Thank you all for taking my virtual and in-person classes from January to April!
After I finished teaching my last class of April, I packed up and left home. My husband and I decided to take a trip to celebrate our 30th anniversary. Since 2023 is a super busy year for both of us, we were able to secure only one week. We flew to Japan last week and just came back home. During this short break, I was able to buy some beautiful silk threads, needles, and notions at the local fabric store in Osaka, and I was allowed to visit BUAISOU. in Tokushima. They don't take visitors other than pre-scheduled workshop participants due to their busy work schedules and upcoming exhibitions. But- Yes, I won the Indigo lottery on that day! During my visit, I learned about BUAISOU's growing, harvesting, fermenting, dyeing, and designing processes. In the past, Tokushima was a place known for Indigo cultivating and making dye material for Kyoto or Arimatsu. Sukumo (fermented indigo) is another magic word that I would love to use someday.
Other days were adventures with my BFF ( AKA my husband) and we drove around the Kansai area including Kinosaki and Ine. My last destination was Kyoto and I went to the Ace Hotel to see Adam Pogue's bojagi-inspired window decoration. Even though I was taking a break from work, I was able to visit places I dreamed about.
I have one upcoming virtual lecture about bojagi with EGA ( Embroiderer's Guild of America) on May 20. And here's the interview blog posting.
On May 27th, my ACTA 2022 apprentice (Mariah) and I will have an exhibit at the Hanging Thread Gallery at the SFSNAD (San Francisco School of Needlework and Design). As a part of our apprenticeship program's public engagement, we will show our work and Mariah's progress. Next month,
'Bojagi: Piecing Time and Tradition Together'
We will have a workshop on June 3 and this is an in-person event. Please come and join us!
Last but not least, let me introduce my dear friend, 조희화, Heehwa Jo!
Next month, Heehwa and I will offer a new online class about Korean Embroidery. I used to take my Korea Textile Tour group to her studio in Seoul to learn Korean Embroidery in the past. Currently, she is living in Edinburgh, Scotland. Next month, I will come back with class dates but I'd love to introduce her to you now. Please check out her bio, website, and some of her beautiful work. Heehwa will teach a class and I will moderate the class (so I can learn with you!)
じゃまたね! See you Then!
JO, HEEHWA, Korean Embroidery Artist
Heehwa Jo is an embroidery artist, tutor, and the author of the Korean Embroidery Tutorial Book titled “전통자수,한국의 기본 자수 배우기 (Learn Korean Embroidery)”. She currently resides in Edinburgh, Scotland, but is originally from Seoul, South Korea. Jo has always been fascinated by Korean traditions and textile arts and decided to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Korean Language and Literature along with Textiles and Fashion Design. She developed a special interest in embroidery while working for clothing companies and further enhanced her skills during a three-year Korean Traditional Embroidery course at the School of Korean Traditional Crafts and Architecture. Since 2017, she has been teaching people Korean embroidery and has participated in various exhibitions and workshops.
Jo's embroidery is a fusion of ancient Korean tradition and her contemporary artistic vision. She incorporates original Korean stitches and auspicious symbols from artifacts to create new embroidery collections, with the hope that they will become part of the heritage for the next generation. When practicing embroidery, she emphasizes the importance of expressing oneself freely, just like the free-spirited ancestors who pushed the boundaries of their tradition with every new challenge.
August 10-13, 2023 SLAM & Gateway Korea Foundation Community Bojagi Project
In-person workshop at the St. Louis Art Museum
More info is coming soon! Please stay tuned! I am going to St. Louis and going to meet you there!
September 9
TATTER Saeksilnubi class
This is a virtual event
