In the world of macramé, where every knot tells a story and every thread adds to the creativity, I decided to embark on a new adventure. This week, I stepped out of my comfort zone of creating small, decorative items and ventured into the realm of larger, more functional pieces. My goal? To design and craft my first-ever wall-hanging macramé piece.

The journey began with the selection of materials. I opted for my usual material cords, which have been chosen for their unique texture and strength. However, this time I used a cord that was thicker than my usual choice. The design was simple yet bold, featuring a series of interconnected knots that would hang gracefully on the wall.

As I worked on the piece, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. Each knot tied and each strand looped was a step closer to creating something that would not only look good but also serve a purpose. As I finally finished the wall hanging and hung it up for the first time. However, as I stepped back to admire my work, I realized that while the piece looked good, it wasn’t quite what I had envisioned. The knots weren’t as tight as I would have liked, and the overall design felt a bit too simple. Despite these shortcomings, there was a certain charm to the piece. It had character, and more importantly, it was handmade with love and care.

Reflecting on this experience, I realized that the beauty of macramé lies not just in the end product, but in the journey of creation. Every knot tied and every strand looped is a step towards something beautiful, even if it doesn’t turn out exactly as planned. This project was more than just a first attempt at a wall-hanging piece, it was a learning experience that has encouraged me to push the boundaries of my creativity and take on more challenging projects.

I cannot stress enough the cost-effectiveness of making my own wall hanging and how much of a bonus it is! I spent approximately $7.00 on materials, a fraction of what I would have paid for a similar piece in a store. And the best part? I could customize it to my liking, ensuring it was unique and personal.

This experience has ignited a passion for creating more complex macramé pieces. It’s opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of this craft and has encouraged me to take on more challenges that push the limits of my creativity.

To all fellow macramé enthusiasts out there, whether you’re creating small, decorative items or larger, more functional pieces, remember that every knot you tie is a step towards something beautiful. Happy knotting to all!

This week in my EDTC 300 Learning Project, I veered off the beaten path of decorative macramé and ventured into the practical realm of pet accessories. I have noticed every week that my young puppy is extremely fascinated by my cords and always wants to play with them. So I wanted to see what I could create for him. My mission? To craft a sturdy macramé dog toy that could withstand the enthusiastic play of my furry friend. This project wasn’t just about creating something cute and whimsical; it was a real-world test of the durability of my macramé work.

As always, the journey began with setting up my workspace. The familiar spot by the window, which has seen many a macramé piece come to life, was ready for action. I had to choose the right materials for this job — something that would be both safe for my dog and robust enough to endure a game of tug-of-war.  Knotting a dog toy required a different approach than my previous decorative items. This time, I focused heavily on the strength of the knots. I employed half hitch knots with multiple cords, known for their sturdiness. As I worked, I felt a newfound respect for the functional aspect of macramé. Each knot had to be tight and secure, each measurement precise, to ensure the toy’s durability.

The Ultimate Test: Playtime

With the final knot in place, the moment of truth arrived. It was time to introduce the macramé dog toy to its toughest critic: my 8 month old puppy. The simplicity of the design, a braided style rope loop with loose ends. I held my breath as I handed it over…. To my delight, the toy passed with flying colors. It withstood pulling, chewing, and all manner of canine shenanigans. Watching my dog play with the toy, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. Not only had I created something that brought joy to my pet, but I had also proven the resilience of macramé. (he carried this toy around EVERYWHERE!)

Now… this was my first dog toy style and there are some things I would fix, but overall I am happy with how it turned out!

This project was a departure from my usual macramé work, but it taught me an invaluable

lesson: macramé isn’t just about beauty; it’s about function, too. The satisfaction of watching my dog enjoy a handmade toy was different from the pleasure of crafting a decorative piece. It was a tangible demonstration of the practical applications of my newly honed skills. I definitely will be making more! As I look back on this experience, I’m struck by the versatility of macramé. It’s a craft that blends aesthetics with utility, and every piece, whether a plant hanger or a dog toy, is a testament to the strength and adaptability of simple knots. This week’s project might have been a small step for me in the vast world of macramé, but it was a giant leap in understanding the potential of these knotty endeavors.

P.S. this was such a fantastic way to make toys for my dogs in a very cost effective way. It costed me approximately $4.00 in material for this toy, rather than significantly more for the same style rope toy at a store. AND an extra bonus is that I can wash it!! Needless to say I am excited to take on more functional style challenges!! 

Until next time, happy knotting to all!

Hey there, fellow educators and learners! Today, we’re diving into the world of Macramé and the editing tool WeVideo. This is a video editing platform I found on the recommended list for this class. Hold onto your hats because we’ve got some pros, some cons, and a whole lot of fun facts to uncover about this tool.

Pros:

• User-Friendly Interface: This tool offers a friendly platform that makes it easy for both beginners and seasoned pros to video edit with relative ease. Everything is labeled well, easy to find and has a variety of options for all users.
• Seamless Classroom Integration: Specifically for educators, this tool provides the ability for student/educator creativity, allowing you to engage with the SAMR model through basic video projects and collaborative storytelling.

Cons:

• Not-So-Free Fun….: Here’s the kicker….while the basic controls are free, most templates and advanced features come with a price tag. Yep, you read that right. If you’re hoping for a plethora of freebies, you might have to rethink your strategy.
• Continuous glitching: Unfortunately during my editing experience, I struggled with an extreme amount of glitches, which did not allow me to explore the tool to the extent I wish I could. Due to this, my video was forced to be quite simple.

Educators, Are You Ready for the SAMR Adventure?

For educators seeking to integrate WeVideo into their classroom, I do believe the platform offers a compelling approach for student engagement, allowing them to explore the SAMR model. But beware, my fellow educators, for the path to full creative freedom may require navigating through a forest of premium features.

Here are a few ways to add this video editing platform into your educational adventures:

• Creative Storytelling Opportunities: Encourage students to embark on creative storytelling journeys with WeVideo. The platform offers students the ability to bring their stories to life through video projects.
• Collaborative Creations: Unite your students in collaborative video projects.
• Digital Presentations and Projects: Elevate traditional presentations by allowing students to create dynamic digital presentations using WeVideo.

Now for my favorite part…..

Ah, the art of macramé – Join me as I take you through this week’s personal experience of creating a macramé bottle holder before I dove into the world of WeVideo to capture this journey.

Another enchanting week has passed in my macramé odyssey, and I am thrilled to share the latest chapter in my knotty adventures. This time, I ventured to create a macramé bottle holder, aiming to level up from my previous projects and infuse a touch of creativity into my space.

Before diving into this endeavor, I prepared my creative space (as usual), ensuring that the cords were securely fastened to a stable anchor, much like my previous projects. As I progressed into this next project, I encountered a delightful blend of lessons and unexpected surprises. This time every challenge I encountered was measurement related…. Next week I think I am going to try a measuring app to see if that will be more accurate. Despite my measurement twists and turns, the cords turned into a whimsical bottle holder and filled me with a profound sense of accomplishment. Testing my creation with an empty bottle, I reveled in the satisfaction of crafting something different!

A Personal and Whimsical WeVideo Adventure
Crafting a macramé bottle holder became more than a creative task: it became a personal expression in the form of a magical video journey. WeVideo, with its enchanting features, transformed my personal experience into a visual tale, capturing the artistry and tranquility of my macramé.

Here’s to another week of crafting and creative discoveries in the art of macramé! Until we meet again, may your own creative endeavors be filled with joy, and inspiration..

Happy crafting!

Ah, another exciting week is complete in my macramé journey, and I’m eager to share the latest mission in my knotty endeavors. This time around, I embarked on a delightful project, crafting a macramé plant hanger with a whimsical twist—no tassels at the bottom—and even dared to create a charming macramé owl to adorn my space. I wanted to take the things I learned last week and try leveling them up to something bigger and better!

As I searched through various crafting resources, I stumbled upon a captivating macramé plant hanger pattern that immediately piqued my interest. I felt the absence of tassels at the bottom lent a modern touch to the design, and the prospect of fashioning a macramé owl filled me with a sense of anticipation. With a burst of enthusiasm, I decided to dive headfirst into this new challenge.

Before commencing my first endeavor, I ensured that my workspace was primed for creativity, meticulously securing the cords to a stable anchor (same window area as last week). Armed with cords and a vision of a charming owl, I began the knotting process, feeling less reliant on external tutorials and more at home with the rhythmic dance of the square knot. Honestly, I am impressed with my end product, even though it does not look identical to the reference in the video… It makes a super cute, different wall-hanging piece!

My next project unfolded with lessons and surprises. As I followed the pattern’s instructions, I couldn’t resist injecting a touch of my creativity, adorning the design with a dash of personal flair. Throughout this learning project, I have found I use this as a new destressing method. When I knot I can forget about all the negative things around me! Amidst the playful twists and turns, the transformation of cords into a whimsical plant hanger filled me with a sense of achievement. Testing my creation with an empty pot, I reveled in the satisfaction of my new functional piece of art.

As I reflect on this whimsical week in my macramé journey, I’m reminded that each project is an opportunity to infuse a bit of magic into everyday life. The challenges and triumphs along the way create a more satisfying feeling once I am finished.

For this week of my macramé learning journey, I wanted to start with a project that I felt was manageable for a beginner, however after reading the comments on my last post, I wanted to try something a little bigger! So I chose a simple macramé plant hanger pattern I found on a crafting blog titled Jenny Lemons DIY Macramé Plant Hangers. The pattern was labeled as easy, which honestly gave me confidence that I could take it on. I quickly glanced over the instructions before I started, only to begin doubting my decisions, it seemed complex yet simple and I truly was a little worried about if it would work out. The main technique was called the square knot, which seemed to be a basic yet essential part of most macramé art. This article showed step-by-step photos to help teach the pattern. Last week I relied on videos to help teach me, however, this resource required me to give a little more attention to the task. This experience is all about learning new things and stepping outside of my comfort zone to create something beautiful. So rather than sitting and worrying about if I was good enough to try something more advanced I decided to go for it!

Before I began to knot, I set up my workspace. The guide suggested attaching the cords to a stable anchor or taping it down. With the length of these strings, I was not able to simply tape it down on my desk, I spent close to 20 minutes trying to find the perfect spot to hang the strings. I noticed a 3M hook on our front window that we use for holiday décor and that it would be perfect, and I was right! I remembered from last week how important it is to have a good setup before starting a macramé project to avoid a tangled mess, so I am thankful I found a perfect spot. I then measured and cut out all the cords I needed, following the guide, and attached them to a 2-inch wooden loop with a gathering knot. From here I began knotting. Once I began I noticed I did not look or need further instruction! I started knotting and just kept going until it was complete.

A lesson I learned from this macramé project was that I need to trust my own creativity and continue to challenge myself. Instructions tend to include very specific, crucial details that are easy to overlook, but I took the time to review them at the start and this led to a successful plant hanger. For instance, the pattern started with instructions to tie a gathering knot to secure the cords. Then, it said to start the square knots, which I did, but I added some extra flair. I found spare wooden loops and decided to get a little extra creative this week. Thankfully, this did not ruin the overall project, but I can imagine that adding such a detail could be problematic in more intricate designs.

I was slightly nervous as I continued tying knots, worried that I might have missed an important step. This anxiety faded when I saw the plant hanger taking shape. My room was slowly being transformed by this new creation, which felt incredibly rewarding. I was honestly ecstatic when I finished; it looked exactly like the picture in the tutorial! I hung an empty pot in it to test my creation, and it fit just right. I was thrilled with the outcome of this first week of my macramé project, and I am eager to continue improving my skills.

P.S. I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited about a homework assignment before.

Over my Christmas vacation, I was given a macramé kit in a gift exchange with my family. This was a form of art that I always enjoyed looking at and wished that I could do! However, I never seemed to dive into trying it. My first-ever macramé trial was one of the most frustrating experiences I have ever had. The knots wouldn’t tie, the photos were confusing, and it just didn’t look right. There were multiple times I had to put it away and take a break to not get irritated with a bunch of strings. Since then I have not touched the kit… Although this is something I have always wanted to learn, I found myself extremely irritated with how it would not cooperate with me! 

This learning project came along at what I believe is a perfect time. One of my dogs suffered a double ACL tear at the age of five months old, this went undiagnosed for over a year. He has now been getting physical therapy for a couple of months in an attempt to avoid surgery, but that does not seem to be an option. The cost here in Saskatoon is just over $10,000 to fix both legs, but I was able to find someone in Edmonton who will fix both for around $6,000. All of this veterinary research was occurring at the time we were discussing our learning projects. At this time I convinced myself to restart my macramé journey! With the goal of becoming skilled enough to sell products to raise funds for my dog’s surgery! I know that with this motivation I will be able to dedicate time and significant effort to learning how to excel at a skill I have wanted to learn for a long time.

To get started I did some research on different styles of macramé and what supplies are required for each style. As I learned more I decided to start with the most simple approach I could find, making keychains. This will hopefully help me get comfortable with different styled knots, patterns, and designs before diving into more complex things. I ordered some supplies from Michaels and began to complete my first couple of keychain styles. With the help of a fantastic blog I found, I was able to watch videos, look at photos, and view inspirational designs! I was able to create three keychains in different styles! (not my best work, but it was my first attempt and it shows me where I am in my learning journey). This time around I truly enjoyed the process, I got to destress and focus on this one task.

I plan to complete around six keychains of different styles to teach myself different patterns. Once I complete those, (only if I feel comfortable) I will begin working on a small wall-hanging piece. I hope that after each project I can progress into a slightly more complicated design. I have found a few blog resources to help with designs, such as this one. I am looking forward to progressing the difficulty as I learn more, and work into more complicated designs! 

Wish me luck on this new journey!