The sad news was announced today that Beads & Beyond magazine will no longer be published after the December issue. This publication gave me my first opportunity in 2010, so it has always been special to me. The editors were always enthusiastic and encouraging and allowed the designers all the freedom they needed, with support when required. As a reader …
I have just returned from delivering a Kumihimo workshop at Jewellery Maker in the fabulous new workshop space. This collage shows my lovely, hardworking class working on the second project of the day, with a few glimpses of the first project. My aim was to teach the ground rules for good tension and to take the group through the construction …
I have just uploaded a two-part video onto YouTube. I have been meaning to try something like this for some time, but just didn’t get round to it. Then, when the recording of my last show on Jewellery Maker went AWOL in the move to the new studio it seemed that the right time had arrived. The design I demonstrated …
It is time to look at the work of another kumihimo artist. When I decided to feature different people in my blog my intention was to add variety and interest to my writing. For me it has turned into far more than that and is proving to be a fascinating insight into the lives and inspiration of the people I …
One of the most difficult aspects of demonstrating on television is knowing exactly where to pitch the level of complexity. I know that some very loyal viewers have watched my shows right from the beginning in May 2014 and I want to be able to show them new and interesting techniques. However, as kumihimo gets better known and more popular …
There has been a lot of interest in the designs I showed on the Jewellery Maker show on Tuesday and many people are eagerly awaiting these instructions. It has taken me a bit longer to get these written because I have been unable to rely on the YouTube recording of the show to support the written instructions. Unfortunately, since the …
I am sorry to do this to you, but it really is time to start thinking about Christmas! The holiday season has a tendency to creep up on us. One moment it is way in the future and in the next moment you find yourself scrabbling to be ready! We all create because we love the actual making, so now …
Tomorrow I will be making my way to the Midlands to the new home for Jewellery Maker. The studio, workshop space and admininstrative offices are all moving to a beautiful country house set in lovely grounds and will start broadcasting from the new location from tomorrow. I will have the honour of doing the first Designer Inspiration show from the …
It has been quite a while since I shared the work of another designer in my blog, but I think this designer has been worth waiting for! I have noticed that very few people come straight to kumihimo jewellery making. The majority of people have prior experience of other types of jewellery and bring different skills with them to braiding. Many …
One of the most enjoyable aspects of jewellery making for me is being able to play with different types of bead and finding ways of using them in kumihimo. Luckily for me, there is a seemingly endless flow of new beads onto the market. Sometimes it takes a while for them to reach the shops and sometimes it takes a …
