So, apparently, my 13 year old self turned up this weekend, and wreaked havoc on my world.
Man, that girl is insane.
Before I talk about friendship bracelets, let me say this….
She ran through sprinklers. Dreamed about how beyond fab the future was going to be. Painted her toe nails and got nail polish everywhere, and didn't even care, just shrugged and kept going. She turned up all the speakers full blast, made homemade pizza and didn't clean up the mess (luckily I picked up after her). She rolled in the wet grass. Ate lime popsicles, listened to things like this and this (Oh dear Duckie!), and this too, oh! Waiting for a star to faaaaaaaal….
She put on no sun screen, what's new? And she left wet towels and clothes glopped on the floor everywhere. Her Esprit t-shirts, scrunchies and neon pink and black Body Glove bathing suit were even hanging in the bathroom.
(I might steal a Swatch watch for payment, if she'll take one of 10 off.)
She went on to repeat this behavior accompanied by different 80's songs for 2 days.
The Cutting Crew, Mr. Mister, Ice-House, Glass Tiger, Duran-Duran.
You know, the whole gang turned up, Amadeus Amadeus!
Not surprisingly, she was extra amused that there was no no no parental supervision.
She went bonkers over this.
Jumped on the bed over this fact, in fact.
She almost stole Mister Lovee's car and went joy riding.
What a girl.
It was so refreshing to see her again, but she did no chores, so that was annoying.
Ah, 7th and 8th grade…
The main thing she left behind?
Friendship bracelet making obsessions.
I lost so many friendship bracelets due to teacher confiscation as a girl, you see. Because I was obsessed with knotting embroidery floss in class, and was interested in little of anything else like Algebra, Social Studies or Science class. Bleh!
I decided to try my friendship bracelet making skills this weekend, while 13 year old me was here. See if I even remembered?
Of course, I had to try it with yarn first.
Since I have yarn of the brain.
If you need a refresher, or have never made friendship bracelets before, go here.
This site is great for all types of friendship makings.
I basically just stuck to the candy stripe.
Only instead of two knots with the yarn, I did 3.
I decided to try embroidery floss again, just for kicks.
And then, I got addicted.
I have about 4 different ones started, to give away.
And then, I made Mister Lovee a bracelet using the candy stripe technique, and a necklace.
I used to have a long necklace type one (like below) in purple and pinks with tiny bells in it, hanging from my hair in college, like a dread lock sorta. I loved that thing.
Lovee liked his crafty jewelry a whole lot.
I used a button for his necklace clasp.
He thought I was brilliant with the making of his friendship bracelet.
🙂
Isn't that hilarious??
He didn't know that most young kids whip them out one right after the other.
Or at least, they did when I was growing up.
In fact, he didn't really know what friendship bracelets were, except that you could buy them in border towns and on vacation islands.
He was probably driving around the country in his school bus when I was in 7th grade obsessing on weaving these little things.
But one thing, he wore them all weekend.
I laughed every time I looked at him because, coupled with his sun tanned skin and disheveled long curly hair, he looked like he had just gotten back from vacation. Or like, I had stolen him off of a beach somewhere.
After I made Lovee his, I got really inspired and using the easy candy stripe weave, I started this (below), which was really back breaking because of the amount of floss I used.
I am not thrilled with it, as I thought I would be….
But I'll still finish it.
When I got bored with the one above, I went back to the technique for making friendship necklaces, and tried using a little gold tiny ribbon I had, mixed in with embroidery floss, to make a different one.
Then I was really hooked, this was more my style…
It went well with the yarn ones.
Then I made a little black and off-white embroidery floss one for myself, and I liked it stacked in with the others…
Then I wondered, will I really wear these?
So I decided to couple them with one of my gold chain bracelets I wear all the time…
And then I was like, hmmmm….
I wonder how these would look with my other jewelry I wear all the time?
I was surprised to see that they were actually fun to add to your regular fine jewelry stuff.
And so, now I am thoroughly re-addicted to some of my 13 year old shenanigans.
Friendship bracelets included, only glammed up a little.
Sorta fun, no?
I love the tiny one with the gold ribbon, which uses this easy weave.
I need more of that with some light teal.
And bonus, you can add little bells and beads too as you go, yumm yumm!
Or make some for your hair.
You can find lots of tutorials for hair wraps on YouTube.
Like I need another hobby?
Why is this stuff so addicting I ask?
And time consuming too 🙂
Why can't vacuuming be as addicting??
Although, I do like vacuuming.
But, maybe folding laundry?
Do you have any friendship bracelets tales from days of yore?
Do you feel a nudge to make one coming on???
Once you start……
Obsession.
Back soon,
Love, V
ps: Why not make a 4th of July inspired one? Maybe out of yarn, gold, red, white and blue? Could be fun? Or teach your kids if you haven't already?? Kids love learning things like this, don't they? Making something you can use is so exciting.
My mom taught me how to crochet the simple chain stitch when I was 4, and I loved watching cartoons while sitting inside of my pillow case on the giant brown couch, making mile long chains 🙂
These look great combined with your other jewelry! I think I have successfully been inspired. Thanks for the idea!
Are you talkin’ about me? Cause it sure sounds like my 80’s self. ha.
Ooh those bracelets are amazing!! I especially like the yarn ones with the gold, pink, and blue candy stripes. I actually never made friendship bracelets when I was younger! Ever. I don’t know why not. Perhaps it’s because I don’t know how? Haha well I suppose I need to learn! xx
I think we generation xers are fabulous!!! I made soo many of these, friend!!! I am glad to get a chance to visit you and your teen self!!!! Thanks for the nostalgia. Blessings and hugs, always, from Amy
These look like so much fun to make! I have huge wrists so normal bracelets don’t fit BUT I can make these perfect size, added bonus!
I haven’t made one in TOO long! I’ll give it a try! I need something fun to wear with my favorite bracelets! Hugs!
Oh man! I just found all my friendship bracelet making supplies… embroidery floss neatly organized and numbered, my handy clipboard to keep them held down while I worked on them, and my order forms for my full-fledged friendship braclet making business when I was about 10… Ah, the good old days…. I can’t wait to teach my daughter how to make them.
Aww! These are lovely! Actually this tradition was common in sweden when I was a kid as well. I beleive we are about the same age. Kids today don’t know how to make them. If you knot the row from both sides (uneven number of threads) you get a v-shape of the pattern. I love the idea of flossy golden thread.
Linnea-Maria, I remember that, yes! I was going to try it next.
That sort of chevron design…. FUN FUN!! 😉
Vanessa
Valencia {A Fanciful Twist}
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.Com
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.Com
In a message dated 7/2/2012 1:25:26 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Katie, I will have to try the clipboard thing. I either tie it to a pen, sit legs criss-crossed and hold the pen in the crease under my knee, or I safety pin it to a pillow. 🙂 I can’t wait for you to teach your dot. I LOVE that you have your supplies at the ready 😉
I remember the Klutz books a person could buy at most book stores, the ‘Learn How to Juggle’ book, the ‘Learn How to Make Friendship Bracelets’ book and so on and so forth. Fun stuff for kids and teens and adults to create! I know I helped my kids learn how to make friendship bracelets and it was so much fun and the kids traded them with their friends in school. Thank you for sharing the fun photos! And yes! Lots of work involved but so rewarding.
It was a ‘feel good’ thing to do.
I used to make them a lot when I was a teenager. Iwas never very good at not breaking bracelets (still break them too easily) so I used to wear them in my hair. I wonder what my hubby would say if I was to make one and wear it? I don’t have any floss, but I have wool/yarn in various colours. Maybe I should make one to wear to the mad tea party? 😉
I used to LOVE to make these too when I was growing up…always used to carry a little clipboard and my box of embroidery floss and scissors around with me everywhere, in case I got bored, ha! Yours are beautiful. Thanks for the great summer activity idea for the kidlets (and me 😉 😉
Hugs,
Jamie 🙂
That is really weird because I was only thinking about how I used to make these the other day! I too was wondering if I could remember how. I think I made them when I was a bit older though as I seem to remember wearing them when I was at college. Ah-those were the days! I might just try one!
Fabulous Post Miss Vanessa, brought back major memories. We use to steal small balls of yarn from the craft cupbord in the hall way, between 7th and 8th grade art class. It sure was fun. Every once in a while I get out my embrordery floss and the skinny gold thread and play. Sure was a fun time. Thank you for the memories. Do you remember gum wrapper chains? I had one 6 ft. long.
Looks fun. Looks like something fun for the grand next time she’s over.
Isn’t it fun revisiting your youth?
Love the mushroom tutorial.
Delightful! I love your post, and your abandon to go back to your past and do something so creative : )
Your bracelets are so sweet and so vibrant! What a fun way to spend some time with yourself.
Hugs,
Terri
I wonder what my 13 year old self would do if I let her loose. I didn’t make friendship bracelets; but gum wrapper chains…and draped them all over my bedroom.
I smiled the whole time I read your post…it was sweet. Oh…love your friendship bracelet color choices and designs. Atta girl!
Es muy bueno saber que este sitio
me da mucho la idea y útil
gracias por publicar la información, tales
cosa. Dios te bendiga
1. Why don’t I ever remember GETTING a friendship bracelet? I think I’m hurt.
2. I would go back to the 80’s in a heartbeat.
3. I had such a good rear end. *sigh* I miss my 1988 hiney.
4. I wanted to marry Duckie.
5. There WILL be an OMD station on my Pandora radio before the day is over.
6. This post was SO mUcH FUn!!!!
You my beloved Friendling are beyond brilliant!! I must admit that I, like Mister Lovee, had no idea what a friendship bracelet was…until this very moment!! Being a wee bit less then 20 years your senior, I too grew up in a different time and probably passed you by at the ice cream store while speeding down 4th avenue. in my 280ZX. Me thinks me may try my hand at these.
Perhaps for me ankles :-).
Ooh! I aslo peeked in the other day to see your mushroom table tutorial…Brilliance again!!! Me thinks you need another title added to your long and growing list…how about, “The Wee Elfin Nutty Professor of all things Artist and Crafty.”
xoxo Cori
P.S. I am doing a giveaway to celebrate the Mad Tea Party on my blog if anyone is interested in participating! It will take place on July 28th.
http://www.awoodlandfantasy.blogspot.com
Ohhh lovely! It’s like friendship bracelets with a twist ( a fanciful one). I can’t say I was around in the 80’s but there’s something strangely comforting about 80’s movies and tv. My favourite has to be Teen Witch. Looking back now… it’s completely ridiculous. But it’s just RIGHT somehow. Though, due to my age, the best nostalgia riveter is 90’s sitcoms and Christmas films. Like Boy Meets World.
Your bracelets are so sweet and so vibrant! Thanks for the great summer activity idea…!!
I tried to get my kids to join in the hand making fun but the Delicious showed absolutely no interest in learning to make wee friendship gifties… Silly fur kids. ;o) Actually I’m in Mr. Lovee’s camp and alas was oblivious about friendship jewelry til this very moment. He was riding around in a school bus and I was obviously living under a rock -lol- Enjoy your 13 year old visiting self!
Have a great day!
Always, Queenie
i’m inspired! i need to get making these with my daughter.
You’re so funny.
These totally zapped me back to junior high.
Hey—did you ever make camp lanyards? They were woven little squarish columns you made with thin strips of plastic-y stuff.
I liked the harder ones to make with embroidery thread—the thicker knotted ones. Pretty! Lovee is a doll to wear your bracelets. Lucky you—you have wardrobe power.
Cute, cute! And yes, they look wonderful mixed in with your every day gorgeous jools. 🙂
xo
Pat
How fun!!!! I can totally see you prancing about the house – reliving those teen years (by the way, I adore Duran Duran!) and making those bracelets! Believe it or not, I never made them – although I DID have friends. 🙂 We were all into cat’s cradle and those “cootie catchers”. LOL Your excitement was infectious! Hope you and Mister Lovee have a wondrous 4th!
Miss V. You’ve got it Right! Enjoy every minute!
I never made the friendship bracelets in my days, although, it was popular at my daughter’s school last year. Her friend made one in the colors in honor of the last Harry Potter movie.
I do Love your music choices and As Eddie Money sang back then and even now, I Want to go back!
Have a Fabulouso 4th and have some sparkler FUN!!!! <3
oh the wonderful memories :):) some of my fave things from childhood- 16 candles, the goonies, the karate kid, the neverending story, jelly bracelets, jelly shoes, jams, stirrup pants, anything neon or pastel, lisa frank, trapper keepers, jem and the holograms, care bears, strawberry shortcake, unicorns, friendship pins (safety pins with beads) 🙂 i could go on and on. this post made me happy 🙂
Love the bracelets..I think I kind find a couple of little girls that would just love them..
I was probably driving around in my VW hippie van when you were making friendship bracelets. But now I want to go back to your 13 and make some friendship bracelets tomorrow. Fun!!
PS: The weather was finally fine enough for me to make my gypsy tent–another project that you inspired. And me and hapless hubbie will sleep in it tonight!
I like the unfinished one you aren’t crazy about!
Recently I braided hemp ones with ribbon and tied bows on the ends and put them in all the girls’ hair in my son’s class. You talk about some happy girls!! The guys got hemp bracelets.
You should make ankle ones next 🙂
Oh what a wonderful flashback! I want to go back to the 80’s, life was simple and colorful, dare I say the good ol’ days? lol *Sigh* I guess Pandora does beat taping songs on the radio to a cassette, mom yelling in the background and all 🙂
Oh Aimee, that is hilarious!!!
In a message dated 7/16/2012 1:41:22 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
So lovely!!!!
I LOVED making friendship bracelets back in the day and still do :o) I never thought to use yarn! Yarn would be so much easier for these arthritic hands of mine to handle. Oh the possibilities with all of that left-over & un-used stash taking up room… Not to mention the cotton yarns I have…
Friendship bracelets are making a major comeback. People love diamond bracelets more nowadays.
I love the first one ….
oh the friendship bracelets. How many times we made them for our best friends. I remember as a kid just making one with at least two colors, we were very simple back then. Now they are elaborate.