Monday, March 24, 2008

Handamde Bracelets

At one point or another, everyone has experienced the joy of receiving a handmade bracelet in their life. Whether you have been given a friendship bracelet by someone who was close to you, put together beads with your grandmother over a lazy Sunday afternoon, or been given a special present by someone who you had a crush on you, handmade bracelets have probably crossed your path at one point or another. Most people get over them, but I have never. I love all of them. I love charm bracelets, friendship bracelets, lanyards – you name it and I have made dozens of them. I even tried to start a handmade bracelet business at one point, although it quickly fell through.

I guess the thing I like so much about handmade bracelets is the effect of the personal touch. In this age where almost everyone buys gifts, people forget the effect it can have on the you to receive something that has been handmade by a friend. A new CD or computer game will be forgotten within several months or years. A nice piece of handmade jewelry – something which costs only a fraction of the price – will be with you forever. For me, it is almost a magical process. The way that a handmade keepsake can unite two people is truly amazing if you think about it. This is why I take every opportunity that I have to make a handmade bracelet for someone.

A lot of people never make handmade bracelets because they haven't been shown how. They assume that it will be too hard for them because they don't particularly have a knack for crafts. If you have never tried it before, you would be amazed at how easy handmade bracelets can be. You can make them in many different ways.

When I was a kid, my favorite way with bead looms. With the bead loom, you can turn a thread and cheap plastic beads into a gorgeous pattern of different colors and shades. You can even draw little pictures with the beads! Another favorite among children is the lanyard. These handmade bracelets are made out of strips of brightly colored plastic that are twisted together in various patterns. Both of these are extremely inexpensive ways to assemble your own bracelets handmade, yet can be used to make gifts that will be remembered for a long time. You can even just go into a bead store and pick out your favorite beads to assemble a lovely, unique necklace. It takes moments, but will be remembered for years.