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.

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!

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!!