Tag Archives: Heritage Textiles

Sugar Cane Dye

When my Okasan (mother) was a little girl, she remembers the local villagers processing newly cut sugarcane.  She was often given a piece of cane as a treat on the way home from school by those working the cane in Izumi Village. Now, many Okinawans use sugarcane for dyeing.  As in most Ryukyuan dye methods,Continue reading “Sugar Cane Dye”

Contemporary Handweavers of Houston – April 21

“Ryukyu Weaving:  Fabrics that Guard the Spirit” Date:  April 21, 2011 Time:  7:00 pm Where:  Contemporary Handweavers of Houston (CHH) Location:  Bayou Manor, 4141 South Braeswood, Houston, TX USA Note that my presentation fee will be donated to the Japan Red Cross to help the tsunami victims in dire need of our support.

Treasure each Thread…

Shuri Ori (or Shuri Hana Ori) textiles originated in the old capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Shuri, on Okinawa Island, Japan.  I weave Shuri Ori as a means of preserving my family weaving heritage… As i weave this ancient weave structure, i treasure each thread just as i treasure my ancestors… I treasure each threadContinue reading “Treasure each Thread…”

I Practice an Ancient Art…

I practice the ancient art of  Bingata… Bingata is a Ryukyuan dyeing process that was developed during the 14-15th centuries.  Natural pigments and vegetable dyestuffs are applied to cotton, silk and bashofu fabrics. A stencil is used with Nori paste (a resist paste) to outline the design to be dyed.  In my work here, iContinue reading “I Practice an Ancient Art…”

Those Sounds around Me…

When i was a little girl, i sometimes stayed with my Obaa-san (grandmother).  She had a house in the Tsuboya Pottery District in Naha. During my visit, i could hear Obaa-san’s tom-tom (beater) on her weaving loom.  She had a small convenience store adjoining her house, so I often heard the voices of small childrenContinue reading “Those Sounds around Me…”