Junko

Project and Sample by Kate Richbourg

It's time to explore the Expedition Bracelet. Leather, chain, and a clasp...such a simple recipe with such outstanding results! In preparation for The Great Bead Extravaganza's Spring Fling Weekend, we have 4 limited-edition kit colorways. Kits sold out, or want to create your own colorway? Refer to the linked recipe above!

With the name of this project, Expedition, in mind, we thought it only right to name these 2022 samples after women explorers: Bessie Stringfield, Amelia Earhart, Sally Ride, and Junko Tabei.

Kate created each sample with the sense of adventure and excitement that these women kindle. Junko is a collection of gray silver tones reminiscent of the snowy scenes she must have seen as the first  first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest and the first woman to ascend the Seven Summits, climbing the highest peak on every continent.
Born in Japan, Junko found she enjoyed mountain climbing at an early age and started to seriously pursue it as a young adult. Being one of very few women involved in the sport, she decided to create her own women's-only mountaineering club, the first of its kind in Japan, due to the way she was treated by men in other clubs. Despite being told that the women "should be raising children instead," she summited Everest in 1975, surviving a treacherous journey that included being buried by--but surviving--an avalanche.

You may want to review the original Expedition project, and be sure to tune in to Kate's upcoming live shows to learn about the kits and how to create your own Expedition Bracelet:
Friday, 4.8.22 at 10:30am Pacific Time, Kate goes live on our YouTube Channel and Facebook Page for our weekly Free Tip Friday broadcast, this episode featuring an in-depth look at these kits and other products we carry that you can use to make your own version.
Saturday, 4.9.22 at 11:00am Pacific Time, Kate goes live to make the project itself on The Great Bead Extravaganza Page, as well as on our own YouTube Channel and Facebook Page.