I’m looking forward to presenting “Weaving and Dyeing in the Colorful Spirit of an Ancient Craft” on Sat., March 14, 11 am – 2 pm, at the Anchorage Museum of Fine Arts, Anchorage, Alaska as part of the Anchorage Weavers and Spinners Guild meeting. Synopsis: Handweaving and hand-dyeing textiles with natural materials and botanicals, includingContinue reading “The Colorful Spirit of an Ancient Craft”
Tag Archives: ryukyu surface design
Exhibition: Interwoven V…Houston, TX USA
Juror Mary Welch has selected several of my handwoven and hand-dyed garments and accessories for inclusion in the upcoming Interwoven V exhibit. The exhibit will take place Oct. 19-27 at the 18 Hands Gallery, Houston, TX USA. Please join us at the reception on Sat., Oct. 19, 6-9 pm. Come and meet a fabulous groupContinue reading “Exhibition: Interwoven V…Houston, TX USA”
Falling Leaves in Yanbaru…
High in the Yanbaru Forest, the Sango Kaku leaves fall… yes, the colorful maple leaves fall… on my scarf they do fall… My Yanbaru scarf now lives downunder…sold at the National Wool Museum Geelong, Australia exhibition hall…a new home where my Sango Kaku leaves now fall…
July 30, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo – Ryukyu Textiles Workshop in the News
There are some nice photos of our 2013 Wakamono Taikai Conference participants reported in the July 30, 2013 Okinawa Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper… Yes, we even have a nice photo of our Ryukyu Textiles Workshop participants. Thank you Ryukyu Shimpo, and many thanks to the participants in my Ryukyu textiles workshop! It was an honour toContinue reading “July 30, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo – Ryukyu Textiles Workshop in the News”
Bingata and Ai Zomme @Okinawa Wakamono Taikai
This month I’ve been busy preparing for the upcoming 2013 Okinawa Wakamono Taikai Conference to take place in Torrance, CA USA from July 18-22. I will be teaching a Ryukyu Textiles workshop as part of the Taikai Cultural Workshops series. One technique that I will teach is the process of E-Gata, a type of BingataContinue reading “Bingata and Ai Zomme @Okinawa Wakamono Taikai”
Shibori Wanderings
Wandering about Izumi Village in Okinawa, Japan has it’s advantages. Someone always seems to have a Ryukyu Ai (indigo) pot available in this region of Okinawa Island known for its Ryukyu Ai production and dyework. So, after wandering about and talking to my Izumi family members and other locals, I found a Ryukyu Ai vatContinue reading “Shibori Wanderings”
My Uwa-Pari
I planted Ryukyu Ai (indigo) outside my studio last Spring…the plants are healthy and the time for gathering the leaves for fermentation dyeing is drawing near. However, last summer i grew oh soo impatient…so, i picked some leaves and bound them in vintage Japanese cotton cloth to extract the pigment. Thereafter, i fermented the clothContinue reading “My Uwa-Pari”
On my Tom-Tom today…
I often use my Okinawan High Loom tom-tom (loom beater) for both weaving and display, but today i’m displaying my handwoven Bingata pouches another way… Handspun and Handwoven Linen and Hemp Pouches. Bingata Natural Dyes.
Eco-dyeing across 3 continents…
I learned traditional dye methods in the Ryukyu Islands, located in the southernmost Prefecture of Japan. Ryukyu dye methods have been practiced for many, many centuries. As i continue to learn dye methods originating from around the world, the more i see common methods and themes. The Ryukyu dye methods, for example, often utilize saltwaterContinue reading “Eco-dyeing across 3 continents…”
Ryukyu Bingata Kimono
Traditional Ryukyu kimonos are constructed of handwoven fabric with bingata natural dye designs. The underlying fabric is also handwoven, however the weave structure differs and consists of the Kasuri Ikat style. A Hanagasa (lotus flower hat) is typically worn with the traditional bingata kimono as seen on these Ryukyu dancers… As you can see, theContinue reading “Ryukyu Bingata Kimono”
Scharine Kirchoff, Fiber Artist 