I've been kumi crazy all week. Actually I'm working on just one thing, but because I've been super sleepy this week, I only proceed about 45 min. at a time. I have had this gorgeous lampwork focal by
Juls Cannon for a few months and I finally figured out what I wanted to do with it. I decided that some little seed beads I had would really bring out the greens and blues in the lampwork, and I set out to make a kumihimo strand on which to feature the bead.
 |
| the Aurora Borealis focal bead from Juls |
I strung 13 ounces of copper lined aqua 11/o beads onto 8 lb. Fireline and set up my kumi disc. This sounds like something that can happen lickety split, but in actuality, it took two days (aka 1 1/2 hours when your working day is only 45 min.). Having no bobbins around which to wind the 64 feet of Fireline I pulled off of the roll, I folded index cards and cut notches to keep all the line in check, but also allow for easy unrolling to extend length as I went. I thought about running to the drug store and searching for some pink foam hair rollers, but I decided I'd better invest my $ in real bobbins.
 |
| My beads are actually a bit lighter in color. |
At first I thought that the index cards would grab each other and not work, but they didn't pose any problem. So finally I had eight 8 foot long strands of Fireline laden with 11/o beads. I started braiding and when I began to add beads I thought perhaps the endeavor was turning out to be a disaster. I got about 3 inches into it (this is slow going - but to me who is used to working wide peyote bands, it seems pretty quick) and put it down for the evening feeling deflated. My fingers were having a hard time grabbing the line and it was difficult to see if the the 11/o beads were really under the line in each pass. I was feeling as if the fun had gone out of it.
 |
| Kumi mobile |
The next evening I put on my big girl skirt and picked up the disc again. This time I actually put on my glasses and thought about the dilemma. I adjusted the weight at the end of the braid and whipped out another few inches. Huh!? I actually liked what I was getting. Although I know next to nothing about that I'm doing, I do know that the weight on the braid and the counterweight on each of the lines will change to look of the braid. So on I went. I've gotten to the point where I will run out of beads. Today I have to do that most dangerous thing - go on-line and place a bead order. I need all the self control I can muster!
 |
| ...so far... |
 |
| This is 29 cm (11 1/2 inches) of braid. |
Non-dog lovers should look away now - here is your dose of dog cuteness:
 |
| I was reading blogs and turned around to find my husband napping with the dog. |
