| Monthly Newsletter February 2016 |
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Hello Braiders,
It's
almost Happy Valentine's Day Month! I hope all of you are doing something sweet and special. It's a good excuse to eat chocolate while braiding!
Thank you for all of your positive feedback on my new website. It's been a labor of love. If I can make improvements, please let me know. My goal is to make your Kumihimo experience easy & fun! I have added a
Blog and that's a good place to check for "a little of this and a little of that" like trip announcements, tips, etc.
I have also added some new Braiding Fibers;
With much gratitude and
Happy Braiding,
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ADIOS - February 27th through March 11th
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It's once again time for our
Annual Knitting and Kumihimo Retreat. This year we are headed to Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. This means What a Braid will be closed for 2 weeks. I will be gone from February 27th to March 11th.
All orders received by February 26th will be mailed before I leave. Feel free to place
orders while I am away.
I will resume
 shipping on the 12th of March and orders will be filled first in, first out! We are going to have fun, fun, fun.
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Kumihimo Kit of the Month "Fiesta"
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The design inspiration for "Fiesta", with its turquoise and brights, comes from our  upcoming trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The beaded rope is made up of 6/0 seed beads in black with "spot" accents in bright colors. The "main attraction" or focal section, is comprised of 5 turquoise colored disks punctuated by colorful porcelain sliders. The finished length is right around 20" (depending on braider). The Matte Black Acrylic Glue-in Magnetic End Cap is the perfect finish! You will learn the "starting in the middle" technique and this a useful tool for your Kumihimo toolbox. This is an easy and quick necklace to make.
You will need:
Kumihimo Disk,
9 Bobbins (I used small plastic EZ Bobbins), Scissors, Tape Measure, Needle & Thread or Zapper and Glue (I use WeldBond). You should know: Kumihimo Round Braid (also known as Kongoh Gumi) and How to Drop Beads.
Kit includes:
- 1 spool of C-Lon Tex 400 (you will have extra for another project)
- 6 colors 6/0 Toho/Miyuki Seed Beads
- 5 Turquoise Colored Disks
- 6 Porcelain Sliders
- Acrylic Magnetic Clasp in Matte Black
- Instructions with Photos
- Cost: $37.00
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Cultivating Creativity
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Isn't it great to be on a creative streak? The ideas are flowing, your mind is on fire and you feel like there isn't enough time in the day. Ahhh, the sweet taste of creativity. And then one day, your imagination feels like it is on hold. Whether it's creator's block, writer's block or any other block we will all face this sometime. We all have endless lists of the things that can get in the way of creativity.
I listened to some awesome talks on Creativity by John Cleese and Tina Seeling and gleaned some intriguing ideas like 1. Try to learn something new everyday, 2. Get off the computer, 3. Create an oasis, etc. Interested?
Read more.....
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Glazed Heart Pendants
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These Glazed Heart Pendants would look great for a Valentine's Day Necklace or any day you feel like spreading a little love!
23mm x 26mm
Bail: 3.8mm i.d.
4 colors
Supplies limited
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BE MINE Valentine Bracelet Kit
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Isn't this fun!
The BE MINE Clunky, Funky & Fun Bracelet Kit is a combination of 4 x 7 Long Magatama Beads and 8/0 and 6/0 Toho/Miyuki Seed Beads. The fabulous Button and Loop Closure is a great technique and can be used in many applications. The nature of this closure allows for flexibility in sizing and allows for easy on & off. I love this and I am sure you will too! There are enough beads and cord in your kit to accommodate a variety of sizes.
You will Need:
Kumihimo Disk (preferably a Thick Mini), 8 Bobbins, Measuring Tape, Heavy Duty Thread, Needle, Glue (I like WeldBond).
You Should Know
: Kumihimo Round Braid (Kongoh Gumi), how to "drop" beads.
Kit includes:
- 1 Spool C-Lon Beadcord
- Magatama Beads
- 6/0 Toho or Miyuki Seed Beads
- 8/0 Toho or Miyuki Seed Beads
- Heart Button & Barrel
- Wide Eye Needle
- Instructions with photo
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Staggered Spiral Bracelet Kit
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The "Staggered Spiral" Petals Bracelet is bold and makes a statement!
Every time I wear this bracelet I get compliments. It's fun. The Staggered Spiral Petals Bracelet is composed of Pressed Glass Petals and a balanced mixture of 8/0 and 6/0 seed beads. The Button & Loop closure is fabulous and is a technique that can be used over and over and over again. The patt
e
rn is written for a beaded
portion that ranges anywhere from 6 1/2" to 7" (depending on
beads and braider). There are enough beads to make the bracelet a little longer and beads can be
eliminated for a shorter bracelet. The Button & Loop Closure facilitates a deg
ree of flexibility in sizing and the pattern insert, with
sizing tips, is helpful too. With this kit you will make an all beaded bracelet and you will learn the Button & Loop
closure technique.
You will Need:
Kumihimo Disk, 8 Bobbins, Measuring Tape, Scis
sors, Needle and Heavy Duty Thread (to sew through braid),
Glue (I like WeldBond - available at Ace Hardware stores and some craft stores).
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: 
- 33 Pressed Glass Petals
- 1 Spool C-Lon Beadcord (you will have plenty for additionalprojects)
- 8/0 Toho or Miyuki Seed Beads
- 6/0 Toho or Miyuki Seed Beads
- Button & Barrel for Closure
- Wide Eye Needle
- Instructions with Photos
- Available in 6 colorways: Turquoise (New), Vitral Aquamarine (New), Bronze (New), Hematite, Opaque Neutral (New) and Milky Picasso Brick (New)!
Click here to see all Kumihimo Bracelet Kits.
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Designer Ribbons & Shimmer Tubular Yarn
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It is fun to try new fibers. Experiment! It's fun to blend and combine different fibers. You can mix and match and come up with your own great
combinations. Embellish with beads. Do whatever you like! Now available:
Designer Ribbon: 10 yards skein/ $5
3 Colors: Deep Green, Wine, Chartreuse 
Small glass beads embedded in the ribbon add a pretty but subtle sparkle.
I used the Designer Ribbon in my Designer
Candy Cane Kit
. But, you can use it any way that you like! Try something new!
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Kumihimo 3 Braid Necklace with Ribbon & Shimmering Yarn
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This necklace is very easy to make and is made up of three gorgeous braids comprised of 3 different colors of KRR (Kumihimo Rayon Ribbon) and coordinating Shimmering Tubular Yarn. Once braided, the three braids blend together beautifully. I have written the pattern for a finished length of 24" (plus or minus depending on braider). You can make the necklace shorter if you like. The finished braids are threaded through the focal element and the end caps are attached. It's that easy! Enjoy! This necklace is great for all levels of braiders.
You will need
: Kumihimo Disk, 8 Bobbins, Scissors, Measuring Tape, Needle & Thread, Glue.
You should know:
Kumihimo Round Braid (Kongoh Gumi). This would also be a fun necklace using other braid structures.
Kit includes:
- 3 skeins Kumihimo Rayon Ribbon
- 3 skeins Shimmering Tubular Yarn
- Focal Motif
- Straight Magnetic Closure
- Instructions with Photos
- Available in 3 Color Palettes:
Brights, Sunset, Blues
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Kumihimo Tip #36 - Some Talk About Magatama Beads
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Miyuki Magatama beads come in two shapes - 4mm Magatama and the
4 x 7mm Long Magatama, the latter being the Magatama you see most often in Kumihimo. These "curved beads" are cut at a slight angle from front to back. The hole is near the top, like a drop bead. When strung, magatama beads form a variety of looks. The Magatama beads can be strung uni
formly to get a very consistent and even look (photo below).
.
4 x 7 Magatamas can also be strung, in a particular sequence, such that when braided they make a fringe (photo left) like my
Magatama Fringe Necklace Kit
.
4x7 Magatama beads can also be strung randomly with the end result being more "textured". The
Clunky, Funky & Fun Magatama Bracelet Kit is a good example of stringing Magatama beads randomly. See the BE MINE Valentine Bracelet Kit (below).
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Pip Beads
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Made in the Czech Republic, these glass Pip Beads can be used as beads, pendants or grouped together like the
Pip Cluster Bead Necklace Kit
. They are small in size but very versatile. 
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Size: 5m x 7mm
Sold: 13 grams/pkg (80-90 beads)
Available in 5 colors: Crystal AB, Blue Rainbow, Travertine, Hematite and Silver Coated
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What a Knit/What a Braid Monthly Newsletters
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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.
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