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My Trip to Japan
| Takum and Kumiko Mizuno Ito, my host and hostess |
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I have just returned from a most wonderful 2-week teaching
tour in Japan. My hosts were Takuma Ito and Kumiko Mizuno Ito. Takuma is owner
of Coronet, and supplies kits and learning materials for crafts. Kumiko teaches
and certifies beadwork teachers in Japan and has authored several books on
beading stitches. I am honored to say I am one of the nine artists featured in
her lovely book THE ART OF BEADING STITCHES: 9 AMERICAN BEAD ARTISTS.
During the first week I resided in the Washington Ginza
Hotel. Each morning I walked a few blocks down Ginza (Tokyo’s 5th Ave!) to the
office, where I taught seminars and attended meetings. The second week I taught
seminars in Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka, traveling between cities by speedy, clean
and punctual trains. The last 2 nights were spent in Yokahama, a hub for day
tripping to Hakone Open Air Museum, and Kamakura to see the Buddha.
Imagine my delight to share my beadiness all day with over
200 Japanese beaders. Some were “old friends” who had beaded with me at the
Bead & Button Show and it was wonderful to see them again. Now I’ve 100s of
old friends in Japan.
The team that organized my itinerary, the seminar
facilitators and even some of the beaders generously spent their evenings with
me, showing me the sights, taking me to their favorite restaurants and making
my stay in Japan precious and unforgettable.
Would that I could share with you all the kindred spirits,
wonderful sights, incredible cuisine, and every exquisite detail of each day.
I’d have missed much of it myself had it not been for Motoko Natsubori. She is
a lively, lovely, beautiful, intelligent, insightful and thoughtful interpreter
and translator. What a relief to have her there with me at meetings, what a
pleasure to work with in the classroom and what a treasured gift to have her
assistance and guidance while traveling, touring and visiting.
FEBRUARY
In addition to my local, Hudson Valley venues: Beadzo and Woodstock Bead Emporium, I have daylong workshops for Long Island,
NY Guild of Rugcrafting Artists, and Angelfire Studios in New Jersey.
The Original Sewing and Quilt Expo in Tampa, FL will offer the 4 classes I presented in Chicago, 2 focusing on feltmaking
and 2 on beadwork.
MARCH
The Original Sewing and Quilt Expo in Atlanta will offer the 4 classes I presented in Chicago and Tampa, 2 focusing on feltmaking
and 2 on beadwork.
Beads By Blanche will offer my Marcasite Chain with Focal Bead workshop on the 15th.
APRIL
Australia is where I'll be for most of the month.
The first week I will teach at the fiber conference called Ballarat Textiles near Melbourne. The third week will be spent
in Orange, New South Wales teaching at The Australian Forum for Textile Arts. I I am joining a tour of fiber artists to Lake
Mungo during that week in between the two conferences. Sounds most adventuresome and exciting.
When I return, Angelfire Studios in NJ offers my Complex Canework in Felt workshop. We'll create intricate felt beads
and finish them into a necklace or bracelet.
MAY
The Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild in Michigan is arranging 1 day of beadwork and 2 days of feltmaking workshops. We're still
deciding the projects. The Felted Flower Lariat and Felted Beads are 2 workshops scheduled for 24/25th at Fibersmyth Yarns
in Woodstock Va.
JUNE
Another full and fabulous week of teaching at the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee WI. The Marcasite Chain class filled quickly
and we were able to schedule a repeat for Friday. Whew!
The Many Faces of Polygon, a workshop I offer twice at B&B, is also available at Beads by Blanche in NJ on the 14th.
The biennial fiber event Convergence, organized by Handweavers Guild of America is held in Tampa this year. I'm teaching a
3-day long beading intensive, in addition to full and half day workshops and a slide presentation.
TO ARRANGE A WORKSHOP FOR YOURSELF OR YOUR GROUP, CHECK THE DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME POPULAR WORKSHOPS IN THE Workshops section
-- click on the BEADED BEAD Photo here.
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