Bojagi - Youngmin Lee's Blog

Combining two of my favorite things turned quite nice.
Bojagi techniques and a bag making.
When I had an open house, I displayed this bag but not intended to sell it. But many people liked it and keep asking about it. So took orders and made 3 more bags. Fun!
First, I made long strips of moshi bojagi using ssamsol technique.
And added solid moshi fabric then made it into a big tote bag. Great chance to learn about what people like. I might try more projects with bojagi techniques.

December always makes me feel anxious. As soon as December starts( even before it starts actually), I change my mode into holiday and busy decorating, buying presents, planning for holidays. I start to making to-do list everyday and it help me calm down every time I feel in a hurry. Last week, I was saving my whole day for a special person and savored the time with her.

Her name is Lucy, she came from Mexico city to meet me!( I know she has other plans in her mind, too. But she saved one day especially for me as I did :)
Couple months ago I got an email from her that she wants to learn about Bojagi.
I've done this distance class with Kim in Seattle years ago so we started Bojagi class via mail.
I sent her materials and the instructions and she sent me back the project that she has done.
Sending and receiving mails took longer that we anticipated since we are eager to hear from each other. She is a patchwork teacher in Mexico and recently taught a course about the patchworks around the world. I was thrilled when she asked me about teaching Bojagi as a part of the course.
When she came to my house last week, I felt that I've known her long time.
We talked about Bojagi, sewing, culture and Bojagi again.
She surprised me with her own creations. She brought me a handmade wallet wrapped in a blue linen Bojagi! She understood so well about the meaning and use of Bojagi.We went to Korean restaurant for lunch and after trying 2 places(funny they both closed on Monday) we finally has soon du bu( spicy tofu soup) and grilled mackerel at the third restaurant.
After the lunch we started our 3rd project, flower shape pin cushion. Time went too fast so we couldn't finish the project. But Lucy got an idea of making it so she will finish it at home.
I wish we had more time just sewing but it got dark already so I drove her back to her friend's place. We had so many things in common and sewing was just one thing out of them. On the way home I felt so happy to have a friend who shares passion of Bojagi. Now I dream the day I visit her studio in Mexico city. Some day!

An idea just came one day and I decided to have a open house with my bags and foods for good friends. I was busy making things, planning for the day and dreaming about this fun event.
Once I sent invitations out, I was excite and stressed at the same time.
어느 늦은 여름날, 내가 만든 가방을 모두 모아 오픈하우스를 하면 어떨까 하는 상상을 했다.
'일단 저질러 보자' 하는 마음으로 주위사람들에게 알리고 초대장을 보냈다.

Kid, the master of Thai cooking came over for fancy appetizers for me.
Sa Koo Sai Moo-tapioca ball with meat, peanut and cilantro. Eat with lettuce leaf and it was a big hit!
타이 음식에 정통한 친구, 키드를 졸라 에피타이저를 준비했다. 땅콩, 고기, 야채, 실란트로가 든 타피오카 볼. 인기만점!
Another appetizer was a pineapple slice with meat, bell pepper and cilantro combination.
소금에 살짝 절인 파인애플에 고기와 야채를 볶아 얹고 벨페퍼와 실란트로로 장식한 이 요리도 입맛을 돋구는 감초였다.
Kid has a super talented sister-in-law, Prair made me these beautiful cheesecakes and macaroons. 뿐만아니라 키드의 동서, 프레어는 치즈케익과 마카롱을 준비해 주었다.
프레어는 정식으로 배운 페이스트리 요리사인지라 맛 뿐아니라 모양도 장식도 멋지다.


While my friends are busy making good foods, I made a center piece for my table.
One of my home grown pumpkin is volunteered to be a vase.
친구들이 음식 준비를 다 맡아주고 내가 한 일은 집에서 기른 호박을 화병 삼아 꽃장식.
자, 이젠 거의 준비 끝!




People started came and I was really excited! Thank you to all my friends who came! Lots of encouragement and suggestions are so precious to me.
사람들이 들어오기 시작하면서 바쁘고 흥분된 한나절이 시작되었다.
등을 토닥여주면서 용기를 북돋아준 모든 친구들에게 정말 감사한다!
Good food, good friends and lots of laughter erased all my difficult time and I am thinking about next open house date!
Thank you my friends! Without you, I wouldn't be able to make it!
먹고 마시고 웃고 떠들면서 행복에 젖어 보낸 소중한 나의 첫번째 오픈 하우스.
그동안 준비하느라 고생한 기억이 말끔히 사라지며 다음번 날짜를 달력보며 동그라미 친다!