It's a Micro Macrame Wrap, Matey

Diana Ptaszynski of Suburban Girl Studio makes some really fun beads - I have some of her scarabs and trilobites (two of my favorite geeky subjects) as well as some seashells.  Recently I purchased a set with a sailboat bead and some coordinating rounds and I wanted to run with the nautical theme.  

I started out with a variation of the leafy micro macrame pattern I've been working with quite a lot lately and added some tiny seed beads at the ends of the rows.  I kind of like the way the beads outline the shapes.  

After putting in a large red bead (also from Diana), I added a section of spiral knotting with some deep navy blue and red along with the medium blue I used in the first part.  Next came Diana's sailboat bead.  Two more of her beads and a little starfish dangle below the bead add a little movement to the piece.  

The next section has two lamp work beads from Carolyn Conley of Beads by CC Designs
 in the shape of shells.  They are so pretty and  different than any of the glass work shell beads I've ever seen.  The red round bead is a match for the one I used earlier.

I'm rather proud of the last bit of knotting on this bracelet.  I wanted something in keeping with the nautical theme and for some reason the little pennants came to mind.  The little triangle shapes I ended up with seem to mimic that fairly well!

Did you notice the knotted rope clasp?  My friend Cory Tompkins made that for me just specifically for this piece!  The rest of it is just too special to end it with a boring clasp and when I asked her to come up with something, she made this!  I love it and I paired it with a simple brass hook to secure the bracelet.  

After all that, you know what the best part is?  Not only is this an awesome wrap bracelet, but it makes a pretty legit necklace, too!

A Walk on the Beach: My Micro Macrame Vacation

An island vacation isn't in the cards for me this year, but a girl can dream.  My dreams tend to manifest in my micro macrame jewelry pieces even when I don't specifically set out to design that way.  I choose components that appeal to me (these are by Heather Powers of Humblebeads) and colors to suit my mood and before I know it, I'm meandering down a sandy beach in a place where soft waves lap at the shore...

I spy a few starfish and a crab skitters across my path as the palms sway gently in the breeze.

Are you there with me?  Can you feel the warm sun on your face?

I had fun with this micro macrame wrap bracelet, experimenting with some different knotting techniques.  I used two different colors in the half knot sinnet in the center and worked on perfecting the leafy, shell-like pattern I've been playing with at the top.  I'm still working on making smooth knotted curves in the bottom piece, but I'm getting better.  And I didn't set out to make these earrings matchy match, but things happen...

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop Reveal

This is just one of the little boxes of treasures I keep tucked away.  I love beads and pendants and buttons and all things jewelry.  Add handmade into the mix and I'm all over it!  I am collecting pieces at a rate that exceeds my use of said pieces, which technically, I suppose, does make me a Bead Hoarder.  But just look at all that yumminess!  Can you name the artists?  I see a piece by Duane and Sheri and Shelley and Marla and Diana and and and....  that's about the point where my mind goes into overload.

Lori Anderson of Pretty Things, the hostess-with-the-mostest who puts on the Bead Soup Blog Hops, is hosting a blog hop today especially for people with my kind of affliction:  the Bead Hoarders Blog Hop.  Her challenge is to USE some of those precious pieces we've been hoarding.

In preparation for this hop, I got out my boxes and went through them, trying to decide which pieces to use.  I have to admit, it was like trying to decide which of your children to kick out of the house.  In the middle of winter.  With no shoes.  I love all my little treasures.  I want to have them and hold them and take them out from time to time and pet them.  Maybe nuzzle them a little.  They're like my little friends.

I did do a little practice warm up.  I used a ceramic clasp by Shelley Graham, some round polymer clay beads by Marlene Cupo, a little beach hut by Lennis Carrier, a polymer turtle bead by Ke Robinson and a lampwork oval by Mitosis Glass.  I put them all together in one absolutely fabulous micro macrame wrap bracelet. 

I love it and it hardly hurt at all.  Well, maybe a little, but I did it.  I was stoked.  I decided I would make several bracelets and use lots of beads from my stash.  But when it came right down to it, I just couldn't do it.  It seemed so wasteful!  I couldn't just squander such beautiful beads on a project that wasn't the perfect project for them!  It just wouldn't be fair to the beads.  I did, however, manage to part with a few more:

I experimented a little and used a small pendant on another micro macrame wrap bracelet.  It's kind of funky and I like it.  It and the matching rounds are Jera Luna pieces.  I added an enameled bead by Sonya Ingersoll-Stille and two African ceramic beads - one Kazuri and the other from Work of Our Hands.  I knotted in a couple of random turtles and a starfish and then the hardest piece of all to use:  one of my ancient Roman glass pieces as a clasp.  

I did it, but I think I may need some follow up therapy.  It was probably good for me, though, and now I have an excuse to buy MORE beads to fill in those holes!  Right?!

Be sure to visit the the rest of the participants and our gracious hostess, Lori!

 1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2. Nancy Dale, NEDBeads
3. Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs
4.  Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes
5.  Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs
6.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
7.  Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends
8.  Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board
9.  Sharon Palac, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
10.  Erin Guest, Renlish


11.  Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry
12. Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey
13.  Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
14.  Sue Kennedy, SueBeads
15.  Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments
16.  Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
17.  Nichole Byers, Nichole Byers
18.  Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity
19.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
20.  Lori Schneider, Bead Addict


21.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
22. Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
23.  Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
24.  Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft
25.  Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul
26.  Heather Powers, Humblebeads
27.  Sarah Goode, Pookledo
28.  Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
29.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
30.  Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri


31.  Robyn, Museiddity
32.  Catherine King, Catherine's Musings
33.  Jacquie, Bead Gypsy
34.  Janet McDonald, Singing Woods
35. Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations
36.  Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
37.  Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley
38.  Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
39.  Nelly May, Smelly Nelly
40.  Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads


41.  Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
42.  Christie Murrow, Charis Designs
43.  Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design
44.  Valerie Norton, Hot Art
45.  Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
46.  Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
47.  Terry Carter,  Tapping Flamingo
48.  Sue, Mid-Life Great Expectations
49.  Nan Smith, Wired Nan
50.  Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts


51.  Marie Covert, Creating Interest
52.  D'Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita
53.  Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
54.  Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
55.  Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design
56.  Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
57.  Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
58.  Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
59.  Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
60.  Nat, Grubbi Ceramics


61.  Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising
62.  Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
63.  Heather Otto, The Crafthopper
64.  Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
65.  Tracie Dean, Dean Designs
66.  JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
67.  Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes
68.  Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
69.  Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
70.  Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes


71.  Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
72.  Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini
73.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
74.  Ile Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded Jewelry
75.  Jackie Marchant, Fiddledeedee Jewelry
76.  Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry 
77.  Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
78.  Hannah Trost, PZ Designs
79.  Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
80.  Miri Agassi, Beadwork


81.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
82.  Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
83.  Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie
84.  Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills
85.  Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry
86.  Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog
87.  Lori Lochner, Bloghner
88.  Gerda Jurimae, Gerda's Crafts Blog
89.  Susan, Mistheword
90.  MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou's time2cre8


91.  Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky
92.  Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog
93.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
94.  Jenny Davie-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
95.  Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
96.  Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 - For the Love of Beads
97.  Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse
98.  Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
99.  Dolores Rami, CraftyD's Creations
100.  Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives


101.  Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs
102.  Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
103.  Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea
104.  Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter
105.  Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures
106.  Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios
107.  Lennis Carter, windbent
108.  Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads
109.  Audrey Belanger,  Dreams of an Absolution
110.  Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa


111.  Janine Lucas, Travel Stories
112.  Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands
113.  Kathy Engstrom, Catherine's Dreams
114.  Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful
115.  Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
116.  Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings
117.  Kim, Cianci Blue
118.  Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry
119.  Karen, Spokalulu
120.  Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry


121.  Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations
122.  Karen Martinez, Fairies Market
123.  Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD
124.  Amy Bright, LABweorc
125.  Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti
126.  Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
127.  Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
128.  Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread
129.  Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
130.  Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy


131.  LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK
132.  Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space
133.  Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
134.  Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
135.  Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
136.  Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie
137.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
138.  Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs
139.  Steph, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder
140.  Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations


141.  B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem
142.  Patty Miller, Cabari Beads
143.  Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
144.  Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
145.  Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead
146.  Christina Miles, Wings 'n' Scales
147.  Patricia, The Color of Dreams
148.  Marde Lowe, Fancimar
149.  Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
150.  Sarah Small, By Salla


151.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
152.  Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
153.  Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz
154.  Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio
155.  Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi's Work Shoppe
156.  Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations
157.  Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey
158.  Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show
159.  Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs
160.  Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted


161.  Kris Lanae Binsfield,  Cherish Designs
162.  Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead
163.  Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads
164.  Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
165.  Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
166.  Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs
167.  Elena Adams, Lena's Beady Blog

Micro Macrame Wrap Bracelet Class and Kit Giveaway!

Just in case you didn't hear me shouting it from the rooftops, I've got a new eClass available for micro macrame and I'm very excited about it!  So exited, in fact, that I'm going to give away a class and a kit to go along with it to one lucky winner.  

My class is called Micro Macrame Wrap Bracelet and it's available on CraftArtEdu.com.  If you aren't familiar with CraftArtEdu.com, let me give you the skinny.  Their goal is to make learning about your favorite medium more accessible and convenient than ever.  Their classes have step-by-step instructions and are presented by world-renowned craft and fine art instructors.  The classes are all the time, at your convenience.  Once you purchase a class, you can view it as many times as you want, for as long as you want.  AND your satisfaction is guaranteed.  If you're not happy, they will refund your money.  That's their promise.  Sounds like a fantastic site, doesn't it!  They have over 400 classes there - something for all levels and interests.  I'm honestly flattered that they wanted to add my micro macrame to their curriculum.

I've got two classes available right now.  The first is Micro Macrame 101 and it's free.  In it, I've covered  the basics about micro macrame and the tools and materials you need.  The Micro Macrame Wrap class follows after that and is geared for beginners.  I will teach you how to make five of the most common macrame knots, while making a fun wrap bracelet.  This class is meant to get you acquainted with knotting and working with cord.  The next step will be a class I hope to have available next week that will take you further into micro macrame, using finer cord and more knots.  

But let's get back to the giveaway, shall we?  I'm giving one lucky person access to my wrap class for free AND everything needed to make a wrap bracelet similar to this:  

The kit I'm giving away includes everything in the first photo of this post.  I've included 14 foot lengths of Tex 400 cord in teal and a sandy beige, wood beads, a Bollywood bead, rolled paper, seed beads, dichroic glass beads AND some artist beads.  There's a great lampwork piece by Mitosis glass and a polymer class turtle bead by Ke Robinson:

And the toggle clasp is fun, too.  It's a silver starfish toggle with crystal accents.

These pieces should make a great bracelet.  So how do you win?  Use the rafflecopter widget below to enter.  Then check back here on Thursday, July 18th to see if you won!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Micro Macrame eClasses Are Available!

I can finally make my BIG announcement!  I'm the newest instructor at CraftArtEdu.com and I have classes available in micro macrame!!!  YAY!  You might have noticed that I'm crazy about micro macrame and I am thrilled to get this chance to share it with you.  

I have two classes available right now (and another ready for my editor).  The first is Micro Macrame 101 and it is free (yep, free!).  It's an overview of the tools and materials you'll need to try micro macrame for yourself.  I included information from cord choices to knotting surfaces.  One of the nicest things about micro macrame is that you don't have to invest a lot of money in tools and equipment to give it a try.

Micro Macrame Wrap Bracelet is the other class available and covers the five of the most common macrame knots.  But just learning knots would be boring and I try never to be boring, so while you're learning to tie the knots, you'll be making a fun wrap bracelet like the ones shown in this post.  I'll show you step-by-step how to take a a couple lengths of cord and a small pile of beads and turn them into your own fun, wearable bracelet.

This project is doable, even for people with no knotting experience at all.  AND it's a great way to show off some of the beads you've been hoarding!  The one above features a polymer clay penguin by Lennis Carrier of Windbent.  The one below has a beachy theme and has polymer pieces by Lennis Carrier, Marlene Cupo and Ke Robinson, as well as a ceramic toggle by Shelley Graham and lampwork by Mitosis Glass.

I was playing around with different variations when testing my tutorial.  I used hemp cord instead of nylon in the penguin piece and did a mixture of both cords in the brown and black rose piece.  In this last one, I experimented with tying a couple rings into the knots of the bracelet (you can just add them in with an overhand knot).  Then I went back and attached some hand-painted lucite flowers and leaves to the rings as well as a little Vintaj bumblebee.  I think this would be a really fun way to show off some charms - an updated take on a charm bracelet!  Oh, and if you want to learn to do the flowers, the tutorial is here.

I hope you'll take a minute to check out CraftArtEdu.com.  I have been really impressed with the site.  They have loads of great classes available and some really, really talented instructors.  And the nice part (well, besides being able to get instruction at any hour of the day or night even if you're in your jammies...) is that once you purchase a class, it never expires.  It's always available for you to reference.  Nice, huh?  The next best thing to having me come to your house and teach you micro macrame.  Better really - you don't have to feed me!