Well, it’s not an “app” in the conventional sense of the word, but a nifty application of the bead lariat necklace. A friend at choir admired one of the beaded lariats I’ve been making. Then she said, “I have to wear a lanyard with my ID card all the time at work–the doors are locked and the card is the only way we can get in and out of our offices, even to go to the bathroom. And it’s so hard to find a lanyard that’s not just hideous. Do you think you can make one of these as a lanyard?”
Why, shore, said I. And forthwith I set out to make one.
The tricky part was coming up with a jump ring that would be sturdy enough to hold the heavy metal clip for the plastic key/ID card. Ultimately I used a small key ring — you know, those fingernail-snapping circles that you have to prize open to slide your keys on. I’d already broken my thumbnail off below the quick, so ended up traipsing to the bead shop, where they have a tool that opens that kind of jump ring, and lo! It worked. With some effort and four hands in the mix, the saleslady and I managed to attach it to the card clip.
Here’s how it turned out:
As usual, click on the image to see it in higher resolution. Attached a draft business card (the website’s not up yet) just to see how it would look with an ID card hanging on it. Not bad, eh?
Because it would be a nuisance to have to be tying and untying a length of beads bearing a required plastic card, I made it as a closed necklace rather than as a lariat, but finished off the closure with charms and bead bangles in a manner similar to the lariat’s. Don’t you love that little dragonfly?
Is that or is that not a huge improvement over an ugly nylon band stamped “Arizona Gaming Commission”? My friend loved it, and so did her coworkers: looks like I’ll probably get another order or two from them.
Really, this is perfect for anyone who has to wear a card around their neck on the job.
I can imagine making them for men, too, only out of leather or leatheroid cording: hold the beads, hold the frou-frou charms. Maybe instead of a silver dragonfly, a gent would like a fly fishing lure.
Actually, with the key ring doubling as a heavy-duty jump ring, a man could clip any number of small items to the thing: tiny flashlight, random keys, St. Christopher’s medal, whistle for his huntin’ dog, whatever.
I’m working on a new lariat for La Maya. Meanwhile, check out these cool things another choir friend gave me:
He works in glass, and he hand-makes these glass hearts, which can be done in just about any color you can imagine. The ones above are pink, red, amethyst, and “opal.” Are they cute or not? Perfect for Valentine’s day!
If you’d like a bead lanyard or lariat necklace — perfect Christmas present! — get in touch: funnyaboutmoney{at}gmail{dot}com.