Happy New Year!
We've been through this difficult year all together, and I really hope for a better year in 2021.
Creativity and the act of making helped me to stay strong and healthy. Thank you so much for hanging out and sewing with me! I was able to learn a few things I never tried, and a couple more things that I want to try in 2021.
One autumn afternoon in 2018, I had a chance to visit the oQamoQa studio in Seoul, South Korea. I visited the studio with my dear friend and we all had a magical time while we talked about creativity and how the act of tearing paper and gluing them together soothes the soul.
One year later, I visited her studio again with a group of women that I was traveling with. We all wore very colorful aprons and sat around a big table and started tearing colorful papers. Seung ok, the founder of oQamoQa, told us to feel free to tear, arrange, and glue to make whatever your heart desires. Everybody in the room had such a pleasant time! We talked and laughed like children. We all left the studio with our own colorful work and Sungok sent unique patterns based on each person’s creation.
oQamoQa’s unique patterns are printed on fabrics and they turn into well-designed products such as tote bags, sitting cushions, skirts, dresses, and robes. Their colors are whimsical and I definitely could feel the positive energy from them.
When oQamoQa’s Seong ok asked about a collaboration project, I thought about how her way of seeking happiness and mine are not too different. This is how this ‘Double Happiness Project’ was born. 6 artists in 5 countries are participating in this project and we hashtag our progress on Instagram as #doublehappinesswithoqamoqa
Please keep up with our progress by visiting the hashtag.
Korea Textile Tour 2021 is still up in the air but my list of planned visits to Korea is getting longer. I hope I can resume and take off with my dear companions. Please be well and safe!
In 2021, I will introduce 'Things Korean' every month. I got this title from Lee O-Young's same name book but I chose things in my order and preference.
The first one is Bok Jumeoni, 복주머니.
Since traditional Korean clothes don’t have pockets, Korean people carried Jumeoni to carry their personal belongings. Jumeoni is a drawstring pouch made from fabrics, paper or leather. There are many kinds of pouches, with different shapes, materials, and usage. Durujumeoni is round-shape and gwijumeoni is an angular shape that resembles ears.
Many jumeoni were decorated with gold leaf or embroidery of auspicious symbols such as prosperity and longevity. Bokjumeoni literally means a jumeoni that carries bok ( good fortune or prosperity). They are made, stuffed with grains, and given to children on New Year's Day.
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Youngmin Lee