Ota, Japan
18.09.2014 § Leave a comment
In Japan, my sister and I visited the hot spring place called Ota. Ota is in the countryside and was beautiful. It’s well known for its miso too, so we had miso ice cream there, and it was delicious! « Read the rest of this entry »
Day Trip to Matsumoto City ~ 2
21.08.2014 § Leave a comment
Matsumoto city’s streets are preserved from the old days. They are lined with lovely shops. There was an antique Kimono shop where I bought a tie-dyed, soft turquoise blue coat and a few fabric fragments cut from old Kimono. I also ran into a gallery-looking shop that sells items handwoven by a weaver and vegetable dyer. From her I bought a peach wood-dyed, chamomile color scarf.
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There were other shops too, and inspiring colors from my day trip to Matsumoto city: « Read the rest of this entry »
Maple Key Design
19.10.2012 § Leave a comment
I designed a maple key pattern about ten years ago, but it was not successful as a fabric and I never introduced it. I am making the attempt again and making some studies. Maybe it will become a Brentano fabric design one day.
Japanese Influence
11.05.2011 § Leave a comment
Maple, pond, stone lantern and koi, a serene Japanese scene
in a Chicago household’s yard by a noisy state road. Looking through the kitchen window, centuries fall away and my mind darts to its image storage house where the opulent Japanese natural surroundings were: dazzling kimonos sail through the endless sakura blossom fields; the girls’ short syllable Japanese words mix with tender laughter; next to a plain straw-roofed tea house is a maple leaf covered pond with a stone bridge; a samurai in a dark blue skirt with swords tucked in his waist strolls solemnly in the garden, the beautiful tassel-braided sward handles flanking his left side.
My mind always rest upon these scenes whenever a slight distraction causes the imagination butterfly to wing. « Read the rest of this entry »
Maple and Koi
28.04.2011 § Leave a comment
Remembering “Maple Fall”
Last autumn was long. Usually Chicago has about two weeks of spring or fall before summer or winter starts. Last autumn was long enough for the maple leaves to turn brilliantly red. I planted a few maple trees in my yard years ago but failed; they turn yellow instead of red. Luckily, there are some beautiful maple trees in my neighborhood to enjoy. I used to stop and stare at the luminous orange leaves for a long time in the alley on my way home. « Read the rest of this entry »