This May Funk Up Your Arm Style!

 I Seem Happy Doing Something I Love, So Let's Funk Up Some Bracelets

There’s something nostalgic about finding your groove in life, especially when you hit your 50s and feel freer to embrace who you are, weirdness and all. For me, that groove has come from doing what I love: creating, accessorizing, and sharing my  funky, unapologetic side of my style with the world.

What I love most about accessorizing is how it transforms the everyday style of the day into something that I own. As a retired hairstylist, I used to wear in the same five outfits most days because h hair dye stains and tiny bits of hair stuck between the fibers of my clothes. So, accessories became my way to switch things up. 

I wore funky rings, layered bracelets, and odd handbags that make people stop and ask, Where did you get that? Honestly, accessorizing is where my personality shines.

And then there’s the creating part making handbags out of old denim or piecing together a stack of bracelets that are bold and a little off beat brings me so much joy.

Every item I make is a little piece of me and a celebration of the weird, the unconventional, and the unapologetically funky side of my personal style. Some might call my designs “ugly” (shoutout to the Ugly Denim Bag Collection!), but I’ve learned to take that as a compliment. Ugly is just another word for unique in my book.

Through my online boutique and my writing, I’ve found a way to share that joy with others. It’s not just about selling a bag or a bracelet; it’s about inspiring other women to embrace their funk and wear their what the Funk they want: literally. #nopunintended

Life in your 50s should be fun. It should be about doing what you love, wearing what makes you happy, and ignoring anyone who tells you otherwise.

At the end of the day, the happiness people see in me comes from living authentically. It’s from creating, dressing up my style, and sharing my style experiences one funky accessory at a time. And , Darling it’s a beautiful way to live.

So, by now you've probably noticed I love bracelets and I do make most of them myself. They’re simple, they’re fun, and honestly super easy to create. 

If you’ve ever wanted to make your own, here’s exactly how I do it , nothing fancy, just strstetchy cord, beads, and your own personal funk.

What you’ll need (aka what you’ll “accidentally” buy too much of):

• Stretchy elastic cord (0.7mm works for most beads, 1mm if you’re using chunky ones)
  
  

• Any type of Beads glass, wood, stone
  
  

• Charms or dangles if you want a little personality
  
  

• Craft Scissors
  
  

• Optional: a dab of jewelry glue like E6000 (but not super glue 

Step 1: Measure and prep.
Wrap the stretchy cord around your wrist and cut it with a few extra inches so you have room to tie. Before you add beads, gently stretch the cord a few times, it keeps your bracelet from getting loose later.

Step 2: Play with your design.
Lay your beads out and just… vibe with it.
I like mixing things that technically shouldn’t go together ,matte black next to  pearls next to little smiley faces if that’s what you like. That’s the fun of it, there’s no wrong combo when the whole point is expressing your style.

Step 3: String it up.
Tape one end of your cord down so it doesn’t run away from you, then start threading beads.
Stop every so often and check the length around your wrist if you want it snug but not tight.

If you’re adding a charm, I usually put it right in the center, but honestly, I also love when it lands off to the side like it just ended up there by accident.

Step 4: Knot it and secure it.
Once it fits just right, tie both ends into a surgeon’s knot (loop it through twice before you pull tight).
Add a teeny drop of glue on the knot if you want to make it extra secure, then let it dry.
Slide a bead over the knot to hide it, or use a little crimp cover if you’re fancy like that.

Step 5: Snip and show off.
Trim the extra cord and give it a gentle stretch to make sure it’s solid. Then stack it, wear it, and maybe even gift one to a friend — or don’t, because sometimes you just want to keep the cute ones for yourself.

Lastly, there’s something about making bracelets with your own hands that hits different,  especially when it’s wearable. art 

POV: Style should never feel like rules, it should feel like play and playing with your style is a whole vibe in itself. So if you’re sitting there wondering if you’re “too old” or “too whatever” to rock a stack of handmade bracelets, here’s your reminder: you’re not. 

So, go ahead and stack them high, mix the shiny with the weird, and let your wrists do the talking. Because you’re never too grown to wear what the funk you want. LOL: Yeah I said That:)

See Ya In The Next Funky Post

Xo Tangie