SAORI Magic!

It has been such a long time since last time I blogged.

I feel like I can finally spend time at home this weekend. YEY!

I play Japanese Drum, Taiko and belong to Mu Daiko.

We had our 15th year anniversary concert in St. Paul last month for a weekend.

Then, the next weekend, we shared a stage with special guest artists "Hanayui" and Mr. Fujimoto, a Taiko soloist from a group Kodo, Japan.

We also had Tiffany who is a great Taiko performer and instructor from Sacramento.

I took her Odaiko (Big Drum) intensive last two years in January.

After the concert, we toured in Minnesota.

I was fortunate to go with them as an assistant.

I performed two places for school performances.

I now know Fergus Falls, Grand Marais and Grand Rapids in Minnesota.

I learned a lot about touring and of course, we had a great time!

We came back from the tour on March 4 and I had to switch to SAORI mode next day.

This week and next week, I have been introducing SAORI at an elementary school.

Thank you to the school and VSA Minnesota to make this happen.

I went to this school about 3 years ago to introduce SAORI. The art teacher there invited me.

She and I took intro Taiko class together. That's how we got to know each other. Isn't it interesting?

Anyway, she waited for 3 years to get some fund from VSA.

I finished the first week of residency.

I had some students with difficulties, BUT I didn't know until at the end of the day.

The teacher has been telling me all the stories about children with problems/difficulties.

Though I couldn't tell them at all!

The teacher/a paraprofessional teacher were amazed how their behaviors change when they were weaving. They were focusing, enjoying and showing any behavioral problems.

The teachers said, "It's a MAGIC!"

I had a girl yesterday who didn't show me any good responses.

Whatever I said to her, she said, "I don't know."

Today, the teacher told me about how excited she was to do SAORI weaving.

She jumped off from a school bus and told her mother all about SAORI!!!

She came back today. She wasn't showing her excitement, but I am sure she was excited inside.

I heard that her mom is excited about SAORI, too.

Thank you for as siting me for 3 afternoons, Michelle and thank you for helping me Monica today.

I hope you enjoyed being there. Well, I am sure you did!

Let's enjoy SAORI with children next week, too!

I am looking forward to it already!

Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival

Last weekend was my second WI Sheep and Wool Festival to be a part of.

I taught two classes and had a vendor space.

It is a big show compared to the ones I know of.

The weather was gorgeous all 3 days that was very nice.

Thank you for Kimie who came to help me watching the booth while I was teaching all day Friday.

Many things happened. I want to write them all, but I would like to share a couple of things I was really happy about except for Kimie coming with me.

Last Friday while I was teaching a lady stopped by at our booth.

Kimie talked to her. She had a couple of pieces using her own loom and wove with SAORI way.

This lady took my SAORI class I offered last year at the festival.

I missed her!!

BUT, there she was at the same hotel we were staying. She was showing her pieces to other people in the lobby.

Yes, I remember her!!

Yes, she had a couple of SAORI pieces that were so beautiful and I was able to tell she had so much fun creating them.

I was so happy to see the pieces and her telling me about how she enjoyed the class last year and now she is planning to sign up next year's SAORI class at the festival.

I hope to see her again!

One lady who took the morning class last Friday's comment moved me. I even wanted to keep the evaluation of hers with me...

She wrote something like she has taken many classes at the festival but SAORI class is the best !!

There was also a lady who took a class last year told me that SAORI method releases her when she paints.

I am so happy to introduce to SAORI to people.

Everyone enjoys.

Everyone finishes weaving so happy.

I am so happy I am doing SAORI that also makes me happy in many ways.

I will see you next year at WI Sheep and Wool!!

Happy Weaving!!

Being here...

One of the member is a rigid heddle instructor.

She also is a school teacher, so it is hard for her to come to the studio to weave with us regularlly.

Though because it's summer, she comes to the studio every week with her "Fiber hooked" daughter.

They share a SAORI loom.

They weave, spin, kinit.... and are FUN!

Yesterday, she made a warp for warp exchange we are going to do at the end of this month.

She seemed satisfied finishing the warp.

She took out her drop spindle and started spinning.

I asked her if she would like to weave because there are empty looms.

She told me "No, thank you. Being in this room is learning and makes me happy."

I couldn't say anything.

She is right.

She made me happy again.....

SAORI Summer Camp 2011

I had a couple of girls this week for SAORI Weaving Summer Camp.

One of them ("A") came back for her second Summer Camp this summer.

She came last month for the first time with her friend and came back this week with her new friend.

It was fun to observe them.

"A" is 7 years old and the other is 12 years old.

"A" was telling her friend, "It is fun, isn't it? You can do whatever you want!".

Yes, that's is right!

"A" had a very different attitude than when she came last time with her friend who was the same age with her.

"A" was asking her older friend her color choices a lot.

In the other hand, this older friend was inspired by "A"s mix color technique(?).

Maybe "A" thinks her older friend is her sister?

I had a good time with them and they did a superb job!!

Hope to see them again.

SAORI class @Weavers Guild of Minnesota

I don't even remember how many years it has been since Dan and I taught a SAORI class at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota last time.

We were just the guest instructors at that time, but now I am a "Weavers Guild instructor".

Since it has been such a long time since the last class and SAORI is still new to this country, so the class was a series of "Try-It" class.

Though, there were a couple of people who came to the studio last year and a lady who is an active member? of the guild so I remember....

Anyway, it was a comfortable and fun class.

They were exchange ideas as they weave and I wasn't the one helping when they had problems.

Elizabeth who is a rigid heddle instructor/weaver and SAORI weaver assisted me a whole class and she knows a lot about other styles of weaving, so I learned a lot about them from her.

Thank you, Elizabeth!!

The above are some of the pieces they created yesterday for 4-5 hours.

I enjoyed the SAORI community yesterday. Thank you!

I was a vendor at Mill City Farmers Market in Minneapolis last Saturday through Weavers Guild of Minnesota.

Mill City Times (it's their neighborhood information blog) interviewed me and here it is!!

I am featured!!

Unfortunately, last Saturday was my first time having a booth this season and also the last time this season.....

I will see everyone next season!

I will visit the market as a customer the rest of the season.

It's a lovely market.

It's just a little far away to get there....oh, well.

Happy Weaving!!

More bags!!

Here are some latest SAORI bags I made!!

Now, I have a room that is not organized yet, but I have been enjoying being the room making these bags!!

I sometimes think I should organize the room first, but it's so fun making bags even though I still make mistakes.

I hope you like them.

They will be at Mill City Farmers Market (in Minneapolis) on July 9th!

Happy Weaving and Sewing!!