Happy Lunar New Year!

Once again, we can celebrate New Year! Happy Lunar New year!
새해 복 많이 받으세요!

 

Linda came from ~

Indiana! Yes, she came to my class this week all the way from Indiana. She found me online and wanted to learn about bojagi. Luckily she has a plan to travel to the Bay Area. She came to my Tuesday morning class with her friend Cathy. Here's what Linda finished in my class! She even started her initials in Korean (ㄹㅇ!) at the corner of her first ever bojagi coaster. Thank you, Linda for coming! Next time when you visit the Bay Area, we will do Mosi ( Ramie) Jogakbo you liked a lot!

Thanks to 장혜홍 샘 for this wonderful jogakbo coaster kit!

Mark your March calendar! Upcoming workshop in Lafayette, CA

Mark your calendar for this jogakbo workshop! I will be teaching 'Abundance of colors' workshop on Saturday, March 12th at the Cotton Patch in Lafayette, CA. It is all day workshop so be prepared to have all day with me :)

https://www.quiltusa.com/march.html

Hope to see you there!

Bojagi workshop at Mendocino Art Center

I am very fortunate to live near the Pacific ocean. One of my favorite drive courses is driving up to Mendocino county along the Hwy 1 north. You can see the Pacific coast ( I would say West coast) on your side and it has a breathtaking scenic view. 

Mendocino is a small ocean front town with its beautiful botanic garden, art center, galleries and places to eat good California foods. Thinking about staying at the Victorian style B&Bs and walking along the Mendocino Headland trail makes me feel so relaxing. I would love to drive a few hours to get this serene and relaxing time. Last summer, my coffee and tea dyed bojagi was invited to the 'Natural Dye Showcase' juried by Yoshiko Wada. The exhibit was at the Mendocino Art Center and I was honored to be a part of it.

This year, I was invited to teach two day Bojagi workshop in Mendocino Art Center on March 19-20, 2016 and I'd like to invite you. It will be a wonderful experience to enjoy the nature and bojagi all at the same time!
http://www.mendocinoartcenter.org/Spring16/Lee.html

Happy New Year!

새해 복 많이 받으세요~ Happy New Year!

I got a package from France today. Mon amie, Marie sent me a bojagi book, her beautiful cards and raspberry dyed silk organza. Marie and I became friends because of Bojagi and I hope to meet her sometime soon.

Happy sewing and happy stitching in 2016!

December adventure

I took a road trip to Utah and Arizona last week. Zion canyon, Antelope canyon, Monument Valley, Sedona and Scottsdale were places I went to. At the Zion canyon, I took a short trail in the rain and it cleared my busy mind. Rain made the morning very mystic and peaceful.

Antelope canyon was the one that I wanted to see the most during this trip and I enjoyed a lot. I took a guided tour and our Navajo descent guide herded the group down to very steep stairs. After 10-15 steps down I was surrounded by beautiful spiral rock arches. Every corner was beautiful and I was busy taking pictures. Somehow camera lens was taking more colors from the scene and made very dramatic pictures. 

After this Mother Nature's creation, we drove a few more hours to see another place called Monument Valley. Another place runs by navajo tribe people, We drove around the Monument Valley and stayed right next to it. The hotel we stayed has a magnificent view of the valley. 

It was windy, cold and sometimes snow was falling but again, it was very peaceful. My hotel room has several artworks and a few of them caught my eyes. Navajo dye chart and a rug they made.

The next morning I went to the gift shop and found Navajo rugs. I could only afford very small one but I am happy to bring it with me to my home. It's in my living room with lots of memories and I appreciate Navajo woman's craftsmanship every time I pass that room.

I went to Sedona and enjoyed another scenery that makes you feel calm.

The last day I went to Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West in Scottsdale. My travel buddy (my husband) is very fond of Fran Lloyd Wright's style. We took a tour in Chicago (Robie house), Pittsburgh (Falling water) before and this Taliesin West in Scottsdale was a main reason that we pack and drove over 2200 miles in one week. As always my husband found his favorite room in the house we took a tour and it was nice to see him happy.

After a week long, 2200+ mile driving road trip I am sitting in my favorite corner of my house and say good bye to 2015.

It's been a busy but wonderful year and I am looking forward to have another one.

Happy New Year! The year of Monkey!

Un cafe per favore!

First, I bought books and maps of Italy. Reading a book about the place you are going to go is exciting because while you are reading it, you can imagine and dream about the place in your mind. When you actually arrive and see those places and experience new things, anticipation turns into excitement. I took a trip to Italy as a family vacation a few weeks ago. When we were planning this trip, all 3 of us agreed to go to Italy out of many other European countries and we all agreed again this was a right decision after we came back home. I loved Italy!

Espresso was the first thing that I fell in love with. Taking a tiny cup of (less than 2 oz) concentrated dark liquid with crema on top became my daily ritual throughout  my Italy stay. I practiced "Un cafe per favore!" but never recited the whole sentence when I ordered my daily espresso. I am not that shy but speaking another language with foreign accent is intimidating enough (Yes, I vividly remember how I felt when I first came to this country 22 years ago :) I just said "Un cafe please...." Next time when I go back to Italy, I will use a whole sentence!

Italian breakfast was very simple. un cafe e cornetto alla marmellata! A cup of espresso or cappuccino and a breakfast pastry with jam. You could be served at the table but many people eat and drink at the counter or bar. There no time needed to be adjust to this custom :)

At the Autogrill (Rest stop in the middle of the highway), I got this single does of caffein. It came with a tiny straw for your convenience. What  simple way to get coffee.

Coffee was one of my daily rituals along with gelato and wine. Coffee with meals, coffee after meals, coffee with deserts.....

So many things that I miss from this trip and I will share more with you soon!