Author: Andrea

First Purse of the Year

/ Andrea / 3 Comments

This purse really took more than three days to complete. To be honest, it took over 6 months.
I started it a while back and had about half of it finished when I realized that the way I was going about it was backwards. With double half hitches (the straight line part) you can only see them on the side your working them in. If you turn the opposite side out the worked line will not be seen. To make matters worse I also had a handle flipped wrong.
Six months ago I took it apart just above the top diamonds. I had other purses started, so I left it. There never seemed enough time to finish it.
Now I told myself that with the new year, I could not start anything else until past work was complete. No problem. Yes it was. I got everything turned the correct way, but forgot to turn it out again when it came to the bottom. The last 3 inches needed taking apart and reworked.
I was thinking of leaving it again, but decided to get this done.
I did and I am enjoying the look of it. The finished size is 8″ wide and 10″ high from the opening to the bottom of the purse. The handles are 8″ wide and are made of wood, as are the beads. I have made special notations in the pattern so these set backs will not happen again. Now I just need to decide what color material I will use to line it. With the open middle on both sides you could try matching the cord of the purse or do something very different as an accent.
I have picked three colors from my fabric stash; black, beige or light raspberry. The black would not jump at you but the raspberry would really stand out. I am thinking the tan would complement the handle and beads. With the bottom row of double half hitches, the bottom has a unique look to it.

2012

/ Andrea / Leave a comment

Here it is.

On this day, the first day of the year, we have our first sticking snow. I very good day to update posts, reorganize photos, websites and craft room.

I’ve got so many ideas in my head on what to make next. Sometimes I wish I where two, but I’m afraid then I would have double the ideas and get no further ahead, oh well. I think I’ll start with 8″ and 3.5″ flex frames on this new year. These will have longer straps for over the shoulder and across the chest convenience. From there I will move toward the 10 inch. With all of these big ideas on smaller frames, we will see how far my 4mm cord will hold out.

My head is also holding some ideas of a couple macrame duffles and at least one purse and one tote, each with dowels in the framework. We will see how far into January this takes me.

That’s enough thinking for one day, now on to doing. Talk to you later.

What are your plans for this first month of 2012?

And It Begins…

/ Andrea / 2 Comments

Happy New Year!!

2012 is almost here and with it  the arrival of SideCapersMacrame. This is how this all started.

1978 was the first year that I remember putting a few cords together and calling it a purse. To my surprise others liked it. They asked me to put a few more cords together so they too could enjoy it. A few plant hangers were made, but not that many. Last Christmas we were looking at family pictures and I saw a few pictures of animals made from cord; panda, owl and a lion. Now to the present.

During a campaign to clean out areas of our home, my husband found in our basement  two 26” wrought iron rings that I purchased in 1979 to make a hanging chair. Now a decision had to be made. Do I make the chair or scrap the rings. As you can see, the chair was made. I found that I still loved making things from macrame cord.

two 26" wrought iron rings make up this macrame hanging chair

In my search for chair pattern that I had in mind, I came across other patterns. I also found copies of the macrame books I used 30 years ago. The trick was to find cord in the colors that wanted. With that solved I turned a spare room into a craft room. There are shelves that go around the room a foot from ceiling. I was able to store all the cords by color on those shelves. Since we were going through the house, all the sewing, craft and hobby items were brought to this room. I now have a work space with proper lighting, my sewing machine and materials.

I am looking forward to showing the different purses that I have made in the past year and sharing all future ones. Then there are the crafts shows and websites that SideCapers is involved with.

Thanks for visiting SideCapersMacrame.

Be creative.

Please join me