Daily Blogs : Kumihimo

Options for Finishing Your Kumihimo Braids

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 07:00:00 GMT

I blame it all on Beadwork magazine Designer of the Year Jill Wiseman. Jill is infamous for getting hundreds of beaders hooked on doing kumihimo with beads through her amazing and easy-to-follow classes at big bead shows like Bead Fest Philadelphia.

Above: Jill Wiseman gets me hooked on kumihimo.

Below: My five-year-old son gets in on the action and helps me load a set of beads for a kumihimo braid.

Last summer, I decided to see what all the fuss was about, and signed up for one of Jill's kumihimo classes. The name sounded innocent enough: Basic Kumihimo With Beads. Harmless, right? Just another fun beading class with a bunch of fun ladies?

Well, after that one class, I was hooked. And not just hooked, like having a summer crush on the cute lifeguard at the pool. We're talking maniacal, borderline obsessive-compulsive disorder, here. I can't go for a long ride in the car without bringing along a couple of foam kumihimo discs, loaded with beads and threads. Even my five-year-old son has gotten into kumihimo, learning from his momma how to string beads onto the threads using a big-hole needle!

So now that I've been bitten by the kumihimo bug (thanks a lot, Jill), I'm looking for different ways to finish those pesky ends of my beaded kumihimo braids. So far, here's what I've come up with:

1. Glue, beading wire, and end caps. The easiest way to finish your kumihimo braids is the way I learned in Jill's class, using a glue like E6000 and a pair of end caps. Tie off your braid using beading thread and snip it, then coat the plain braid with a generous amount of glue. Slip a piece of beading wire through the space between the plain braid and the beaded braid, and through the end cap. Slip on a bead, a crimp, and your clasp, squash the crimp, and then thread the ends of the beading wire back down into the end cap.

2. Use the ends for button and loop closures. Of course, because I have these trust issues with glue, I thought about using the braided ends to create a button and loop closure on a simple bracelet. It worked!

Make one end of the plain braid long enough that you can tie it into a small loop, and sew your button to that small loop. Make the other end long enough to wrap around that button, and then tie off the long thread ends. (And, yes, a little bit of glue would help to keep those loops secure.)

When you're working this technique for making a button and loop closure on your kumihimo braids, just take care to leave extra-long thread tails so that you can work them into the braid with a needle without too much difficulty.

3. Add a piece of wire to one end. I haven't quite mastered it, yet, but there's a way to insert a small piece of craft wire or beading wire at the very beginning of your kumihimo braid for use in attaching a clasp to the finished project. This could also be used to attach a button for finishing, and then making a loop with the other unbeaded end of the braid as suggested previously.

Again, since I have trust issues with glue, the other way to finish your beaded kumihimo ropes is to make a shorter braid at the beginning and end of each piece, and then insert a piece of craft wire, making a wrapped loop around the plain braid. Leave enough wire to accommodate your end cap, slip on the end cap, and then make another wrapped loop where you can attach your clasp. Look, ma, no glue!

4. Make Your Own Endcaps. I'll be exploring this last one in greater depth over the coming weeks: the idea of making your own beautiful, custom beaded endcaps to finish your beaded kumihimo braids. I mean, why not? Sometimes, I think life is too short to use pre-made jewelry findings. Why not tap into all your bead-weaving skills and use your favorite beading stitches like peyote, herringbone, or even tubular right-angle weave to create your own custom kumihimo endcaps?

Have you been bit by the kumihimo bug? Make sure you check out all the fabulous ideas for making and using kumihimo braids in Beadwork and Jewelry Stringing magazines! Find inspiration with product reviews, bead news, basic and advanced techniques, and innovative beading projects from your favorite designers. Right now, as part of the Summer Sidewalk Sale, subscriptions to both Beadwork and Jewelry Stringing are on sale! Make sure you subscribe to one (or both) of these comprehensive beading resources, and check out all the great deals through June 23, 2013 in the Beading Daily Shop!

Do you have a great idea for finishing your beaded kumihimo ropes? Do you have trust issues with your glue, like me? Do you prefer the wrapped loop method? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your tips and techniques with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Three Easy Ways to Take Steampunk Jewelry and Make It Your Own!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 29 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

The key to making successful steampunk jewelry, it seems, is all in the material that you choose. You can really use any kind of jewelry-making technique to create gorgeous steampunk jewelry, if you know what kinds of beads and components work best to evoke that romantic-industrial feeling that so many jewelry-makers and jewelry wearers love.

Start Small With Steampunk

The most obvious choice for great steampunk jewelry-making components are things like watch cogs, gears, antique keys, and chain. Pick materials with an antique finish in metals like brass and pewter to further enhance the steampunk flavor of your jewelry-making projects.

Look for these items on eBay or Etsy, or check your local thrift shops and flea markets for unique steampunk finds!

Make Steampunk Sparkle

Once you're comfortable using those materials, try including things like vintage crystal stones and cabochons, or even just a couple of contemporary crystal beads in your steampunk jewelry-making projects. Just a little bit of sparkle in your steampunk jewelry-making projects will help give them a softer, more romantic flair. No one said that steampunk had to be all 18th-century cutting-edge and hard, cold metals.

Another idea for adding some authentic vintage sensibilities to your steampunk jewelry-making projects is to repurpose antique jewelry. Single earrings, broken necklaces and bracelets, and even antique brooches can successfully be modified and used as the focal points for unique steampunk jewelry.

Other Ideas for Steampunk Jewelry

This beautiful steampunk necklace by Beading Daily user Sarah Small uses kumihimo and antique copper beads to create what appears to be a metal bead chain, perfectly accenting the handmade focal piece. I would never have thought of using kumihimo to create a beautiful piece of steampunk jewelry, but this rope is both ethereal and industrial, the perfect combination for a piece of successful steampunk jewelry!

What better way to tell your personal story through steampunk jewelry than with your own handmade components? You can add a more personal touch to your steampunk jewelry by using handmade components, like handmade chain or handmade components made from metal clay. Resin can also be used to create pendants and jewelry-making components using copies of antique family photos for your special steampunk jewelry-making projects.

Would you like to expand your jewelry-making skills and explore steampunk jewelry at the same time? Download Jean Campbell's Making Steampunk-Style Jewelry and learn about steampunk jewelry-making basics like drilling, cold connections, resin, and wirework. Living in the digital age does have its advantages: you can be watching and learning from a jewelry-making expert in just minutes! Download your copy of Making Steampunk-Style Jewelry with Jean Campbell, or check out more great digital downloads on sale right now in the Beading Daily Shop!

Now it's your turn: how do you make steampunk jewelry your own? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and tell us how you tell stories with steampunk.

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Learn Kumihimo As Easy As 1-2-3

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

One of the best classes I took last summer at Bead Fest Philadelphia was Easy Kumihimo with Beads, taught by Jill Wiseman. Easy, fun, and wildly addicting, I returned home with a whole bag of kumihimo supplies and project ideas, and I haven't stopped making these beautiful beaded braids since then!

A number of you have asked for a basic beaded kumihimo tutorial, and here it is. Learning kumihimo is much easier than you might think it is -- your basic kumihimo braid only requires two moves of the cords to make a braid that you can use for bracelets, purse straps, and even spectacular beaded necklaces. Enjoy!

Materials:

1 spool C-Lon cord in color to match or contrast with seed beadsd
For a 7" bracelet, you'll need about 30 grams of size 6^o seed beads

Tools:

Big-eye needle
Foam kumihimo disc
8 plastic bobbins
Scissors or thread cutter

Before you get started, measure your thread and cut 8 strands that are 3 times the length of your desired finished length. Remember: it's easy to add more beads as you braid, but you can't add more thread, so always make your threads a little longer than you might anticipate.

		Once you have your threads cut, tie them all together using an overhand knot. Place the knot in the center of the hold in your kumihimo disc, and space them so that there is one thread on either side of a black dot. Note that I'm not using the front of the disc with all the numbers. Jill told us that looking at all those numbers would just confuse a lot of people, and she's right. You'll also find the black dots on the front of the disc, so just use a permanent marker to mark them on the back of your disc. For basic kumihimo like this, just four dots is all you need!

		Using a big eye needle, string your beads onto each strand of cord. For a 7" bracelet, you'll need about 42 beads per strand, or 6 beads per inch. Once you've added all the beads for each strand, wrap the remaining cord around a bobbin. You can always add more beads if you run out, but it's harder to add more thread. Make sure that your cords are the correct length before you start braiding!

		It really only takes two steps to learn basic kumihimo, and here they are. For step one, take the cord that sits to the right of the dot at the top (in the twelve o'clock position) at the top of your disc. Move it down to the right of the two cords at the bottom (six o'clock position) at the bottom of your disc.

		Next, take the cord all the way to the left at the bottom (six o'clock position) of the disc and move it up to the left of the remaining cord at the top (twelve o'clock position) of your disc. Rotate your disc so that the dot at the top of the disc is to your right (or left). Repeat the two moves of the cord, moving the top right to the bottom right, and the bottom left to the top left. Rotate your disc again (always in the same direction), and you've just learned how to do basic kumihimo! To help you remember the moves of the cords for this, Jill taught us a little mantra: downright uplifting. Repeat that a few times as you reposition the cords, and always remember to keep turning your disc in the same direction.

		Before we actually start adding beads, you'll need to braid for about 1 inch. This is a great way to practice your moves before adding the beads into your kumihimo braid!

		Now we start adding beads! When you lift the next cord out of its slot on your kumihimo disc, grab the first bead with your fingers and slide it down the cord so that it lays under and between the cords to your right.

		Finish your move with the cord, wrapping it gently over the bead to hold it in place. It should not, at any time, "pop" up from its position under those two cords to the right.

		After you've added four beads, you will begin to notice a set of "v's" (top and bottom) and "u's" (left and right). These are quite helpful in remembering where you were if you should have to put down your kumihimo disc before you've finished your braid. If you set down your kumihimo disc and then pick it up later, as long as you have the v's lined up at the top and bottom and the u's on each side, you're ready to start braiding again. Just remember to always turn the disc in the same direction, and you're good to go!

		As you work, you'll see the braid coming out the back of the kumihimo disc. Until you have at least an inch of beads, it's not a bad idea to gently hold on to the braid with your non-dominant hand to give it a little tension as you work.

Once you've achieved the desired length for your beaded kumhimo cord, weave about another inch of plain cord without any beads. Gently slip the cords off the disc, tie them together in an overhand knot, and trim the ends of the cord. You've finished your first beaded kumihimo cord!

There are lots of different ways to finish your kumihimo braid with beads, and I'll get into those techniques in a future blog. For now, keep practicing with your beaded kumihimo technique, and stock up on those lovely size 6^o seed beads!

Ready to learn some more great kumihimo techniques? All beading projects are now on sale in the Beading Daily Shop, through January 11, 2013 at 12 a.m. CST. Download Kumihimo Splash by Suzanne Branca and put your new kumihimo skills to work, making this fantastic bracelet! It's a new year, so it's time to learn some new beading and jewelry-making techniques with our great instant download beading projects in the Beading Daily shop!

There are so many things you can do with kumihimo braids -- have you tried beaded kumihimo yet? Take a picture of your best beaded kumihimo creation and post it over in the Reader Photo Gallery!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Whip Up A Herringbone Stitch Rope With Some Texture!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm totally head over heels for these new striped seed beads from York Beads. Perry Bookstein, the owner of York, has done a pretty good job keeping me supplied with them, and I'm finding all kinds of uses for them, from my favorite bead-weaving stitches like herringbone stitch and right-angle weave to things like kumihimo and spiral ropes.

These striped seed beads are wonderful for tribal-inspired jewelry, a hot trend right now.

While I was trying to come up with a necklace strap for a wonderful, bold tribal pendant, I realized that making a textured herringbone rope using these striped seed beads was perfect. The colors and texture of the seed beads and the herringbone rope accented the pendant without overpowering it, and because the seed beads are so large, the herringbone rope works up fast. Give it a try!

Here's what you'll need:

5 grams size 15^o seed beads (A)
5 grams size 11^o seed beads in two colors (B, C)
7 grams size 8^o seed beads (D)
10 grams striped seed beads in size 6^o
Tribal mask pendant
18 gauge wire
Button for clasp
Beading thread of your choice, but Fireline 6lb. test recommended

Tools:

Size 12 beading needle
Scissors or thread cutter
Wire cutters
Chain nose pliers or combination pliers

Step-by-step instructions:

		On a comfortable length of thread, pick up 4 B and use ladder stitch to make 4 stacks of 2 beads each. Join them together and pass through the first stack again so that you have the tail hanging down from the bottom of the same stack that the working thread is exiting.

		Work the first segment of tubular herringbone stitch: 5 rounds using C, 1 round using B, 1 round using D, 1 round using B, and 3 rounds using C.

		To add a bump, work 1 round using B and 1 round using D. Add 2 striped seed beads, then pick up 1 A before stitching up through the next bead to add the second pair of stripes. Add 1 A before finishing the round. You'll add 1 A between each pair of seed beads until you add a pair of C as you work your way back down the herringbone rope. Work 2 rounds of C between each bump. Continue working in this manner until you have a herringbone rope of your desired length.

		To finish my herringbone rope necklace, I added a button clasp and a seed bead loop, then made a wrapped loop to attach my mask pendant. The whole thing took me less than three hours to make, start to finish! (Which, in the world of bead-weaving, is as close to instant gratification as I'm going to get.)

Do you love herringbone stitch in all its many forms and variations? Check out the Best of Beadwork: 12 Flat and Tubular Herringbone Stitch Projects eBook. You'll find beading projects for herringbone stitch with a twist, herringbone stitch that sparkles, and herringbone stitch that will take you on a wild ride! Best of all, this eBook is an instant download, so you can start stitching right away! Download your copy of the Best of Beadwork: 12 Flat and Tubular Herringbone Stitch Projects eBook and spend some time with one of my favorite bead-weaving stitches.

What's your favorite variation of herringbone? Flat? Twisted? Tubular? Share your thoughts here and leave a comment on the Beading Daily blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Cutting You Off: Beading Tools for Cutting Your Beading Thread

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 07:00:00 GMT

So before I go making all kinds of jokes about cutting you off, cutting it out, and cutting to the point, I just want to say this: the beading tools that you use for cutting your favorite beading thread can be serious business!

Depending on what type of beading thread you prefer to use, there are many different beading tools that you can use for cutting that thread. I used to be a die-hard Nymo fan, but in the last three years, I've started using more Wildfire and Fireline in my bead-weaving projects. And if you've ever tried to make a clean cut of Fireline using a pair of embroidery scissors, you know that which beading tool you choose for cutting thread can make a big difference between getting that beading needle threaded on the first try or the tenth attempt.

Over the years, I've amassed quite a collection of beading tools just for cutting my beading thread.

		In a pinch, an ordinary pair of craft scissors is a good way to cut your Fireline or Wildfire beading thread. You can find these kinds of scissors at your local craft store, sometimes in the kids' crafts section, for around two dollars a pair. When using these scissors, I found that I had to pull my beading thread tight over the blade before actually making the cut. Even so, it didn't always leave me a clean cut on the end of my beading thread. Another disadvantage of these scissors is that they are most definitely not airline-friendly for traveling.

		When I purchased a Lisa Peters Art ring kit a few months ago, included in the kit was a handy little thread cutter, meant so that you could sit down and start beading on the kit as soon as you got it! While I loved the concept of instant-gratification beading, these thread cutters left a little to be desired. I found that I had to draw the thread tightly over one blade before making the cut, and the mechanism wasn't kind to my hands. I can see where someone with arthritis or weak hands might have a problem using these to make lots of cuts to beading thread. On the other hand, the tiny blades make it pretty darn easy to zoom in when you need to get a close cut in a tight space between beads.

		My Rapala scissors for cutting Fireline were a gift from none other than NanC Meinhardt! And what a brilliant idea -- after all, Fireline is fishing line, and what better to cut fishing line than the same scissors that are sold in sporting goods stores specifically for cutting fishing line! These scissors are easy to use and small enough that I can pack them along whenever I travel with my beads. The only downside to these scissors is that I can't always get in close to make a neat cut in tight spaces.

		My new favorite beading tools for cutting thread are these heavy duty Fireline scissors from Xuron. Not only are they extremely easy to use and make a clean cut every time, but those tiny, sharp blades are perfect for getting into tight spaces between beads. I love the spring-loaded action on these scissors, and find that they also make beautiful cuts of S-Lon for kumihimo projects and even my old favorite, Nymo. If you're looking to invest in a pair of quality scissors, these heavy duty Xuron cutters retail for around twenty dollars. Yes, they cost more than the other options for cutting your beading thread, but these are some serious beading tools that are truly built to last!

Ready to get those beading needles and thread cutters warmed up? If you're looking for lots of new beading projects -- say, an entire year's worth -- take a look at the 2011 Beadwork CD Collection. You'll get all six issues of Beadwork magazine from 2011 exactly as they were originally printed on one searchable CD. That's more than eighty-five beading projects and seed bead patterns, not to mention all of the tips, techniques, and insight from the editors and contributors of my favorite beading magazine. Order your copy of the 2011 Beadwork CD Collection today and put those beading tools to good use! (Or, if you just can't wait to bead, you can download the entire collection instantly onto your desktop or laptop computer and be ready to bead in just minutes!)

Do you have a favorite beading tool for cutting your beading thread? I am in love with my Xuron cutters! Leave a comment and tell us what you like to use to cut your beading thread, plus any tips for getting clean cuts on your Fireline or Wildfire beading thread, here on the Beading Daily blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Where Will Kumihmo Take You? Everywhere!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Have you ever learned a new beading technique that just sent you over the edge, creatively? Ever since I learned how to do kumihimo at Bead Fest Philadelphia this year, my brain has been on creative overload with all kinds of ideas for using this fast and fabulous Japanese braiding technique to make all kinds of beaded jewelry designs.

I took my first basic kumihimo with beads class on a Thursday night, and by Saturday, I was ready to take Jill's "beyond the basics" class where we learned how to do things like add a focal bead in the center of a kumihimo braid, make a twisted kumihimo braid with a hollow center, and make a kumihimo cord with a clean end.


Buttons make great closures for beaded kumihimo bracelets and necklaces.

So, seeing that I had seven hours in the car on my way home, I started thinking about all the cool things I can do with my new kumihimo skills. Even if you're a kumihimo beginner, here's a list of ideas to get you going on some new projects:

1. Make a necklace centerpiece. Sure, kumihimo bracelets work up fast with those lovely size 6^o seed beads, but why not take that bracelet, make it a little longer, and use it as the centerpiece of a necklace? You can practice your finishing techniques for the ends using your favorite caps and cones, and then mix it up with some stringing or your favorite beaded rope. Mixing in a few gemstone beads or handmade ceramic beads will also help add character to your kumihimo necklace!

2. Make your ends a little longer for a button closure. I've got this wonderful bag of Italian metal buttons from Natural Touch Beads that are just begging for me to use them. Instead of using end caps or cones to finish off your kumihimo piece, why not make your ends a little longer than usual and use those braids to make a button and loop closure? Or make a necklace extension that can be removed and used as a bracelet by adding two button and loop closures to your piece.

3. Use your kumihimo braids for handles. When done properly, these beaded kumihimo braids are incredibly strong. I've got a handful of felted bags hanging around that are just waiting for beaded straps, and I think these beaded kumihimo braids are just the thing! I can use any leftover beads from the straps to embellish the felted bags. If you don't make felted bags, you can always add a strap to your favorite handbag or tote bag, too!

Does it seem like I'm totally hooked on kumihimo? It's such a fun and easy beading project! My next ventures into kumihimo will be learning how to make braids with wire, creating my own beaded patterns for my round kumihimo braids, and using the square kumihimo looms to make flat braids instead of the round braids I've been working on for the last few weeks. When it comes to learning this new beading technique, it seems like kumihimo is taking me to some very cool places creatively!


	Necklace by Giovanna Imperia. Image from Kumihimo Wire Jewelry. Photo by Jack Zilker.

Now, if you know the basics of kumihimo and want to start doing some more exploring on your own, you need to check out Kumihimo Wire Jewelry by Giovanna Imperia. While most of the projects are designed to be made with wire, you can easily adapt them to your favorite fibers or nylon and satin cord. There are twenty kumihimo projects for both the round and flat disks, and plenty of inspiration for adding your favorite beads and chain as embellishments to your finished kumihimo jewelry. Get your copy of Kumihimo Wire Jewelry and find all the instruction and inspiration you need to take your kumihimo projects from easy to awesome!

What's your favorite kumihimo technique? Have you been playing with new ways to finish your braids? Designing your own bead patterns for beaded kumihimo braids? Leave a comment and share your newest kumihimo technique discoveries with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Scenes From Bead Fest Philadelphia, Day 2

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:00:00 GMT

If you think it takes a long time to walk through the show floor of a huge bead show like Bead Fest Philadelphia, try doing it where you know just about everyone behind the tables in the booths! Bead Fest Philadelphia was a great time for me to catch up with people that I haven't seen since the Tucson gem and mineral shows back in February, as well as a great opportunity for me to scout for new beading supplies and jewelry making components.

Here are a few of my favorite scenes from Bead Fest Philadelphia 2012:

		The first person I ran into was Suzanne Branca from A Grain of Sand. It was so nice to meet Suzanne in person and to chat about our love of all things vintage. Suzanne had some fabulous beads, jewelry making components, and metal jewelry making supplies from the famous Bead Hoard.

		Good luck getting near Jill Wiseman's booth, Tapestry Beads! Shoppers flocked to Tapestry Beads to see samples from her latest book, Beautiful Beaded Ropes, and to see what kinds of fabulous beading patterns, beading kits, and kumihimo supplies she was offering.

		Speaking of Jill Wiseman's Beautiful Beaded Ropes, I got to see Jill at her very first book signing at the Beyond Beadery booth! I met up with Beading Daily enthusiast Dona DeLaura as well as Bead Fest instructor Laura Zeiner, and we had a great time shopping and chatting.

		Shopping at Beyond Beadery is always the highlight of any Bead Fest show. With their amazing selection of seed beads, shaped seed beads, Swarovski crystal beads, bugle beads, beading components, bead embroidery supplies, and Crystal Clay supplies, you better believe that it's a destination for many Bead Fest shoppers. The lines at Beyond Beadery are legendary -- one year, I waited for a good forty-five minutes to check out!

		At lunch, I got to meet another fabulous Beading Daily reader, Kristen Stevens. She gifted me with a beautiful polymer clay Celtic knot beading component (that she made herself!), and then we all posed for a photo with Dona. It was great to meet my readers in person!

		While I was running an errand for Jill Wiseman at Bead Fest, I bumped into the always awesome Andrew Thornton chatting with Jewelry Making Daily's Tammy Jones. Andrew has made us both promise to come teach at Allegory Gallery -- and he says he's going to hold us to it!

		After years of corresponding through email and talking on the phone, I got to meet the lovely ladies of Mirrix Looms! Claudia Chase and Elena Chase Zuyok were fun and fabulous in person!

		And speaking of Mirrix Looms...look at all the amazing fibers, hand-dyed silks, and 14kt gold threads that were available at the Mirrix Looms booth! I brought home some hand-dyed silk and 14kt gold thread for my next loom woven cuff bracelet project.

		I was so thrilled to get a big hug from bead artist Leslie Rogalski! Leslie is one busy beader these days, with her new Sleepless Beader website, line of kits and patterns, and fabulous BYOBeads tins. If there was an award for Miss Bead Fest Congeniality, Leslie and her sister should definitely win that prize!

		One of the things that thrilled me at Bead Fest Philadelphia this year was the amazing range of small beading businesses that had booths. I love buying my beads and beading supplies from small businesses, and places like Twisted Sistah offered both a great selection of some hard-to-find seed beads as well as gorgeous beading kits and seed bead patterns.

		After totally knocking it out of the park during my first Quick and Easy Kumihimo with Beads class taught by Jill Wiseman, I was pumped to take her Advanced Kumihimo: Beyond the Basics class on Saturday afternoon. Here she is, showing us some great techniques for adding focal beads to our kumihimo ropes.

		I couldn't believe how quickly I picked up kumihimo. My work table was spread out with all sorts of fabulous fibers and beads!

		Someone else that I finally got to meet face-to-face was the fabulous Deb Moffett-Hall. Deb is a very talented bead artist who has created the popular Ornament of the Month and Bracelet of the Month Clubs through her website, Patternstobead.com. Here she is, demonstrating her latest invention, the Quick Start Peyote cards.

		On Sunday, I decided to take it easy and signed up for an all-day class with my buddy Nikia Angel. Before I left class, I made sure to shop Nikia's amazing selection of vintage Swarovski and Czech crystal beads and stones, and I made sure to get a photograph of the two of us in the same room together!

		Nikia's Scalloppini bracelet was a real learning experience for me. Stitching those tiny Czech glass spike beads into peyote stitch bumps was a great lesson in just how important proper tension is for bead-weaving.

		Last but not least, I had a great time at the Meet the Teachers reception, where we had a 5th birthday celebration for Beading Daily, complete with cake and coffee!

Whew! Even though I was there for the entire Bead Fest Philadelphia show, it went by too fast!

Did you go to Bead Fest Philadelphia? Do you have a great picture that needs a funny caption? Email it to me at jvanbenschoten@interweave.com, and we might use your photo in our upcoming caption contest!

Do you have a favorite Bead Fest memory? Share it here!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Bead Fest Philadelphia, Day 1

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Well, what can I say? Bead Fest Philadelphia was just completely amazing this year! My first day at the show wasn't actually a day. It was an evening class with none other than the rockin' Jill Wiseman, and the class was Quick and Easy Kumihimo With Beads.

I decided early on that if I was going to take classes at Bead Fest this year, I was going to learn something new. That's the point of taking great beading classes, right?

Jill wasn't kidding when she said that it was "quick and easy kumihimo". After getting my loom set up, I was doing kumihimo in about five minutes flat. And then adding the beads? Piece of cake. Jill has had a lot of experience teaching, and it shows. Her written directions were the perfect complement to her classroom instruction, and I was so excited to finally have learned kumihimo that I giggled to myself the whole way back to the hotel that night!

It was so nice to connect with the other students in class, too. We were all there for a good time and to learn a new beading skill, and somehow, Jill managed to make it feel like she was giving one-on-one instruction to each student in the class. (And there were twenty of us in there!)

The next morning before I headed out for the day, I sat in my hotel room and finished the other end of my new kumihimo bracelet. It was so exciting!

If you're interested in learning kumihimo with beads, but can't travel, you can always check out Jill's website, Tapestry Beads, where you'll find a full line of kumihimo kits, instructions, and supplies. Learning from Jill's instructions really is quick and easy, and Jill is always just an email away if you have any questions.

Have you learned kumihimo yet? Are you totally in love with this ancient Japanese braiding technique?

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Treat Yourself to a Little Crystal Bead Luxury and Celebrate Beading Daily's 5th Anniversary!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT

That's right! Beading Daily is five this month! Five years of beading blogs, beading projects, beading techniques, making new beading friends, and gorgeous beaded art. We've had the likes of Michelle Mach, Jean Campbell, Leslie Rogalski, and the always-fabulous Kristal Wick at the helm of Beading Daily, and I'm honored and thrilled that I get to be a part of this unique and vibrant online beading community.

I hope you'll join us as we celebrate this milestone -- and what better way to celebrate an anniversary than with a little sparkle? In the last couple of years, I've started using crystal beads in lots of my beading projects, so I'm always looking for a special occasion where I can wear them. You'll be able to pick me out in a crowd this month, because I'll be wearing my best crystal bead jewelry all month in celebration!

Or if you'd like to make yourself something brand new for the anniversary celebration, check out three of my favorite crystal bead resources from the Beading Daily Shop:

		Jewelry Stringing magazine has always showcased some of the best and most fashionable beading projects in their pages. When it comes to getting the most out of your crystal beads, a stringing project is a great way to go. Mix those sparkly crystal beads with ribbon, chain, freshwater pearls, and glass beads for some truly striking beaded jewelry! You can download twelve fun projects instantly in The Best of Stringing: Crystals and see how bead artists like Danielle Fox, Andrew Thornton, Katie Hacker, Jamie Hogsett, and SaraBeth Cullinan make the most out of their crystal beads!

		Making wire jewelry is a new passion of mine, and I'm always amazed at just how easy it is to take two or three feet of wire and some beads, give them a couple of twists and turns, and suddenly have an amazing piece of crystal bead jewelry in front me. And it's not just basic wire wrapping skills that you can use to make spectacular crystal jewelry -- crystal beads can be used with kumihimo and Viking knit, too! The wire jewelry making projects in 10 Wire & Crystal Projects from the pages of Step By Step Wire Jewelry magazine include beaded necklaces, beaded bracelets, beaded earrings, and beaded rings, all showcasing your favorite crystal beads.

		And if you just can't get enough sparkle, even in your mixed-media jewelry making projects, you have to check out Kristal Wick's Beaded Bracelets with Fiber Beads, Crystals, Resin, and Wire video. Those tiny crystal beads really pump up the wow factor in any mixed-media bracelet making project! If you love learning new jewelry making techniques with videos, this one is a real treat. Kristal takes you step-by-step through basic jewelry making techniques and shows you how to create unique beaded bracelets that you won't find anywhere else!

Beading Daily''s fifth anniversary is a reason for YOU to celebrate, too. Without all of our wonderful beaders and readers, we wouldn't exist! So why not go ahead and get yourself a little something to celebrate? All of these titles (and more!) are on sale for just five dollars right now through August 5, 2012. Check out all the special sale items in the Beading Daily Shop, and check back to find out more about other special anniversary happenings this month!

Do you have a favorite memory from five years of Beading Daily? Maybe a favorite blog, or a favorite free project? Leave a comment (with or without a link) so we can share our favorite Beading Daily memories here o the blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Do You Kumihimo?

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:00:00 GMT

Necklace by Giovanna Imperia. Image from Kumihimo Wire Jewelry. Photo by Jack Zilker.

Kumihimo is one of those things that has been on my "got to learn it" list for a very long time now, and the more I learn about it, the more eager I am to try it! Last fall, a friend visiting from Florida showed me a handful of kumihimo ropes that she had made using silk fibers and dazzling crystal beads. Touching those braided ropes and wrapping them around my wrist made me want to know more about kumihimo and learn how to make my own beaded braids.


	Photo by Jack Zilker from Kumihimo Wire Jewelry.

Just like beadwork, braiding fibers is something common to many different cultures around the world. Braids have been used for both decorative and functional purposes for centuries, and in Japan, the art of kumihmo braiding has seen a wonderful resurgence in popularity during the last decade. In Japanese, the term kumihimo translates to "coming together (of) threads" and it was originally used for securing armor of the samurai and their horses and for prayer scroll ties. Kumihimo was later adapted to be used as embellishment for Buddhist statues and as a way to fasten the traditional Japanese kimono while adding another artistic element to the garment.

Traditionally, kumihimo has been done on a stand called a maru dai that consists of a large, open circle attached to four legs for stability. The fibers to be braided together are wrapped around wood bobbins, and as the kumihimo braid is created through the center hole (also called the well), it is held in place by a counterweight. There are also larger, more intricate kumihmo stands that resemble floor looms used for weaving, and these create braids that resemble flat pieces of tapestry. Most beaders who do kumihimo use either a stand that resembles a maru dai or a simple foam disk. The foam disks are widely available and more portable than the maru dai.

Like other forms of beadwork and beadweaving, kumihimo has a distinct Zen element to it. Just like beading, it's easy to lose yourself in the soothing, repetitive motions of the braiding as your creation takes form. And just like beading and beadwork, kumihimo takes a pile of threads or fibers and beads and turns them into something unique and beautiful. For artists who create lampwork beads or large beaded beads to be used as focal beads, kumihimo is a way to create a lovely necklace from which to hang these focal beads.

Necklace by Giovanna Imperia. Image from Kumihimo Wire Jewelry. Photo by Jack Zilker.

Kumihmo has come a long way since the days of the samurai, and Kumihmo Wire Jewelry by Giovannia Imperia is the perfect example of what happens when innovative jewelry and fiber artists take ancient techniques and give them a modern twist. This beautiful book draws inspiration and technique from an international panel of artists and includes a comprehensive guide to kumihimo braiding techniques, finishing techniques and twenty cutting-edge kumihimo and wire projects to challenge your skills. Get your copy of Kumihimo Wire Jewelry and see how ancient inspirations mix with modern materials to create classic jewelry.

Have you tried kumihimo yet? What advice would you give someone who wants to get started with kumihimo? Leave a comment here on the blog with your most useful kumihimo tips and techniques!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Beading New Year's Resolutions

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 01:00:00 GMT

I can hardly believe that we're in the last few days of 2011! While most folks are making New Year's Resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking or exercise more, I'm thinking about how I can cram more beading into the coming year. I'll sit down with my sketchbooks and my journals and take a good look at what I've accomplished in the last twelve months, and then I make a plan for what I would like to do in the coming year.

So as I prepare for my January Earring-a-Day Challenge, I'm also thinking about what else I want to accomplish with my beads this year:

1. Get back into making large-scale beadwork. Back in 2003, I started doing large-scale beadwork and intricate bead embroidered collars and cuffs. I chugged along with those until I had my son in 2008, and then I took a little bit of a beading break to focus on taking care of him. Now that he's in preschool and I'm back to working full-time, I've decided that I am ready to start working on some intricate, large-scale pieces of beadwork again. And good thing, too - my sketchbooks are overflowing with ideas and designs!

2. Send out those pesky teaching proposals. I've had more than a few bead shops approach me about teaching my designs lately, and I've been putting off writing up those class proposals. The nice thing about this task is that once I've done it, I probably won't have to do it again for a very long time!

3. Learn kumihimo. When my good friend from Florida came and visited me back in October, she brought with her dozens of kumihimo cords that she had been working on, all embellished with sparkling crystal beads. I couldn't get over how beautiful and supple they were, and I've decided that this is going to be the year that I will learn kumihimo!

4. Enter at least one beading competition. For years, I've been tossing around the idea of entering some of my beadwork into a major beading competition. Well, enough tossing. 2012 is going to be the year that I finish some new beading designs and get them entered in a competition!

5. Get to work on "the book". Something else that has been floating around in my head: a few ideas for beading books. I've been doodling and sketching and beading up little swatches and samples, and now I think I'm finally ready to sit down and start knocking out these projects and putting them together. Stay tuned!

Do you make beading New Year's Resolutions? What are they? How do you track your progress?

And don't forget - if you're interested in joining our Earring-a-Day Challenge here on Beading Daily, head on over to the new Bead Along page and get all the details! We're going to challenge ourselves to find some time to bead every day, try some new techniques (soutache, anyone?) and see if we can't whip up thirty-one brand new pairs of beaded earrings this month!

Bead Happy and Happy New Year!

Jennifer

Handmade Ceramic Beads and Cabochons to Heat Up Your Summer Jewelry-Making Designs

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 03:00:00 GMT

A few years ago, I saw some of my beady friends on Facebook creating the most marvelous beaded pendants and cuff bracelets with handmade ceramic cabochons. Up until then, I had only ever used gemstones for my bead embroidered pieces, and these handmade cabochons were so beautiful that I was inspired to give them a try. After using a few of them, I found that I was totally hooked! Using a handmade ceramic cabochon or focal bead made me feel like I was working on some sort of cosmic collaboration with another artist - it's like I'm taking their artistic vision a few steps further and adding to their artistic vision with my own.

I loved drawing my color palettes from the colors of the handmade ceramic cabochons and focal beads that I was using. And the more I looked around, the more I saw handmade ceramic cabochons and beads popping up in finished jewelry. I was thrilled to find so many wonderful artists with so many different artistic styles! It seems like handmade ceramic cabochons, focal beads and components are hot these days, and I couldn't be more thrilled to see more people expressing their appreciation for handmade components. I was even invited to join online artists' collective called Love My Art Jewelry, a group made up of jewelry artists who all have one thing in common: we love to use handmade components in our jewelry designs.

I know that there are many, many talented ceramic bead artists out there, but I just want to share three of my favorites with you and tell you why they inspire me.

		Lisa Peters Art: Formerly a photographer and graphic artist, Lisa has been making handmade ceramic and stoneware beads and cabochons since 2003. I don't know what it is about Lisa's work, but it definitely keeps me coming back for more. I think I own more cabochons and beads made by Lisa than I will ever be able to stitch up in a hundred years. Her work is earthy and elegant, with gorgeous finishes that include mother-of-pearl, 14k gold, and Western raku techniques. I love the challenge of working with Lisa's pieces because I draw my bead colors from the colors of her glazes. (It's more difficult than it sounds!) Lisa's work inspires me to create the perfect balance between her artistic vision and my need for crazy embellished beadwork!
		Artisan Clay: Kristie Roeder makes amazing recycled glass and stoneware cabochons, pendants, and donuts. She also makes finished work for sale. I am totally in love with her smoke-fired donuts and beads. She did a run of copper smoke-fired donuts that I have yet to see her replicate. I own one of them, and it's never coming off my neck! Kristie's work is fabulous because of the organic look and feel of her pieces. I don't feel the need to make an overly embellished piece of beadwork to complement it. It almost seems better to make a simple piece of beadwork and allow the natural beauty of Kristie's work to shine through!
		Amazing Porcelain by Marsha Hedrick: Marsha does some seriously fanciful ceramic work. Also known for her Native American pottery and sculptures, she has recently started creating a line of handmade ceramic slides and cones which are perfect for Kumihimo and beaded ropes of all kinds. I first discovered Marsha's work when I ordered a couple of tiny Dutch boy and Dutch girl beads. I was absolutely blown away by the detail of the painting and how light and delicate they were! Marsha's art deco and art nouveau slides are delicate and beautiful with 14k gold accents. Since I love making beaded ropes, these handmade ceramic slides and cones add a beautiful finishing touch to my beadwork.

If you want to explore more great trends in handmade jewelry, you won't want to miss the summer issue of Stringing magazine. You'll find dozens of great projects from your favorite jewelry designers along with step-by-step instructions and resources. Better yet, subscribe to Stringing magazine today and make sure you don't miss a single issue all year long!

Have you noticed any new trends in handmade jewelry? Do you have a favorite? Leave a comment and share it with us here on the blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Crystals Are a Dog's Best Friend: Bling's Top 10 Jewelry-Making Projects

Kristal Wick — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:00:00 GMT

My mommy won’t stop beading, but she said she’d give me three bones if I bark about my favorite sparkly projects for this blog. I’m not so good at this computer thing since I’m only one year old (Sunday was my barkday) plus typing with paws isn’t nearly as much fun as rolling in the dirt. But since my name is Bling, I love stealing anything shiny (as well as non-shiny stuff like dirty socks) and running through the house so my mommy will chase me. The bigger the sparkle, the faster she runs. My faves are all bracelets, so mommy can make us a matching set: She gets a bracelet, and I’ll wear mine as a collar (for my glamor shots only)!


		Bead-stitching Katie Hacker’s Bejeweled Crystal Bracelet with big seed beads and sparkling crystals would be easier for my mom to make faster. This would make a great doggie collar for me, too, don’t you think? Pink and black, please. . .

		Crystal Connections by Daeng Weaver uses flat peyote stitch, tubular peyote stitch, square stitch, fringe, and picot. Since my mom just learned how to peyote stitch, I think she can handle it!

		Nancy Zellers made this Crystal Cuff Bracelet to wear to holiday parties. It uses our favorite crystals and right-angle weaving. Maybe my mom will learn a new stitch. If she does, we’ll never go for a walk again!

		Crystalicious Bracelet by Bonnie Clewans features two shapes of beaded bead—one, a double-sided rosette and the other, a faceted cylinder. They're made one at a time and then strung together with seed beads and bicones. They look like balls to me, so I give this project a double paws up—can’t wait to fetch.

		Firecracker by Lindsay Burke has loads of bicone crystals and looks like the explosion in my mom’s beading closet: I think she should make this one. Adding pink would make it perfect for me!

		Kumihimo sounds like Fluffy the neighbor cat coughing up a hairball. Vanessa Blevins’ Kumihimo Crystal Bracelet looks much more beautiful than Fluffy’s hairball and uses wire and crystals, some of my fave things.

		Wire Lace Bracelet by Donna Ryan-Kocun is bow-wowlicious and uses wire, crystals, and seed beads. I think those are the ones that rolled under the couch in our living room (by the way, they have no flavor).

		Sparkler by Beth VanOstenbridge looks like those loud, booming, sparkling things in the sky we saw last month. With all the blingy crystals in this bracelet, I would look like a lion in this collar!

		Montee Magic by Katherine Schwartzenberger is quick, easy, and showcases your favorite colored crystals and right-angle weave. I want to mix and match wearing three at one time! Can you picture me?

		Cecilia Guastaferro’s Crystal Edge Bracelet is barkingly fabulous and has top-drilled bicone crystals that look good enough to eat. Of course, everything looks good enough to eat to me!

Hope you like my puppy picks. Make some for yourself — and your favorite fur baby. My mom always says you can never have too many beads, bones, or BLINGS! Now you can get all my 10 picks and so many more incredible projects for the best deal of the year.

Woof, woof. . .

Barkingly Yours,

Find Your Jewelry-making Mojo with Kumihimo Braiding

Leslie Rogalski — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:00:00 GMT

Mutual attraction: beads and wire

My passion for all things beady has taken me to new levels of determination, levels of obsession . . . and I know you all know what I’m talking about. We practice and practice an element of our craft to get it right. Who knows why we are attracted to one thing or another, but who cares? Enjoy the seduction. My latest obsession is to bring beads and wire together in harmony, and my path recently brought me to play with a new weaving technique and an intriguing tool––the kumihimo loom.

Crossed wires
Since you all seem to be amused when I share my goof-ups (my burnt polymer bead post got a lot of comments!), go ahead and chuckle at my first attempt at kumihimo braiding. Using this round loom reminds me of a game that claims, “a minute to learn, a lifetime to master.” It is a simple technique, a low-tech tool. So, though it’s more common to find kumihimo cords woven from more pliable fibers, I dove right in with a more challenging material.


		My first efforts used 24-gauge gunmetal Parawire and crystal pearls on a clear acrylic cord maker from Fiber Goddess. This picture shows the first wired cord coming out the bottom of the loom's center hole. Didn't I make a nice little bunch of grapes? Hmmm. Not my desired results.

Like riding a bike
And then I saw the pattern emerging. Aha, I thought, now I had it, the rhythm and balance. Self-delusion is such a rush while it lasts. I goofed up fast enough! It took me several tries to find my mojo. Each time I saw a goof I had to undo everything back to the beginning, since I didn't know the stitch pattern well enough yet to pick up from the last correct wire crossing. I had to undo all the wires, remove the pearls, use a nylon-jaw pliers to straighten the wires, restring the pearls, and start again.

But at last, by really paying attention, I had a good length going well. See how it makes a nice spiral of pearls? That's the way it all should look, though my wire tension could be more consistent. It didn't take nearly as long to fix as I thought each time, either. It's pretty fast.

A free project is looming in your future
I am still practicing, playing, twisting, and untwisting. Kumihimo braiding is my allure du jour, so naturally, I want to share and hear what you think.

Try this ancient Japanese technique, revived by today's artists, with ribbon, cords––or beads and wire, as I did. Find additional kumihimo instructions for using beads and wire in today's free project, Kumihimo Crystal Bracelet, designed by Vanessa Blevins.

I think I'll indulge my glorious obsession with beads and wire and try every technique I can learn. You can too, starting with a whole year of wire how-tos on one CD, with the Step by Step Wire Jewelry 2007 collection. All those diverse and inspiring projects in one place. Yay!

Which wire techniques do you most enjoy using with your beadwork? Tell us here on Beading Daily.

Bead Fest Wire Classes for Every Jewelry-Maker!

Erin Carey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:00:00 GMT

My Bead Fest Wire class wish list

Hey, everyone! Although I have been working on Beading Daily blogs for months now, most of you don’t know me. My name is Erin Carey and I am the Beading Daily intern at Interweave. I have helped with most of the blogs the past few months, but this is my first time writing one. I am new to the beading world, but I did take many jewelry-making courses in college. I found them all to be fun and informative. While some projects are easy to jump into and start making right away, most projects work out best with a little guidance and planning beforehand. If you are new to the beading world like me, classes are a great way to learn techniques and see what materials and styles appeal to you most.

Bead Fest Wire, April 9–11, 2010
One great way I'd learn more about beading would be to attend this year's Bead Fest Wir e. For those of you who are not familiar with this event, Bead Fest Wire will be held at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, April 9th through the 11th. This year the event features over 80 classes taught by some of the most experienced jewelry-makers from around the country. Workshops range from those designed for the beginning beader or metalworker to the most advanced levels. I have chosen ten different courses that seem especially interesting. I can't go this year, but if I could, these are the classes I'd love to take––so if you're planning to go, I thought you might want to check these out!

		1: I always thought it would be handy to know how to rivet things together, so A Riveting Experience with Sally Stevens looked like fun. If you email her your choice of favorite colors, her daughter Shannon will make lampworked beads for you to use in your project!. Learn to texture, dome, pierce, and of course, rivet metal in this class for all skill levels.

		2: If you have never created jewelry in the style called steampunk, you are in for a real treat. In Steam Punk Dangle Bracelet, with teacher Kim St. Jean, you'll create embellishments out of wire and found objects, such as old watch gears. Then, suspend the beads on tubing so that they slide up and down to add movement. If you think it sounds like fun, then this retro, futuristic/Victorian-style jewelry is definitely for you.

		3: No matter what type of jewelry you like to make, the Traditional Wire Wrapped Pendant class with Char Jorgensen would be a great choice, I have lots of stones in a box that I think would be cool as pendants, but have no idea how to turn them into jewelry. This beginner course shows you how to create pieces of jewelry from all those stones that you probably collect just like I do.

		4: I have always wanted to learn how to use resin, and Tracy Stanley's Intro to Resins–Wire Forms class sounds like such a fun introduction. I admired the beautiful resin work done in Cynthia Thornton's book, Enchanted Adornments, so I'd really be excited about taking this class––it teaches a great skill for any beader or metalworker to use found objects in their jewelry.

		5: Stamp, Dapp and Roll! Julie Sanford teaches metal stamping, hammering, roll printing, dapping, patinas, and more! The techniques used in this class can be applied to almost every metal project you work on. You will be amazed at how adding texture to your jewelry brings out the real personality of any piece.

		6: If you love working with beads but want to break into metalsmithing, then I think Explorations in Low-Tech Metalsmithing and Fine Silver Fusing with Anne Mitchell could be just the class for you. With this unique approach to metals, you will create a series of findings, chains, and elements that can be incorporated into your designs and creations.

		7: Ever wanted to try wire weaving but not sure where to start? Try the Sparkle and Shine Necklace class with Connie Nabholz to learn the ancient Japanese weaving technique called kumihimo. Using a special loom, students weave fine silver wire with Swarovski crystals, to fashion a necklace that shimmers.

		8: More advanced wire weavers should definitely check out Checker Board Woven Bracelet, where students work with teacher Debbie Williams to create a complex-looking checkerboard bracelet, using three distinctive colors of wire.

		9: More intermediate wireworkers with fusing experience, check out Lisa Claxton's Eclipse Chain class. This class is designed for students who have already learned to fuse fine silver. The inner rings seem to float freely over one another while the individual texture of each ring catches the eye. Students will review the basics of fusing, fuse a multi-layered chain, and add texture to the wire itself.

		10: For all you beaders who have come across those special art beads but aren't sure how to design with them, you need Kerry Bogert's Framed class. Learn a fast and innovative way of creating unique coiled frames around your beads.

I hope you are lucky enough to go to Bead Fest Wire in April, and maybe one of the classes I liked sparked your interest–– you can sign up for Bead Fest Wire classes today, right here! No matter which class you choose, you'll learn something new and have fun seeing all the work your fellow jewelry-makers are creating. And if you can't make it to Bead Fest, check out your local bead store to see what classes they offer.

After you take that class at Bead Fest or your LBS (local bead shop) share what you learned with the rest of us here at Beading Daily.