Giving Birth

Patti and I sure had ambitious intentions when we set up the blog in late January to stay on top of fresh updates, but February darn well scuttled away from us. It was one of those months that we thought we had a handle on planned events, save the handle snapped off and we were both scrabbling after March in the blink of an eye. I don’t think I have to mention the little things in life that can abruptly collect into a flock and swoop all at once. Just catch a read of Patti’s misadventures below … it’s silly but I swear that appliances conspire to retire all at once! For me, February was a couple of shows, a healthy bite of family distraction, and a creative gestation that required prompt birth.

Heavens, no, I’m not rushing into actual motherhood again at my age, thank goodness! The development I’m about to muse over is a new tool and the journey from idea to physical form. For a couple of years I’ve been selling a set of round discs with open notched edges as a simple cord maker, kitted by a gal living in the Bay area here in California. I really liked the disc tool for braiding bead strands but my wandering mind found the basic cord it allowed too limiting. Certainly there were a fair number of ways to arrange threads from ribbons to fine thread, metallic cords combined with bouclé threads, fabric strips, and that didn’t count the combination of bead strands with soft goods, but I kept thinking that there could be a single tool that would accommodate multiple braids that were not complicated to follow.

Then there was the discovery of a foam square plate last fall and the outright cool flat braids that was possible with that portable tool, but (now you knew there was another but coming, didn’t you?) those snug foam slits didn’t allow playing with textural threads or beads. Well, not without frizzing both the threads and your humor! The braids from the foam plate was quite firm but I was hoping for something pleasantly even and able to mold flat curves for sewn embellishment. And I believe those addicted to the handarts indulge in them because they really enjoy the full process so why not find a reasonable tool design for smooth technique. What to do? Uh huh, here it comes … what if I try a merge of needful qualities?

A scribbled sketch on a yellow pad plus a conversation with Edward, my handy-in-the-workshop mate, netted me a square plate of chipboard with open slots for experimental play. The hybrid worked precisely as I anticipated but the rough edges of the board wasn’t very kind to fragile goods and the time it took to hand cut a single plate was not cost effective for production. This prodded me into surfing the local sources and a few web sources for estimates in die-cutting different materials, such as chipboard or clear acrylic. The chipboard was quite inexpensive but, as you can see in the picture, not terribly attractive as the common color is a gray shade of kraft brown. Simply lovely! However, once past a particular thickness, the alternative choice of clear acrylic must be laser cut lest it crack or even shatter under a die press, so now the cost took a lively jump. Kind of like a drop of water in a hot frying pan. In order to have “picture pretty” and “silky to use”, both attributes needed a hitch of cost in time and hulking machinery. I took the plunge in mid-February with a small virgin run of 50 count, which nearly sold out with a debut at a relatively slow local show. Ever seen a middle-aged woman do a Snoopy dance? Uh, wait, maybe you don’t want to think about that too hard!

Now we are in mid-March with a new batch of plates under the laser, due to arrive in a few days. There were some small concerns with the initial run that were addressed in this new batch that prompted a small cost increase. A few additional slots were plotted into the sides to allow more potential in playing with kumihimo braids as there are many available books detailing more, MORE braiding stuff. It makes sense to tweak it fully early in the game! While I’m waiting for the shipment to arrive, I’ll be updating the plate image in the folded instruction pamphlet that goes with plate + bobbins + weight clip + ties. The ten page pamphlet covers three braid variations and helpful hints in using and traveling with the Braid Maid™. What’s in that name? … I wanted something that stuck in memory (rhyming truly helps), a Google-unique in search, and it is a tool that serves to keep those threads in the right place. No matter where, no matter when.

Here is an image of braiding playtime in ribbon, vintage seam binding, boucle threads, and satin cords in both flat eight strand braids and a chubby round K.I.S.S. braid. The expansive possibilities in trimming art-to-wear clothing, sweaters, ornaments, paperwork such as scrapbooking and decoupage, jewelry, and … and … well, I haven’t started on the beady potential yet. Or wire or chain or fabric strips or bias tape or metallic ribbon or twisted paper and, well, you gotta figure, there is always more. Do stay tuned.