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Tuesday, July 19, 2005

More Black Eyed Peas.......Get Started: Macrame Jewelry

Get Started: Macrame Jewelry: "Introduction to Macrame
If you wanted to get started making jewelry, macarame has a lot of promise. It doesn’t take a lot of supplies or tools, the basics are pretty easy to learn, and it’s making a come back in a big way.

Back in the 70s, I was very into macrame. I remember making plant hangers, wall hangings, and, of course, lots of jewelry. Here’s a picture of an actual choker necklace from my macrame glory days that some how survived.

In the 80s macrame’s popularity took a dive, and so did my supplies. So, today I had to start from scratch in order to get started making macrame jewelry. But, I literally spent less than $20 at Wal-mart to get started."

If you are interested in Macrame Jewellery - check out Tammy's site! Carolyne :)

Marketers Notice Macrame's Comeback

Online Idea Buzz: Niche marketing 2: Your niche must solve a problem: "For example, knitting is making a comeback. In the 1970s, handcrafts like macrame, crochet and knitting were huge. That trend seems to be developing again.

Does anyone in your circle of friends and acquaintances knit? Talk to her. What are her challenges? Next, do a Google search. Visit knitters' newsgroups. Do an eBay search on knitting and see what you discover."

Hmmmm feeling a little bit like 'told you so' to read on an Internet Marketers site that along with Knitting, Macrame & Crochet are on their way back!!! Well how many times has the mini or flairs been 'in' - it is just like the changing seasons, they always come around again! Carolyne :)

Design Your Own Macrame

Niki's "Why Macramé?" Page.: "Why do macramé?

Well, you need to find your own reasons, of course. :-) All that I can do here is to tell you why I do macramé.

Obviously, it's nice to do hand work and come out with something that you made yourself, and that you like. But, for me, that's not the main attraction.

I like the idea that if I need something and if it can be made well using macramé, I can not only make it myself, I can design it myself (after maybe a false start or two :-D) with very modest materials. I love being able to play with color in macramé. It's also interesting to see how the arrangement of knots can make a section strong or weak, thick or thin, light like a spider's web or heavy like gnarled tree bark.

Photo shows fine-gauge macramé: a black cotton necklace with tulip-cut shell pendant and a V-shaped écru cotton necklace with a sliced-shell pendant.

But I think the general theme that really draws me to macramé, with its weave, its shapes, its textures, and its endless possibilities, is the same force that draws me to most of my interests, work or otherwise:

the wonder of pattern.
Finding and expressing pattern from looking at materials, nature, and life around me; learning about it and wondering at it. (Origami, too, is very much like this.) Even the ways in which our lives interact "

Macrame is something that you really can make work for yourself - its fun when you get into designing for yourself. I have made many a pot hanger that developed in my minds eye and then just started to take shape - its about trusting yourself and letting go enjoying the process of knotting. Carolyne :)