Projects five and six: string theory.

Today, two new jewelry ideas. First, let me state for the record: I cannot sew. I cannot knit. I cannot crochet. I don't seem to be able to do anything with thread, yarn or fiber beyond sewing on a button.

So what on earth to do with this ball of yarn-y, string-y, fiber-y stuff??? I don't know if it has a name; it must be some kind of novelty yarn. Anyway, it's pretty, and a little strange. These two projects are also a little strange.

Project Five.

Start with a small piece of paper, about six inches square. You could use parchment or any other paper that takes your fancy. I chose tracing paper because it was in my closet and I liked the semi-transparency of it.


Mix 2 parts white glue to 1 part water, and brush it (or finger paint it!) all over the paper. Messy. I put down waxed paper first.


Start placing the yarn, working kind of gently. Try for swirly patterns. This part is pretty much serendipitous, although I did try to guide the little colored blobbles into empty areas to fill the paper somewhat evenly.


You will get something like:


Let it dry, then cut out 2 of any shape you think would make a nice earring. I used a template so they would match.


Using full-strength glue, dot over the thread parts, avoiding the colored blobbles when possible. Don't worry if glue gets on them, though - it's not too critical.




Once the glue dries completely, add a fishhook earring wire. I used a ribbon-end finding, but you could also just poke a hole in the top of your piece and attach the earwire through that..

Done! Earrings! You can make them any size, but I went with big (okay, gimundo) to sport the maximum amount of colored blobbles.


I tried to give you a photo that shows the translucence. (My husband, who knows how to light stuff, helped me get this shot - I love it!)

Okay! Let us move on to...

Project six.

This has essentially the same starting point, with a different technique to finish. Once you have your glue-dried-string-swirled-paper piece, lay it on a small piece of clear contact paper.


Lay another piece on top, and press hard along the edges to enclose your string art. Cut around the edges, but - this is important! - you need to cut it wide, leaving a rim of clear laminate around your paper shape. You end up with:


A very, very cute ravioli. I turned this particular ravioli into a pendant: punch 2 two holes, string a cord, add a matching bead. Check it out:


I think these two string projects ended up fairly unique...lighthearted...only a little bit weird. Well - the ravioli one, maybe more than a little bit. But they're undeniably fun. Now I wonder what other results you could get, with different types of novelty yarn? I know you all have some. If anyone tries it, I want to see!