Today I am making myself finish a project I have had in the works for a week or so. It is a review of the braiding tool, Kumihimo To Go.
First a bit of background. Being that I am an obsessive crafter who loves trying new things and playing around, I have been working towards learning kumihimo, the japanese braiding technique.
From Squido.com "http://www.squidoo.com/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)".
Kumihimo braids were originally used as ties, cording and belts for clothing, and closures for Samurai armor. The braids are durable and beautiful and have patterns in them that are formed by varying the sequence of thread movements while creating the braids.
Modern crafters create kumihimo braids out of many different fibers besides silk and the braids are made into jewelry, hatbands, belts or decorative knotting and embellishments. Many crafters use small, portable foam or plastic versions of maru dai as alternative to the traditional wooden stands."
A bead show buddie Alethia Donathan from Oahu, Hawaii, has been tempting me for a few years whenever I see her gorgeous work at the shows. I keep asking her about taking a class from her but have yet to make that happen. Anyway, I have a gathered a maru dai, embroidery thread and various other threads that would work.
The maru dai in itself is a gorgeous piece of art in itself.
I have to admit that I have been a bit intimidated by actually sitting down and braiding on the maru dai. So many things have to happen for it to be a successful attempt at using it. The perfect chair, uninterrupted time, my brain cooperating....etc. I also would need to delete the image in my brain of the dog chasing the cat and seeing my hours of work go flying through the room. Somehow the image of the cat batting the tamas and making a tangled mess is also a realistic thought too.
Ok, ok so you get the picture that perfect crafting moments do not often happen.
Fast forward to a recent trip to California and a visit to John Rizzi's Glassworks Studio in Guerneville and a few gorgeous kumihimo braids he had recently made using the Kumihimo To Go. I immediately came home and ordered a kit on the web. - Kumihimo To Go -
The box arrived amazing fast!
I ordered the original kit, a supplemental pattern and some lovely thread.
Within a few hours I had made this with the supplied silk cord.
It was very easy to use especially with the foam board being numbered.
The plastic tama are genius! They open to wrap the cord and snap closed to hold it firmly. To advance the cord you gently pull the cord from the tama.
They even snap together so you don't loose them!
I highly recommend the Kumihimo To Go to anyone who is a bit intimidated in the complexity of japanese braiding. I hope it is a spring board for me to go on and tackle the wood maru dai and the endless possibilities of it's braids.
