February 7th, 2016. The sun rises on a sleepy Sunday. Wow, am I happy to see this sunrise! I wonder who are the special people I will meet today? They don’t mind missing the Super Bowl to learn cedar weaving!
Sometimes an idiom so perfectly describes an experience that it must be remembered. “Ichi-go ichi-e” is an expression in the Japanese language that describes the cultural concept of treasuring meetings with people. “One time, one meeting”. “One chance in a lifetime”. “A moment never before, and never to happen again”.
After thirty odd years of teaching the art and craft of weaving with plant fibers, I understand more than ever how extra-special the people are that become my students, even for a 6 hour workshop at IslandWood!
IslandWood is an environmental learning center located on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle Washington, USA. Since May of 2002, every week during the school year, thousands of 4th-6th graders come here and stay for four days to experience the integrated lessons offered through hands-on explorations of science, art, culture and technology. Pictured above, are graduate student, Lucy, and IslandWood docent, Ellen. Below, standing to right is IslandWood Arts Coordinator, Jessica. They, are why IslandWood is such a special place to learn, and their skills and attentiveness to the students are one of the big reasons we all had such a fun day creating together! Thank you so much Ellen, Lucy and Jessica!
Class title: Gifts From The Landscape – Cedar Satchel
With only a day to accomplish quite a lot of learning, students practiced dividing the cedar layers of bark.
I provided most of the prepared cedar, and wood forms made by my sweet husband, to help them control the shape of their pouches as they learned plaiting, twining, and twill weave.
Each student came today with a wealth of their own life experiences. Even with the same project, individuality is always bursting forth!
The cozy-warm art studio was overflowing with the intelligence, beauty and creativity of these fine women!
After a scrumptuous lunch in the Dining Hall. Everyone completed the twill and their rims, and moved on to finishing the flap, with a Vine Maple button and a suede cordage strap.
Such great cedar weavers!
I wish to thank every one of you wonderful people for giving me the opportunity to share what I love with you. Your interest and exuberance for learning is a huge inspiration to me. Thanks to the ever-amazing Christina Doherty, IslandWood Community Programs Coordinator, for inviting me to teach, and again a huge thank you to my awesome assistants Ellen, Lucy and Jessica.
A brilliant advanced student who did some fast twining to make the flap!
And they wear them so well! Nice weaving!
Thank you. I promised you all revised bibliography and resource list. Stay tuned!
One more remembrence of the beautiful beginnings to this day.
Thank you all for sharing this “one time, one meeting” with me today!
