Whenever I see news,videos, and SNS and learn what is going on in Ukraine, I feel utterly helpless. It’s beyond my comprehension why such atrocities are happeninig. Nevertheless, I will start with what I can do today. By creating an ikebana arrangement with sun flowers, I express my solidarity with the Ukrainian people. I believe …
Finally both the Yuzen dyeing of kimono and the obi weaving are complete! Mamiya-san sent me several photos. The smaller design in on my left shoulder, and the larger one on the bottom front. On the back the obi’s design incorporates with the bokashi like a river flow. Mamiya-san asked me when I will be …
Jizome 地染, the process of dyeing the kimono fabric with the base color, is done. Fuse-nori has been also washed away, but Itome 糸目, the fine thread-like dye resist still intact on the fabric. At this stage, the craftsman moves on the the next step: Irosashi色挿し. Iro means colors. Sashi means to apply. In this …
From the summer of 1978, I spent the whole high school senior year in the US as an exchange student. My host family welcomed me as one of their own members. I’m evermore grateful for their generosity. Especially my host mother – for what ignited in me. My host mother said, “Barbara (one of my …
Once the 糸目置Itome-oki is complete, that area is covered with 伏糊Fuse-nori. Fuse-nori is a mixture of sticky rice, rice bran, and salt with water, making the texture of thick paste. By applying Fuse Nori evenly and sprinkling saw dust on Fuse-nori, the covered area is left intact when dying the fabric with the base color. …
Last year I started implementing Cal Newport’s Time-Block Planner method. Every morning I open my favorite notebook, draw two vertical lines to create three columns, fill the first column from 6am to 11pm, and fill the second with what I plan to do: write, read, have lunch with a friend, trade options, go for an …
Want to learn how a formal tea gathering, also called Chaji (茶事) is conducted? In Chaji, the guests first enter the waiting room. Leaving their belongings (coat, bag, ect.) that are not used during Chaji in the waiting room, the guests then move to the waiting bench. Normally the bench is situated in the tea …
In my previous blog post I showed you Kosaka-san’s sketch sketch with aobana ink. Once the sceth was completed, Kosaka-san disassembled and stitched back the kimono fabric into the long narrow shape. The next step is to directly place paste dye on the lines of the aobana ink sketch. In a similar way as using …