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.

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!!

See you this weekend at Spin In!

Tomorrow, I am heading to the event, SPIN IN. The venue is near Milwaukee, WI. It will take about 5.5 hours to get there by car from where I live. I am going there by myself. I am teaching 3 classes everyday; Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Usually Dan is with me, but he has work that he can't miss. It's okay. I will be fine. I never drove alone for that long time. I will keep singing, chewing gums for not to fall a sleep....What shall I sing? Driving is the only thing I am worried about, but I know I will be okay. The event organizer e-mailed me to let me know that Friday class is full. Thank you!! I am looking forward to introducing SAORI!!

SAORI knitting bag pin and...

I have a lot of small woven pieces that were left over from making clothing items.

I didn't threw them away. I kept them.

I'm finally using them in a good way!

I am making "SAORI knitting bag pins" and "SAORI magnet sets".

They are now available at Minnesota Textile Center.

I feel so good using those left over small woven pieces.

I am sure those pieces are happy to be something, too!

I know people in the U.S LOVES MAGNETS.

That's why I decided make magnets also using left over woven pieces.

What do you think about them?

Aren't they cute?

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!

Kyoto, A Mummy and A Robber

We had a class this morning.

Two regular people came and I knew "D" was going to finish her long long piece today.

She worked on this 6.5 yard warp with all 3 color interlocking all winter!!
I named long before she even finished it without asking her....sorry.

It is "Kyoto".

The colors remind me of Kyoto. A few different greens (green tea?), pink (cherry blossoms) and the way she woved in the colors here and there remind me of a river.

Congratulations!!

It is a beautiful piece.

SAORI is.....

I am so fortunate to have a student/friend to talk about SAORI a lot and seriously.

I would like to share what I learned through SAORI last 15 years.
I know everyone learned SAORI in many different ways.
That's what SAORI makes interesting, too.

One of many ways I leanred SAORI was that SAORI is not just a "weaving style".
It is our "life style". That includes way of thinking....
I don't even remember how I was before I started SAORI, but for sure, I am now more like, "just do it".
Just like putting some new colors you aren't sure whether the color goes well with the warp and the rest of your weft or not when you are weaving.

"It's okay to make mistakes. Trying is much more important than making mistakes."
You put this new color and find yourself, "Oh, I like it".
"I don't like it."----you can always go back and take the color out from the weft.
When weaving, you can go back easily, but in our daily lives, it is not that easy, isn't it?
However, "so what?" You found out that you didn't like it because you tried it!

I still remember when I was working on my very very first piece. I was conservative in a way that time.
I was only using certain green, beige, brown, white.
A teacher suddenly put some totally different color in my work.
"Try some different color to see how you like it."
Everyone has fixed thoughts like, "brown don't go with pink" etc....
However, you can at least weave them together to see your thought is right or not.
If you find yourself, "Oh, my thought was not right. They go well!"
Light brown, dark brown....
wool brown, cotton brown, fine brown yarn, thick brown yarn.....

Life is short.
Do it if you feel like doing it!
Challenging yourself is hard, but fun!
What a feeling when you try and succeed.
What a feeling even though when you fail. It's okay. You tried!! That makes feel good!
What a feeling if you find out yourself, "Wow, I did it! I can do it."

That's what I would like to share with people whether you like it or not.....hahaha.

One of Misao Jo's saying,
"A master doesn't have to be a good weaver. She/He should be good at praising people."

I am still learning how to praise!?

Weavers Guild of Minnesota

I have been asked to be a Weavers Guild of Minnesota Instructor of course, a SAORI instructor.
I said "YES" right away!
The educational coordinator there would like to bring something "NEW".
Yes, SAORI is still "NEW" in the U.S.

It is still hard to find a place to learn SAORI in this country.
Actually this afternoon a lady is coming all the way from Iowa to learn SAORI.

Dan and I taught a workshop at the Weavers Guild a few years back.
I believe/hope more people now know about SAORI.
So, I hope many people sign up!

First, early in the summer we would like to offer one class through their series of class called "Try It".
Then, later in the summer, we would like to do classes that people complete one project.
It would be 3-4 days class.
I haven't done this kind of classes, so I am a little concern, but I just need to try to find out, don't I?
Just like SAORI, just try it!

Anyway, I am so excited about this offer. Thank you for this opportunity Linda!

I wasn't feeling 100% last night, so I decided not to weave.
Instead, I needlefelted to make a kind of "frame" and "decoration" to the piece (bottom piece).
The white roving is MN local alpaca 100%.
I can't think of any good name for this piece. Anyone?

The top image is "warp interlocking".
Thanks to Marie who visited me last fall and refreshed my memory.
Now, I really like doing it.
It probably took longer (timewise) to set it than weaving time which is really rare.
Though it's true.
I didn't do much with the weft to show the warp "interlocked".
I don't want to foget to do this warp interlocking anymore!

By the way, do you see what I mean by "warp interlocking" in the image? I hope so.

Mom and Squares

I didn't post any of my "MOM" color scarf image.

Here it is with "Square" pieces. (right)

The color didn't show well in the picture though....

I have been enjoying making "squres" these days.

Here are a few of them.

It's fun making variety of "squares".

More to come!!

Happy Weaving and Thanksgiving!!

Corn yarn and Hound's-tooth check

I met a couple at the Shepherd's harvest last May. They were next to my booth.
They were selling CORN YARN!!
If you think "Oh, that's from cornhusk, isn't it?"
You are wrong!!
It's from CORN itself.

It was new to me, so I purchased a couple of colors.
Then, I finished this.
I tried a hound's tooth check. I don't even remember when the last time I wove this check.
I am ready to show this scarf to this couple they are going to be in Hopkins tomorrow for an event.
They want to see how their yarn will become when it is woven.

I also did a little bit of needle felting a couple of days ago while watching TV at night.
I made 3 snowmen and apples for Christsmas ornaments.
They are not done yet.
I need to look for small branches for snowmen's arms.
This is my first time making 3D pieces.
I love them!
After taking these pictures, my dog Fuku ate a whole snowman.
When I saw him, he was chewing the second snowman. OMG!
It's my fault. I know he eats rovings and left them where he can reach..., but it took me a long time to make these!!

I am a part of the Winter Gift Show at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts for the first time this year and Fiber Fair at the Textile Center the end of next week.

I need to get ready for these two middle of next week.

Now, time to get to weave!!

Happy Weaving!

CAMP SAORI!

A family from Ohio is coming to Minnesota for a group camping.
The mom in the family contacted me a month ago or so to come to their camp site and teach SAORI to her and her daughter whenever they have free time.
I reserved my own camp site.

SO, I am packing right now.
Of course, looms, thread etc...for SAORI as well as my camping stuff such as tent, bedding, food, and personal stuff.
I was thinking I was camping alone. Dan is working and is going to a family reunion.
BUT, good family friend of mine decided to join me a few days ago, so we are planning who brings what.
My friend is teaching SAORI right now. So, she wants to observe the class I am teaching this weekend.

I will be working, but will be having fun with them, too!
SAORI at a camp site....my first experience.

I have a show in September, so whenever I have time, I want to weave, too!
I need to make warp for that also.

Fun weaving and Fun camping weekend is coming!
CAMP SAORI!! Yeah!

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Our friend Martha who makes gorgeous felted hats told me to be a part of Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival a couple of years back.

This coming Setpember, we are going to be a part of it for the first time.
We are having a vendor space as well as holding SAORI classes.

We offered 2 SAORI classes and now they are both FULL!
It's still June and the festival is in September....
The class organizer asked me to add one more class.
YES, PLEASE!!

This event lasts 3 days (Fri-Sun) and I hear that this event is bigger than the one in Minnesota.

We are looking forward to seeing all the people in Wisconsin and Fiber people in September.

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!!

Artwear Symposium

There will be an event "Artwear Symposium" at Textile Center of Minnesota early next month.
http://www.textilecentermn.org/symposium2010.asp

I got a brouchure about this and got interested in participating, because I thought this would be a great way to promote SAORI.
Many people who are interested in textile are gathering.
It is a big national event.
I decided to be part of it selling my wearable items at the "Trunk Show".
I also wanted to see the fashion show during the event.
So, I marked what I want to participate and later I got a confirmation e-mail.
I am able to sell my work and am able to be a part of fashion show.

Be a part of fashion show?
Yes, I marked it to be an audience, but it looks like that is for being a part of fashion show.
That means I have to make something to put on for the fashion show.

Well.....I started e-mailing the Textile Center "I made a mistake. I just want to see the fashion show."
My hands stopped suddenly.
"This is much more better way to promote SAORI rathen than selling my items at Trunk show."
SO, I didn't send e-mail.
Yes, I am going to be a part of the fashion show.
I will be making something and will be modeling!!

Wish me luck!

I still need to make something for the Trunk Show and Fashion show.

Wish me more luck!