2011 Projects 001: Bracelets

Since everybody knows I love bracelets, I figured I'd show off some that I made last year, without going into detail (because I really don't remember for a lot of them).

Stripes and Stretch.

Green anodized aluminum with white EPDM rubber and bright aluminum in Euro 4-in-1

Spiraled Mess -  I was trying to make Half Persian 3-in-1, but I screwed up and this happened.  

Magenta anodozied aluminum with black and white EPDM rubber in Spiral 4-in-1. 

Future that Never Was

Typewriter key pendants with green acrylic cubes on a black and sliver chain.

Earth in Cages - lovely earth toned beads in silver bead cages

Spirals in Spirals

Spiral links in hammered gold, silver, and copper plated wire.

Original Helm

Untreated copper and silver plate wire in Helm Chain.

Project 010: Ornamented Leather

I picked up on pre-punched leather bracelets and screw on ornaments from Michaels when I saw them on the clearance rack. I got more bracelets than screw ons, so I still have to figure out what to do with the rest, although I have an idea for at least one.

The Results:

This was actually harder than it looks, because the holes and the screws didn't line up...

It was actually pretty fun to do. I wish there had been more of the bracelets and a better selection of ornaments, but I guess that's what I get for waiting until it's on clearance.

Project 009: Wind

Have I mentioned how MUCH I love bracelets?

They're easy to wear. A good one will go with so many outfits. Crazy bracelets never seem to go out of style.

Have I mentioned how much I love chain maille?

Inspiration: Bastardized Byzantine Bias

New Technique Learned:

• Bastardized Byzantine Bias weave

The results:

Wind

When I first started making chain maille jewelry back in college, I made myself a red, orange, and silver cuff using a Japanese variation weave, which I called fire. My thought then was to do a set of elemental inspired bracelets. A few years later, I did another bracelet in two tones of blue and green in aura weave, which I called water.

This is wind, in yellow and blue, with silver accents, in a byzantine variation. I wish the AR was a little tighter on this; the silver rings don't hold the weave well unless stretched.

Like this.

Oh well. Either way, I'm pretty happy with it. It's lovely and shiny.

Shiny is good.

I haven't made earth yet. I'm still trying to decide on a good weave. I want something that feels heavy and chunky. <3

Project 008: Braids and Chains

I love bracelets.

The only type of jewelry that I have more of are earrings. I've actually slowed down on making earrings, because I've already got way too many.

Friendship style bracelets have been super popular this year, which is great, since I've got a huge  bag of embroidery floss left from when I was in high school and my friends and I made TONS of braided friendship bracelets.

I also discovered Pinterest, which enabled me to find a few hundred bracelet styles to try.

Here's the first.

Inspiration/Pattern: Woven Chain Bracelet

New Techniques Learned:

• Braiding on chains

The results:

Bright and sunny! 

I'm really into orange and yellow right now...

Still love green and purple though!

This one's a little small, however. I might need to add another link or two on the bar end of the toggle.

These are stupidly fun to make. Both of these were made with up-cycled chains. I'm really having trouble finding nice chains to make more of these. It might be time for another around of thrift shop hunting. I really want to make one with green and pink floss and then put watermelon charms on the other side... a future project, perhaps.

Project 007: As American as Apple Pie

More jewelry!

When I ordered the supplies to make the Blue Sparkle bracelet, I received a free gift of acrylic baseball beads. How they knew I loved baseball, I'll never know. With this awesome free gift in hand, I decided to make myself something to wear during baseball games. At first, I planned to make hair bobbles.

Then I made this instead:

Chainmaille and baseballs!

And it's stretchy!

I combined some simple European 4-in-1 in 16 gauge anodized red aluminum and white EPDM rubber with the acrylic beads for this one. 

New Techniques Learned:

• None. Euro 4-in-1 was the first weave I learned, which really spawned my love of jewelry making and over all renewed interest in crafting.

Project 006: Blue Sparkle

Finally, some jewelry!

I've made jewelry for my sister for all of her formal dances since 8th grade, so when she asked if I would make her a bracelet to go with her prom dress, how could I say no?

Inspirations:
Cats Eye and Celestial Crystal Bracelet

The dress. Sorry it's blurry; this was taken with a cell phone.

New Techniques Learned:

• Stringing pattern (Not sure if it has a name)

The Results:

Sparkly!

Matches the dress pretty well, I think.

Lin liked it, so I suppose that's all that matters!

Tutorial 001: Scented Rice Packs

As promised in Project 005, here is the tutorial for the method I use to make rice packs. 

Scented Rice Packs

Materials:

• A 1lb bag of rice (I've also heard that people make these with buckwheat, so if you choose that route, buy an equivalent amount)
• A piece of remnant fabric at least as big as the bag of rice
• Thread
• Pins
• Herb/Dried flowers for scent (I used mint, surprised?)
• Sewing machine
• Scissors 
• Funnel
• Chopstick (or other thin object for poking out corners)
• Hand sewing needle

The materials

1. Lay out your fabric, with right sides together.

Mine's got folds, because I'm too lazy to iron for this project.

2. Measure your fabric, using the bag of rice. Place the bag against the fold on the bottom. 

This part is super technical and precise.

3. Cut.

My remnant was obviously way bigger than I needed...

4. Pin.

Don't stick your fingers. That sucks.

5. Check the settings on your sewing machine and thread.

I leave mine at 2 for most projects, which is a zig-zag stitch.

6. Begin sewing from the fold. I use about 1/4 inch seams. At the corner, put the needle down and lift the foot. Turn the work 90 degrees and continue. Repeat at the second corner.

Start at the fold and save yourself the trouble of having to start and stop too much.

7. Leave a 1/2 - 1 inch gap at the end. You'll need this gap to turn the work and fill it.

Don't sew all the way to the last corner. You'll only have to rip it out...

8. Turn the work. Use the chopstick to poke the corners all the way out, if needed.

Turned.

9. Open your bag of rice and mix with your herbs/flowers for scent.

Ignore my khakis, please.

10. Place your funnel into the opening and begin filling your pack.

This took some time. I need a funnel with a wider bottom.

11. Fill it until it's as full as you would like. I used all the rice and mint in mine. It's very firm. If you'd like a softer pack, don't fill it all the way.

Almost done...

12. Thread your hand needle and begin stitching the opening closed. Use whatever stitch you're most comfortable with. 

Mine's a little messy, but it works; the rice doesn't leak out.

13. Knot the thread and enjoy.

All done!

Directions for use:

• Microwave for approximately 1 minute. If you microwave it too long, the rice will burn and then no amount of mint will cover the smell.
• Wrap the pack in a light towel and apply to wherever you have aches or pains. The pack will be VERY hot when it's first heated. 

Project 005: Mint Scented Rice Pack

My problem is not so much that I don't craft.

It's that I'm a lazy bitch when it comes to photographing anything.

I hate trying to get a decent photograph in my house. It's an old house and we haven't bothered to update most of the lighting, so much of my lighting has a yellow hue.

It probably didn't help that the room I take most of my photos in is orange.

Either way, I decided to not be lazy, and took some photos (and take photos off my camera, something ELSE I'm notoriously lazy about).

So, this project. A long, long time ago (and not in a galaxy far away; it was in Selinsgrove, at my mom's house), we discovered this lovely project. Instead of paying an arm and a leg for microwaveable heat packs, we'd make our own, with remnant fabric and rice...

I took this (please ignore my messy table)...

And made it into this!

New techniques learned:

• None (I've already made this before, so nothing to learn this time)

Next? I've got some jewelry already photographed, all the photos ready for the companion tutorial for this project, plus I'm working on a tutorial for the I-pom scarf. I'm also working on projects for my Halloween costume, so expect those. I promise to TRY not to be such a lazy ass when it comes to posting (but don't hold me to anything.)