Bengala Dye...Ultimate Eco Color from the Earth

Dan and I are hooked!!

We took a workshop from Mr. Obuchi when we were in Japan.
Thank you to our friend Suyoko who introduced us to this environmental-safe eco dye.

We brought some dye home and started dyeing.
It's so easy!
No hot water necessary like other natural dyeing.
I usually do it in the kitchen sinks.

I wanted to learn more about it, so I communicated with Mr. Obuchi, my mentor by e-mails whenever I had some questions.
I wanted to introduce Bengala Dye which is from the soil to people here in Minnesota.

My friend Yukako in NY invited him to do some workshop.
Of course, I joined!!
I am going to have a Taiko (Japanese Drum) concert in a few weeks and I have many rehearsal days, but I managed to take just one rehearsal off and went to NYC!!

I was able to take 3 different Bengala Dye workshop as well as helping off-sites workshop at a school. Yes, kids can do it just like playing with mud!!
I also was able to ask many questions came up while I was there taking workshop and other things with him and Yukako as we are now US Distributors.
Anyway, I learned so much!
I came home yesterday and I already dyed a couple of skeins of yarn this morning. FUN!

Here are 3 items that I dyed at Loop of the Loom.

I met many people who were at the workshop and got inspired, too!
People at the workshop were amazed how easy and fun the Bengala Dye was!
I am getting ready to do a workshop at our studio tomorrow afternoon.
I can review myself doing workshop for sure!

It will be FUN!!

Thank you to our friend Sue-chan who connected us to Mr. Obuchi / Bengala Dye.
Thank you Yukako for having me at your studio. It was really special!!
Thank you Mr. Obuchi for the kind instructions.

The children at the orphanage

The children at the orphanage loved SAORI.
I enjoyed the children, too and I already miss them so much!
I felt that they really like bright colors.
The banners they created can tell that their nationalities sort of.
That's good because that's SAORI.
They expressed themselves!
I could tell that they are proud to be Senegalese and they are really.

They are just picking colors what they like.
They are weaving themselves, not a fabric.
I learned watching them, too.
They don't have anything, but they are happy and they are happy to see a loom to work with.
They are happy to see what they create.
They really don't have something like that in the facility.
So, SAORI and finger knitting we happend to start teaching make them so confident.
I could see looking at their smiles.

To Senegal....

I'm almost ready to go to Senegal phisically. I am not packet completely yet... Mentally, I AM READY!! My first African Continent...Senegal. I will be at an orphanage in the capitol city Dakar, Daar de Malika for 3 weeks to introduce SAORI to children there. I'm so excited about this great opportunity! What I would like to hope is for people at the orphange to continue SAORI project forever at the orphanage. My friend Yukako in NY and I are going to be there to start the project, but they are the one keep working on SAORI from now on. I think that's also our responsibilities to let them feel that SAORI is fun and benefit for both the children and the facility not just teaching how to use looms and weave....yes, guiding them to bring good mental motivation, too! I am also looking forward to the opportunity to play/listen the African drums, seeing/feelingBaobab trees as well as being in the nature (national parks?) whenever I have free time. Of course, trying different kind of local dishes, too! Though I need to be careful what I eat. (ice cubes, fruits....) Anyway, great great opportunity is ahead of me!! Thank you Dan for letting me go for 3 weeks. Thank you to my students who offered me to help Dan at a festival that Dan will have a booth and will teach 3 classes. Thank you to SAORI Japan to offer me this opportunity! Happy Weaving!!

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!!