewing through heavy leather is now an option. My mind is spinning with all the options that are now available. Here is a little bracelet that I whipped up. I love how the stitching is so thick & strong. There will be more of these to come!
What’s a vacation without bringing along a crafty project? I’m away from my studio for 2 weeks which is a tad bit long for my hands to go unused. I had some foresight to pack a small package of leather, dyes, cutting tools & a bit of hardware to play with while I’m away. These braided, hand dyed & oiled leather bracelets are the result. I have all the pieces waiting to be put together when I get home because I realized that I first wanted to brand them with my logo before sewing on the closure. I love the feeling of the washed out colors & also of just the natural leather. Can’t wait to share them!
Now……Back to the beach!
xo
The summer rope bracelet is back again! The weather is warm, the sun is shining & my wrists are happy again sporting the colorful rope bracelets!
Happy Memorial Day! I’ll be celebrating this holiday by running…. ahem, jogging the famous Bolder Boulder 10k race with my family. I participated for the first time last year & it was a blast. If you live in the Boulder area I wouldn’t miss it. There are bands at every corner, people throwing marshmallows, frying bacon & handing out beer. The belly dancers are a hoot & the costumes people dress in crack me up. Can’t wait! Just wish I had taken the time to train…..
Enjoy your day & lets all remember those that have served & are currently fighting for our country.
I had a great weekend participating in the Makerie Retreat & also having a booth at the Market. I met wonderful, creative women from all over the country who inspired me to no end. When it was time to set up shop, the ladies kept me very busy trying on all sorts of bracelets. Combining colors & textures, mixing them up in great new ways. I think I’m definitely stuck on bracelets…..
I love the broken in quality of this leather. The bracelet is so light you hardly feel it when your wearing it. It’s the quiet, organic shape that makes it different from what I normally make. The simple closure is an antique shirt stud.
After painting the tips if so many leather handles & clutch tabs I thought it was time to apply the same concept to the leather bracelet. To make it more interesting, I also added a small contrast embroidered cross stitch. I’ve been wearing a silver tipped one with a red “X” amongst other contrasting wraps on my wrist. Snazzy! The closures are the antique shirt studs of course.
Oh, what fun I’m having getting ready for the next market! In the next couple of weeks there will be small sneak peaks on all the things I’m working on. It will become obvious if you stick with me that I have a hard time sticking to one concept or product. YES! I do like bracelets & have stuck to them but they are morphing in all different directions & I keep wanting to “try one more technique”. I also realized that as much as I appreciate all jewelry, I get instant satisfaction out of bracelets because when you wear them you can actually SEE them on yourself. A necklace & earrings are essential but I tend to wear the same ones every day. It’s the bracelets that I look at all day as I’m using my hands. Sometimes I’ll even change them halfway through the day.
This group of bracelets came about when I bought a perforated belt that was just begging to be cut up into bracelets & covered in bright embroidery threads. The warmer weather is surely here & I’m all over colors. Lots & lots of colors mixed with neutrals, textures, finishes….. eclectic.
Last night as I was getting ready to close down the office to go make dinner, I had about 4 projects half way done & my mind was skipping all over the place with all that I had to finish by this weekend. In the midst of my mental chaos I saw a picture of a bunch of wooden bracelets & at first glance I thought it was leather which made me think, “I can just make one of these REALLY fast before I call it a night!” Some quick cuts later, soaking & wrapping I was done & left it on my table over night to dry. This morning I had forgotten all about it until I saw it all wrapped up- I immidiatly put it on & I’ve been wearing it all day. I’m curious to see if the wrap will hold long term or if a clasp will have to be in order. So far, so good…..
Sunday was Fathers Day. We happen to be out of the country on vacation & didn’t have enough forsight to plan a proper gift this year for my husband. My youngest son came to the rescue when he ran in first thing in the morning with a very tropical bracelet & necklace for his dad. needless to say, he showed up his older brother who proceeded to run out to the beach & draw a fathers day card in the sand…..wish I had a picture of that too.
