Vancouver Island, Canada & England Shirley completed City & Guilds Creative Studies: Textiles with distinction. She taught an early version of the Laramie braid in Japan at the First International Kumihimo Conference in 2007. She works at the Knitting and Stitching Shows in England, teaching the unsuspecting public about narrow wares, especially braiding. Be warned, […]
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Minnesota, USA Katherine enjoys many fiber-related arts, including weaving, spinning, Kumihimo, ply-split braiding, and braiding with Sami tin thread. Whether it is spinning the yellow pages, computer tape, or adding telephone wire to weavings, she likes finding something different and fun to do with her art. Katherine has taught Sami-inspired bracelets at The Weavers Guild […]
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England Jacqui Carey is a maker, teacher, author, and researcher of braids, having specialized in the subject since graduating with a degree in woven textiles in 1985. Her work as a practicing craftsperson is known worldwide, and her knowledge shared through teaching and numerous publications. She helped established the Braid Society and is a Queen […]
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Boston, Massachusetts, USA Lyn Christian is an artist whose Kumihimo-based artworks combine braids using a wide range of materials in wall hangings, 3D compositions, and wearables. Her work is shown widely, most recently at the Milwaukee Museum of Art and in her curated international group show “Twisted Again: The New Kumihimo” for the Wedeman Gallery, […]
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Tucson, Arizona, USA Rebecca Ann Combs is the author of two best-selling kumihimo books Kumihimo Basics & Beyond and Kumihimo Jewelry Simplified. She is best known for her concise technical writing and clear communication. A well-respected instructor, Rebecca has over twenty years of teaching experience, including at the American Kumihimo Society Gathering, the Bead & […]
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Garden City, Idaho, USA Stephanie Eddy, a jewelry designer for 45 years, has taught jewelry design across the U.S., in Europe and Japan. She has developed unique techniques and designs for the art of braiding with wire and fine cording and is currently working on a braiding disk system, with a focus on wire and […]
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Gainesville, Florida, USA Carol Miller Franklin began braiding in the early 1990s, and her work focuses on the marudai and takadai. Carol has had the privilege of studying with Japanese Master Braider Makiko Tada and with Rodrick Owen. Her work has been exhibited internationally and Carol has taught in conference, workshop and online settings across […]
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Miami, Florida, USA Bob discovered kumihimo in early 2012 in a beaded braid class with Adrienne Gaskell. Out of that class grew an interest in fiber braids, which led to a course of study with instructors Makiko Tada, Roderick Owen and Jacqui Carey. Bob works on the marudai and karakumidai, as well as the square […]
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El Dorado Hills, California, USA Diana Miglionico-Shiraishi began her creative life as a floral designer for her mother’s flower shop. Just as in floral design Diana uses balance, movement, proportion, contrast, unity, texture and harmony in her kumihimo designs. Diana’s life has given her an awareness of the contentment creativity can bring and enjoys learning […]
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Oregon, USA Rosalie Neilson is the author of three design books for kumihimo structures, The Thirty-Seven Interlacements of Hira Kara Gumi, The Twenty-Four Interlacements of Edo Yatsu Gumi, and Kongō Gumi: A Cacophony of Spots – Coils – Zags – Lines, documenting two-color designs for 16-elements. She taught Marudai courses at Convergence 2014 Providence, Braid […]
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Carolyn has been a jewelry artist for nearly twenty years and has studied braiding for over a dozen years. She has taught braiding and bead weaving in the Western Pennsylvania area for over a decade. She has lead online classes and braid-abouts for AKS and had a project published in the 2016 Kumihimo Fiber […]
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St. Petersburg, Florida, USA Maureen Shankey is an award-winning jewelry artist and educator and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Jewelry & Metalwork. She was born in Charlotte, NC but many moves meant she called no place home until recently following a move to St. Petersburg, FL. Shankey creates jewelry and vessels in […]
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Tokyo, Japan Makiko Tada of Japan is a master craftsperson with over 45 years of experience as an internationally recognized Kumihimo teacher. She is a braider, designer, researcher and lecturer at Kyoto Institute of Technology. She is the author of Comprehensive Treatise of Braids 1 to 7, along with other books and publications. Her research […]
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St. Petersburg, Florida Adrienne Gaskell’s innovations explore the ancient Japanese art of kumihimo. Her jewelry incorporates gemstones, pearls, and beads and has been featured in “Showcase 500 Art Necklaces” by Lark Books, Bead&Button’s BeadDreams competition, and the Toho Design Challenge. She exhibits at juried art shows and galleries across the county. Her teaching resume includes […]
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Giovanna Imperia is the author of Kumihimo Wire Jewelry and many articles on braiding and weaving. Her work has been exhibited and is included in private and museum collections throughout the United States and internationally. Giovanna’s work focuses on the exploration of tactile and organic nature of fiber while pushing the boundaries of the expected […]
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