a new technique...

I have a lot of beads. I admit it. My bead stash rivals my wool stash. (It just doesn't look like it, becasue beads take up so much less space, but trust me, it's big.)

I'm always on the lookout for ways to use it up (by using them up, I open up space to bring in new stuff!) I saw a braided type of bracelet on a blog one day and was fascinated by the look. I did a little research into Kumihimo beading, and lo and behold, this is what happened this weekend at the cottage:

I started with the brown one with the tiger-eye stone chips (far left), then the grey and red glass with hematite stone chips:I think that one is my favourite. (I know it's my MIL's favourite - she kept putting it on, and hoped I didn't notice!)

The brown and gold one using ceramic and glass beads was a quick one that turned out better than expected - I didn't have high hopes for it when I strung the beads. One thing I really like it the end finishing - there are wires braided into the ends of the bracelet, and these are strung through bead caps and clasps, then easy, very pretty. (And the silver one is a magnetic clasp - so easy to use when putting on a bracelet.)

I realize these aren't the best of pictures, but the bracelets are really pretty - there's a nice heft to them, they work up quickly, and they don't take a ton of materials or time. THere's very little special equipment, but you do need a braiding disk - I was worried about that until I realized it was the foam disk that came with my son's gimp braiding kit! Seriously - you can buy a Kumihimo disk for a somewhat large chunk of change, or you can get a kids foam gimp braiding disk for a lot less. I did buy the braiding pattern, however - I wanted to do it right, and it was worth it to buy just the pattern rather than search through and buy back issues of beading magazines. I can bet that in the next isue or two, this technique will be featured!