Fashionable Monkey Fist Knot Key Chains

I love tying these wonderfully intricate knots.  They look complicated but once you start, you just can't stop!  These key chains come with a 1 inch key ring and a 1.5 inch blue metal carabiner. Never lose your keys again!  These key chains can be clipped to a belt loop, purse or backpack.


Rainbow Monkey Fist Knot Key Chain

The monkey fist or paw knot is an ancient knot used by sailors and climbers. The monkey fist or paw knot s a type of knot, so named because it looks somewhat like a small bunched fist. It is tied at the end of a rope to serve as a weight, making it easier to throw, and also as an ornamental knot. It was also used in the past as an anchor in rock climbing, by stuffing it into a crack.

It has also been used as a weapon, but none of my Monkey Fist Knot Key Chains are meant for such a use.  Most of my key chains have a felted wool ball at their center.  A few have a small wooden ball inside.

Red Monkey Fist Knot Key Chain

If you love purple, this purple Monkey Fist Knot is just for you!

Purple Monkey Fist Knot Key Chain

And for the guys, Green Camo Monkey Fist Knot Key Chain

Monkey Fist Knot Key Chains

I'm not  big on the outdoors or sailing  but I've fallen in love with the monkey fist or paw knot.  It's an intricate looking but surprisingly simple knot that is fascinating and satisfying to tie.

The monkey fist knot or monkey paw is a type of knot, so named because it looks somewhat like a small bunched fist. It is tied at the end of a rope to serve as a weight, making it easier to throw, and also as an ornamental knot. It was also used in the past as an anchor in rock climbing, by stuffing it into a crack.

I've started using this knot to make key chains and zipper pulls.  My key chains are lightweight because I use a hand felted wool ball as the center.  When researching on how to tie the monkey fist knot, some tutorials recommended a metal ball for use as the center but I prefer the felted ball.  The felted ball is lightweight and so will not add a lot of extra weight to your pocket, belt, purse or backpack.

Rainbow Monkey Fist Knot Key Chain

 

Rainbow Pride Monkey Fist Knot Key Chain 

Camo Green Monkey Fist Knot Key Chain

Rainbow an Neon Yellow Monkey Fist Knot Zipper Pulls

All Keyed Up

I've been on a key fob jag lately.  It started with a few dragon claw key fobs.

I posted them on Face Book and sold them quickly, even before I got a chance to list them in my Art Fire shop, Wyvern Designs.

I went on to make several more of these key fobs.  Several in silver, one in purple,

one in green, 

and one that's a bit macabre.   

I've been playing with polymer clay and alcohol inks, lately, so I decided to use up some blank pendants I made some time ago.  It was so much fun dripping the inks onto the blanks then manipulating it by tilting the pendant or using canned air to blow and blend the inks.  After they dried, I starting seeing shapes in the swirls and smears, or maybe it was only my demented mind but I saw them none the less.  This is my first attempt.  I loved the look but realized that the clay was split along the side and would be useless as a key fob.

The next two came out better.  This one is called Mushrooms On The Forest Floor.

And this one is called Wild Flower.

I have several more in the works and I seem to be addicted to finding shapes in the inks.  I just hope that I don't get lost in the images in my key fobs.  You might never hear from me again!

Here comes Christmas!

Christmas is comeing up fast and I've been working furiously to get everything I've made lately listed in my Art Fire shop.  Here are a few of the items I've recently listed.

Millefiore Key Chain

Pickle Ornament

Snowman Ornament

Festive Snowman Ornament

Merry Snowman Ornament

Some new Buttons

Kaleidoscope Earrings

Blue Lily Post Earrings

And some round Dangle Earrings 

 

I hope everyone has a very happy Holiday Season!