Size 6/0 Japanese Seed Beads - New in February

Here are eight new colors of size 6/0 Japanese seed beads manufactured by Miyuki which you can find on the wall at Anita's Beads. Email Anita for prices or to place an order. These will look fabulous braided Kumihimo-style on Tex-400 cord. Stay tuned for examples of this popular new trend.

Kumihimo with 6/0 Seed Beads

Here are a few 8-cord round Kumihimo braids done with size 6 Japanese seed beads on Tex-400 cord. Only two of the cords were strung with beads which allows the center of the braid to show. They are quicker to make than braids with all eight cords carrying beads, and also a bit more flexible.

I started with four 2-yard pieces of Tex-400 folded in half and knotted at the fold, and left about 3/4 plain braiding before adding in beads. To finish ends I will bind cord with thread before cutting off the knots. The last step: 4mm barrel cone caps will be glued on the ends to cover the bare braid.

I love the look so much that I have ordered new colors in size 6 (in addition to some size 8 which are perfect for braiding on S-Lon cord). The new colors should be up on the wall by Thursday! The square Kumihimo plate used for flat braiding is expected to arrive in the same order.

Tibetan Turquoise at Anita's Beads

Tibetan Turquoise has to be one of my favorite stones for beads. I love the variation in color, the mixture of greens, browns, and blues along with the dramatic black contrast of the matrix. All items shown are 16-inch strands. Email Anita for more information or to request a price list.

Turquoise Top-Drilled Petal Beads

All of these strands of top-drilled graduated petals measure 16-inches. Email Anita for more information or to request a price list. These are all natural turquoise, (nothing synthetic, dyed or reconstituted).

Plain Kumihimo

I can't get enough Kumihimo these days. More and more people are getting into it. I'm certainly doing my bit at Anita's Beads! I always have a project going so I can demonstrate at the counter. If you are a fan of this popular type of braiding from Japan and you need supplies, or if you have been thinking about giving it a try, make sure to visit.

I've noticed that my Kumihimo Bracelet Sampler photo, recently added to my Tumblr and pinned a few times by others on Pinterest, has been directing traffic to this blog. Today's photo (can you tell I have cats?) illustrates what can be achieved with one simple color of cord: 1mm cotton/rayon (blue), Japanese waxed cotton (mauve), and 2mm Supreme cotton (black).

Kumihimo with Tex-400 Macrame Cord

Anita's Beads is now stocking Tex-400 macrame cord in 22 colors. It comes on spools like S-Lon, and it is about twice as thick. There are 35 yards to the spool as opposed to the 77 yards you get with S-Lon. It is available in fewer colors than S-Lon but the colors match the S-Lon line.

This is one of my favorite necklaces. (Some day I may even finish it!) It combines Czech glass beads (knotted with spaces in between like my Illusion Necklaces) on 8 strands of Tex-400 cord. I cut long strands so that after all the strands were knotted I could tie them together after the beads and braid both sides (one at a time) in my small kumihimo disc. I will end by gluing on 4mm barrel caps once I decide how long I want my finished necklace to be.

I made the second version (displayed at the top of the page) in green. This one combines 6 strands of Tex-400 cord with 2 strands of S-Lon. The 5mm round turquoise-green beads had holes too small for Tex-400. When I braided the ends, I mixed in some more of the 5mm beads on the S-Lon cord, leaving the Tex-400 strands plain.

The kumihimo braid on the far right of this last photo was done on Tex-400 with small Antique Copper beads on one strand only added every other turn.

Kumihimo with 3mm Faceted Firepolish

Kumihimo, or Japanese braiding, is my favorite new method for making beaded bracelets. I have recently begun a series made with 3mm faceted Czech firepolished beads strung on S-Lon cord. The photo above shows my first 3mm firepolish creation, the light aquamarine bracelet second from the bottom.

I use my small round kumihimo disc and make an 8-strand round braid. For a bracelet I cut four 2-yard pieces of S-Lon cord and then fold them in half to get eight strands. Each strand carries about 5 inches of beads (approx. 42). After I string on the beads by hand (the holes in these 3mm beads are not large enough to accommodate a needle) I wind the excess cord onto a bobbin to keep the beads from sliding off the cord. The beads themselves are not wound around the bobbin but sit just above it, below the kumihimo disc.

Because I plan to end my bracelet with antiqued silver tulip caps, I have attached a piece of 20 gauge silver-plated wire to the beginning of my braid by running all the cords through a small wire-wrapped loop. I make one rotation of braiding on my wheel with cord only to secure the wire. Then I slide up one bead each time I bring up a cord.

The loop of wire will be hidden in the cap. The tail of straight wire that comes through the top of the cap will be used to form another wire-wrapped loop securing my clasp. On the second side I will form just a loop, one large enough to clasp to.

Anita's Beads offers Czech faceted firepolished beads by the hank in a wide variety of colors. One hank is enough to make one and one-half bracelets. My plan is to make two different plain bracelets and use my extra beads to combine the colors in a spiral pattern on a third bracelet.

Here's the green one all finished with tulip end caps.

Winter Hours at Anita's Beads

Anita's Beads is open 10-5 / Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Anita's Beads Open 7 Days

Anita's Beads will be open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. through New Years Day.

Take advantage of our Holiday Sales:

All Jewelry 10% Off

All Toad Hollow Minerals 50% Off

(Sale Ends Sunday January 1, 2012 at 5 p.m.)

After the holidays we will revert back to regular Winter Hours: Open 10-5; Closed Tue. & Wed.

Rayon/Cotton Color Chart - Kumihimo

Available colors include:

A - Antique Gold
B - Gold
C - Camel
D - Medium Brown
E - Silver

F - Dark Green
G - Apple Green
H - Mint Green
I - Dark Olive
J - Turquoise [not pictured]
K - Avocado

L - Williamsburg Blue
M - Navy Blue
N - Royal Blue
O - Teal
P - Gallant Blue

Q - Purple
R - Lavender
S - Plum
T - Mauve
U - Shocking Pink

V - Wine
W - Red
X - Rust
Y - Peach
Z - Luggage

aa - Black [not pictured]
bb - White [not pictured]
cc - Ivory [not pictured]
dd - Coffee [not pictured]
ee - Dark Gray [not pictured]

Our high quality 1mm Rayon/Cotton cord is made in USA. Purchase by the yard, by the 70-yard spool, or by the package. Each package contains four 3-yard lengths (in your choice of up to four colors) to make a 24-inch 8-cord round Kumihimo braid.

Place your order by telephone at 603-522-6529. Visa and Mastercard are accepted. Email Anita to request a Kumihimo Supply Price List.

Advanced Kumihimo Sundays

Two Advanced Kumihimo Drop-In classes have been scheduled: Sunday December 11th and Sunday December 18th beginning at 9:30 am. Stop by Anita's Beads and learn how to do Japanese braiding with beads. A $25. fee includes instruction and all materials to make a kumihimo braided bracelet using S-Lon cord decorated with size 8/0 Japanese seed beads.

You will receive: 1 mini kumihimo braiding disc, 1 spool of S-Lon cord in the color of your choice (there are 50 different colors to choose from), one 22 gram tube of Miyuki size 8/0 seed beads, a set of 8 bobbins, findings (barrel endings, jump rings and a toggle clasp), and a tube of glue to attach the endings to your completed braid.

You should be familiar with the basic creation of the 8-strand round braid before learning how to create a braid decorated with seed beads. Beginners should attend our Beginning Kumihimo Drop-In class to start.

This invitation to learn beaded braiding is also extended to those who have recently purchased kumihimo materials at Anita's Beads. You are welcome to join us. Contact Anita at 603-522-6529 for more information.

Beginning Kumihimo Saturdays

Three Beginning Kumihimo Drop-In classes have been scheduled: Saturday December 10th, Saturday December 17th, and Saturday December 31st beginning at 9:30 am. Stop by Anita's Beads and learn how to do Japanese braiding. A $25. fee includes instruction and all materials to make a 24-inch round braid from 1mm Rayon/Cotton ("rat-tail") cord.

You will receive: 1 large round braiding disc, 12 yards of Rayon/Cotton cord in the color(s) of your choice (there are 30 different colors to choose from), a set of 8 bobbins, findings (barrel endings, jump rings and a toggle clasp), and a tube of glue to attach the endings to your completed braid.

Once you become familiar with the basic creation of the 8-strand round braid, learn how to create a braid decorated with seed beads. We will be covering this technique in our Advanced Kumihimo Drop-In classes.

This invitation to learn basic 8-cord braiding is also extended to those who have recently purchased kumihimo materials at Anita's Beads. You are welcome to join us. Contact Anita at 603-522-6529 for more information.

Back To Normal

The roofing project is finished and things are back to normal at Anita's Beads. We've been demonstrating Kumihimo or Japanese braiding to everyone who comes in. Once our next order of supplies arrives we will begin the Saturday morning drop-in classes again.

We will post more information as soon as Mr. UPS pays us a visit!

Repairs!

Anita's Beads is getting a new roof and will be closed on Friday October 21st. There will be additional closures until the project is completed so call ahead and check status before you come out. The phone number is 603-522-6529.

We will be open regular hours (10-5) on Saturday Oct. 22nd and Sunday Oct. 23rd.