Not all color experiments come out well, which is why we call them experiments. I thought a six strand braid might be pretty and cut six long pieces of the neon rainbow satin cord, but didn’t pay attention to color layout, just randomly snipped.
Photo description: six strand braid in process with neon rainbow satin cord
Closeup you can see the individual colors wondering through the braid. Move back and it becomes a solid mass of easter confetti, like the easter bunny ate a bad egg or twelve.
Photo description: finished braided double bracelet with loop and overhand knot
I had cut the strands so long I was able to braid the bracelet enough to be doubled, which didn’t improve the impression of… confetti.
So that gets filed in the “try it differently next time” bin.
I enjoy the way the variegated color satin cord interacts with knotting, so I am continuing my bracelet series with an experiment with macrame. This is a four strand bracelet with the outer two strands tied with macrame square knots around the inner two.
Photo description: macrame bracelet with a double loop and Celtic button knot closure made from neon rainbow satin cordPhoto description: same bracelet shown in a closed loop
The color play in this piece also pleases me. The way the color shifts in each strand and how it transitions in relationship to the other strands is attractive.
I realized today that I am a curator of rabbit holes. My posts are the tiny plaques in a museum of potential deep dives. I am OK with this.
After making one bracelet with the neon rainbow hued satin cord, I decided to give another a try. The inspiration for this one was a knot I found on the internet (which happens to me often, I liked one rope tying group, now my feed is filled with knottiness and ships).
Photo description: satin neon rainbow cord with a loop at one end, and two strand knots with the last knot shown loose to see the construction
I’m not terribly happy with this knot. It is fiddly getting the new knot tightened against the old knot. The finished cord tends to skew slightly and is also slightly springy (which was at least tactility interesting). I do like the way the two colors from the two strands interact.
Photo description: knotted bracelet with loop and button knot
I finished the bracelet with a Celtic button knot, which is one of my favorite knots.
I have a new favorite tool! I have been sealing the ends and of my cords (that are not natural fiber) with the flame of a candle, which is not very precise. So I went looking for something heated and controlled, like my pyrography pen, but without getting goo on my wood burning tools. I found a thread zapper.
Photo description: Bead Smith Thread Zap II device with a neon rainbow hued lucet cord bracelet
This AA battery powered, hand held device has a thin wire loop, and when you press the button, the loop glows red hot. I can apply that heat to the end to the cut end of a cord and melt the fibers together. I can even melt the end a little to the side of an adjacent cord to lock the knot in place.
Photo description: Button knot with the cut end melted and tacked with a thread zapper
To make the bracelet I first made a Lucet cord from neon rainbow satin cord.
Photo description: Antler Lucet Fork with an in-process cord
To finish the bracelet I took a separate piece of rainbow cord and made macrame square knots over the doubled ends of the Lucet cord. I then made celtic button knots at each end to keep them from sliding all the way out of the knot.
Photo description: Zoom in on the bracelet closure with square knot macrame slide
Without the thread zapper, securing all the ends of the bracelet with a candle flame was an exercise in frustration. With the tool, the ends came out neat and secure. I really like the ability to have a little sculpting power over the melting as well.
This is not a paid advertisement, by the way. I just really like the tool.
I made this book stand in December of 2004 and graffitied it with pen, paint, and pyrography as an homage to Terry Prachett’s Disc World book series, specifically the wizard’s university library.
Photo description: Oak book stand with “Property of L Space”, math equations, an aboriginal style kangaroo, and Latin words. Two hooks at the top hold clear elastic filament which helps hold books open.Photo description: side of the stand with angle bracket reinforcement and Greek words in red penPhoto description: back of the book stand showing the prop with hinge and restraining chains
I finished the wood with a clear coat of urethane.
Critters and Craft 