Friday, November 10, 2017

34th Craft Crossings in Tokyo

This is Adventure #3 of my holiday weekend (Sunday).  I saw a little item on an English language news site about this traditional Japanese crafts event and checked out the website.  It looked interesting, but the thing that convinced me to go was the hands on workshops. I got up early and took the train to Tokyo Station.  


Because Trump was in Japan, there were police officers everwhere; and the coin lockers, vending machines, and trash cans were all closed.  




I saw this antiques sale area outside and wanted to look when I finished with classes but it was already closed down by that time.






The event was spread over four venues, but I only went to the Tokyo International Forum Building, the location of the workshops. I didn't get many pictures of the processes because I was busy making things! 


Tokyo some komen  

I chose the rabbit in the wave design and the blue paint. After applying the paint, I used a hair dryer to dry the paint.


stencil


My lunch mat


Tokyo honsome yukata

I chose the Komon design

I took these pictures of the two people before me as they made their projects.







My finished cloths


I chose yellow and blue dye, which made green where the two mixed.


Edo bekko  

I decided to take this workshop because I saw the beautiful things in the Bekko Craft Museum in Nagasaki and wanted to see how it was done.  I should have taken a photo of the shell before starting to work on it.  It looked like some big pieces of ugly fingernail.  First, I cut the triangular shape with this needle saw.  Then, I filed it and sanded it.  The teacher polished it with a machine and drilled a hole for the strap.



This is the teacher who is the third generation in his family to do this bekko craft. He is studying English and was happy to practice on me. 



My finished piece


Tokyo muji zome 

This was a kind of tie dye. I tied marbles into the fabric before putting it in the boiling hot dye for ten minutes.


My finished cloth


Tokyo shichiho (Cloisonne)




After putting the glass pieces together, it is put into an 800 degree C oven. It comes out red hot, then cools to the finished color.





I finished mine into a hair holder


Edo kimekomi ningyo


We had these fabrics to choose from.  I decided to make a heart, with two fabrics.  First, I put rice glue in the seams and poked the fabric in, one side at a time.  Then I put a silver thread in the seam and a red strap.



This will be a hina ornament, come March.

My finished ornament

There were many displays and artists. This woman allowed me to take her picture.






These are a few photos I took of the building as I was leaving.






I totally enjoyed my day.  I hope to attend next year and stay more than just a day. 

10 comments:

Jen L said...

Looks like it was a lot of fun!

Anonymous said...

omg what a wonderful post Pamela,love that you got to do so many different workshops,what a wonderful day for you ,thankyou for sharing xx

Vireya said...

What a wonderful day, trying out all those handcrafts. And you have some lovely pieces to remember it by.

NADINE said...

Such a GREAT and creative day ! Not only did you discovered new possibilities and great artists, but you camr back home with your beautiful makings :D

XOXO
Nadine

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Oh man!!! So much to see! You HAVE to stay more than a day next year. I can't imagine the atmosphere with all that creative energy in one place. This is a wonderful post.
xx, Carol

Lin said...

Goodness, what a lot you fitted in to one day! Love the dyed cloths and the tie dye. xx

Queeniepatch said...

Great fun! You found time to take all these workshops in just one day? Fantastic results.

Brigitte said...

There is so much to see and to learn when living in a foreign country. Your heart ornament is just adorable.

Anna van Schurman said...

How lucky to get to try so many Japanese crafts! But your day does sound packed. I look forward to next year too!

Leonore Winterer said...

Wow, those are a lot of workshops for just one day! I especially liked the one with the melted glass. You got a few pretty things out of it; any idea what you'll be doing with the fabrics yet?