Liberty Print Charm Necklace Part 2

I thought I would have a second look at this necklace today to see if I could improve on it but decided that is was great just the way it is! I did however add a couple more charms that my son begrudgingly handed over...these vintage crackerjack charms represent dollar signs to him. Last summer he purchased an enormous lot of these treasures at auction and has been reaping the rewards on EBay ever since. Every time I went to his apartment last Fall I would snitch a couple. One day I was caught with my hand in the Crackerjack jar (so to speak)and I thought the gig was up but much to my surprise a little bag stuffed with these beauties showed up under the Christmas tree...YIPPEE! I am eking them out for various projects...the next one will be a knitted bracelet.

Assembling this necklace is very easy. I snipped and tore 1/4" strips from 1/4 yd lengths of Liberty fabric leaving the edges raw and frayed. I then gathered together some of my fabric covered beads (see tutorial in January 2008 post) vintage beads, buttons, Bakelite and charms and threaded everything on the fabric strips. I made 4 different strips and tied them together. I held all the strands together and rearranged the elements to fit and then tied all 4 strands together in a knot so that I could wear the necklace at any desired length.

Liberty Print Fabric Charm Necklace

This is a necklace I have been working on using my fabric covered beads with the addition of vintage buttons, pieces of Bakelite, old enamel earrings and vintage Crackerjack charms. I saw bracelets made from torn strips of Liberty of London fabric on the Liberty website and thought making a whole necklace loaded with charms and beads would be a fun project. I started this a few months ago and it has been hanging on my door knob all winter. I think it is time to take it out and play around with it a bit more. I will publish the results after some tweekage!

Couture Knits for Blythe

Blythe's sweater dress was knit on variegated sock yarn using #2 needles. I used a Barbie doll pattern as a loose guide for binding on stitches but then I went "freelance" from there, fitting as I went.

I love knitting on small needles but it can be daunting if you are making a full size garment so this was very satisfying. The jacket is a strip of fringed wool that I hand stitched into a little bolero with a tiny felted flower.

I am wondering why I have waited so long to take on this fun little project.

Blythe Couture at Target

It seems that Alexander McQueen and I are entertaining the same muse these days!

When I opened the March issue of Bazaar, there she was... sporting an original designer frock...at Target no less...(one of the froo*gal's favorite places to shop). I promptly picked up my needles and finished the couture ensemble that I had been working on...I didn't want my Blythe to feel left out.

PS.....if you can actually buy Blythe at Target for $14.99...that is a REAL bargain!
PSS....I am liking those bangs...I may have to send her back to Michael for some fringe....I just hear a little scream from the other room!