Furoshiki is the wonderful art and tradition of wrapping things in a nicely printed square cloth. When I was in Japan I saw specialized Furoshiki stores everywhere, selling not only the beautiful cloth but also showing how to wrap different gifts, books, and make bags etc. I totally fell in love with this and so Kim and I decided to have a little playdate to make our own wrapping cloth.
I dyed some white cloth beforehand so we would not just work with plain white and then gathered fabric paint, some foam stamps and brayers.
For one of of the pieces i used my Grove Foam Stamp Set and created a pattern leaving some white space as this seems to work the best for this purpose.
Then the wrapping part started. Our cloth was a tiny bit too stiff …it worked but when we do this again a thinner fabric would work even better.
Here is the close up
and wrapping a bottle
you can tell …the cat sneaked into the picture …but there you go- LOL ;)
Another method for boxes or books
And a simple but fun one
I love that these cloth can be used in so many ways by the recipients. Either reused for gifts yet again or as kitchen towels, or depending on the fabric as shawls etc. So many options and a great way to give a beautifully wrapped gift. I hope you liked our playdate and give Furoshiki a try.
Here are some of the supplies Kim and I used for this Furoshiki play date:
Very beautiful! I would love to receive a gift (or even my lunch) wrapped in something so lovely. I don’t have any fabric paint (yet), but I’m seeing a trip to the store this weekend so that I can give this a try. Thanks for sharing!
An art journal page that I created after the marches last month happened. I love that Art Journaling can be a way of taking note of current events in a visual way – and as you know I am not much of a writer in my art journal because a lot of my thoughts and feelings are conveyed by the colors, paints and techniques I am using.
I spray painted the background in blue and then sprayed in red through my Santiago Stencil – I flipped it over while the paint on top was still wet to get a reverse pattern.
Some obstructed notes with a gold gesso and a thick brush and then I filled in all the areas with patterns using a white signo pen.
It was a nice and meditative time to fill in the page with white little patterns, marks and doodles :)
Striking composition. Love the colors and the addition of the gold gesso. Different look for you to using block printing instead of cursive. Overall great art journal pages! Agree how meditative mark making can be. Inspired to go do some! Thanks.
Deb
Last weekend I taught my 3-Day Splash of Color Workshop at My Heart’s Fancy in Oklahoma. We started out with blank papers, filled them with lot’s of pattern, and imagery and then bound them into art journals.
We did a lot of gelli printing/mono printing the first day- look at those colorful pages
Love all the texture – yummie!
We used tons of my stencils and stamps- always tickles me to see a wall of my designs :)
And we had a ton of fun – I love spending a whole weekend with a group of sweet talented students!
Look at Marcia colorful gelli plate :)
Time flies when you play with paint and colors – the three days went by in a breeze
Creating the covers was a big hit too – happy faces
and thinking faces ;)
Now how can you not enjoy a weekend with all those smiling peeps :)
And it was so much fun to see how everyone loved their newly bound book on the second day and working in it.
yummie patterns with my ArtFoamies – I always love seeing the color combinations my students choose. So inspiring.
We also did some transfers and they looked fabulous!!!
And we created some funky clothing and city scapes with my RubberMoon stamps.
And here are all the beautiful bound art journals – 78 pages thick- such a happy colorful sight!
Thank you to all the wonderful students – I loved spending time with you, creating, laughing, chatting, eating …and eating delicious homemade cake (thank you Lynda!) and sharing supplies and ideas. Thank you also to Maura and Lisa for having me once again – I always love coming back.
If you would like to take an in-person class with me, I am teaching in May two classes in Kentucky at Ephemera Paducah which will be super fun. I will also teach in Toronto (Canada), San Jose (CA), Boltenhagen (Germany) and Coventry (UK) this year. For more information check my In-Person Workshop page I would love to see you.
I must say that this was such a wonderful workshop. Fun, inspiring…. in one word – delightful! Thank you Nathalie. You taught us such wonderful things and we enjoyed having you with us again!
Welcome to a post from the Creative Squad. Today we have a sweet little mixed media canvas from Josefine Fouarge. She’s playing with lots of layers with my Kassel, Toledo, Lily Wallpaper, Art Deco Wallpaper and Elephant Parade stencils based on this month’s theme: Layers of Love – We love layers and all the juicy yummy goodness they bring to mixed media. This month we’re layering it up and letting viewers discover all the different strata of our artistic mark making.
Layers, yummy layers. I enjoy working in layers and being able to see through every one of them and get a peek of what’s lying underneath the surface.
For today’s project, I picked the Elephant Parade stencil as my focal point and I had an idea in my head of several patterns shining through the silhouette. So, I grabbed a 5×7” canvas and added a wash of Dina Wakley Lime color. Then I added the first layer using the Kassel, Toledo and Art Deco stencil and three different shades of green.
For the next layer, I picked a few different washi tapes and randomly adhered them to the background.
I wanted to add more stenciled layers. To avoid a chaos on my canvas, I painted a light layer of Gesso on top of the first one. Then I used the same three stencils, this time with different colors, one of them in a more contrasting orange shade.
It was time to create the Elephant silhouette. I started by placing down the mask and adding two layers of Gesso around it.
Next, I switched to the Elephant Parade stencil and added a shadow to the inside of the elephant using a Faber Castell Gelato in grey.
The white washed area was a little too white for me, so I covered the elephant again with the mask and then added a blush color through the Lily Wallpaper stencil.
Here you can see all the yummy layers shining through and building the body of the elephant.
You can also see parts of the washi tape, for example the globe. Enough to be interesting, but not enough to draw the eye to it.
Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed my layered canvas and feel inspired to create your own textured images.
Thank you Josefine! Love seeing all those stencil layers through the Elephant! Here are some of the supplies that Josefine used:
Feel inspired? Working on something yourself that you’d like to share? I love to see how you interpret our monthly themes. Email me how you used my stencils and stamps with the theme and email me an image – I would love to share your projects in my next “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.
After we spent a couple days in Tokyo, we took the Shinkansen to Kyoto.
I am spoiled with nice trains from Germany …the ICE is a pretty nice high-speed train- but the Shinkansen steps it up a notch – very pleasant traveling in it and 2 1/2 hours later you are in Kyoto.
This is a train station stamp from Kyoto. Almost every train station in Japan has a stamp that shows symbols and buildings around the location. I collected them in my travel journal – if you go to Japan bring a red ink pad with you as some of the station ink pads are a bit dried out.
A bit outside of Kyoto is the Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine. A reoccurring theme at the shrine are foxes – some fox statues carrying a key in their mouth. The fox is the messenger of Inari, as well as the shrine guardian. You often see shrine guardians wearing a red bib added by worshippers out of respect.
Every shrine seems to have their own individual Ema – a wooden wishing plaque. You can purchase them and the fox plates at this shrine are actually made so that you can fill and draw in your own fox face design. On the back of the plaque you write your wish and then hang it up.
Look at all the different faces.
Another Shrine guardian – a lion dog.
Such a beautiful walk up the mountain to the shrine.
through a little Bamboo forrest
and thousands of Torii Gates- that was so beautiful and of course a lot of us remember the scene of Memoirs of a Geisha.
First signs of Cherry Blossom in Kyoto – so beautiful!
But also interesting signs in Gion – I cannot believe that you actually have to tell people to not touch a Geisha- seriously? What is wrong with people?
And then all of a sudden I was standing at an alley way – this beautiful stunning Maiko appeared with a huge entourage of photographers following her. I cannot really describe it but the way she moved and looked was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. A Maiko is a trainee before she becomes a Geisha (and no Geishas are not prostitutes! )Maiko are trained and constantly training in traditional Japanese arts, such as dancing, singing, classical Japanese instruments and the tea ceremony. I asked one of the photographers why they were following her all and he told me that this was a very special day and something you would not see often, as for this Maiko it was her Misedashi – basically her graduation day where she turns into a Maiko and gets introduced into the neighborhood. This Maiko’s name is Nanoha as I found out later.
I loved the Gion neighborhood with it’s traditional wooden houses and a lot of people walking around in traditional kimonos.
A dotted pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama also in Gion.
I had seen a documentary at home on how these beautiful traditional candles often used in temples are being made. They are made with handcrafted vegetable wax and burn a long time. When I did some research I found this little store in Kyoto where they are sold and we went and bought some.Tanji Renshodo sells mostly to Buddhist temples. It was such a wonderful little store and you can actually see where they are made. If you are in Kyoto- step by and buy some – they make wonderful gifts!
We stayed in a really nice Kyoto guesthouse – sleeping on traditional tatami mats on a futon and you have to take your shoes out upon entering your room – here is the slipper shelf – loved that.
And here is Mount Fuji as seen from the Shinkansen on the way to Hakone. I will show some pictures from Nara next. I hope you enjoyed this post from our stop in Kyoto.
the streets truly are crazy clean – the more amazing as there are almost no garbage cans out on the streets …people just take their garbage home. It was one of the things I noticed right away.
Japan was so so amazing – I am back now for a couple weeks and still so full of all the inspiration and impressions of this trip. I want to share some with you in a couple upcoming posts- this one is from our time in Tokyo. We were there a couple days in the beginning of our trip and a couple of days at the end.
This is a corner of the area where the Imperial Palace is located -you can only get into the palace if you apply for tickets way in advance for a certain day and time -but just walking through the park surrounding it was just beautiful.
Love those trees!
Koi everywhere – gigantic buggers- and to be honest, I am not actually a fish-person- LOL- I love their marks and colors- very cool!
Beautiful bridge iron work.
We were a couple days too early for a full cherry blossom bloom – Sakura -but some cherry blossoms and also as above magnolia were already out -so beautiful!
One of the many beautiful temple we saw. This one is the Hie Temple in Akasaka – I love the colors and all the details- the beautiful roofs.
Subway art – so beautiful!
Little electric cars zipping around at the Tsukiji Fish Market, which is one of the largest wholesale food markets of any kind. Watching those cars cruising around at the market is watching like a little ballet – it was fun …btw at 6am in the morning because jet lag said- hey- just get up and going ;)
The Meiji Shrine is located in a beautiful forest – the Torii (gate above) is leading to the Shrine.
Colorful Sake Barrels on the way to the shrine, which are offered every year to the enshrined deities by nationwide brewers.
The Shrine – very empty as it was again early in the morning – see jet lag has some perks- ;)
We were actually witnesses a traditional Japanese wedding. At a Shinto reception, the bride will get married in a long white kimono. Then she may come to the reception in a colorful, embroidered kimono, then change into a Western-style white wedding dress, and then into an evening gown or a party dress. phew I get tired just reading all this- but hey it was sure really beautiful to look at.
Such a beautiful door at the Shrine! We visited even more Shrines and Temples- but hey- before you get Temple Fatigue I am saving more pictures of those for my special post from Nara for later :)
Did I mention that jet lag was a real troublemaker this time? Well 14 hours time difference were just not easy to deal with…but …well…you can actually see the busiest pedestrian crossing of the world – Shibuya Crossing – from a cafe window without ANY people on a Sunday morning- LOL. You might know it also from a scene in “Lost in Translation” – and boy I experienced the totally crowded crossing during rush hour in the middle of the week- woot what an adrenalin kick :)
There is actually a life camera of the crossing- check out if you are watching at actual rush hour- LOL otherwise it is boring ;)
Total nuts- telling you ;)
My husband was at a conference for a couple days and on one of the days I was on my own I actually took a Japanese Cooking Class. It was so much fun! I will tell you more about it in a different post- but I can highly recommend doing it through Airbnb Experiences with Yukari- From Market to Meal . It was a highlight of the trip and I already cooked several of the things I learned back home.
This man making water drawings was so cool – I loved this – he would ask people what their favorite animal is and then start drawing. And no…he did not want any money although he deserved it – he just did it for fun …so delightful!!!
a little walk over to the Asahi Brewery – not really for the beer but for the view and definitely a cheaper view than from the sky tree. The brewery building with the golden thing on top designed by Philippe Starck is supposed to be a flame. Well…it is also know as “Golden Turd” or the “Poo Building” …go figure- lol
And I cannot resist showing those signs – when do you usually see a “NO Rickshaws” sign?
It was awesome in Tokyo -I am still trying to get a grip of all the inspiration. I am sure some of it will resurface in one form of the other in the future ;) Next stop is Kyoto, I hope you will join me :)
I love the photos of your trip to Japan. In less than 30 days we will be in Tokyo for one night before getting on the NCL Jewel. Did you have any problems obtaining cash, yen? Did you have any problems using a credit card. Thanks for your help. We are staying at the Keio Hotel just one night.
Judi Vreeland
Judi, you will have such a great time :) There are ATM’s at the airport for the first money change and throughout the city of course as well. Credit cards were accepted in big department stores but cash is a better option for most restaurants etc. So I would advice getting a yen at the airport when you arrive to be save. Have a great time.
“The Wild and the Tame wrestle in me, neither win, neither want to.” Tyler Knott Gregson
Love this poem – so true!
I used some of my old calendar pages with my prints as collage material – and then stamped with some of my buildings stamps. I am trying to make an effort to use more of the stuff I have been collecting for some time …what is the point to wait for the “perfect” moment- just make it the perfect moment and get some space back- LOL
I love how the prints of my painting blend in with the Stroll stamps. The yellow stripe on the bottom is washi tape – I just thought I needed to pick up the yellow of the painting again and I love the effect. Since it is washi tape with really low and bad adhesive I applied some Gel Medium underneath to make sure it sticks.
I added some Viarco Graphite for color inside the buildings- I love using those- the colors are just o beautiful.
Here are some of the supplies I used for this spread
I have started to give any craft supply away that I haven’t used in over 3 years. That includes some of the “saving for the perfect” project items. Silly when I think about it. My washi tape does not stick in my art journal (over paint) so thanks for the suggestion of the gel medium.
I know what you mean about using/using up stuff you already have. I was thrilled to use up 2 glue sticks over the weekend. It’s the little things that make all the difference in my life. :-)
Comments (2)
Janene
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Very beautiful! I would love to receive a gift (or even my lunch) wrapped in something so lovely. I don’t have any fabric paint (yet), but I’m seeing a trip to the store this weekend so that I can give this a try. Thanks for sharing!
Reply
nathalie-kalbach
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Ah thank you Janene! Hope you will give this a try :)
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