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Book Review and Giveaway - Kumihimo Wire Jewelry Made Easy


British designer and instructor, Christina Larsen of CSL Designs is well known for her amazing Youtube video tutorials. I have featured a number of them before. She is a whiz at wire work, macrame and kumihimo. Her designs are refreshingly innovative.


I recently received her very first book from Interweave for review.  Kumihimo Wire Jewelry Made Easy is available as of tomorrow!!  The 20 projects in this book uses the square kumihimo plate which is typically used for flat braiding.  (Some people, including Christina, call the square plate a disk which is inaccurate as a disk is round and flat.  But it is a minor point!)

The 3 project sections includes working with just wire, adding beads - and my favorite, combining wire and leather.


Christina further divides the designs into 3 main types of braiding structures : diagonal, cross kumihimo and half-round kumihimo. Her projects uses them either singularly or two structures are combined together.  She explains what they are and how they are constructed at the beginning of her book. She also lists exactly how much wire you need for each project!

She prefers to use just ribbon clamps for finishing and only covers their use.  But you could easily use other glue on findings which are typically used for flat leather.  I also recommend additional and gentle work hardening bracelets on the mandrel using a nylon hammer if shaping them is not sufficient.

Shown below are my favorites from the book.

The Regal bracelet shown below is a multi-wire kumihimo project - the mix of copper and silver wire makes this design pop! It uses the cross kumihimo braiding structure.


This clever Chandelier earrings is so novel in its design because it really resembles chandeliers!


Christina has some Infinity designs including bracelets (see below), necklace and rings. She exploits the fact that wire kumihimo results in a rigid structure which allows you to remove the part finished work from the plate without things unraveling!  Those who have worked with yarn and cord can well understand this phenomenon.


She expanded the infinity idea to create a Celtic Infinity bracelet.  There are also two earrings styles to match.


The section with beads is where her designs become colorful!  I also loved her other versions of thread art earrings (not shown) using the same tear drop shaped earrings as the frame.


Her collar or bib necklace is stunning!


Also amazing is her kumihimo bezel around a cabochon.



She saved the best for the last. Combining thin leather cord with wire is such a wonderful idea.  The Framed Leather bracelet shown below consists of multiple braids.



The corset bracelet has earrings to match, too.



This book is perfect for people who are tired of conventional kumihimo and are ready to move on to a new challenge using wire.  The author has step by step photos of all the braiding steps as well as good instructions to help braiders of all levels.

Giveaway 

If you'd like to win this giveaway for a copy of Kumihimo Wire Jewelry Made Easy, please make a comment below. Make sure you leave contact info below if you do not have an online shop or blog.

Email subscribers need to scroll down the post they receive, click on Share Comment and enter your comment. Pick Name/URL. If you don't have a store or blog, leave the URL blank.

This giveaway is international. The book will be a physical copy if the winner is based in the US. Otherwise, it will be an ebook.

Extra entries if you become or are a blog subscriber or follower etc. If you also do shout outs about this giveaway, those will count as additional entries too! Please say so in the comments. (The exception is Facebook - just like/comment on the giveaway status there!!)

It ends in a week's time at 6 pm EST Monday, October 23, 2017. I will pick the winner randomly and announce the results as soon as possible after. So be sure to leave a contact email if you don't have an online link or make sure you come back and check! Otherwise I will redraw in a week. Good luck!

Before You Go:

Disclosure
This blog may contain affiliate links. I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links. This goes towards the support of this blog and to provide resource information to readers. The opinions expressed are solely my own. They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation.
 ______________________________
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Wire JewelryTips  -Jewelry Business Tips 

66 comments:

  1. Thanks for the review of Christina's book. She is such an amazing artist. I have been following her on YouTube for quite a while and was excited to see her book.
    I follow you on Facebook, bloglovin, pinterest

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  2. Oh wow! Kumihimo with wire would be so awesome. I'd love to add this book to my collection!

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  3. Great and wonderful things happen when you follow any of Christina’s relaxing videos, in that you just get better and better yourself due to her visionary talents. You can not deny how amazing she is and the inspirations that light a fire in the user - you just have to conquer that new pattern!

    Linda C
    romancestones@centurytel.net

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  4. I love to watch all of Christina's YouTube videos . Learned a lot from her so her book would be great to have. I'm not a fan of wire but these pieces seem very interesting. Bev

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  5. This is pretty neat, I've added to my Amazon wish list. I do have one of the square plates and maybe this book would motivate me to get around to using it.

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  6. Creative and innovative artist. I have been a fan for many years.

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  7. What an amazing artist for me to follow! This book looks wonderful and full of such fun, it's definitely going into my wishlist!

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  8. I've never tried Kumihimo so a book like this might just be exactly what a newbie needs to jump in and get creating.

    I love working with wire and her results look like something I'd like to wear. To me that's what counts.

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  9. I discovered CSL Designs a few months ago on youtube and have been making many of her designs in wire for myself. Her tutorials are some of the best I've ever seen and even the most complicated are very easy to follow. I want to win this book so darn bad but even if I dont't I will probably buy it. Christina Larsen puts out a quality product. lhminahan@gmail.com.

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  10. What a lovely book and it would be wonderful to win. Contact details are Sheila, swason @ btinternet . com

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  11. I have followed CSL designs on YouTube for a few years. Christina Larson is an amazing teacher and designer, one of the best out there. Happy to see this book published and I do recognize many of these fabulous designs from her videos. I would love to add this book to my library.
    Thank you both for this wonderful give away.
    Lorraine Gonda
    lorgonda@yahoo.com

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  12. I love kumihimo and would love to learn about using wire with kumi. Thank you for this opportunity, Pearl. I'm checking Christina's videos now. - Joan (langerfeld@twc.com)

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  13. Kumihimo in wire would be great to learn through this book, karlynr@gmail.com and blog subscriber.

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  14. Would love to win this...thank you for the opportunity!

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  15. Wow another winner Pearl! These photos from your Review really get my imagination running to other colors and combinations. I am just a beginner at Kumihimo and think this would be a wonderful book to have. Sure hope I win. The wonderful designs make me want to get started Right Away...
    Blog subscriber and follower. Posting to Pinterest.

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  16. I didn't know that Kumihimo could be made with wire but I am very much a novice to this art form. I find the variations shown to be extremely fascinating and especially like the bib necklace. Thanks for the opportunity to win the book
    Mona

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  17. I enjoy kumihimo and would love this book. Thanks, Pearl, for this opportunity. I'm checking Christina's videos now. -Joan (langerfeld@twc.com)

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  18. I love Christina's videos and subscribe to her YouTube channel. She really is a gifted teacher. I would love to have a copy of her book which I couldn't afford right now. She has been the inspiration for many of the wirework pieces I have made.

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  19. Loved the review. Now of course I want to start making them. Would love to win the book. Thanks so much for the opportunity and for taking time to review the book for us. I’ve made so many purchases on book reviews.

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  20. I love working with wire and already follow CSL Designs on YouTube. I have been looking forward to this book!

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  21. Would love to win this book and try making some of these amazing designs!

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  22. Would love to try this. They look awesome! Thanks so much for your thorough review of the book.

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  23. I love her designs. She is an fantastic artist! Thanks for this giveaway!
    chirvasasma@yahoo.com

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  24. Wow! These are gorgeous designs. Thank you so much for this giveaway. Love using the wire with the Kumihimo techniques.
    BeaderJean@gmail.com

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  25. Wow! Her work is wonderful. I've tried wire on my kumihimo disc and haven't really been able to get it yet. Would love to win her book.

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  26. Just tweeted about your post and the giveaway.

    https://twitter.com/kayzkreationz/status/1039259283836284930

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  27. I would love to win this. I do Kumihimo and this would increase my library.

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  28. love CSL Designs and excited about this book. Her videos are super clear and concise. sure her book is the same. ty for this chance! blog follower at auravisionrose@peoplepc.com

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  29. I'm so excited about this amazing opportunity to win one of her books. I've loved Christina's work for soooo long.

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  30. I love Christina's videos and subscribe to her YouTube channel. She really is a gifted teacher. I would love to have a copy of her book which I couldn't afford right now. She has been the inspiration for many of the wirework pieces I have made.

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  31. Christina is a great teacher as well as a talented artist. Her videos are examples of how to teach a process - full of information and easy to follow. She is one of only a few "go-to" artists I go to if I want to learn a technique. I subscribe to her youtube channel and save the linnk to all of them. I have been drooling over her book. Let me win it so that I can stop wearing a bib. LOL

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  32. I love Christina's videos and subscribe to her YouTube channel. She really is a gifted teacher. I would love to have a copy of her book which I couldn't afford right now. She has been the inspiration for many of the wirework pieces I have made.
    Adding email: olinda.blu@gmail.com

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  33. Hi Pearl,

    I have tried kumihimo with wire using Christina's videos but a book would be fantastic!

    Thanks for the opportunity to win.

    victoria_farrell at hotmail.com, FB follower, too :)

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  34. Looks like fun! I love kumihimo, but have never tried it with wire,


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  35. I've learned so much from Christina's YouTube channel, she has a calming voice and explains everything clearly and in details! This book is a treasure! I am a blog follower.

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  36. This looks like such a great book. Would love to win. Just tweeted again.

    https://twitter.com/kayzkreationz/status/1039259283836284930

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  37. I love working with wire and this looks like fun. This lady's work looks amazing and so professional. I do wire viking knit, so this book would be a great addition to my learning process. I would love to win this book!

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  38. I don;t do a lot of kumihimo but would love to give it a try with wire. I would give this book a good home.
    ekennedy0906@gmail.com

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  39. I am a huge fan of wire weaving and all things wire in jewelry making, I've had my eye on this book waiting for it to become available for a while now. I can't wait to make Christina Larsen's beautiful designs, I've used many of her you tube tutorials, she's really, really good. msplacey@yahoo.com

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  40. Love CSL's you tube channel. I've been following it for a long time, glad she's written a book!
    clveck@sbcglobal.net

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  41. so beautiful! thank you for letting me peek at your talent. I could learn something of that with your book. - helen.ridling@yahoo.com

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  42. I would really like to try Kumihimo with wire and this book would get me off to a great start.. Love the bracelets especially.
    Thank you for this review. a.p.brad@rogers.com

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  43. I'd love to win this book. Just tweeted again.

    https://twitter.com/kayzkreationz/status/1040010345929207808

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  44. I would love to win this since I haven't tried this kind of jewelry making but would love to thanks for the chance to win it!
    sally0630@yahoo.com

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  45. I'm a subscriber of your blog
    sally0630@yahoo.com
    pinterest.com/sally0630

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  46. I shared on Twitter
    https://mobile.twitter.com/sally06301/status/1040042508150099969
    sally0630@yahoo.com

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  47. Her work is so cool. Just tweeted again.

    https://twitter.com/kayzkreationz/status/1040220361978208256

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  48. Thanks for the chance to win .. lots of
    lovely projects to make in this book.
    DoinWire at gmail dot com
    Sue

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  49. Would love to win this and try kumihimo with wire. Tweeted the post and giveaway.

    https://twitter.com/kayzkreationz/status/1040595223582322694

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  50. I'm so glad to see your review, as I am a wireworker very curious about Kumihimo, and this book in particular. Thanks for the great review and the photos! I would love to win a copy so I could start to try Kumihimo out with these beautiful designs. -Sarah specifically.sarah@gmail.com

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  51. Beautiful work! Thank you for the opportunity to win her book!
    katrina@katrinapeebles.com

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  52. Her YouTube channel is so helpful. I would love to win a copy of her book! seawavestudioLK@gmail.com

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  53. I am excited about this book! I love her Youtube videos.Thank you for the review of this book.

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  54. Oh that would be amazing..I do Kumihimo but never tried wire.. carolhettenbach@msn.com

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  55. So beautiful! I would love to have this book.

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  56. Wow - her work is gorgeous. I purchased some supplies to do this type of jewelry but have not started. This will help. reikilise@gmail.com

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  57. Gorgeous! Would love to learn from her, so thanks for the chance. deborah.collyar@gmail.com

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  58. Can't wait to try this. TWeeted

    https://twitter.com/kayzkreationz/status/1041064358036553729

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  59. This looks like so much fun. Tweeted again

    https://twitter.com/kayzkreationz/status/1041312254241787905

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  60. Tweeted one last time.

    https://twitter.com/kayzkreationz/status/1041794346352340992

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  61. I love her tutorials! She is so talented. Would love to win this Book. corkerykathy60@gmail.com

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  62. I have always loved CSL's tutorials. I really hope I win this book. corkerykathy@gmail.com

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  63. I would love to try this book. The pieces look gorgeous!
    Sarah.lynn7803@gmail.com

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  64. Looks like a great book, would love to play around with wire and Kumihimo.
    https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TsTreasures?ref=search_shop_redirect

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  65. Wow I am a wire weaver and this would expand my techniques. thanks

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