New Video Magatama Kumihimo

New Video

Magatama Kumihimo

 

If you have been following my posts, you probably know what I mean by Magatama Kumihimo.

 

But if it is new to you: Magatama is a type of seed bead. Seed beads usually are small beads (seed like) Magatamas are not your normal seed bead.

 

 

 

 

They have a very distinctive shape. The holes are slanted rather that going straight through the bead. There are smaller magatama beads, too, however.

These are 4 x 7mm in size.

 

 

   

 

 

And they come in hundreds of different colors. It is great fun trying different arrangements of the magatama beads as well as using different colors. They can be strung all in one direction to have a "pine cone" effect or in a random fashion. Then you can add other seed beads and come up with an entirely different look. And of course, the colors can be in a pattern or completely mixed.

 

 

 

 

 

Recently, I made a video of the various Magatama Kumihimo bracelets I've made. It shows the different patterns that can be made and many of the different colors and color patterns. As you watch the video, see if you can pick out the ones that are the "pine cone" pattern (strung in all one direction) or the ones with random stringing. You've seen them all before but having them all in one place may help understanding how they really look. (Unless you have seen them in person, it really isn't clear.) This doesn't even touch the many variations that can be made.

 

 

 

 

 

The Kumihimo part is how the magatama beads are woven together. Kumihimo is Japanese braiding using (in my case) a foam disk. This is a picture of the disk and how it looks in progress.

 

 

 

 

 

Fibers and not beads are shown here - in case you are looking closely. But the idea is the same.

 

  

So, click on the picture below or here to view the video. Enjoy. (I really like the music that I was able to add even though it stopped before the end of the video.)

 

 

 

You can purchase or find more information on these Magatama and other Kumihimo bracelets on my website by clicking here.

 

You can feel like a "Devil Woman"  while watching   ;-)

 

Finding Things

Finding Things

(Lots of Luck!)

 

I have a habit, when I can't find something, of "cleaning". When I start doing that, if I find what I'm looking for, I can stop cleaning   ;-)

 

When you make jewelry, you have LOTS of little  things and it is very easy to lose some of them. They can, also, "hide" in plain sight.

 

 

 

Now think of a chain maille jump ring.

 

Even if you find a stray jump ring, the hunt is not over. Mostly because it is almost impossible to find the size you were looking for. I have a tin of smaller jump rings. They are mostly 20 and 22 gauge and inside diameters of  1.5mm to about 5.00mm. Yes, very  small!

 

 

 

I keep the tin in a sealed plastic bag. Reason for the plastic bag: I dropped a similar container with 6 mm crystals on the floor once. Youngest grandson helped me pick them up but I had to sort them. Sorting those small rings into the proper tins would give you fits. So, I try not to get into that kind of a situation.

 

Most of the jump rings I find on the floor are larger but still hard to match up with their mates. I have a pile of odd sizes waiting to be matched. I'll probably sort them out some day,  when I can't find what I want.

 

 

 

 

Anyhow, my recent cleaning led me to all my little plastic bags. Oh, there are many different size plastic bags! Most of them contained rings, beads etc. from my purchases. Some 2 inches by 2 inches and some larger. You really don't need big bags to hold beads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I have one big bag of lots of plastic bags, sorted by size. Would you believe it? I'm not sure I do. But my desk looks much neater.

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, I have not, yet, found what I started looking for. Actually, two things. I recently made a Kumihimo bracelet from hemp. I now want to make something else with the remaining cords - but they are MIA so far.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am also looking for a small clip I use to start a particular chain maille pattern. The pattern is easy but starting is very hard with out the "trick" of using this clip.

 

I have a small bag full of these clips. This type are very hard to find. They make clips that are much fancier than these. They are small and boy, can they hide.

 

 

 

So, the cleaning continues. When I find what I'm looking for, I can stop cleaning and make a new hemp bracelet and a half Persian chain maille bracelet. No use in starting with out the clip!

 

 

 

 

I did recently make a new Magatama Kumihimo bracelet. More fall colors but nice none the less.

 

Click on the picture or here for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until  next week,

 

Bev

 

New Items

New Items

Firecracker plus

 

 

 

I made this at the request of a friend who saw some of my other Magatama Kumihimo bracelets. This is sold but I can make a similar one. It is almost impossible to make pieces exactly alike in this pattern. So many different variables. The way the colors are arranged on the disk, the clasp etc.

 

 

 

 

 

The colors would not have been MY first choice but after seeing the finished bracelet, I really like them. My supplier has over 72 different colors to choose from (I know that should be 'from which to choose') If you use about four different colors per bracelet that is a lot of choices!

 

She provided the clasp and there is another choice to make.

 

 

 

 

Here is a close up of the beads.

 

Contact me if you are interested in having your very own Firecracker type bracelet.

 

(Since it is sold, it is not on the website but others are) Click  here for More info

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My other new bracelet, Polka Dot, is of interest because of the new kind of clasp, rather than the design though the design is interesting, too. Clasps are always hard to put on yourself and that is what makes magnetic clasps so desirable. But they also have some draw backs.

 

 

 

 

That always reminds me of the first magnetic clasp bracelet I made along time ago. It wasn't very strong and led to the following story:

 

"I've lost my new bracelet, please, let me know if you find it." I knew it was in the house but not where.

Shortly, my husband walked into the room with the lost bracelet. "Where did you find it?"

"In the freezer" The freezer had more attraction than I did, I guess.

 

Consequently, I have not made any more magnetic clasp bracelets since. Until now.

 

 

 

 

This clasp is magnetic and includes the end caps BUT in addition has a locking feature such that with just a small turn, the clasp is securely locked in place. Just untwist and pull to open. How is that for coolness in a clasp?

 

 

 

 

The combination of end caps and clasp is a great cost saver both for me and for you as a customer.

 

 

I call this one "Polka Dot" and it is on the website with more  more pictures. Click on the pictures or here for more information.