Summer Goal #2: Beaded Bracelets

Using my bead loom was goal #2 of my summer crafty plans, and I'm totally in love with these bracelets. I made the one on the left when I was at my parents' house in Michigan (so I got to raid my sister's vintage button collection), and I made the one on the right as a gift for my cousin last week. 

 

How nifty is that bead box? It has a little locking mechanism, so you don't have to be scared to throw it in your bag. Meghan made the top bracelet. 

Finishing these bracelets always baffled me. You have anywhere from 4 to 8 strands of thread, and I wasn't sure how to make a secure loop until now. I tied them in a knot and then used that ole friendship bracelet knot to finish them, weaving in the ends when I was done. So far, it's stayed secure! 

Crafty Summer Plans

Mmmm, Summer. Although I'm still pretty busy, Summer always puts me in the new-project-planning mindset. I suppose it comes from those Summers in high school & college when a break from school meant time to devote to crafty pursuits and reading fiction. 

Here's what I'm planning for this Summer:

Knitting

A few weeks ago I had a dream I was wearing Allyson's Summer Lace Stripes Sweater, and I couldn't get it out of my head. I know, I'm the corniest. "It came to me in a dreeeaaammm!"

I ordered Knit Picks' Comfy Worsted in Ivory and cast on Sunday after I finished my Holla Knits sample. It's the perfect California sweater - a light, breezy extra layer that will go well with shorts or my bright teal skinny jeans! 

Jewelry

A is watching...

Last summer I was totally obsessed with recreating some beaded bracelets from a popular show about doomed teenage girls (....) and made the one above for my sister. This summer, I'm dying to use my bead loom to create pretty Native American- inspired jewelry, like these bracelets, and these barrettes.

Crochet

A crochet blanket from years ago, before I had a blog

It's time to jump back into crochet! We were gifted three plain, wooden stools that work perfectly with our counter. Except that, you know, they're so plain and wooden. I'm going to crochet a little seat cover for each, and hopefully they'll be as pretty as this cover. 

Sewing

I bought McCall's M6331 last Summer, and totally didn't get around to sewing it up. I want, nay need, that romper. I'm interested to see how this pattern comes out, since it claims to be adjustable for different bust sizes, instead of just going with the standard B-cup. We know that's not gonna work for me! 

Reading

What's that you say? Reading isn't a craft?! Ok, let's say I plan to perfect the craft of reading while crafting, and start with this book. I'm a huge fantasy fan, so I don't know why I've avoided A Game of Thrones for so long. Chris and I just finished watching the first season of the HBO series, and I'm totally hooked, so I think it's time. Anyone else loving these books or the show?

beaded bracelets - my post-craft show reward!

Awhile ago, I read that when you are running your own business and want to stay motivated, it's important to reward yourself for a job well done. In this case, I bought my reward before the job was near finished, but it's helped me stay motivated!

After Danielle from Thompson Family Life posted about beaded friendship bracelets, I could not stop thinking about them. They are the perfect summer bracelet, especially the chevron style. So I bought a bead loom last week, and told myself I'd save it for after the craft fair. So far - so good. 

There's another specific type of bracelet I want to make:

A Pretty Little Liars bracelet! If you haven't watched this ABC Family show - it's deliciously bad teen melodrama. Each girl in the show has a beaded bracelet with her name on it, and they play a big part in the plot. My sister and I are both love this show (guilty pleasure), so I bought us beads so we could have matching bracelets. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend - I'll be back Monday with lots of pictures from the craft show!