SAORI Summer Camp 2011

I had a couple of girls this week for SAORI Weaving Summer Camp.

One of them ("A") came back for her second Summer Camp this summer.

She came last month for the first time with her friend and came back this week with her new friend.

It was fun to observe them.

"A" is 7 years old and the other is 12 years old.

"A" was telling her friend, "It is fun, isn't it? You can do whatever you want!".

Yes, that's is right!

"A" had a very different attitude than when she came last time with her friend who was the same age with her.

"A" was asking her older friend her color choices a lot.

In the other hand, this older friend was inspired by "A"s mix color technique(?).

Maybe "A" thinks her older friend is her sister?

I had a good time with them and they did a superb job!!

Hope to see them again.

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!!

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!!

my mother's color

Yesterday was very unusual day for me.
It was Sunday. I usually have Taiko (Japanese drum) practice all day every Sundays.
However, because of the icy road condition, all the classes have been cancelled.
I have just experience driving on the icy road a night before, I was not ready to go back on the road anyway.
Though those Taiko practices are very important for me so I had to beready to go until the director e-mailed us "cancelled". When I got a phone call from my friend saying "it's cancelled", I was even test driving around my neighborhood.

So, I stayed home being relieved all day weaving, baking, needle felting, going to the gym.
I finished weaving a scarf.
I didn't do fancy much, but the two colors I used for weft that were dark dark red wool and mohair reminded me of my mother.
I used dark blue and brown for warp. She loves dark blue, too.
All these colors mixed together and while weaving, I was thinking of my mother a lot!

I actually am seeing her next month because I am going back to Japan!! Yeah!
I will probably bring the scarf and give it to my mom!!

Can't wait to see her and all my family members next month!

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!

Minnesota banner

This is a Minnesota Banner that now is ready to be mailed to my friends in MA tomorrow.

They are planning to decorate two bridges in their local public park the end of next month.

They are collecting 68 of them to do this.

I believe this is the only one banner from Minnesota.

Only one banner, but many people in Minnesota helped me finish weaving!

The youngest weaver was 2 years old!!

There are many colors, characters, textures and warmth.

Thank you for all the people who helped me finish weaving!!

Happy weaving!

Saori Weaving

Saori Weaving

Listen to this! Dan and I are featured on this radio station "ampers".
If you don't know Chiaki, it's me in the picture!!

Happy Weaving!

They are here!

SAORI looms and accessories are here at SAORI Studio "FUN"!

Dan went to pick them up at a warehouse this afternoon.
We received 7 big boxes!
Two different models of looms, warping frames, books, yarn and shuttles.....
Thank you for waiting for those who ordered them from us.

We would like to take an appointment to distribute your items in next a couple of weeks.
We would help you assemble.
We would show you how to start and everything!

We are so excited having our SAORI circle bigger.

Also, I finished setting up a warp for donating a banner to SAORI Worcester.
I made 5m long and 50cm width.
Whoever would like to weave please do so.
This piece is going to be "a banner from Minnesota".
I am planning to send it by the end of this month.
I wonder how many people would weave for this special banner.
AND... I set up the warp on a SAORI 60.
SAORi 60 is the model we didn't have in our studio.
It is all wood, so it is pretty.
You can also try feeling this SAORI 60!!

Happy Weaving!

Radio Debut!

Yesterday, Dan and I had a radio interview by a woman who purchased my garment at Minnesota's Sheep and Wool Festival last month.

It was our fist time to have interviewed.
She came to the Minneapolis class since we had 3 students to there.
We talked about what SAORI was of course, she took some pictures (Why pictures on radio? They will post the interview and the pictures in their website! So you are in a different country, you can still check it out!!), and took some sound of weaving.

I didn't know about the website and even though it was a radio interview, I really wanted to get a hair cut before the interview, but it didn't happen.
Now, I regret....
I should have got a hair cut before yesterday.....
This morning, I got a hair cut...ahaha

Anyway, I will post when the on-air is and when they post my interview in their website.

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!

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.

Wow! Hooray! Yeah! Wow!

I received an acceptatnce e-mail from a visual arts committee of University of Minnesota.

I am exhibiting my work at one of their galleries sometimes this year or next year!!

Wow!

I read the e-mail many times to make sure I was reading right.
I was reading right!

I called Dan right away to share this big news with him.

Ohhhhh, my heart is beating.

I'm so HAPPY!

I have been busy getting ready for the Arts Tour this weekend, but I feel like all my hard work is being paid off.
I still need to work more for this Tour.
I will set up most of it tomorrow, so I need to get back to work.

Ohhhh, I am so HAPPY!

INTERACT!

My dream is coming true soon!!!

I don't even remember how I got to know this organization, "INTERACT".
It was my dream to work with them since soon after I moved from Japan.

http://www.interactcenter.com/

This is a place for people with disabilities.

All the people there practice either performing or visual arts in a nice brick historical building in Minneapolis.
Last month, my Taiko (Japanese Drum) friend connected us and Dan and I visited them the other day to talk about the possibility of having a SAORI workshop.

Today, I got an e-mail from a lady who is in charge of visual arts.
She said we were able to hold a workshop one morning in May!

Hooooray!

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

These days.....

As you know, I am good at Japanese language since I grew up in Japan.

I tend to update my Japanese blog a lot, but not this one...
I think about this a lot, but I just don't update.
I need to do that more often. I know that.....

Anyway, these days what I am doing is....

1. I am thinking about scheduling the summer camp. I will do that, so please wait for those who are planning to come.

2. "SAORI Minnesota" meeting.
I have several people who come to the studio to weave. I hear "I want to make garments".
Dan and I will organize a meeting for "exchanging dress making ideas, show and tell, SAORI news from Japan and here in Minnesota and of course, getting to know each other!".

It will be after Lake Minnetonka Art Studio Tour in the first weekend of May and Shepherd's Harvest that is the following weekend.
So, it will be middle to the end of May.

I will keep you posted.

I am so fortunate to have SAORI people around me a little by little.

I am in!

It has been a while since I found out that I am going to be a part of the show, "Lake Minnetonka Art Tour" this May 1-2.

www.lakemtkaartstour.org

My friend who is a potter invited me to be her guest artist at her home last year.
It is a juried show and I submitted everything they needed but they turned me down.
My friend told me that one of the reasons why they turned me down was my images I submitted.
I always have "nature" background when I take a picture of my work.
That's not okay for juried shows.

So, this year, she and her husband helped me a lot preparing the images.
They took so much time for my images. Thank you.
AND I AM IN!!

I learned a lot from her submitting a juried show-quality of images.
It is always good to learn something new.
I appreciate so much my friend and husband!

Now, I have been working on the show.

I got so excited when I got an e-mail that I have been selected.
I can't forget that moment.

PARENTS

Our local book festival, "Hooked on Books" was held last Saturday.
Our school district organizes this huge event for children every year.

It is such a good family fun event.

There are many activities in 3 hours.

This year, a famous children story author was there to do her autograph.

It is getting bigger and well organized every year which is very good!

This was our 4th time being there to do a SAORI mini workshop.

It is a good PR opportunity for us. It is very LOCAL!!

My friends we did a show together last month had their own art activity spots, too. (picture)

It is so nice to work with someone we know!

Last year, because of this exposure, a girl decided to have a weaving birthday party.

It is good for both of us since there aren't any places in our area to do a weaving birthday party.

Anyway, there were some repeaters.

Some children came direct to our workshop since their children enjoyed it last year.

It is always the case once a child starts weaving, other children come to see what he/she is doing. Then we will have many children waiting around looms.

It is always interesting to me to see parents.

Some parents stay with their child helping (teaching?) too much saying, "Oh, you missed. Go back!" "Switch your feet now!" etc....

In the other hand, some parents leave then alone and wait away from them.

Then we tell the parents who teache too much their children..."SAORI is....."

I am not a parent, but I wonder which parent type I would be.....

Where is my...

My friend brought her little daughter to weave today.

At the end of the class, she started looking for her bottle.
I know she had it for a little while and looked like she left it somewhere.
"I saw her holding it."
"Where did she leave it?"

I told my friend and people in the class half joking,
"Is it in the yarn shelf with other yarn?"
and looked at the shelf.

Here it is!! Her bottle with white yarn same color as what's in her bottle.

I had to take a picture of it. It was so funny.