(For Marudai stands and bobbins for Kumihimo check your local bead and fiber stores or email helby@idt.net for your nearest bead store to order the clear acrylic Marudai stand and bobbins.  LACIS also carries Marudai stands.)

One look at the cover of this book will grab your attention.   There are so many beaded braids, they are crammed on top of each other.  Beads & Braids is a book every bead and fiber lover should have on their bookshelf even if you do not want to make Kumihimo braids.  It is full of luxurious color, designs and ideas that will give you hours of pleasure. Instructions for warping, tools, materials are included, however, I would advise you purchase Beginners Guide to Kumihimo Braids by Jacqui before starting a project in this or any other Kumihimo braid book.

There are 120 different braid samples and a gallery of 40 braided pieces.  Projects start out with a few all fiber braids and then jump right into beaded braids, beginning with simple and working to complex.  These fiber braid projects include illustrations for the rotation placement on the Marudai stand.  Beading after braiding shows you how to take a braid you made and splice in beads, especially larger beads, creating an assortment of finished braids.  Beads of every shape and size are combined, beads are used as joining sections and connectors for braid ends.  Some beads are worked flat against braids, others set out in a three dimensional fashion and even drop beads are combined to hang from braids.  Beaded beads are added to some of the braids for unique finishes.

Design elements are exciting with fat chunky braids and beads interwoven, others look like linked chains with bead embellishment, and some are all bead braids, thick and yummy.  Some bulky braids end with smaller bead braid endings.   Some thick braids have bead netted chandelier tassels with various shaped beads hanging off the ends.  Designer beads are worked into the middle of some braids.   Instructions show you how to add paper beads and found objects, use larks head closures and knotting techniques, and how to make unique braid shapes adding gemstone chips and other materials.  Instructions show you how to make more than one braid and combine them to create theme jewelry such as water or forest motifs.

Beads & Braids is an exceptional book, full of inspiration and braid artwork.  Every page will bring you new refreshing ideas for your own work even if you do not want to make Kumihimo braids.  If you like bead and fiber ropes and visual delights in lovely color, Beads & Braids is the answer.