diy: leather pendant

This short and sweet post over at OutsaPop Trashion was a good kick in the pants for me.  DIY has lately become widely seen as a “movement” and a serious form of fun and self-expression, and that's great, obvs.  But, more than that, it can also really empower us to reduce consumption in so many aspects of our lives, major and minor.  Not to get preachy or anything (eh, too late).  In any case, there’s so much good crafting material out there that doesn’t require any new production, and it’s extra satisfying to repurpose it to make something that we'll use and love.

I knocked out this simple pendant while sidetracked from crafting a late-to-the-party leather collar (soon to be blogged).  This is a nice little project for using up scrap leather (here, from a thrifted leather skirt), and it just takes a few minutes.

diy: leather bracelets

My apologies for the unplanned and extended blogging break.  It's amazing how much energy it takes to adjust to an entirely new environment - new home, new language, new job.  I've begun teaching in law firms and various corporations...so fun!  And now, with a fair amount of control over my work schedule, I have plenty of time to pursue my own projects.  Without getting too cornball on you guys, I must say that the big changes of late have given me an entirely new perspective on how to use my time (my most precious commodity).  This exercise in living - not just thinking - a little bit outside the box has been tremendous so far, and I'm just so thrilled and grateful for the opportunity.

Enough!  Onto the DIY!  This is another one from before I left the U.S.: a truly simple and easily customizable bracelet recipe.  I made two, one with a single braid, and the other with beaded thread:

Here's how I put together the bracelet with the woven braid.