100 Ideas That I Had - The Launch!

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I'm doing jdbracknell's 100 Things blogging challenge, AND SO SHOULD YOU!




{Take the 100 Things challenge!}



I do miss a bustling flist. I get so excited when one of my friends has a new entry! You all are so smart, and so funny, and I love hearing what you have to say. Even if I don't find the time to comment (something else I'll be working on...) trust me: I'm reading along with you!

But if you're like me, sometimes it's a struggle to come up with something to say. Bitch about work? Check. Squee about fandom stuff? Check. Anything else? Mmmm...

Thank GOODNESS for jdbracknell and her prolific brain!

Pick a topic, ANY TOPIC, and commit to writing 100 things about that topic! (For more info, do click that banner and see what she has to say!)

As for me, I've picked my topic: 100 Ideas That I Had.

I love to do things. Make things. Create things. Organize things. Dream up ideas of any shape and size! I am not lacking in inspiration; I am only lacking in time! (And resources. Yeah, some of my ideas--like my dream bookshop--are gonna take some start-up cash!)

So I'm going to share my ideas here. At least then I'll get them off my brain! Sure, some of them may fail (concrit_anon, whut?), and some are just never going to get the chance to be tested. But at least each one will get its moment in the sun!

We'll start with a little one:

My first idea: Easy-peasy Crochet Beaded Necklace

I really wanted to make this gorgeous crocheted bracelet for my friend's birthday. Naturally, I started the project the day of her party, and didn't even get close to finishing it. (I gave her flowers instead!) Over the next couple weeks, I kept trying to finish that bracelet, but it was just too fiddly: the hook and the thread too small, the beads and the string kept getting tangled, and DAMN IT, I just did not have the time to fuss with it.

So I made up my own version of a crocheted necklace.

Needed:

• No. 10 crochet thread
  
• 2.75mm crochet hook
  
• Beads big enough to string onto the thread.
  
• Sewing needle with an eye large enough to accomodate the thread, and small enough to pass through your beads.
  
• Clasp.

Do it:

1. First, you need to string your beads onto the crochet thread. I like to choose a main color (red, in this case) a contrast color (turquoise) and then throw in some accent beads in varying shades. (Most of these are clear, creams, a few yellows and a couple greens.) You'll need to string on about 3 1/2 to 4 feet of beads, depending on how long you want your necklace. If you're not sure, err on the side of more, as you can't add on later if you run out!
   
2. Leaving a nice long tail of about 5-6 inches, start chaining with the thread. Once you have 2 or 3 inches, it's time to start beading.
   
3. I crocheted the beads in place in groups of 2 or 3, depending on how large the beads were. Bunching them together like that makes a nice, chunky looking strand. When you want to add a group of beads, slide them up so they're snug with the chain you've already crocheted. Grab the thread with the hook and chain as usual, trapping the beads in the stitch.
   
4. Repeat step 3 until you've got the length you want!
   
5. Chain a few inches without beads.
   
6. Attach your clasp to either end, and presto! You're done. Like so:

(click to embiggen)


Now I just need to make a bracelet to match...

(If you've followed me here from jdbracknell's journal, or anywhere else, feel free to add me, say hello, direct me to your ideas and projects, etc. If you would like me to add you back, please comment, either by PM or on any entry. I just like to know who people are, is all.)

99 to go...