IWOM is removing all content from her blog in less than half a day (morning of July 25, Hong Kong time). She encourages you to copy the content if you want to keep it. Ranging from illustrated tutorials, student galleries, her own work and Hong Kong shopping tips, there is much to keep. I went through last week and probably downloaded over half the pages.

http://iwom.wordpress.com/2009/06/24/find-du-jour/

What I don't understand and didn't get a chance to ask since she turned her comments off is why she's deleting her site. After all, web sites are forever if you want them to be... Hmm, I've never tried this trackback business before...

Events
On June 1^st, 2009 there will be a Knots, Bends and Hitches class offered by the Marblehead Sail & Power Squadron at the Abbot Public Library in Marblehead, MA.
http://www.usps.org/localusps/marblehead/public-courses.html#Knots (via)

Lily is teaching knots at the International Old Lacers, Inc (IOLI) convention in Los Angeles, CA July 25-Aug 1, 2009. See many pictures and descriptions at the link.
http://loopylacer.blogspot.com/2009/04/getting-ready-for-ioli-convention...

Let's start with the good news. The blogiversary tassels have been awarded to the 2 commenters. I was going to give one and keep one for myself, but as there were only the 2 commenters and I want to encourage y'all, I'll give them both away and just make myself one later at some point.

Should I try this again? D'ya want free stuff? 8)

Sooooo, remember what I said in the first post that this daily posting thing was doomed to failure? This is past 2 months (or so) is pretty much what I meant. But, since I am trying to give myself something of a personality adjustment, I will not yet admit complete defeat. There are still delusions of backfilling in the missing days and continuing onwards as well.

If you would like to help, I would completely adore that. Guest posts of a knotty or braiding nature are totally welcome. Words of encouragement would be, y'know, encouraging. Even constructive criticism would be gratefully accepted. I do my best to answer questions and take requests under advisement. 8) Email or comments all work.

Articles
A. G. Lindsay writes an article about how to finish your braids (15 pages).
http://www.weavershand.com/kumiendings1.pdf (via)

Events
A see and share style event in Montreal on April and I couldn't go. 8( But at least we can see the pictures.
http://picasaweb.google.ca/michellebeauvais/April252009?authkey=Gv1sRgCL...

Blogs
The math behind maypole braids
http://divisbyzero.com/2009/05/04/the-maypole-braid-group/

Dogs and kumihimo don't mix. The sensitive may want to avert their eyes.
http://tapestrybeads.blogspot.com/2009/05/winston-tried-kumihimo-today.html

About the Korean (dahoe) origins of kumihimo.
http://pearl.livejournal.com/348806.html

A bit more detail on the same.
http://themaedupshop.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/traditional-korean-cords/

A lengthy introduction/summary on kumihimo from an SCAer studying the topic.
http://beadybunch.org/?p=175

Glass bead artist, Dora Schubert takes up kumihimo and tells us all about it.
http://doraschubert.blogspot.com/2009/05/its-already-may.html

Backdated content. I hadn't stopped collecting links when I wasn't posting, so there are many, many, many links to post...

Things to buy
Knotty Estian Jessica Tai is interviewed.
http://www.myshoppingconnection.com/articles/designer-spotlight/spotligh...

Events
Family Day at the Princeton University Art Museum was May 16, 2009 where Asian art and culture was the theme and Chinese knotting (among other things) was demonstrated.
http://centraljersey.com/articles/2009/05/22/the_princeton_packet/your_v...

Articles
Franciscans use the knots on their belts as reminders. Gee, I always thought it was more ceremonial/spiritual than that.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1087257.html

Using knots for evil. Killing women with clove hitches. Read about the doings of a serial killer at the following link.
http://www.wisn.com/news/19574296/detail.html

Fashion

The Cherry Blossom Festival is a strange event with no fixed date. It's not even like a solstice or something related to the lunar calendar, it's when the cherry blossoms decide to fall on a given year. Vancouver's Cherry Blossom Festival is officially designated as March 28 - April 24, at least this year (2009), but on my street, the flowers hadn't fallen even by the last day of April. That said, it's entirely possible that the trees I had my eye on weren't cherry trees at all. My grasp of things botanical is fairly weak as befits the owner of a black thumb of death.

Upcoming event:
April 18 & 19: World Folk Art Festival at the Washington State History Museum ,1911 Pacific Ave in Tacoma. Twenty master folk artists will provide demonstrations of their work and hands-on activities during this two-day festival. Enjoy performances, talk to master artists and learn about world folk arts traditions and these Pacific Northwest artists. Participate in folk arts traditions such as Japanese Kabuki dancing, Chinese knot tying, Yakama bead working, Latvian embroidery and much more. All activities are FREE with Museum admission.

http://www.seattleartblog.com/home/Calendar-of-art-events-April-13-19.html

So, I had this image in my mind of an abstract-ish rabbit with a nice triangular face and long ears. So I tied a triangular good luck knot with inset ears. Holding it in my hand it looked fine, but when let go and put down, the ears don't point up and the whole rabbit effect is lessened greatly.

I have a few other ideas for better rabbits including using globe knots, but what am I going to do in later years if I use all of my ideas right away, eh? 8)

So, this one is not what I would term a success. Live, experiment (preferably non-destructively) and learn.

If I try this particular idea again it might be a good idea to use a pentagonal or hexagonal base in order to position ears that point up, snug up the extra loops to hide them or provide shaping. Maybe even whiskers.

Events
April 6-10 was China Week at Miami University organized by the Confucius Institute at Miami University and Liaoning Normal University in Dalian, China. Activities included Chinese knotting demonstrations (via).
http://www.miami.muohio.edu/news/article/view/11384

Blogs
Kumihimo site, Trishlan Designs, talks Chinese knotting.
http://trishalandesigns.blogspot.com/2009/03/crafters-way-88-chinese-kno...

Cassy Munronaka compares and contrasts Chinese knotting with Korean knotting.
http://cassymuronaka.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/korean-knotting

Return to the Center blogs about restringing an antique rosary on Chinese knotting cord (looks like the braided 1mm variety) along with a few barrel knots.
http://returntothecenter.typepad.com/the_center/2009/04/antique-italian-...

Mathematical Knots

Events
April 16, 2009: The Quinte Arts Council and the John M. Parrott Art Gallery present another Third Thursday Culture Jam event. The Quinte Needlearts Guild with the Belleville Weavers and Spinners have planned an interactive program where you can participate in the creation of pieces of art for use anywhere but on your wall. The program will feature Kumihimo, the art of Japanese braiding.
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1510198

April 24, 2009: a kumihimo workshop for kids (10 and up) at the Naples Library in Naples, NY
http://napleskidspot.blogspot.com/2009/04/kumihimo-workshop.html