Saturday May 16th & Sunday May 17th 10am-4pm

Instructor: Bob Galivan

Kumihimo is a traditional fiber art that dates back approximately 1,500 years. Kumihimo translates to “gathered threads” and is the Japanese term for “braiding.” Braiding as a textile art is found in most cultures around the world. Braids were used for many purposes, ranging from utility to decoration. Japanese braids have a variety of uses, from holding a Samurai’s armor together to tying a lovely Kimono in place. In the past 30-40 years, Kumihimo has evolved into “wearable” art, being fashioned into straps, belts, and jewelry. Beaded Kumihimo braids are the most recent evolution, offering a wide range of creative possibilities.

In this class, we will start with basic fiber braids to acquaint ourselves with the movement and techniques used to make decorative braids. We will then explore “continuous” beaded braids, where a rope of beads becomes our fiber for braiding. Finally, we will learn the techniques used in drop-beaded braids, building a braid around a focal bead. From this class, students will gain a deep understanding of Kumihimo techniques and the skills necessary to create exciting pieces of their own.

Instructor Bio: “Braider Bob” Galivan has been actively braiding for over 15 years and has been teaching Japanese (Kumihimo) and Andean braiding both nationally and internationally since 2015. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Bob and his wife Myriam (a talented bead weaver) moved to Cleveland from Miami in March of 2020. Bob has been active in the South Florida Jewelry Arts Guild (SFJAG) for the past 10 years, serving twice as President. In addition to braiding, Bob also enjoys working with wire weaving, wire crochet, tablet weaving, resin, and woodworking.