Last summer, I began making bracelets for my friends and family. They were simple, made of embroidery thread and held on by a button. People began to ask where I had gotten my bracelets and were thrilled to find out I made them myself. One year of bracelet making later, I decided to try something new with them. I had talked with a friend who makes furniture out of beetle kill pine and he told me I could use his scraps for my new plan. My dad then helped me cut, sand and seal the wood to make them life-proof. I found that I needed more help making these bracelets, as I was terrible at cutting shapes with the saw. I asked my little brother, Vince(14), to help me with this and we soon had an assembly line...
Our assembly line starts with me... I draw the designs onto the wood and then I pass it to Vince, who then cut the shapes out. The designs are sanded and handed back to me. I finish off the pendants by staining them the way I want and putting the flat finish over them. I then use the fish tail method to create the rest of the bracelets!
In 2016, these bracelets are still made with embroidery thread and are now centered with pendants; hand crafted using sustainable wood from beetle kill trees right here in beautiful Colorado. Special thanks to Dan Cundall, who supplied me with wood and thanks to Northern Colorado Flood Lumber for providing wood from non-living trees. Also a huge thanks to my dad who cuts the wood and planes it for me!
I am passionate about creating these bracelets because I live in an area where the pine beetles and floods are common. I wanted to create something that people could wear and be reminded that nature is precious. Using wood that comes from non-living trees provides protection for those still living. I encourage you to wear your bracelet on every adventure with pride and always remember to take care of the beautiful earth we live on.
Escape the Ordinary...
|