A gift

A giftOriginally uploaded by SOFennell

This little beauty has been sitting on my desk unopened. It is small, about 3 inches long and less than an inch in height.

It’s wrapped in a very small hankie sized furoshiki of silk. The pattern is itajime shibori and was hand dyed in indigo. I didn’t make it. It’s a gift. It arrived earlier this week and I just couldn’t open it (any other time I might give in to temptation). It has been keeping me company when I work at my desk.

I love the presentation. I love the elegance, especially the knot. It makes that statement perfectly- why we really want to forgo the paper gift wrap and do something like this.  It isn’t just that it’s mottainai,, there’s the aesthetics as well.

It’s a beautiful presentation created by hand and much more. No wonder I’m in no hurry to see the contents of this package. I can wait.

Looking at the Moon

OppositesOriginally uploaded by SOFennell

For some, it is a time to pause, reflect, to enjoy the aspects of the season, family and many other things. I’ve also been looking at the moon this week. The sky has been clear for a change and the evenings have a touch of cool. There are insect sounds still, so it’s pleasant to be out.

Maybe on a designated night this weekend, I should do a more purposeful 月見・tsuki mi・moon-viewing. That is to say, sit outdoors and really gaze at the sky (and the moon) and then munch on goodies moon shaped – something like that.

The image – it’s a furoshiki, something I made to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit (in shibori & hand dyed in indigo).  Those images, though are quite universal in a particular culture.  For me, it’s a favorite.

Reflections

Reflections

Originally uploaded by SOFennell

It’s the season for 月見・つきみ・tsuki mi – moon viewing. Right now, from my perspective, it isn’t full, but recently, I did see a full, golden orb in the night sky.

There may be specific dates for this event, but as far as I know, the season may extend into October.

Furoshiki

Furoshiki

Furoshiki are traditional Japanese wrapping cloths used to transport clothes, gifts, or other goods. The name furoshiki means “bath spread”, as in the 1600s they were used to bundle clothes while visiting public bath houses. Eventually, the furoshiki became popular for merchants to transport their wares or to protect and decorate a gift.…In Japan, it is considered impolite to offer a gift directly by hand so the furoshiki serves a useful purpose in an attractive manner.  – Dharma Trading

I don’t think I could have said it better and like the resources on the topic.

“Wrap it up!” at tryhandmade.com

Indigo & White Cotton Furoshiki

You’ll have to scroll down just a little way to find my images and the feature that includes my indigo and white furoshiki, but they’re there!

Needless to say, I’m very grateful and honored to be featured on “Try Handmade” which features products made by human beings.  Thank you so much Rebecca! I love the write up!

Bundled & Wrapped

Furo1A

Originally uploaded by SOFennell

So, finally, last weekend, I wrapped the “magic cloth” in a closely matching furoshiki and delivered it to my niece and her fiancé. They liked it. That was the beginning to a brief but very full weekend of family events and celebrations. While it centered on my niece’s wedding, it was also a family reunion. Some of us had not seen each other for 12 years. This was the case with me and my younger brother, who lives in Oregon with his family. Then again, our mother’s 84th birthday fell on the same weekend, so of course, that was celebrated as well. The few evenings we had together went very late and were full of storytelling and laughter. It was refreshing and made it all the more difficult to focus on the things that need it (classroom) on my return home. I’m still in that mode.

To market, to market…

Arashi shibori

Originally uploaded by SOFennell

I’ve been re-discovering my Welsh ancestry this last week along with “meeting” a very distant cousin. So, tonight my sons and I watched a refreshing little film that references the Welsh: I’ll Be There. It’s lightweight, humorous with a little music.

I’m also preparing for a small market, coming up at the end of the month. I’ll sell scarves, tunics, furoshiki and maybe a jacket or two. I spent my weekend time finishing furoshiki, doing inventory and beginning prep for another gyotaku workshop in November. I don’t feel particularly pressured as I already have a good inventory (at least where scarves are concerned).

I’ve been doing this market for the past couple of years now. It’s small but known in the community. With teaching language and doing workshops I feel like I have enough to do, so production is not my main preoccupation this year. Although, my workshops have an element of production to them and that may be quite enough at this point.