SAORI Magic!

I had a 8-year old boy, his sister 10-year old and their grandma for a weaving class yesterday.
I met this grandma at last month's Jordan Art Festival.
She called me the other day to reserve to weave with her grandchildren.

I was amazed these children's concentration! Usually, when they weave, they show their great concentration.
This boy especially was sticking his tongue out when he was showing his "concentration".
I always love to see the scene.
I used to see this all the time when I was working at a preschool.

The grandma and his sister tried "interlocking" and they loved it, so they kept telling him to do it, but he said, "Yeah, it looks good, but I am not going to do it".
That's fine. He is focusing and having fun weaving! That's the most important thing.
I told them, "If he is ready, he would tell me to show it to him."
However, he didn't and that's okay, too!

After telling his grandma that he was showing the great concentration and she told me at the end of the class,
"I don't know why he is diagnosed ADHD. He can focus."

I was so shocked to know that he had one.
"?????"
He sat for a whole 2 hours! I couldn't believe what she told me.
Sometimes at his school, teachers put a weighted blanket on his laps so he can sit still.
He only stood up when he needed some different yarn and went to see what his sister and grandma were weaving.

This is so called "SAORI Magic".
This is not the first time that happned something like this.
I used to bring my loom to the preschool where I used to work and children who tend to wonder around all the time sat for certain time I gave them to weave. They even told me, "I want to weave more!".
The teachers were surprised that he sat for a long time on a loom.

You don't need to be a magician to do this SAORI Magic.

I am always moved by children't concentration.

Something Very New

Last whole week, I was a tour guide for Japanese people here in Minneapolis.
There was an Lions Club International Convention. Many people from all over the world got together! There were many Japanese people, too.
My friend(and boss) asked me to help her business as a guide.
I learned about being a guide taking a bus when she was guiding people and walking downtown Minneapolis last couple of months.

Duirng the convention week, I got up early every morning, drove to a closest train station during the rush hour and took a train to downtown.
Usually, I like jeans and t-shirt, very casual style, but last week, I was a little bit of "business" look with lipstick on!!

It was a completely different week for me.
One morning, my husband said, "You are enjoying this job, aren't you?"
Yes, I was. I think I like meeting people.

On the way to the airport by bus, I talked about Minnesota and how difficult/expensive to get Japanese groceries. Then they gave me all the food they brought from Japan!! WOW!
Thank you very much! I didn't mean it though....

My group of people had a big happening one day, but in the end, they left for the next destination smiling and healthy, so I am happy.

Thank you for the great opportunity!
It was such a refreshing for me being a way from SAORI for a week even though I love SAORI.
I can weave something reflecting this great experience.....