A piece of wood does not lose its value just because it is left over from another project. At REBORN Creative Recycling, we\u2019re interested in how suitable reclaimed wood and offcuts<\/strong> can become something beautiful and lasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kumiko is a traditional Japanese woodworking<\/strong> craft. Artisans cut and fit slender wooden strips into precise geometric patterns, historically used in shoji<\/em> screens and decorative features of Japanese interiors. Kumiko was traditionally made from wood, including Japanese cypress and cedar\u2014not originally from bamboo. Makers choose woods for their colour as well as their working qualities. Okawa Kumiko<\/a>, Tanihata Kumiko materials<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That tradition inspires our approach to reuse. Not every scrap is suitable: wood for a physical Kumiko piece needs to be sound, well dried and capable of being cut accurately. But when the material is right, an offcut can become part of a pattern with a new purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Kumiko pattern could inspire a decorative panel for a lampshade<\/strong>, window shutter<\/strong>, cabinet door<\/strong> or room divider<\/strong>. Smaller designs could become coasters, box lids or furniture inlays; larger ones could become wall art or an interior screen. Each project offers a different way to work with light, shadow and the natural character of wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We created Kumiko Studio<\/strong>, a web-based design app that lets you explore those ideas before making a piece. Choose a framed panel, coaster or grid, set its dimensions and arrange geometric motifs. Experiment with patterns, change your mind and develop a design at your own pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t need to be an experienced woodworker to begin. Try it for the pleasure of creating a pattern, to imagine a use for leftover wood, or to plan something you\u2019d love to make.<\/p>\n\n\n\nImagine what you could make<\/h2>\n\n\n\n