Let's Go to Mill District Arts Gallery

Mill District Arts Gallery---You can see/purchase my SAORI pieces there all the time!
It is in downtown Minneapolis, Riverfront District.
There is a Metro Dome, The Mill City Museum, The Center for Book Arts... nice area.

Last Saturday there was an opening party for the gallery artists' families and friends.
Many of my friends came...Thank you.

I got to meet my team members' families and friends, too.

I am glad that I found a place to show my work in Minneapolis all the time, but what I am very glad is that I am a member of this art gallery community.

I have my own hanger rack that is not full yet. The hanger rack was made with recycled wood.
One of our team members made it for us that is very nice. It matches to the brick wall.

There are potters, digital photographer, sculptors, painters in the team members.
I am learning a lot from their work and people themselves.

It will be a nice experience and learning for me!

If you are in the Twin Cities, please stop by!

Let's keep in touch.

Timing

Everything has timing, I believe.
The story I am going to tell you is all about "TIMING" I think.

There is this informational website relates to arts that I check sometimes.
I have gotten the information on "Eco Fashion Show" and my first solo show that is going to be happening at the beginning of next year from this website.

A couple of nights ago, I got nervous about after my show. "I have nothing special to do once the show begins." Then I checked the website right before bed.

"Looking for an artists who can run an art gallery with other artists in Minneapolis", I read it through and e-mailed the person who is in charge of this right away with images of my work.

Next day, I kept checking e-mails. I was so excited about this information. I couldn't even fall asleep right away...However, you have to get the agreement from the other artists who are already in the group.
In the afternoon, I got an e-mail saying, "We are impressed with your work" .
Yeah!! I am one of the artists who can run the gallery with other gallery.
I can put my work all the time at the gallery in Minneapolis!
This was my dream to expose SAORI somewhere in Minneapolis, so I am so HAPPY!
I still need to meet with the owner of the gallery. I hope the owner likes me...

Anyway, this is huge news makes me weaving.
This arts gallery will open middle of next month. I will keep you posted!

Get back to weave!
Timing is important, isn't it?

Let's Be in Touch!

BALANCE

I have been weaving a lot lately. That is because I have to bring my hand-woven vests and scarves at the Textile Center (Minneapolis) in less than 2 weeks! After that, I have a place I need to bring my stuff...
I am still enjoying weaving though even though I have a little bit of pressure...
It's O.K. I always need some pressure, so no problem!

However, my body is honest. In the afternoon, my body especially my back is telling me "You need a break" "I need to be stretched" etc...
So, I listen to my body and go to the gym just for a while. It feels good!
I do fast walking on the treadmill and do some machines.
I go to take Bikram Yoga class one or two times a week, too. That feels good, too!

Everything needs to be balanced.
If I push myself too hard and not listening to my body, I am sure I won't be able to sit down and enjoy weaving.

Yesterday, I even bake!! I bake Japanese Style Green Tea cake (kind of). Yum!

I like to enjoy many things, so I will enjoy being balance, too!
I hope you will, too!

The picture on the right is my recent favorite work, "His Scarf", not my husband's though.

Somebody who likes this scarf... it might be "Hers" that's okay, too!

Let's be in touch!

Tornado Hat

Here are my "Tornado Hats".

You will need them if you are living in Minnesota in the winter!?

I made them quite a few last few weeks for some events and sold some.

Unfortunately, it is not my idea. I get SAORI newsletters every month and this is one of the new ideas from one of the SAORI weavers in Japan.

It is easy to make and cute! Nice idea!

Because of hats, it matters sizes.

I wash them when its finished and depends on the yarn, some shrinks a lot and some doesn't.

Yesterday at the Mill City Farmers Market (Minneapolis), there are some people who had to give up getting it because of the size. There are variety of sizes, but I guess I need more sizes.

I learnd that I need to change the width when I weave.

Anyway, aren't they cute?

Which one do you like the best?

Let's be in touch!

Wisconscin Debut!?

I am so happy now.
I have received a phone call from an art center in Wisconscin.
http://www.thespaceforcreativity.com/index.html

I sent some of my SAORI sample items, images of my work and application form to the center before I left for Australia.
I almost forgot about it.
Since I have an event to go to this weekend, so I thought about my work to sell.
Then I remembered "my scarf and greeting cards!!" The next day, they came back. This was last week.

Then this afternoon, the phone rung.
"You are one of the featured artists for our center next year."
"WOW!!"
The show will be Jan. 9 - Mar.10 2009 two months!

I have been so fortunate recently, really.

1. My SAORI scarves and vests are available at the Textile Center in MN for their Winter Gift Show Nov. 1-Dec. 29 2008
2. My first challenge: putting my shawl at the MN State Fair and received a blue ribbon (2nd place) and an award from the Weavers Guild of MN "Best use of colors".
3. My work I wove with organic cotton, cotton, wool were accepted for the Eco Fashion Show it will be held in January in Minneapolis.
4. Then this show in Wisconscin!

These four things happened last one month. I also went to Australia for the first time!
I can't believe it! Everything is going so well for me. I am so happy!

I need to keep weaving, weaving and weaving.
This is what I do! This is what I enjoy!

I am happy!

Let's be in touch.

I am back!

I am back in Minnesota. I am almost over with jet-lag (I hope).

Wow, it was terrible. I woke up at 2:30am and couldn't go back to sleep until around 6am. Last night, I slept good I think that is because a night before I couldn't sleep well at all, so my body was too tired to wake up at 2:30am.

Anyway, I need to get back to work as a SAORI weaver/instructor.

I have left my full time job as an assistant at a Montessori preschool last June and now SAORI is my full time job.

I have so many things ahead of me. A two fiber fairs, gift show, classes...

I have been enjoying weaving. I would like to weave with Australian colors I saw when I was in Perth, Australia.

Here is one of them; very Australia! A wallaby and a SAORI strap jeans bag. I found a nice model!

I have a good idea (I hope) and I would like to go shopping for a little tool to knit. I am not a knitter though I would love to learn how to ... If this idea is very good, I will show you what it is.

Let's be in touch.

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow, I am going back to MN.
I have almost a whole day tomorrow though since my flight is almost midnight.

It has been two weeks already. Time flies.
This last two weeks, I have been moved by beatuiful fwild flowers, colroful wild bires, beautiful ocean, lovely creatures, aboliginal art and so on.
Now, I am ready(?) to express all these impressions by weaving when I get back.

Today, I went one of my friend's daughter's school to do a SAORI demonstration.
I was a "Special Guest" at the classroom.
All 30 students listend to the story about SAORI and tried weaving.
Tomorrow, I am going to another school to do a demonstration.
It is so fortunate to get this kind of opportunity in a different country.
I am not just a tourist. Now I have a new friend who is trying to start SAORI program here in Australia. I came to help her start. I hope I did a good job helping her even though I did so many fun things such as taking lessons of Didgeridoo...

Thank you to my friend.
I will never forget this journey.

Let's be in touch.

C in Perth