Michelle Bloom

Yin was kind enough to share her method of binding off.    Thank you, Yin.    I don’t have the books that you cited, Masumi.  If there is something different there, I would love to see it.   My email is .   This forum has really been helpful for me.   Thank you, everyone, for posting.

Hi Masumi,  I’ve been working on the Winding Sasanami and have finished the first 10 braidings.   Can you possibly tell me what I am doing wrong because the braid is so high over the slot?   Am I placing the cords too tightly in the slots or tightening them after each braiding too much.   Thank you in advance for your feedback.   Michelle 

Thank you, Masumi.   I enjoyed your workshop tremendously.   I have watched the video again and am tether winding anda.   I’ve gotten to the point where I have to turn 180 degrees and will have to watch again.   The braid seems to be building above the octoplate.   I guess I must have to pull down harder.   Thank you again for the video and all…[Read more]

Waiting for the clasp…..imposter, 4mm firepolished beads and pearls, 11/0 beads, and chain.  

Shiny silver from 16 pack, platinum from 24 pack, denim blue leather, and 5 mm Swarovski pearls. 

I’m looking forward to this class.  I have never used an octoplate and have some basic questions.  Do we need a counterweight?   Will we be using ez bobs or tama?  Thanks

I did tighten when I did the pearl moves…..probably a little too over zealously.   Next question…do we tie off the leather cords or just cut them?    Thanks.

I’ve finished braiding and found that my pearl section only measures 7 1/2” even when I’ve stretched it as much as I dare.   I used the recommended counterweights.   I guess I must have braided too tightly.    Any ideas what else might have caused this?

I tried to watch Makiko Tada’s history video today as well as the Braidershand studio tour.    Both videos started up and soon started buffering and never moved from that point.    I was able to watch three of the other video presentations without any problem.   Any suggestions?

Question for Adrienne- Some time during your presentation, could you please talk about what modifications if any need to be made if using 5mm pearls instead of 4 mm pearls.  Thanks.

In the picture on the bottom left of page 7, it looks as though there are two sets of binding cords.   Should we bind 2x?    Thanks.

I didn’t take a photo but will describe how I set up the bead cords.   I  “paired” 2 cords of 11/0’s in black matte and shiny black with 2 cords cords with 11/0’s of both blacks with a combo of 11/0’s of bright sterling and silver lined crystal that all were tossed in the bead spinner.    The other set of cords had 2 with just the mix of silvers…[Read more]

I have a “stash” of imposter.   Would that work with this design?

I plan to wire weave around the bead and suspend it from the rope.   It’s 4” of edo yatsu, then 8” of edo yatsu 2x, then 4” of single edo yatsu again.   

I agree with Karen.   I need to watch the video again in slow motion.   The mirroring problem with the camera really confused me.   I think another run through without the audio issues will help too.    I am going to dig out some yarn for a first attempt before trying it in metallics.

OK.  I posed the question too quickly.  Working through the instructions, it was clear that unraveling the wire at the end and binding would hold the braid together.   Fun project