KUMIHIMO
Kumihimo Technique Class: Blue Steel Bangle Sponsored by Cherry Tree Beads
By Cindy Grayson
Meet Instructor Cindy Grayson, inventor of the Bead Runway™ (patent pending) as she teaches Essential Contemporary Beaded Kumihimo Techniques. Does your Kumihimo rope twist when you wish it wouldn’t? Because of the bead choice, there’s no annoying twist. When placed into this simple pattern, the results are magical. See how using different bead choices result in different outcomes. You will be inspired to try this pattern multiple times. Learn to simulate a high end piece of jewelry with Kumihimo and a breakthrough idea. Learn when to plan a straight row in a kumihimo design and how to use pattern repeats to add or subtract length. Prerequisite: Familiar with Basic Round Braid Kumihimo Move; or take one of my Intro Classes.
Come for the bracelet pattern and leave with an additional kit and the knowledge to make the prized possession, the Blue Steel Necklace. (Blue Steel Necklace Class available Fri, Feb 5 @2-6pm; longer class, more instruction, different finishing).
•Techniques: Single Row Design, Bead Choices for Design Decisions, Simulating High End jewelry, Counted Pattern Setup, Using Pattern Repeats to Change Your Length
•Kit Includes: Coupon and raffle ticket for Cherry Tree Beads, Kumihimo Pattern, metal nugget beads, faceted crystal rondelles, end caps, magnetic clasp, premium non-tarnish findings and cording to complete the project. Additional colorways available.
•Supplies Needed: Kumihimo Essentials: Kumihimo disk; Liquid Bead Fix (cord stiffener) or similar ingredient liquid adhesive; GS Hypo Cement (flexible bond adhesive to secure nub end after braiding); 5 Minute Quick Set 2-Part Epoxy; Wonder Clips (x8) - NOT BOBBINS; counter weight (approx 3.5 oz); 4 bead dishes, scissors, tape measure; For Finishing: wire cutters, round-nose pliers, flat-nose pliers, needle-nose pliers, and note taking materials. or Get your very own Bead Runway™ BEAD JOURNAL, Hot off the press!<<---highly recommended for your Bead Journal Stats! Find it at Shop.BeadRunway.com
About Cindy Grayson
Cindy Grayson is an Instructor, Designer, Inventor of the Bead Runway™ (Patent Pending) and Author of the “Bead Runway Kumihimo Technique Pattern Series”. Grayson is a graphic designer and marketing professional by trade, but ultimately an artist in all media. Her journey began by questioning; How many times and ways can a bead be strung on a wire? How can all of these stockpiled beads be used effectively? In search of a new challenge in jewelry making, she turned to a deep-dive study of Kumihimo.
The more she studied, the more she realized there was an elevated level of sophistication to the Kumihimo pattern process that involved detailed planning and mathematics. As a creative who appreciates an analytical challenge, she was hooked. Out of necessity, she invented The Bead Runway™, a bead layout board with eight runways to assist in visually planning and designing bead layouts specifically for Kumihimo pattern making. It also helps to count out the various bead types, which is paramount in obtaining a successful design. She created Bead Runway to spread the word of this “REVOLUTION IN CONTEMPORARY BEADED KUMIHIMO VISUAL PATTERN LAYOUT & DESIGN”.
Grayson began making jewelry, teaching and speaking publicly in 2004. It was only natural for her to share her newfound knowledge by teaching. She developed a class series for her students that covers all the basic skills and Kumihimo techniques found necessary to elevate abilities, assisting in moving beyond the restriction of pre-existing patterns. Her classes feature technique-focused projects that offer solutions to common problems in the Kumihimo pattern-making process. Other topics include successful Kumihimo pattern-making guidelines, the importance of keeping a Bead Journal for reference and ways to use the Bead Runway™—especially in making graduating patterns and in using any bead type effectively.
The Bead Runway™ (Patent Pending) is now the star and foundation of her students' studies in the “Bead Runway™ Kumihimo Technique Pattern Series”, an in-depth class series, published in a book, available on Amazon or Bead Runway Shop. By the end of the series, empowered students are more confident, bold in their design choices and capable of creating Kumihimo patterns of their own, inspired directly by favorites from their own private bead stash collections.