Bead Weaving, Bead/Fiber Combination, Tapestry Weaving
Claudia’s Craftsy Class
It seems like forever ago that Elena and I went to Colorado to create the “Bead & Tapestry Cuff Bracelet” class. It was both difficult and exciting. The Craftsy people were wonderful and held my hand very well. Elena sat behind the camera giving me silent directions if I got off course. She knew the drill. She knew what needed to be said or not said so it was essential to have her there.
The Craftsy crew, from camera people to producers to to editors make-up people, were rather magical. It was a blur of three days of hard work. The results were excellent. The Craftsy editors took 22 hours of filming and turned it into a 6 hour class.
These are the lessons you will find in the class (besides loom set up and discussions about looms in general):
Silk & Bead Affinity Bracelet
Gold Thread & Bead Affinity Bracelet
No Warp Ends Bracelet (there are two: the one below and one with just Delica Beads in a simple design for which I cannot find a photo!)
Tapestry Cuff Bracelet (both simple and complex)
Where can you find this class? Here: craftsy.com/beadcuffs
Where can you get the kits? Here you go, everything you need: http://blog.mirrixlooms.com/product-category/craftsy/
Tapestry Weaving, Uncategorized
Wrapping Things Up
…Or should I say warping things up? 😉
It’s hard to believe that it’s only been four weeks since my little adventure with Mirrix first began. Time really does fly by. You know how when, if you’re lucky, you meet someone for the first time and really hit it off? You quickly become fast friends, cherish the time spent and can’t wait to see them again. Well that’s how it is with my Mirrix loom. I probably shouldn’t admit wanting to get up out of bed in the middle of the night -I do have insomnia- and start weaving, should I?
Bead Weaving, Bead/Fiber Combination, Tapestry Weaving, Uncategorized
Look Ma, No Warp Ends!
Bead Weaving, Bead/Fiber Combination, Tapestry Weaving, Uncategorized
Magnatamas, Tilas & Silk, Oh My… Plus A Quick Tip
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3 Clip Fringe Twister |
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Perfect fringe, every time! |
Bead Weaving, Bead/Fiber Combination, Tapestry Weaving, Uncategorized
Bead Weaving: A Love-Hate Relationship
Bead Weaving, Bead/Fiber Combination, Tapestry Weaving, Uncategorized
Gold, Gold Everywhere!
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Gold Thread…Before |
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Gold Thread…After |
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The finished bracelet |
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Weaving at the beach…the best of all possible worlds! |
Bead Weaving, Bead/Fiber Combination, Tapestry Weaving, Uncategorized
Mirrix Goes to Montauk
As it happens, my Mirrix loom arrived the day prior to our little holiday in Montauk. (I know you’ve heard of Montauk Point. You know, at the very tip of Long Island, NY?) Well, I couldn’t leave her home alone, now could I? Certainly not with all that fabulous fiber haunting me from afar. So, unbeknownst to the family, I sneakily stuffed her into yet another canvas bag and she made the two hour trip to the beach. Here she is on the deck overlooking the Atlantic Ocean looking rather majestic, don’t you think?
Craftsy Class: Introduction & Looms
Claudia’s introduction, besides doing a great job of whetting one’s appetite, speaks for itself. Not much need for comment, I believe. The second “lesson” concerning various looms is significant particularly if you are not yet fortunate enough to own a Mirrix. (Notice I say yet. Don’t worry, you will). Prior to receiving the Mirrix, I fiddled with both a $10 craft-store seed bead loom as well as my Cricket, both with excellent results. They really do weave beautiful bracelets. However, tensioning problems as well as awkward warping renders them less than perfect. Learning to warp a Mirrix is a snap and the tensioning is a dream. I think the Volkswagen/ Mercedes analogy applies here; there’s simply no comparison. If you can, by all means, get a Mirrix!
Craftsy Class Lesson: The Silk and Bead Affinity Bracelet
I have a thing for silk… always have. It is by far my favorite fiber to work with, be it knitting, crochet, sewing or weaving. I love the tiny little crunch it makes when you fondle it which I confess I do. The vibrant colors that Claudia has created make all the difference in the final product, I can assure you. Not wanting to waste the precious silk, I practiced my first few Affinity Bracelets using lesser fibers- some pedestrian embroidery floss and even some commercially dyed silk floss. I can tell you that they can’t compare to the subtle color variations of Mirrix hand painted silk. (Pssst, Claudia, have you considered offering a silk dyeing workshop? Hint hint.)
I wish I could write about some problem or difficulty that I encountered while attempting to weave but honestly, it is so simple and enjoyable that I cannot find anything to critique. Ok, my selvedges are less than perfect and I probably could use a pair of magnifying glasses to thread that blasted bead needle but that’s about it. Come to think of it, I’m not crazy about that peyote stitch yet either but I’m sure that will improve with more experience. Heaven knows, I’ve got a long way to go.
When one chooses to forego an afternoon at the beach in order to stay back to weave, I think that’s really saying something. Here are my results. Whaddaya think? Not bad, eh.
xxx, Karen
Bead Weaving, Bead/Fiber Combination, Tapestry Weaving, Uncategorized
Hello, Gorgeous!

For those of you too young to remember, this is precisely what Barbra Streisand uttered upon being handed her first Oscar statuette after winning the Academy Award for Best Actress. (I won’t embarrass myself by revealing the year…perhaps you remember? Don’t worry, I won’t tell.)
xxx, Karen
Bead Weaving, Tapestry Weaving, Uncategorized
Crafty Class Has Launched
It’s here. In the middle of April Elena and I traveled to Denver for five days. Claudia spent three days behind a camera talking and moving her hands around a loom to demonstrate the weaving of a bunch of projects on the Mirrix Loom (primarily . . . although she (I. . . why am I talking in the third person) since there was a brief demonstration on a hand made loom and a rigid heddle loom). Getting ready for it was hard. Had to have everything in Denver in advance for the filming. Couldn’t just run back to my studio to pick up some forgotten loom or material. I was very stressed. The filming itself was fun although hard. I am afraid to watch the whole thing all the way through. That is your job.
So What do you get for your $29.99? A lot. You get to watch six hours of instruction. If you can stand watching me for six hours, this is a good thing. I show you how to make nine bracelets! Two tapestry/bead cuff bracelets; two No Warps to Weave in Bracelets; Five affinity bracelets. The course is designed to flow so that you keep piling on skills. The goal is for you to move into your own territory . . . take the skills and concepts you’ve learned and create your own masterpieces.
I think it’s a great class for both beginners and those who haven’t tried these projects yet and are ready for something new.
So how does this format work? It’s a great format combining the best of a real in-person workshop with the best of video. First of all, it’s longer than any video you’d ever find. Secondly, you can access it on the Craftsy site any time you want. There is a forum for asking your questions and I will get on a million times a day to check for these questions and answer them. There is also a place for you to post your projects. The whole thing is very interactive and community like and you can keep interacting for as long as I am still hanging out on this planet.
And even better: there is a special Craftsy/Mirrix store where you can buy some really amazing kits created just for the show at really, really great prices. Those same kits will not be in our regular store. The kits are cheaper when you buy all three and even cheaper when bought with a loom.
So sign up for a lifetime (literally) adventure in the world of Mirrix: craftsy