OK here's a fun idea: you can use some of your embroidery supplies to make a non-embroidery project!

over the weekend i whipped up a trivet and a keychain using some embroidery floss, the inside ring (the one without the opening) of a wooden embroidery hoop, and some plain cotton clothesline.

i used this great tutorial from lisa / the red thread / we are scout to make the trivet. it uses just a simple macrame knot, over and over.

now that i'm looking at the tutorial again, i remember that i made mine a little different -- i used a single strand of rope instead of two, and it looks like my knots are beneath the hoop as opposed to aside, as lisa shows. but nevertheless! i love it, and i will definitely be making more. i'll try to follow *all* the directions next time ;)

instead of the wooden beads, i opted to use a little of my leftover embroidery floss to do a weave around the tails of the rope.

the keychain is a monkey fist knot, also using the cotton clothesline. to make this one, i watched a few you tube videos, and also referenced this design*sponge tutorial.

let me know if you make these! i'd love to see.