Do you Kumihimo?

A few of my beady friends have started Kumihimo and I tell you I am keen to give it a shot.

What is Kumihimo?

"Kumihimo is a method of braiding silk threads developed in Japan which is traditionally performed on special wooden stands called Maru Dai and Takadai. The literal translation of Kumihimo means the "coming together (kumi) of threads (himo)".

I remember attending a craft show many years ago and seeing a wonderful Japanese lady providing demonstrations of this craft. She had the most beautiful, old wooden disc that she was using and had an assortment of the most beautiful threads and yarns I had ever seen.

I figure I already have a list of things I want to try so I may as well add Kumihimo to the list!

Just look at some of the beautiful braids you can make.

I reckon they would look rather delish with some of the special lampwork beads I own.

Have you tried Kumihimo?

♥

Patience is a virtue... or so they say...

There are so many techniques I have been itching to try for such a long time.

But sadly every new technique takes money to set up and time to learn and I just don't have enough hours in my day to be learning all these new techniques in addition to doing the things I should be doing like keeping my house clean and sleeping which is apparently a necessity!

Oh how I wish there were more hours in the day!

A few years ago I did an evening class in making lampwork beads.

It was so much fun, although I did find that flame a bit scary at times.

I still have the beads I made. I don't show them to many people.

As bad as they were I figure they were still made by me which has always inspired me to give it another go.

I treated myself to a PMC (Precious Metal Clay) Hot Pot a few years back.

Would you believe I am still yet to use it?

Why?

Because I am too scared to use the clay in fear that my piece will turn out a disaster and that I will waste the precious clay.

Silly I know... how is one to learn if they don't have a go?

I love the look of wire, particularly antique copper.

During the Bead Soup Party I saw so many incredibly beautiful pieces created with copper wire.

I love the look of wire and seed beads which is something I would love to start incorporating into my seed bead pieces.

Only one problem.

Wire and me don't get along!

I am so uncoordinated when it comes to working with wire and tools.

I just find the whole process very fiddly and messy but a process I would like to master and soon!

A friend just told me "don't be too timid...the wire knows".

I think she's right!!

I'd love to start making my own sterling silver rings incorporating my own glass fused cabochons.

I have been admiring the work of Belinda who has just started out in this type of art.

She has taken to it like a fish to water and I am hoping I do too!

~~~~

Are there any new techniques you are just busting at the seams to try but have to put on the back burner for just a wee bit longer, because of time or perhaps money?

They tell me patience is a virtue but I don't know about that!

♥

mmm... Clare Scott Artisan beads

I've had my eye on these gorgeous Rockpool lampwork beads by Clare Scott for a while now and I am excited to announce that I am now the proud owner of one gorgeous set!

WOW! These beads are even more gorgeous than they looked in the beautiful picture Clare has in her Etsy store...if that is at all possible!

I was originally going to use these in a necklace but now I have them in my hot little hands I think I might make them into a chunky bracelet mixed with a bit of bling. 

Either way they are damn fine!

I also got this pair of beauties too - me thinks I might make a pair of earrings with these ones.

If you haven't been lucky enough to discover Clare's gorgeous beads yet then be sure to drop by Clare's blog or even better hop on over and take a look at her Etsy store...

... but please be sure to leave something for me! 

Lampwork pendant giveaway!

Lori of Pretty Things is giving away this gorgeous pendant.

A stunning lampwork focal adorned with pretty, sparkly Swarovski crystals... what would be nicer than winning this beauty?

All you have to do is visit her blog and leave a comment ...how easy is that!

So what are you waiting for... one of us has to win it so if it isn't me it should be you!

Beads...GLORIOUS beads!!

Look at the latest addition to my endless collection of beads...

Gorgeous turquoise and Amazonite
















Tiger's eye, Tiger Iron and natural Howlite
















Gorgeous turquoise cabs as well as Tiger Iron and Howlite pendants




















Stunning lampwork beads made by my friend and one of my favourite lampworkers, Sally from Happilyeverartist
















And something practical - magnetic and lobster clasps

From chunky to gorgeous!

Check out this gorgeous glass fused cab I recently created.

The glass on the right is a chunk of lampwork glass that one of my lovely beadie friends, Nat, gave to me.

Nat is an amazingly talented lampwork artist based in Australia. She kindly gifted me with a wonderful selection of glass chunks - which I am guessing are the result of some of her unsuccessful beads she had made. I have been like a kid in a candy store fossicking through the bag of glass and imagining how beautiful the successful beads were that she made. She also gave me a huge collection of Moretti glass rod ends from which she creates her beads which were too short for her to use... too short = burnt fingers = OUCH!

I adored the chunk of glass before I fused it so I was soooo happy to see how the cab turned out.. an adorable little triangular cab. I'd love to take credit for the shape but it formed that shape all by itself.

Talk about a great way to use unwanted glass!

Watch this space for more cabs made from Nat's lovely glass.

Ocean Waves

I had my Brisbane bead meeting yesterday and shared the company of two of our very talented lampwork ladies -

Sally - better known as Happily Ever Artist
and Deb - better known as Debbie Does Beads.

So when one is surrounded by gorgeous lampwork beads what can one do but purchase... I loved these beads so much that I just had to use them that evening.

The gorgeous focal bead was made by Deb and the blue and whitish discs were made by Sally.

I loved the beach glass feel of Sally's beads and thought they complimented Deb's gorgeous focal bead, which reminded me of the ocean, perfectly.

Other beads used are glass AB rondells and czech glass rounds...oh and teeny tiny oval czechs.