TwilightTree: May 2012

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

DIY Boho Braided Belt

Obey Bohemian Belt
http://www.zappos.com

On the rare occasion when I go into a mall these days (they stress me out—all those people!) I can't help admiring all the lovey bohemian styles the mannequins are wearing. And I find myself especially envious of the accessories — flowing scarves, braided belts...so of course I had to cure my envy with a little crafting.

Erin's Do-It-Yourself Boho Belt

Materials:

–An old wooden belt buckle that's been sitting in my craft bin for years
–A cotton clothesline from the dollar store
–Thread to match the clothesline
–A needle

Instructions:

I used a hair tutorial for a four-strand French braid from Crochet Clouds. Of course I didn't have to worry about the French part; I cut my clothesline in two, folded the two pieces in half, and fed them through the belt buckle. Then I started braiding!

To finish, I sewed the end of each strand to the next with several tight stitches, then wrapped the thread around the whole end of the belt about a dozen times before tying it off and hiding the end of the thread inside the braid.

If I were to do this again (and I might—it's so easy) I would anchor my braid on the middle of the buckle, not the edge. Live and learn :)

Happy crafting!

This post was featured on the Tea Rose Home Link Party No.79

You might also enjoy
Vintage Linen Upcycled Shirt
Boho Necklace Tutorial
Slinky Stripey Scarf crochet pattern

Friday, May 25, 2012

Playing Pretend

I like the bones of this poem. I think if I come back to it in a year for a good edit, it might polish up nicely.

Pretend
Maxwell Mulligan Morgan McRae
Woke up silly on Saturday.
He curled in his covers and squirmed in his sheets.
He wrapped his fingers around his feets.
He pulled his knees right up to his nose,
Saying, "I'm a ball with wiggly toes!"

Maxwell rolled right out of bed,
Landing - Gack! - upon his head.
He rolled to the right and bumped his shin.
He rolled to the left and bashed his chin.
"Well," he shrugged, "that's how it goes
"When you're a ball with wiggly toes."

Maxwell Mulligan Morgan Ball
Rolled himself into the hall.
"I smell breakfast!" he announced,
And rolling to the stairs he bounced
On one step, two steps, three, five nine,
And croaked quite loudly, "I am fine!"

"Max!" yelled his Mom, "What's all that noise?
"You're loud enough for fifty boys!"
Max said, "I'm not a boy at all!
"I'm a rolly, bouncy ball!
"A ball with a breakfast-tracking nose!
"A hungry ball with wiggly toes!"

Mom frowned and sighed and tapped her toe.
"I don't have food for balls, you know.
"Balls don't get breakfast. They eat air.
"Besides, you can't reach Maxwell's chair."
And though Max bounced with all his might
To reach the chair, his mom was right.

Max the ball felt his shoulders slump.
He rolled outside to the bicycle pump.
It didn't taste so good somehow,
But - "SPIT THAT NOZZLE OUT RIGHT NOW!
"Maxwell Mulligan Morgan McRae,
"Can't you pretend you know how to behave?"

Maxwell stood. "Of course I can."
He went inside and washed his hands.
He sat in silence while he ate,
Said, thanks, and put away his plate.
'Well,' thought Max, 'I guess that's that.
'Next I'll pretend I'm an acrobat!'

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Bird Crochet

Because what is The Giraffe without The Bird?

Here he is in the book:

I wasn't ambitious enough to attempt those feet.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Giraffe Crochet

A sudden, nasty cold left me tired and unwilling to finish my poem for my Friday post this week. On the other hand, it gave me ample time to finish the crocheted giraffe I had started in honour of the release of Rebecca Bender's Don't Laugh at Giraffe earlier this week.

A simpler face would have been easier to pull off (he looks a little mad from some angles—see below) but I was trying to get a real expression on his face since the characters' expressions are such a big part of the book's charm. I'll just call it... mixed results.