|
Where creativity & imagination go hand-in-hand... |
|
Monthly Newsletter March 2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hasta la Vista,
 My bags are packed and I'm ready to go...to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. I usually travel with one carry-on bag and this time I am taking two bags. I bought short legs for my Marudai and decided to take it with me so my need for luggage has doubled. I am teaching several fun Kumihimo classes and I have wonderful and creative women in my classes. It will be perfecto! I am very excited. Oh! Oh! Oh!
I will be gone until March 18th and while I am away, my shipping department (me, myself and I) will be closed. You are more than welcome, and encouraged, to place orders while I am away. As you know, when I return your orders will be filled in a first-in, first-out order and I do my very best to get your orders out as soon as I return. Your orders are my priority.
New this month:
- "Beaded Petal Fringe Necklace - Duo" Kit. There is a row of petals on the lower edge of the focal section as well as an accent row of beads on the upper edge.
- Kumihimo Rayon Gimp. I could eat it, it's so DELICIOUS. It braids up beautifully. I am taking a bunch of it to Mexico to play with in my spare time!
- Ready-to-Go End Caps. Fully assembled and ready to be glued on to the ends of your finished braids. Easy, easy!
- Great Tools. Kumihimo Weighted Bobbins. I am taking a set to Mexico. I think they will work well with fine cord that doesn't hold good tension in the slots of the foam disk/plate. You might also want to try the Hemostat tool - it's like having an extra hand. Very useful. I have also made a switch on my regular Kumihimo bobbins and you will love the new quality!
So, get your orders in and I will get things out to you as soon as I return. Sorry for the wait, but it will be worth it.
Adios,
|
|
|
|
|
NEW! "Beaded Petal Fringe Necklace - Duo"
|
I call this Kumihimo Necklace the"Beaded Petal Fringe Necklace - Duo".
To achieve the "petal fringe" on the bottom edge and the accent bead on the top edge, the beads are strung in a particular sequence. The necklace is designed with approximately 5" of beading on either side of the 6" focal section of "petal fringe". The adjustable closure allows you to wear the necklace longer or shorter. The finished length of the beaded portion is right around 15 1/2" to 16" (depending on beads and braider) and the braided tails are about 6" on either end (could be longer if desired). The necklace can be worn as sort as the beaded section (around 16") and as long as 28" (flexible).
You will Need: Kumihimo Disk, 8 Bobbins, Measuring Tape and Scissors.
You Should Know: Kumihimo Round Braid, how to "drop" beads. If you aren't sure how to "drop" beads, it's very easy and you can check out Kumihimo Tip #14.
Kit includes:
- Pressed Glass Petals
- 1 Spool C-Lon Beadcord
- 8/0 Toho or Miyuki Seed Beads
- 6/0 Toho or Miyuki Seed Beads
 - Barrel Closure - Wide Eye Beading Needle - Instructions with Photos
- 5 Colors: (bottom to top) Amethyst, Green Iris, Hematite, Aquamarine and Brown Iris. Only the Brown Iris necklace shows the upper edge accent row of beads.
Cost $34.00
These necklace coordinate with the last month's kit, the Staggered Spiral Petals Bracelet!
|
|
NEW! Kumihimo Rayon Ribbon
|
 Kumihimo Rayon Ribbon or "KRR" is a 5mm wide hand dyed knitted rayon ribbon that creates a silky, shimmering braid. An 8 strand round braid yields a finished braid about 4mm in diameter (can vary between colors and braiders). Because of the collapsible structure of the fiber, with the help of a wide eye needle, it is easy to thread most Japanese 6/0 seed beads and Magatamas onto the KRR. So many possibilities, so many colors and so much fun! Each skein is 5 grams and 10 meters and yields about a 21" 8 strand round braid on the disk (this may vary from braider to braider). If you want a long braid, order two skeins. Hand dyed to match the Kumihimo Rayon Gimp. Use the KRR as a stand alone cord or Tex and match it with the Kumihimo Rayon Gimp or the Petite Satin Cord. Experiment and have fun! 12 Gorgeous Colors $6.00 each
Click here to see Kumihimo Rayon Ribbon, Kumihimo Rayon Gimp, Petite Satin Cord, C-Lon Tex 400 and C-Lon Beadcord.
|
|
Ready-to-Go End Caps (Non-Magnetic)
| |
These Ready-to-Go End Caps are fully assembled and ready to be glued into place! Doesn't get much easier. The lobster claw closure gives you an alternative to the magnetic closure.
4mm, 6mm Rhodium Plated
4.4mm i.d., 6.0mm i.d. Lead Free Made in the USA Cost: $4.50, $5.00
 4mm, 6mm 14K Gold Plated 4.4mm i.d., 6.0mm i.d. Lead Free Made in the USA
Cost: $4.50, $5.00
 8mm Rhodium Plated 8mm i.d. Lead Free Made in the USA |
| New! Kumihimo Tools |
 Weighted Kumihimo Bobbins are made to be used with the Kumihimo foam disk or plate. The beauty of the disk is that the slots in which you place your braiding strands are usually snug enough to maintain tension on the strands while you are braiding. However, there are times when the slots get "stretched out", maybe from lots of use or from using a very thick fiber or cord. When this happens, the slots do not hold tension as well as you may need them to to make a nice, even tensioned braid. That's when weighted bobbins come in handy. Each bobbin measures 1 7/8" in diameter, and weighs 24 grams. That's just enough weight to keep the tension you need. 8 Weighted Bobbins / $8
The Hemostat is one of the best tools I have in my Kumihimo Toolbox. This 5" Hemostat tool is made of stainless steel and is crafted of European quality. There are many uses, but most commonly I use it when I need to keep the end of a braid from coming undone and I don't want to hassle with making a knot (and then undoing it).The hemostat is like having an extra hand.
|
|
Kumihimo Artist of the Month
| |
Nancy Beckert - Truckee, CA
Nancy is a Truckee local artist. She sells her Kumihimo jewelry at a shop in town. She is very creative and it is always a treat to see what she comes up with. This wonderful wrap-a-round bracelet is made with Oyster C-Lon Tex 400 and Sea Foam 6/0 Toho Seed Beads in a "spot" pattern (beads on bobbins 2 & 6).
Thank you Nancy! |
|
Kumihimo Tip #23
|
 Here's an easy way to figure out the circumference of something round, like a bracelet for example. Instead of fumbling with a tape measure and inching it around to determine the circumference, all you need to do is measure the diameter (straight across from one side two the other) and multiply that number by the value of pi or 3.14159. For example, measure the diameter (illustration) take 2 1/2" and multiply by 3.14159 and you will get 7.85". That's the circumference. Works like a charm. I love this trick. |
|
Shopping
|
I have 7 "Kumihimo Shops" to meet all of your Kumihimo needs. All orders are through PayPal (or use the credit card option) and I ship orders via USPS First Class Mail. This has been amazingly reliable and incredibly fast. Most orders are shipped the same day I receive them.
Kumihimo Books
|
|
WHAT A KNIT ! Newsletter Archives
| |
For those of you that are new to What A Knit, you'll find some good info in the archived newsletters.
If you have any friends that might be interested in receiving this newsletter, make sure you forward them a copy. Click this link to
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
