Shabana

Origami Originals and Kumihimo Kreations

Shawnnee Holmberg's Creative Journey

I arrived in Japan in 1971, learned Japanese enough to travel, meet Japanese people, spend money and experience/learn many aspects of Japanese culture.........tea ceremony, sumi-e (ink painting) Ikebana (Ohara School Master's Degree), and origami.
Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure. Where your treasure is, there is you heart. Where your heart is, there is your happiness

Yuzen Washi to Origami Addiction

Eleven years enamored with the beautiful print paper called chiyogami and yuzen washi. Collecting and cellecting and yet I found another piece of paper.....prettier than the last, with no end in sight. Not enough drawer space. What a predicament! I learned some origami from the children I taught English to while in Japan. When I came to Maryland in 1989, a friend asked if I could fold the origami cranes small enough to make earrings. Oh yes! An excuse, a reason to keep collecting paper. I have visited Japan every 12 years, my Year of the Dog. So in 2018 I just had to visit the Craft and Paper store in Tokyo to see #1, if it was still there and #2, did they still have paper. See photo of the store below. Oh My. Yes, and Yes and while looking for it, I discovered a place selling cheap suitcases. Oh Yes!......to carry home more of my addiction!

Kumihimo Story

Temple markets, and neighborhood "destash" trash days were great for picking up no longer wanted kimonos, silk Haori jackets, obi belts, and obi-jime silk belts. Japanese friends gave me these treasures too when they saw how much I treasured them. I WAS A WEAVER AMD CLOTHING DESIGNER!!! After returning to Maryland, my friend Suzi Kalb "coerced" me into taking a class with Terry Flynn in 1990 ? as this was Japanese and I needed to add it to my experiences .....tea ceremony, sumie, washi dolls........ Another Japanese cultural art form. I WAS HOOKED!! Poor sad lonely looms just sit and patiently wait. ......while kumihimo sparks my inner creativity. Look for interesting focal pieces and make another piece of ART-TO-WEAR!

"Kumihimo" A Gathering of Threads

Traditional Japanese braiding origins are a mystery since fiber decays but impressions and pieces date back to 400-600AD. Braids, starting in /??????? were used for lacing together Samurai armor pieces, and religious purposes. They are still used today for the decorative tassles on scrolls, himo(ties) on silk Haori(jackets) and the thin silk braided belt, Obijime, that is tied on top of the Obi (belt) around the traditional Japanese kimono worn for ceremonies and spacial occasions.
KUMIHIMO
Marudai (Round Stand) Braids are made on varioustypes of "dai" (stands):Marudai = round standKakudai = square standTakudai & Ayatakudai= large multi peg square stands
Braids vary from 4 to multiple "tama" (bobbins) of fiber
Patterns are endless and vary in complexity.Traditional braids were fine silk.

Shabana Kumihimo on the Paris Fashion Runway

In Dec, 2019 I had an invitation from Nadia Azumi of Nadia Silk Couture to design pendants to accessorize her silk chiffon hand painted dresses for one of the Paris runway shows in the spring 2020. I was invited to go with my pendants and spend a week seeing Paris for the first time. A week before going we knew Covid 19 was getting close to France and decided it wasn't safe to go. My pendants went and were on the runway. The pieces are still in Europe. When I get them back, they will be available for purchase. ****** Update!!!!!!!!!!! On their way from Paris 7/4/20. They got home 7/31......long journey Now, for sale in the STORE!!
Map of France w/Paris for Nadia Azumi
Chinese Silver Geisha Comb Pendant w/obi-jime accent. for Nadia Azumi
Shawnee's Jade Dragon w/Carnellian/Jade stones for Paris
Ebony Dragon

Kreations Store

Please go to the "Kumihimo Store" to see pendants up for adoption.

All pendants come with a short explanation of Kumihimo including description of focal piece with origin, length, braid patterns and fibers used.Many fibers are rayons, cotton w/ rayon twist from Dyed Dreams.com .**ADD refers to Artisan Design Detail,...............and I get bored braiding the same pattern for 72" plus of fibers. I like to play with patterns..

Store Full but Pendants below still looking for homes. Let me know which one you are interested in/want and I'll send you an invoice thru PayPal

Monet butterfly pin on Raku ceramic 'donut'. glass bead accents.24" 8 bobbin ADD braid.Fiber: rayon, metallic $50 5/20
Paris Runway Piece. Glass Geisha Button on washi covered Ceramic. 23" 16 bobbin ADD (Artist Design Decision) braid Fiber: rayons $50. 11/19
Resin Cat Pin Tiger Iron 'donut' .stone & glass butterfly friends20" 16 bobbin ADD braidFiber: rayon, copper metallic$50
Coral 'donut' w/silk Haori-himo cord
20" - 8 bobbin ADD (artisan design decisions) braidFibers: rayon $50 2019
'Luna Rising" glass w metal Mermaid and seed pearls 26" 16 bobbin ADD braid. Fibers: rayon, metallic $120
"Sakura Matsuri"Shabana Freeform beading around a dyed Varisite cabachon26" 16 bobbon "Kozakura Genji" (blossom) braid.Fibers" rayons, gold chainette$175I’m a paragraph.
Fair Trade Beaded Flower Pin 25" 2-8 bobbin braids into 26 bobbin braid. Fiber" rayon $75 '14.