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upcoming workshop calendar |
August 18 - 'Cord, Thread and Fiber Jewelry' - Lecture and Visual Presentation
At the Embroiderers Guild of America, Santa Clara Valley Chapter. Meeting start at 10 am. Lecture at 11:30 am at West Valley College in the Mormon Church on Allendale which is just off Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga, CA
This visual presentation will tell you all about cords and thread, from how they are made to the different types available, then take you on a tour of some of the stunning works being done by artists worldwide with a variety of techniques.
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September 15-16 - 'Braids, Cordmaking and Endings' -
Workshop
for Kumihimo, Fiber, Jewelry and Bead Artists
9:30 am - 4:30 pm. At Marion's studio in Redwood City, CA
Class $200 + Material Fee $15.00
This class will combine the program of Cords & Braids, plus How to End Kumihimo Braids, and the Turk Head Knot as a bonus. It is the same workshop taught in the spring in Bemidji MN. Read about it in my blog. A program description is available in a pdf format >> download class description
Space is limited. Sign up with a $100.00 deposit via Paypal
no need to have a Paypal account, major credit card accepted
Balance and material fee due at workshop
Email or call at 650.365.7939 for additional information. |
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November 12 - 'Crown Knotting - An Alternate Method to Knot between Beads' - BABE 2010, Oakland, CA
Save the date and sign up on the Bay Area Bead Extravaganza website. Read a blog entry on this class and come back to visit soon as I will post new pictures of example done in class. This class sold out early last year so plan to sign up as soon as registration opens on the BABE website!
Class description >> Crown Knotting
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workshops - program descriptions |
Crown Knotting | Bead Edging around the Donut | Cord, Nothing but Cords
Turk's Head Knots | Braided Kumihimo Neckpiece
How to End Kumihimo Braids and Make Clasps | Chinese Button Knot Amulet | Cabochon Fiber Setting |
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| Crown Knotting - An Alternate Method for Knotting between Beads |
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Crown knotting or the crown knot sennit is an elegant solution for stringing beads with larger holes such as antique beads and keeping them from touching each other. The crown knots have many advantages over traditional overhand knots. The knots are completely symmetrical. They are easier to keep snug against the beads and are especially well suited when stringing beads with large holes or uneven holes as the ratio between the cord going through the beads and the actual size of the knot is much larger than with overhand knots.
Learn how to tie 4-strand crown knots with the use of a kumihimo disk, a method that makes this process much easier to learn and master. Plus learn how to integrate a clasp with a button and loop seamlessly with no loose thread or thread ends remaining.
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| Topics to be covered: The crown knot sennit with and without the use of a kumihimo disk. How to start the sennit. Making the button. The loop. Ending without any loose ends. Best materials to use. |
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| Bead Edging around the Donut |
Create your own amulet, brooch or earrings with a silk fan and bead edging around a gemstone donut or pie.
We will explore several methods with the use of charts and hands-on demonstration.
This class is appropriate for various levels of experience.
No prior experience is necessary! |
Topics to be covered:
1. Design
2. Bead edging around the donut/pie
3. Beaded tassel
4. Methods for attaching various elements
5. Square knot braid loop
6. Cordmaking, 2 and 3 ply
7. Finishing ends and glue primer
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| Cords, Nothing but Cords! |
We will explore several methods to create cording: rope making and braiding with a limited use of tools.
With charts and hands-on demonstration we will make various types of cording and discuss their possible uses. This class is appropriate for various levels of experience.
No prior experience is necessary! |
Topics to be covered:
1. cords 2 ply
2. cords 3 ply
3. Kumihimo, Peruvian Braids
4. Finishing the cords and glue primer
5. Material & Use
6. Various methods for attaching elements, suggestions & ideas
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The Turk's Head is a beautiful ornamental knot made with one thread/cord only, similar to a braid. It is used extensively in Chinese Knotting, Japanese and Celtic designs and for tassels. Historically on ships it was used on hand railing, around stanchions or on a hammer handle to secure a firmer grip.
It is made around a larger object such as a larger cord or tube, to add a contrasting color or to join several cords. It can also be used as a covering.
The golden Turk's Head shown here is joining the two kumihimo braids together.
This particular one is a Five-Strand Turk's Head with 5 passes.
This class includes:
A color chart with 7 illustrations
An actual sample showing the main 5 steps of this knot
No experience necessary!
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Braided Kumihimo Neckpiece
Create a neckpiece using a simplified kumihimo braid that can be made without the use of a maru dai, saving yourself the hassle and the expense of purchasing it. Sterling silver clasps for finishing the cording will be available for purchase.
This class is appropriate for various levels of experience.
No prior experience is necessary!
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Topics to be covered:
1. Kumihimo braid (Peruvian braids), Spiral braid
2. Square knot braid loop
3. Anchoring beads tassel
4. Finishing the ends and glue primer
5. Material & Use
6. Various method for attaching elements, suggestions & ideas
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How to End Kumihimo Braids and Make Clasps! |
Kumihimo cords present a unique challenge to finish.
What to do with all the ends of cords/thread...
How to integrate a clasp if no metal tubular findings are desired... Learn how to secure the threads at the end of the braid by wrapping and covering them and create a fiber based clasp.
Several ways of making clasps with fiber techniques will be explored in this class:
• Knotted loops with several versions
• Buttons: Knotted Chinese button, gemstones donuts, beads, toggles and loops
• Coverings
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Students will apply one technique learned in class based on knowledge and experience with knots, such as the Chinese Button Knot and Turk's Head.
Written and illustrated directions for all the techniques shown in the class are included in the manual.
Kumihimo will not be taught in this class. Bring your kumihimo cords to finish or you will be provided with a braid to finish at the class. This class is a technique only class. No actual finished piece will be made. |
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A Chinese Diamond Knot Amulet with Bead Edging
Create your own amulet around a gemstone donut or pie.
Explore several techniques with the use of charts and hands-on demonstrations.
We will make a 3 ply cord, learn how to wrap the donut with lark heads knots and master the beautiful Chinese button knot.
This knot or rather perfectly symmetrical braid is used extensively in Chinese designs.
It makes a fabulous button as well.
This class is appropriate for various levels of experience.
No prior experience is necessary!
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Topics to be covered:
1. Design
2. Cordmaking
3. The Chinese Button Knot
4. Lark Heads around Donut
5. Alternating Half Hitch Braid
6. Finishing Techniques
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Cavandoli Style Knotting
Creating woven style patterns with solidly knotted double half hitches:
In this micro-macrame class we will explore the many ways of creating patterns in a solidly woven style piece using only the double half hitch knot.
Patterns vary from the simple to the complex, with the use of horizontal, vertical and 'reverse' double half hitches.
Adding and removing thread to add new colors will be shown and practiced.
'Brocade Style' Cavandoli knotting, creating relief and wire armatures will be discussed and explored.
We will knot a sampler with the various ways described above and then we will start a piece with a wire armature to be finished after the class into a brooch, or incorporated into a neckpiece or medallion.
Prior knowledge of the double half hitch is useful, but not mandatory!
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Example of Cavandoli knotting made with nylon and silk thread (Cabochon setting will not be taught in this class)
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Cabochon Micro-Macrame Fiber Setting, a 'Master's Workshop'
Learn how to set a cabochon in a micro macrame setting with nylon & silk thread and how to add free form knotted leaves, flowers and stems. This workshop will teach a method to set cabochons without the use of any glue, by caging it with double half hitches, thread and one wire. It will also introduce free-form Cavandoli knotting.
Knowledge of double half hitch is a prerequisite. Several tutorial are available to download. Bring sampler to class. Download tutorial #1 (pdf) or view as an html page and tutorial #2 (pdf)
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First day:
1. Cabochon setting theory
2. Design
3. Cab setting construction
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Second day :
4. Free form cavandoli knotting with leaves and flowers over the cabochon
5. Setting the brooch, or adding a cord
6. Finishing the piece |
While learning silversmithing in the mid 70's, I came up with this method of setting Cabochon into a fiber setting. This process got refined over many years. This method is especially interesting at this time as there is a renewed interest in micro macrame and in cabochons.
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