Sashiko Embroidery
I was drawn to Japanese indigo dyeing and sashiko from a young age (around 8 or 9 years old) and have always wanted to try it.
But as an adult, the reality was that I only wore modern, high-end branded clothing.
One day (around 1992), a friend from my college days (at Pepperdine University), who had returned to Tokyo, was doing sashiko as a way to relieve stress and showed me her work.
That was when I encountered Sashiko.
For some reason, I felt a quiet serenity that connected to my heart.
After that, I bought several books on sashiko and was satisfied just looking at them for about three years.
It took me a long time to actually start sashiko because of my busy schedule. I was attracted to it in a way that is different from regular embroidery, and the beauty of wabi-sabi and the satisfaction I feel, after I finish stitching, is always different and fresh, no matter how many times I stitch it, hundreds or thousands of times.
As I continued stitching Sashiko, I realized that it had a calming effect on my mind and made me feel relaxed, so I embroidered every day as if I were meditating.
I want to share this experience with as many people as possible and make life more meaningful by creating something with my hands.
Hand-Stitch
Hand Stitched with Sashiko Slippers
Hand-Weaving Baskets
I love nature, so one day when I was in North Fork, California, I decided to try weaving a basket. I found vines and long, skinny stems in the mountains and started to weave them. Something about that made me feel calm and grounded. I do not know much about it yet, but I want to share as I learn more.
Simple basket I made.
Thanksgiving basket that I made.
Ceramics
It is one of my dreams to make practical and beautiful ceramic pieces, such as plates or bowls for all my food that I cook. I feel that I do not have much talent for making my dream ceramics for now, but I have enjoyed touching clay and creating some small items. I hope to make more and share more in the future.
Some of ceramics that I made.