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!!

SAORI Summer bag

I have been practicing making "bags" these days and have been having FUN even though I sometimes make mistakes.

Sewing is my long time "challenge".

Though to be honest, I can sew straight!

Anyway, I finished one today.

I like it a lot!

I didn't make it for myself after all because I didn't make "mistakes".

Yeah!

So, this will go to Iowa Sheep & Wool Festival this weekend.

I have many woven pieces that are not long enough to make garments.

I am planning to make more bags with these not long enough pieces for garments.

If I keep making bags, I will be able to be good at making bags and sewing for sure!!

I will have fun making them, too!

SAORI group class

Well, I am actually having several children for a birthday party in a few days.

Now, I have a few people who are very serious about SAORI.
It is so grateful that they have showed me their interest to SAORI.
That's why I can ask them if they are interested in observing a group lesson/class and I did ask them to be a part of the birthday party if they can.
So they will be ready for the workshop at Shepherd's Harvest.

As I will miss Shepherd's Harvest beginning of May because of being in Africa, Dan will be teaching 3 workshop at the festival.
Those people who have showed me their interest to SAORI told me that they are going to assist Dan.
That's wonderful!!
It will be our sixth or seventh year at the festival this year and I can see how Minnesota SAORI community has grown up even a little bit.
I didn't imagine this is going to happen when we first participated the festival 6 or 7 years ago....we would have people who are willing to assist workshop and the booth.

I don't need to give up anything at the festival to go to Africa.

I appreciate those people who are supporting us!
THIS IS SAORI!!
I hope they learn a lot assisting workshop. Well, I am sure they will.

Now, I need to get ready for the birthday party.
Some looms are empty. They need warp!!

Happy Weaving!

I am going to Senegal!!

Wow! It's been months since I posted the blog last time.

Well, this news is big one for the first blog this year to share.

I AM GOING TO SENEGAL TO TEACH SAORI!!

I have been asked if I was interested in going there to teach or not.

I responded right away saying "Of course, I AM!!"

My SAORI friend in NY is also going.

Marie who was a representative of UNESCO.

She visited SAORI-Tokyo last year and she has been dreaming to bring SAORI to an orphanage, Daara de Malika in Dakar, Senegal.

She applied a grant and got it! Yey!

I talked to her on the phone yesterday.

She thanked me a lot helping her dream come true.

I thanked her a lot, too.

What an opportunity!

I will be there for 3 weeks.

In 2 months, I will be there!!

I have been learning about the country, languages (French and Wolof), life style, food and so on.

It is so interesting to learn about a country especially it is more interesting because I am going there!!

I also thank to my husband who didn't think/hesitate having me going to Senegal for such a long time as well as my students/friends who are going to help the event I was going to be a part of.

Before going to Senegal, I need to get ready for my show at the Larson Art Gallery, University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus starting March 24.

I will see you soon Africa!!

SAORI in IOWA

Dan and I went Adel, Iowa for the first time for "Iowa's Summer Sheep and Wool Festival" last weekend.
It took us over 4 hours to get there.

It was my first time staying in Iowa and it was first time for SAORI to be in Iowa, too!

There were faces from MN Sheep and Wool Festival, were faces from South Dakota Festival as vendors as well as customers I usually see them as vendors at other events.

It was so nice to see those people I know.

It was pouring rain both Saturday and Sunday mornings, but it didn't last all day, so that was good.

I taught one class on Saturday and Dan did on Sunday.

The people who took our classes are very special, because they were the first people tried SAORI in Iowa!!

A grandma and granddaughter took Dan's class told me,

"I was browsing many websites and found about SAORI for the first time a couple of nights before. And then I found out that SAORI was coming to the festival in my State!".

What a coincident!

Many people were surprised to see such a compact SAORI looms.

Thank you for people who stopped by our booth and took our classes.

We will be back next year, so see you next year!!

Thank you

Thank for coming to the Lake Minnetonka Arts Tour over the weekend.

It was my first time being a part of the Tour and had a wonderful weekend meeting so many people.
The good thing about the Tour is the location!
It was held in West surburb, so it is close to where Dan and I live/have a studio.
Many visitors were from our area so it was a good exposure for us to introduce SAORI.

Marcia, my friend's house is beautiful and such a artsy home.
She and her husband Bob live in a woods.
While I was weaving/demonstrating in her home by my work, many birds came to bird feeder.
The view from where I was was gorgeous!

Another artist, Peter the wood guy, his work is beautiful, too.
I enjoyed his rocking chair. I can't believe he made that!!

Marcia, the potter, Peter the wood guy and me a SAORI fiber girl---I love the combination of these three.

I am now planning to collaborate Peter the wood guy's work and my woven pieces.
Looking forward to that.

Next weekend is our annual event, "Shepherd's Harvest" in Lake Elmo.
Dan and I will be teaching two classes and will have a vendor space.
http://www.shepherdsharvestfestival.org/

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Have a great week.

Shepherd's Harvest

Minnesota's Sheep and Wool Festival will be held on Mother's Day weekend.
This it will be May 8 and 9 at Washington Country Fairground.

We will be there as vendors and instructors.
We are teaching two classes; one on Saturday and one on Sunday.
I have just checked the festival website and both classes are already full.

Thank you!!

For those who were going to sign up but found out that it is already full, please contact us and come to our studio in Chaska.

If you have several more than 5 people and a place for us to bring looms, we are offering off-site classes, too.
Please contact us for details.
We are happy to travel in the Twin Cities area.

Anyway, it makes me happy to see that the classes are both full already.
Now, I need to focus on making items for sale.

I will bring something new this year.
We are there to offer you to try weaving at the booth, too.
Make sure you stop by at our booth and say "Hi".

Shepherd's Harvest Website
http://www.shepherdsharvestfestival.org/index.shtml