| Monthly Newsletter - Issue 88 December 2017 |
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Happy Holidays!!
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Gr
e
etings!
Tis the season to be jolly! I have a dear friend that sends me an animated Advent Calendar each year and it is the start of the season for me.
I love this time of the year. During the Christmas season, I wake up to a tree bright with lights, put a fire in the fireplace, make a cup of coffee, snuggle my feet under my 4-legged love Zuka and listen to Christmas carols. This is my morning ritual. Everyday. And I love it. From the bottom of my heart, I wish all of the you and yours the happiest and healthiest of holiday seasons!
I am excited to share several Kits this Month. The
se are super fun and easy and good for all levels. I feel like one of
Santa's elves.
Registration has started for the Reno 2018 Convergence Conference. I have heard from many of you and I am really looking forward to seeing you in my 2-day workshop called, Kumihimo: Endless Possibilities of an Extra-Ordinary Braid - The Many Faces of the Kongoh Gumi. All I can say is we are going to have alot of fun. I have so much to share with you!
As 2017 draws to a close, I want to thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. Your notes and phones calls brighten my days and I am grateful for all of you. I love my new customers and I feel complimented by repeat customers. Thank you.
Blessings to all,
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Reno Convergence 2018
General Registration Opens December 6th, 2017
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Convergence is an International Fiber Arts Conference that will be held in Reno, Nevada in July 2018. I am looking forward to seeing many of my What a Braid friends & braiders at the conference. Priority Registration started November 29th and general registration starts December 6th.
Link to Convergence. Check out all of the classes.
My class,
Kumihimo: Endless Possibilities of an Extra-Ordinary Braid - The Many Faces of the Kongoh Gumi is SOLD OUT. It filled during priority registration, sorry.
I am excited by color, texture and patterns and I will be sharing my joy of creative Kumihimo on the disk. While all the braids can be done on a Marudai, the class will be taught using the foam disk. I will show you what a fabulous tool it is and the endless possibilities.
This is not a class for beginners. You must have experience braiding with fiber on a foam disk. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a note at
[email protected].
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Kumihimo Elongated Swirl Beaded Necklace Kit with Red Pendant
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The word used most often to
describe
this necklace is STUNNING.
It really is beautiful.
This kit teaches you a great option for attaching a pendant and utilizes the adjustable closure. The beaded design is an elongated spiral with a dotted stripe. The beaded lengths measure about 8" on each side and the braided tails on either end are 6" each. There are 4 colors of 8/0 seed beads in their necklace. The necklace can be worn as short as 16" or as long as 28" (depending on beads and braider). Enjoy!
You will need: Kumihimo Thick Disk (the thick disk holds the beadcord under just the right tension), 8 bobbins, tape measure, scissors.
You should know:Kongoh Gumi or Round Braid, How to drop beads; check out Kumihimo Tip #14 for a reminder (or lesson).
Kit includes:
- 1 Spool C-Lon BeadCord
- Donut Pendant
- Porcelain Pony Bead
- 8/0 Toho/Miyuki Seed Beads (4 colors)
- Barrel Bead for Closure
- Instructions with Photos
Cost $45.00
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| Kumihimo Elongated Swirl Necklace Kit with Turquoise Pendant |
Remember this one?
After alot of requests, I brought it back!
This kit teaches you a great option for attaching a
pendant and utilizes the  adjustable closure. The beaded design is an elongated spiral with a dotted stripe. The beaded lengths measure about 8" on each side and the braided tails on either end are 6" each. The necklace is made up of 7 colors of 8/0 seed beads. The necklace can be worn as short as 16" or as long as 28" (depending on beads and braider). Enjoy
!
Kit includes:
- 1 Spool C-Lon BeadCord
- Donut Pendant
- 1 Porcelain Pony Beads (colors may vary in kits but will coordinate with beads in necklace perfectly)
- 1 Porcelain Cheerio Bead (colors may vary in kits but will coordinate with beads in necklace perfectly)
- 8/0 Toho/Miyuki Seed Beads (7 colors)
- Barrel Bead for Closure
- Instructions with Photos
Cost $45.00
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Kumihimo Color Block Brights with Multi-Focals & Adjustable Closure
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I call this kit the Kumihimo 8/0 Painting with Beads "Color-Block" Necklace with Multi-Bead Focal & Adjustable Closure. The necklace, as pictured, is designed with 18 blocks of color with a multi-color dotted spiral. The beaded portion measures be- tween 16" and 16 1/2" (depending on braider) and the braided tails at either end measure 6" each. The adjustable closure allows you to wear the necklace shorter or longer. The necklace can be worn as short as the beaded length or close to 28". The pre-assembled focal is ready to slide onto the beaded rope when you are finished braiding. You must be meticulous when you string your beads as well as when you braid and drop beads. Take your time and have fun!
Quantities limited.
Kit includes:
- 1 Spool C-Lon Bead Cord
- Funky Focal (pre-assembled)
- 8/0 Toho/Miyuki Seed Beads (7 colors)
- Barrel Bead for Adjustable Closure
- Wide Eye Needle
- Instructions with Photos
You will need:
- Kumihimo Disk (I use the
Beadsmith THICK Mini and it's great)
- 8 Bobbins (I use the
Small EZ Bobbins
)
- Scissors
- Tape Measure
You should know:
- Kumihimo Round Braid (Kongoh Gumi)
- How to drop beads (see
Kumihimo Tip #14 if you need a refresher). It's easy.
Cost: $45
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Kumihimo
Triple Braided Necklace Kit
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The Triple Braided Necklace is a fun kit for any level. It is made up of three Kongoh Gumi (or round) braids embellished with a Curved Smooth Focal. It is finished with a magnetic closure.
You will need:
- Kumihimo Disk
- 8 Bobbins
- Scissors
- 3 scraps of string each 8" to 10" long (for Lark's Head Knots)
- Tape Measure
- Sewing Needle & Thread (to finish ends)
- Glue (I like WeldBond)
You should know:
- Kongoh Gumi or Round Braid
Kit: $26
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Arriving soon! Hand-dyed Kumihimo Rayon Ribbon
& Gimp
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I can tell by my orders that many of you
have taken a liking to braiding with novelty
fibers such as the Hand-dyed Kumihimo Rayon Ribbon and the Kumihimo Rayon Gimp.
The colors are beautiful. Both fibers ca
n be used solo or in tandem with another compl
imentary fiber.
As soon as the new "stuff" arrives I will update the inventory numbers so you can place orders. Keep checking back!
Kumihimo Rayon Ribbon & Gimp
Each hand dyed skein of Kumihimo Rayon Gimp or "KRG" is unique and no two skeins are alike. They are dyed to blend beautifully. The Kumihimo Rayon Gimp, which
comes from Europe, is a round medium weight fiber consisting of a cotton core carefully wrapped with a fine rayon sheath. I have played with the Kumihimo Rayon Gimp quite a bit and have found that it braids nicely on the Marudai as well as the Disk. Cords braided on the Marudai tend to finish thinner in diameter and the braids crafted on the disk tend to finish a little thicker.
Each skein is approximately 10 meters long and wei
ghs around 7 grams.
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. The KRR can be mixed beautifully with other fibers like Petite Satin, Shimmer Tubular as well as KRG.
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Kumihimo Beaded Swirl Candy Canes Kit
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Kit makes 3 Beaded Candy Canes 
This is a super fun project. It takes a little more skill than the satin cord candy canes but if you take your time you will be successful. This kit provides enough materials to make 3 Kumihimo Beaded Candy Canes. You will earn how to start with an "interlaced" end and braid around a core (wire stem) . An interlaced end comes in handy when you want to start with a "finished" end. These are techniques that you can put in your Kumihimo "toolbox" and use in other applications. Follow the directions carefully and you will enjoy making your candy canes. When braiding /beading with the C-Lon Beadcord (finer diameter than C-Lon Tex 400), I find it VERY helpful, especially for this particular kit, if I use a brand new THICK Mini Disk. You want a disk with very tight slots to hold the cords / wire insert under tension.
You should know: Kumihimo Round Braid and how to "drop" beads (if you aren't sure how to "drop beads"
see Kumihimo Tip #14).
Kit includes:
- Materials to make 3 Beaded Candy Canes
- 1 Spool C-Lon Beadcord
- 8/0 Miyuki/Toho Seed Beads (4 colors)
- Three 9" Wire Stems
- Elongated Swirl Pattern with 3 Color Variations
- Wide Eye Beading Needle
- Instructions with Photos
Cost: $24
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Fun & Free! Christmas 16-Strand Kumihimo Patterns
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Here are a few patterns that I came across and thought you might have fun trying! You will use the Kongoh braid structure (also referred to as the "round" braid"). "Left bottom up, right top down, rotate to next pair, left bottom up, right top down, rotate, repeat" and if you are a "top" starter, "Right top down, left bottom up, rotate to next pair, right top down, left bottom up, rotate, repeat".
Try these with Petite Satin Cord.
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS - FREE SHIPPING
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For the month of December, enjoy FREE SHIPPING on all orders over over $25. This applies to US orders only.
Thank you!!
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What a Braid Gift Cards
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 Shopping for someone else but not sure what to give them? Give them the gift of choice with a What a Braid gift card.
What a Braid has made it even easier to purchase and use Gift Cards.
W
hen you order a Gift Card you will receive the gift card at your email address and then there is an email submit form that is included on the gift card that lets you send it to another person.
So, worry no more about what to get your Kumihimo pals. Gift Cards come in increments of $25, $50, $75, $100, $125 and $150.
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Ideas...
64 Slot Kumihimo Disk
Kumihimo Mini Disks
Kumihimo Thick Mini Disks
Packages of Colorful Satin Cord
Skeins of Ribbon & Gimp
Spools of C-Lon
Fray Block
Cord Zapper
Replacement Tips
Plastic Bobbins
Seed Beads
Bauble Beads
Czech Pressed Glass Leaves
Magatama Beads
Hemostat Clamps
Wide Eye Needles
Ends Caps
Focals & Findings
Kits, Kits, Kits
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What a Knit/Braid Monthly Newsletter Archives
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Reminder !
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Copyrighted patterns are not to be copied, shared electronically, given to friends or members of the guild or used for teaching purposes
without express consent of the author. What a Knit or What a Braid patterns are for your personal use. Feel free to sell your creations but remember to give proper credit to the D
esigner.
If you decide you want to write a tutorial,
it is not appropriate to "borrow" parts of a copyrighted pattern. Thank you.
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Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram
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What a Braid has gone Social
and this is where I introduce some of the mid-month "special" kits.
So make sure you:
Follow me on Pinterest!
Like me on Facebook!
And you can also Follow Me on Instagram!
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Please share this newsletter with your Kumihimo friends!
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