Remember making friendship bracelets as a kid? We used to use embroidery thread or lanyard (which my friend Jamie and her camp friends called “gimp”–what?), but part of the fun of the craft was collecting a rainbow of colors.

At Tuesday’s Craft Night, Jessie brought her embroidery thread with the intention of making bracelets but spent most the evening organizing her thread box instead… until she had the brilliant idea to use the thread for hair wraps. Using Jamie as a model, she showed us how it was done. If Jamie didn’t have a haircut appointment the next day, perhaps she would have kept it in. (It also would’ve helped if Jessie braided Jamie’s strand of hair first. We didn’t think of that.)

When was the last time to made a friendship bracelet? Do you think you’d remember how?

Last night my friends and I got together for craft night, which we try to hold every couple of months (although I wish it took place more often). Rather than work on the scarf I’ve been knitting for over a year and a half, I decided to take on a project that I could start and finish within an hour or two.

Inspired by Maggie’s post on EADL (and because I need them), I chose to make magnets. I picked up the supplies at Michael’s for about $15 that afternoon. Sidenote: I hate going to Michael’s. There is just too much junk in that store.

I didn’t have a game plan going in. I figured I’d flip through an old magazine and look for text or images that struck my fancy. I made 10 magnets (I did a lot of chatting and drinking in between crafting) and have enough supplies leftover to make about 40 more. Anybody need some magnets?

Last night I hosted my second craft night. This time there were five of us knitting, embroidering, making stationery and creating decorations for a baby’s room. I am 1/3 the way through the scarf I started at the end of February. I wish I was inspired to (or remembered to) knit on a daily basis, but, sadly, I don’t pull it out of the bag as often as I should. My mom frequently suggests that instead of noshing on sweets and treats while watching TV in the evening, I should keep my hands occupied by knitting. But I can’t multitask like she does. I’d miss everything happening on screen because my eyes would be glued to whatever I was knitting.

I learned an important lesson last night: When hosting a craft night, make sure you invite somebody who actually knows what she’s doing! I made several mistakes while knitting my scarf, but one of the gals around the table was able to tell me how to correct them. She saved me a trip to the knitting store today because I was able to get myself back on track. Thanks, Julia!

When do you like to craft? Are you able to multitask like my mom?

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This evening I’m hosting my first ever Craft Night. I’ve invited my most crafty friends to bring whatever projects they’re working on — be it knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, beading, etc — so we can craft together. I find that doing things in groups helps motivate me and inspire me to be more creative. I’m so excited to see what results we produce tonight! If all goes well, this may be the beginning of a monthly tradition at my house.

I’m trying to decide what project I’m going to work on. I could practice my knitting and purling for a scarf I want to make. I could sew another sweater toy for Briscoe. Or I could make the beaded earrings I promised my mother-in-law I’d give her for Hannukah — and then forgot all about. Oops. They were meant to match a necklace I made her for her birthday over the summer. Yes, maybe that’s what I’ll make tonight. Sorry, Mom #2!

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