Craft Classes

When I lived in the US, I often took stitching classes with my local guilds and I went to Calloway School of  Needlearts twice and attended EGA National Seminars quite a few times.  In Japan, I haven't had those kinds of opportunities, but I have taken other types of craft classes since moving here seven years ago, most of them while traveling.  Here is a recap on classes, with links to the original posts.  

Surigata Yuzen - Coasters (first half of post) - in Kyoto December 2012.

Okinawan Glass Blowing (second half of post) December 2012.

Okinawan Bingata Class (first half of post) Small mat - this was in December 2012.

Okinawan Weaving Class (second half of post) Coaster- same trip as above in December 2012.

Hokkaido Quilt Show Mini Classes, May 2013.

Bali Batik Classes - I took two classes with two different teachers in December 2013.

Janet Bolton Class at Bath Summer Textile School, August 2014.

Jan Beaney Class at Bath Summer Textile School, August 2014.

Canvas Class at Royal School of Needlework, August 2014.

(Still not finished)

Christmas Origami Class, December 2014.

Hokkaido Quilt Show Mini Classes, May 2015.

Hokkaido Weaving Class - September 2015.

Pottery Class - in Hokkaido September 2015.

Japanese Paper Making in Wakayama Prefecture in December 2015.

Udon School in Shikoku, May 2016.

Paper Book Cover Class in Shizuoka August 2016.

Weaving class in Shizuoka October 2016.

Okinawa Weaving - Tea Mat - I took this class in December 2016.

Bingata Bag Class in Okinawa - December 2016.

Coral Painting Class in Okinawa - December 2016.

Hakata Hariko Painting Class in Fukuoka - this was on my Kyushu trip in August 2017.

Tokyo Craft Crossings Classes in November 2017.

Coral Painting in Okinawa, January 2018.

Shibori Class in Aichi Prefecture, May 2018.

Yuzen Table Mat class in Kyoto, March 2019.

So, I think that's all the classes I've taken since leaving the US. I'm ready for the next class!

Okinawan Weaving Class

The second craft class I took in Naha was a weaving class.  I made a "tea mat", like a coaster but a little bigger. This type of weaving and cloth was once reserved for the royalty of the Ryukyus.  I took the class at the Naha City Traditional Arts and Craft Center.  On a previous trip to Okinawa, I took a glass blowing class at this center.  See the last half of this post.   

 For this class, I chose colors and a pattern and one of the weavers from the studio showed me how to make the pattern, then stood nearby to make sure I did it correctly. Can you see the pattern of the raised white threads?  If I had the space, I would love to have a loom and take up weaving. 

My finished tea mat.

Best of 2016 Linky Party

This linky party is hosted by Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs.  I participated last year and enjoyed seeing everyone else's posts. 

This year I will post my five best/favorite finishes again. Click on the name and it will take you to the finishing post.  I didn't have as many finishes this year as previous years - working full time and having some medical challenges took up stitching time, I guess.  

Orphan Hexie Pouch

Woven Bag

Sashiko Hexie Runner

Tiny Tree Ornament

December Needleroll

Work In Progress Wednesday - Finished Woven Bag

The end of October I took a weaving class with my friends. 

I knew I wanted to make a bag, but was thinking about the possibilities and was in no hurry to do the finishing.   Finally, it is finished!  I stitched some decorative flowers on the front, made a loop for keys or a fob, put in a magnetic snap, and made two pockets - one wide and one narrow. The lining is from kimono fabric.   I like it.  

Here are my friends' finished bags.