I have been creating jewelry. using bead-weaving techniques since 1996 and started creating Kumihimo Braids with fiber and beads in 2010. I have studied with Makiko Tada, a Master Braider in Japan, and Rodrick Owen and Jacqui Carey, both from England. Kumihimo is a Japanese braiding technique, traditionally done with silk and other fibers, on Japanese braiding stands. The braiding equipment that I currently use are the marudai and the takadai.