Johnston Community Education

Course Description

Discover the ancient Japanese art of Kumihimo braiding while creating a beautiful and practical tampico fiber hand brush. Students will learn to braid their own decorative cord using a Kumihimo disk (included to take home), then incorporate their handmade braid as the brush's hang-tie. The 6-inch brush is crafted from natural tampico fiber—a durable, chemical-free plant fiber that is ideal for sweeping dry materials such as flour, oatmeal, sawdust, and other light debris from kitchen counters, workbenches, and craft areas. No experience is necessary, and participants will leave with a useful handcrafted brush, a new braiding skill, and the Kumihimo disk to continue creating beautiful cords at home.

Logistics

• All materials provided
• Participants should bring 2 towels (one for materials and one for lap)

Instructor: Valerie Just

• Val Just is an Iowa artisan and owner of Just Whisk Away, where she handcrafts traditional broomcorn brooms, Tampico brushes, and broom-making equipment. Passionate about preserving heritage crafts, she combines time-honored techniques with her own creative style while emphasizing craftsmanship, sustainability, and functional design. Val enjoys sharing the art of broom making with others and looks forward to introducing students to this rewarding traditional craft.

• www.justwhiskaway.com